A late night discussion last night with my co-producer led to a statement of more guitars! That is what is being called for in the final stages of American Mayhem production. As a guitar player I don’t really have a problem with recording more guitars. It’s what I do. Earlier today I thought I’d bring you in on part of my little journey of laying down more guitars. Layers baby. Layers.
Watch as I screw up. Ha ha ha.
Ah the life of a professional musician. Sometimes it takes more than one take. Or even more than one guitar. The true awesomeness is when it all comes together and sounds spectacular.
More Guitars
Enjoy the journey, can’t wait for you to hear the final product when it comes time to get it out to your ears.
It’s epic.
That’s an understatement.
Stay tuned for more.
In case you missed it, I played the Elixir in Las Vegas last weekend.
Elixir
It’s kinda hard to express how red. I mean RED. Really. Really. Really. R.E.D. The elixir is. In the immortal words of Nigel Tufnel, “It’s so red, its like it can get none more red.”
After getting over it’s redness, I got busy with cranking out an acoustic set of music for this fancy vampirey establishment. Knocking out originals and some covers to great response from the crowd. Unfortunately, the video clip I have from the show was shot using the 8mm app on a friend’s phone. Apparently he didn’t know he was recording 8mm camera noise instead of the actual audio.
https://vine.co/v/OqEqq3MPzmu/embed/simple
Why I oughta…
Pow, right in the kisser.
Right?
I’ll have to let you know that the crowd enjoyed the show. Comments were along the lines of: “It was awesome!” “Your voice is amazing!” “You sounded great!”
I’m working on returning to the Las Vegas area in mid January. So mark your calendar to join me in Sin City then! It could be Elixir again.
Thumping right along… That’s what I’ve been up to with getting these singles done and finished with my co-producing friend George Leger III. We put the final touches on yet another song called “Thump Thump Thump”.
That put’s the count at 3 songs completely finished.
The excitement is building as the impending release of single #1 draws nearer. Amazing and magical is how I describe it. The word that those few who have heard it is: Wow!!!
Pretty cool responses. Most of the time, music doesn’t make people say “Wow!!!” Now it does.
Thumping
How do I contain the restraint to releasing it? Good question. This is by far the absolute longest I’ve had to sit on a finished product. Main reason is not for building hype. No, it’s more simple than that. I really want to make sure the song gets the best possible launch it can have. That unfortunately takes time. Time, that a lot of people don’t have the patience to control.
Heck, I’ve had moments where I’m like, Fuck It! Lets do this!
Then the moment passes and I remember that there’s a plan. It’s a good plan. A winning plan based on those who have been asking and talking with me about it.
At this point we’re on to single #4, it’s so close to finish I can practically taste it…
What are 5 things that happened during the recording sessions for Thump Thump Thump? Come watch a video clip that showcases 5 things that happened or were observed while we were in the studio recording. Huffington Post, eat your heart out! I only write that because they weren’t privy to the sessions, nor would I give them the exclusive that I’m giving you.
Share it with your friends.
Better yet..
Don’t. Then you can be like – I told you so. When the music, video and book come out.
5 Things That Happened
Transcript:
Where’s my dragon?
So I saw my first episode of Game of Thrones last night.
Oh, your first?
Yeah.
You’ve never seen it before?
No. And it was the latest episode.
What a great. Great show.
What kind of a mic is it again?
612 by Telefunken.
It is a Telefunken 612. Yes.
From the island of St. Croix.
it is funk. Like F, U, N, K. Funk.
Telefunken 612.
C12.
C12. Thank you.
It is a low impedance microphone if anyone ever asks you again.
I will keep that tidbit of information locked away in my head.
I was about to give up Logic.
Really?
What?!?
What?!?
The reason why I was about to give up Logic.
They hadn’t put an update out in years.
And they didn’t seem to really be caring that much.
Well you know as long as Apple is serious about Logic, I love the program. I would never go anywhere else.
Oh yeah!
Hey. Jazz!
Nothing says amateur more than an jazzy guitar licks on a guitar out of tune.
That’s just the worst.
Sorry to all Jazz players.
PolyTune.
Just. For all those out there in YouTube land.
If you haven’t seen my silly video with T.C. Electronics…
Examining the PolyTune for the first time…
Search for me, you’ll find it on T.C. Electronic’s website.
And I look like a complete clown.
I learned “It Was Always You” last night after hearing it pop up once or twice on iTunes Radio & also on Beats Music. I’m a fan of Maroon 5. Have been. Decided it was time I threw down a little cover version of one of their tunes. This song rocks in it’s original format and surprisingly it holds up well as it translates to an acoustic number. I kept the main guitar thing simple as their arrangement is really sparse, but the synth is the major driving factor. Without the 16th note push, I think it would have fallen apart acoustically.
What do you think?
