utopia parkway studio

I’m usually a hermit in the studio, but I’ve opened up a little and had a little episode of backseat producing that led to a discussion that involved Manolo Blahnik shoes. In the past, I rarely let people in the studio while I’d be singing. Hence the reason why I’d produce them myself. I’m changing things around. Especially since I’ve been having George Leger III producing vocals for me.

Another first happened during the vocal recording session of American Mayhem. I allowed my buddy Greg Nicholson and his girlfriend to sit in while I was recording vocals with George at Utopia Parkway studio. Greg and I have written songs in the past. But he’s never sat in on recording with me as the artist. George has one rule – which quickly gets reminded to Greg as he offers up some advice.

While waiting for George we get into a discussion about the Apollo by Universal Audio and shoes by Manolo Blahnik. All of this prior to Greg and his girlfriend are about to go watch the World Cup football (soccer) between USA and Portugal. See, he’s for USA and she’s for Portugal. I’m sure that was an interesting match for the two of them. As we all now know, that was a moving match.

Backseat Producing And Manolo Blahnik

Transcription:

Are you’re P’s coming out okay?
Pah. I don’t know.

‘Cause you had a lot of P’s. So I was just wondering how.

Oh yeah, they’re not popping in the mic.

Ok. Cause sometimes I have to like turn my head just a little bit when I’m singing a P even with a pop filter.

Shhhhh.

Sorry.

Shhhhh.

Ha ha ha.

You’re a guest. Not a producer.

No side, no backseat driving.

Exactly. Please. We have work to do. Okay, here we go again. Ready?

Yes.

Mumbo jumbo. It makes people go really?

Really?

Really?

In other words…

Why do you need this?

It’s like so when you start updating your studio and she’s living with you at some point in the future. I’m projecting here. And Greg’s like “I need to buy this.” and you’ll be like “Really? Really?”

Remember, that’s what George and Jody said.

This stuff does make a difference.

Do I get a pair of Manolo Blahnik’s?

Of what?

Manolo Blahnik’s.

I don’t know what that is.

Really nice shoes.

Oh. Okay.

I don’t even know what the hell that is. But like, Okay.

A pair of nice shoes is that what that is?

Yeah. They cost quite a bit.

Alright. So, you get the toys in the audio gear. She gets the toys in the shoes.

That’s only fair.

Right.

I believe in this. I believe in being fair.

But here’s a question. How much are those shoes?

Between $300 and $500.

Oh yeah.

Whew.

Alright.

That’s totally fair.

Per pair. How much is what you want to get?

The Apollo? How much is that Apollo? About $2500?

That one? $2799 plus tax. No. $2500 plus tax.

I was thinking between somewhere between $2500 and $3000. Yeah, that’s what I was thinking.

I was like, we already shook, we already negotiated this deal.

I did not know how much that cost!

I don’t know how much your shoes are, but I’m thinking my thing is 10x of what we just negotiated.

Dammit!

ha ha ha ha.

Fair trade. Fair trade.

Well, now I have to get the most expensive pair of Manolo Blahnik’s now.

No I think it’s only fair that you would get at least a dress.

Ha ha ha.

To go with the shoes.

Okay.

Yes.

Alright.

That’s only fair.