This afternoon I am wrapping up the artwork for the new CD “Today” with my friend Jerry Fink. Jerry is the owner of Option2marketing and has done a fabulous job with the project. He has also done the design and logo’s that you see on this website. I am sure that you’ll find that the artwork represents me and the project well. We are now just days away from having this cd in your hands. I’ll post purchase info from CDbaby.com the minute it is available. If you were lucky enough to pre-order, your cd will be mailed out the day it arrives here in my studio. Lucky you…
Archive for March 23, 2010
We WILL sing…
This past week I had the blessing of being able to see Sir Eric Clapton in concert. The tickets were a (very nice) birthday gift from my wife. As with many of the show’s I go to, there is this inevitable time when on the artists most popular song(s), the lighting guy will illuminate the audience to join in sing the chorus. We are “cue’d” by the lights and anticipation that we’re all in this together singing that favorite lyric.
I had two liturgies on my calendar tonight, all while dealing with a terrible case of bronchitis. It hurt to breathe, much less sing. I opted for a strategy of using songs and hymns that people were most familiar with, and shared with the assemblies that I was really needing them to carry the songs. What would your guess be as to their reaction? They sang out, even without me raising the house lights to cue them!
Why tonight, moreseo than other weeks? Could it be that I set the expectation on the front end that I expected them to? Could it be because they felt like I “needed” them to participate more? I suspect the truth lies in both…
Our God doesn’t need our praise, but He deserves it. Our parishes and church’s don’t need us to lead them, but they appreciate it. As worship leaders, let’s be careful not to do the singing for God’s people, but to call them through catechesis and encouragement to give their praise to our awesome God.
Thank you Eric…”I’ve got a rock n’ roll heart”
Category: Liturgy |
The joys of self producing
The following is a list of thing’s I have learned over the years of producing music from my home studio. In any endeavor, we learn as we go. I have been very blessed to record my own music, as well as the music of others. Each time I put on my producer’s hat, I learn something. Here’s a short list of the ones that stand out…
- Recording without a chart is the greatest time killer of them all. The chart should include the song structure, including chords, repeats, verses, and endings. A melody line with lyrics is an added bonus. All arrangement decisions should be finalized before hitting the record button!
- Never settle, never compromise. It’s your art. It either represents you. or it doesn’t.
- A perfectionist with an unlimited supply of recording time (ala home studio) can be a recipe for never getting anything FINISHED. Five time grammy winner Bruce Sweden, who produced Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” album addressed this during a visit with Sweetwater…” Bruce Sweden Keynote
- If you are able to run a project across the finish line [see above]… self producing does allow you to be creative without the worry of “being on the (studio) clock”. Getting a little outside the box can do wonderful things to a recording, song, or even an artist!
- In my studio, I have the ability to capture solid, good sounding recordings. However, I have learned that the best money I could spend on my personal recordings is to have them mixed by an objective and skilled engineer. Great things happen in collaboration.
- You are only as strong as the weakest link. The weakest link in your recording will identify itself, though may be known only to you (or a select few from the team working on your recording). While performance is the obvious and most exposed target, others could be room acoustics (which are as important in tracking as they are in mixing), mic placement, signal chain, or songwriting!
- Adding more of anything to a recording may not make it better. In fact, the inverse is usually true.
- You can’t fix heart. I have tools that will allow me to do multiple takes of a guitar solo, bring a flat vocal up to pitch, or level a dynamic vocalist. The one thing I cannot do in my studio is make someone sound like they care.
Category: Uncategorized |
Great blog from Seth Godin this morning
Category: Uncategorized |
A Favorites List (for no particular reason)
A favorites list, for no particular reason, in no particular order…
Epcot, golf, sharp cheddar and whole wheat thins, smoked salmon sushi, my taylor guitar, Pontiac GTO (pre 1974), Operation Bootcamp, Apple computers, Edy’s mint chocolate chip ice cream, Coke classic, BMW motorcycles, golf carts, Braves, Giants, The Irish, Letter to the Romans, Home Depot, Craftsman tools, Train (the band), road trips, molson canadian, Tacos!, Publix, Levi’s, The Eagle’s, Yamaha drums and pro-audio, Echo power equipment, Bridgestone golf balls, Brooks shoes, sunrises, Mass, the Varsity, the 80′s, Wedding crashers, Colgate tooth paste (original), new tires, Wii, Evans dum heads, 7UP, dunkin donuts coffee, Adidas golf shoes, Mastercraft boats, and tankless water heaters.
Category: Uncategorized |