It Was Always You
Woke up sweating from a dream
With a different kind of feeling, oh
All day long my heart was beating
Searching for the meaning, oh
Hazel eyes, I was so color blind
We were just wasting time, uh uh babe
For my whole life, we never crossed the line
Only friends in my mind, but now I realize
It was always you
Can’t believe I could not see it all this time
All this time
It was always you
Now I know why my heart wasn’t satisfied
Satisfied
It was always you, you
No more guessing who
Looking back now I know it was always you
Always you
All my hidden desires
Finally came alive, hmm
No, I never told lies
To you so why would I Start tonight
Hazel eyes, I was so color blind
We were just wasting time, uh uh babe
For my whole life, we never crossed the line
Only friends in my mind, but now I realize
It was always you
Can’t believe I could not see it all this time
All this time
It was always you
Now I know why my heart wasn’t satisfied
Satisfied
It was always you, you
No more guessing who
Looking back now I know it was always you
Always you
Ah, yeah (you, you, you, always you, you, you) 2x
Woke up sweating from a dream With a different kind of feeling
It was always you
Can’t believe I could not see it all this time
All this time
It was always you
Now I know why my heart wasn’t satisfied
Satisfied
It was always you, you
No more guessing who
Looking back now I know it was always you
Always you
It was always you
Enjoy and share on your favorite network!
It’s been a over a decade now since the 9-11 event occurred. It’s amazing to think all that has happened in it’s aftermath. Right now it feels like certain parts of the world haven’t forgotten and other parts will never remember. Historians generally say that people will always remember where they were when a major world changing event occurred. I was woken by a phone call after a very late night while living in Southern California. The night before, or rather a few hours before, I had finished recording a demo for a song whose first line was: The end of the world has come and gone, we’re still standing imagine that. Bizarre.
Today, I intend to go on with my normal schedule with creating music, having meetings, etc. Cursory glances on social media shows that everywhere I turn people are posting about 9-11. Some posting remembrances of 9-11. Others posting that they’re upset that people aren’t taking stock about 9-11. It runs a wide range. This is own little piece of adding the social noise.
Actually, I’d rather have you listen to a very moving song by Sarah McLachlan called In The Arms Of The Angel. It’s extremely moving. Written prior to the 9-11 event, it is still very fitting. Watch the video I found on YouTube in tribute and figure out how you prefer to remember or forget what happened.
In The Arms Of The Angel 9-11
Spend all your time waiting
For that second chance
For a break that would make it okay
There’s always some reason
To feel not good enough
And it’s hard at the end of the day
I need some distraction
Or a beautiful release
Memories seep from my veins
Let me be empty
Oh and weightless and maybe
I’ll find some peace tonight
In the arms of the angel
Fly away from here
From this dark cold hotel room
And the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage
Of your silent reverie
You’re in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort here
So tired of the straight line
And everywhere you turn
There’s vultures and thieves at your back
The storm keeps on twisting
Keep on building the lies
That you make up for all that you lack
It don’t make no difference
Escaping one last time
It’s easier to believe
In this sweet madness
Oh this glorious sadness
That brings me to my knees
In the arms of the angel
Fly away from here
From this dark cold hotel room
And the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage
Of your silent reverie
You’re in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort here
You’re in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort here
Peace.
Apple introduces an Apple Watch. Earlier today, like many people, I took a little time off to sit and watch the Apple Event. Yes, I’m still an Apple nut. Hell all the new singles I’m stockpiling for imminent release were recorded on a multitude of Apple computers. So yeah, I pay attention. Of course if you’ve been listening to the rumor mill then you’d heard the iWatch was sure to unveil and sure to be like all other tech companies who rushed their watches out to market to “beat” Apple. Instead they got the Apple Watch.
As a disclaimer, I don’t wear watches. It’s not my schtick to do so. There’s so many clocks around, on the phone, in the car, everywhere you look, there’s a clock. Thus, I don’t have a strong desire for a watch. That being said, I can very much appreciate the detail and fine design that has gone into the Apple Watch. Do I really want one? No. Would I get one? Maybe. Would I wear it? I haven’t a clue, but I did end up buying one – I’d make sure to wear it.
I wonder if it will be like an iPad? Actually, I kinda wanted an iPad when they were announced. I could see the usefulness of it immediately. I’ve started reading a lot of books since I’ve had the thing. I used it constantly. I just don’t see why I’d want a watch that requires me to have my phone with me in order to use it. Why look at pictures on a tiny Apple Watch face when I could whip out my iPad or my iPhone and see it there on a bigger screen? Same can be said for music? It’s got an iTunes app. However, they don’t show where you listen – again, I think it’s tied to the iPhone, or other iDevices.
I suppose it will come down to whether or not I think it’s worthwhile to get an Apple Watch as a health tracker. Then again, the iPhone already does all this and more. *sigh*
The real cool/frightening thing that was announced was Apple Pay. In my own efforts to reduce the clutter in my pockets I’ve stopped carrying credit cards or a wallet. I have to remember when I need them. However, it would be extremely cool to have it tied to my phone. As Apple has now done with the upcoming iPhone 6 and iOS 8. Their feature is super cool. The consumer version of their security features sound great, but the reality is something we know nothing about yet. Hopefully we don’t start hearing stories of Apply Pay horror like the recent Apple ID hacks of naked celebrity photos that everyone thought was a direct issue with iCloud. Mind you, I went and deleted questionable photos of myself off my iCloud when it was announced
What goes into the making of a hit song? This is a curious question. If there was one true answer, everyone would be doing it, and nothing would actually end up being a hit. Right? Conspiracy theorists like to believe that the major labels have some sort of computer algorithm that can predict if a song is a hit or not. As the British say: Bullocks. They don’t know any better than any one else, the different is, they’re in a position of power to sell something.
While recording Till We Meet Again, George, Jesse, and I get into a quick discussion about things that can help make a song a hit song. In this case, we’re talking about a little trick that Jesse and I did with a particular transition of a song from one part to another. We changed something about the song structure in such a way that it makes people take notice. Watch the video about making a hit song and find out what we did.
Making A Hit Song
Did you catch what we were talking about? Think you can go write a hit song now?
There’s one band in the world that taught us all to rock n roll all night and party every day. That would be the legendary band known as KISS. As it turns out I have in my possession a piece of artwork that was commissioned for their original drummer Peter Chris. As it’s told, their management wanted to give each member a very special gift. That gift was a custom piece of airbrushed art that was their face without the makeup and a miniature of their character in front of it. One of them was unhappy with the result and returned it. That was the drummer Peter Chris. I have no idea if Gene, Paul and Ace still have theirs, but…
How did I come to obtain or own the one of Peter Chris? Simple, my father was the one who was commissioned to do the artwork. When it was rejected it passed back to my father. In turn when I grew up a bit it was then given to me. So now I have it. It’s quite a conversation piece that’s for sure. Mostly because people always want to know how I came to have it. Plus it’s a tie to wanting to rock n roll with a legend.
Rock N Roll
You show us everything you’ve got
You keep on dancin’ and the room gets hot
You drive us wild, we’ll drive you crazy
You say you wanna go for a spin
The party’s just begun, we’ll let you in
You drive us wild, we’ll drive you crazy
You keep on shoutin’, you keep on shoutin’
(chorus)
I wanna rock n roll all nite and party every day
I wanna rock n roll all nite and party every day
I wanna rock n roll all nite and party every day
I wanna rock n roll all nite and party every day
You keep on saying you’ll be mine for a while
You’re lookin’ fancy and I like your style
You drive us wild, we’ll drive you crazy
You show us everything you’ve got
Baby, baby that’s quite a lot
And you drive us wild, we’ll drive you crazy
(chorus)
You keep on shoutin’, you keep on shoutin’
I wanna rock n roll all nite and party every day
I wanna rock n roll all nite and party every day
I wanna rock n roll all nite and party every day
I wanna rock n roll all nite and party every day
I wanna rock n roll all nite and party every day
I wanna rock n roll all nite and party every day
I wanna rock n roll all nite and party every day
I wanna rock n roll all nite and party every day
I wanna rock n roll!
Enjoy your Party Day!
A couple of weeks ago I was tooling around in my car running an errand when over the iTunes Radio comes this tune called Life of the Party. I immediately thought to myself, dang this guy nailed it. Not from a lyric standpoint but from a musical standpoint. Then comes a little more research to find out that it was co-written. I still haven’t gone far enough to figure out who actually recorded, produced and mixed it. But said producer did a masterful job at making this guy Shawn Mendes whom I think is about 15 years old, sound like a long time pro. That’s not an easy task.
The real trick is the production on the track. It’s laden with tons of sounds that flow one to another and work extremely well. Shawn’s vocal over the top of it sounds like a great set of takes edited together with the right amount of emotion. The verses are little bit on the lax side, but the chorus kicks it so hard that the verses don’t matter.
Hopefully this kid will get more practice in on his writing and really make an awesome career in music.
Life of the Party
I love it when you just don’t care
I love it when you dance like there’s nobody there
So when it gets hard, don’t be afraid
We don’t care what them people say
I love it when you don’t take no
I love it when you do what you want cause you just said so
Let them all go home, we out late
We don’t care what them people say
We don’t have to be ordinary
Make your best mistakes
‘Cause we don’t have the time to be sorry
So baby be the life of the party
I’m telling you to take your shot it might be scary
Hearts are gonna break
‘Cause we don’t have the time to be sorry
So baby be the life of the party
Together we can just let go
Pretend like there’s no one else here that we know
Slow dance fall in love as the club track plays
We don’t care what them people say
We don’t have to be ordinary
Make your best mistakes
‘Cause we don’t have the time to be sorry
So baby be the life of the party
I’m telling you to take your shot it might be scary
Hearts are gonna break
‘Cause we don’t have the time to be sorry
So baby be the life of the party
Come out tonight, come out tonight
There’s no one standing in your way
Come out tonight, come out tonight
We don’t care what them people say
We don’t care what them people say
We don’t have to be ordinary
Make your best mistakes
‘Cause we don’t have the time to be sorry
So baby be the life of the party
I’m telling you to take your shot it might be scary
Hearts are gonna break
‘Cause we don’t have the time to be sorry
So baby be the life of the party
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Life of the party
So don’t let them keep you down
Oh you know you can’t give up
‘Cause we don’t have the time to be sorry
So baby be the life of the party