Pics from our Trip to NYC

This past weekend, I was up in New York for my brothers birthday. While I was there I was able to get caught up on some shopping, a Yankees game, and some down time in Central Park.

Here's me waiting for the subway (which we did a lot of), my brother's apartment (it's a grand total of 96 square feet. wow.), Krisitn and I at Central Park, at the Yankees game, over to a Mexican restaurant in Chelsea (that's right), and then to a roof top bar for drinks across from the Empire State Bldg (super cool!).

Our Trip to NYC

So. I've decided that I want a flat in NYC. Anyone want to go in on one with me?

This weekend was my brother's birthday, and Kristin and I made the trip up to NYC to celebrate with him.

After some great shopping and a Broadway Show (HairSpray), we're heading back to Greenville tomorrow.

I'll get some pics up of the trip when we get back.

The New Music Business

Some cool ideas here.

Making Your Passion Your Profession

I was digging through some of my del.i.cio.us links and found this great article. In it is a 4 step process on how to harness your passion and turn it into a profession.

The Four-Step Process

* The dream develops a passion.
* The passion develops a plan.
* The plan determines the action.
* The action helps us to dream better.

I'd like to add a step. The first step is to have a dream. Sometimes this is the hardest thing for people. I know for me, the difficult thing is being able to scale down my dreams into something tangible that I can start working on immediately (without 1 million).

Unconsciously, I've been following this process with my music. The dream: To make a living doing what I love; Music. The passion: Giving life to the sounds and emotions inside me. The plan: Produce something tangible for others to experience.

I'm still working on 'The Plan', and hope to be in 'Action' soon.

Word of Mouth

Presumably, it's the gold mine of marketing. It's something I've thought about a lot over the past year working for a company that specializes in creating 'fans' for their clients.

It's an interesting topic for musicians as well. How do you get people so excited about your music that they not only become a fan, but they are willing to go to bat for you. Willing to go out of their way to spread the word about you and your music.

I believe unique experiences play a big part in this. John Moore threw up a cool quote on his blog from Hugh MacLeod.

"Word of mouth is not created, it is co-created. People will only spread your virus if there's something in it for them."

True, we're all looking for 'what's in it for us', but I think even more powerful is the idea of relationships, the co-creating. How can I involve my fans in the process? Let them be a part of the experience? Give them the tools to let them create the experiences that touch their friends?

I've been thinking through this as I look to choose one of my songs as the single. Once the record is complete, I'd love to get feedback from people, as to which song they love the most. Which one moved them enough to share with others?

Being a Smart Artist

There are a lot of amazing musicians and recording artists in the world. A lot of them are even better than some of the recording artists you hear everyday on the radio. So. In my mind, making it in the music industry goes much further than just being a good musician. Sure, connection help. Really help. But there are some practical things we can all do to help move our music careers along.

James Lee Stanley makes a great point in this article. His basic point. Have a plan. For a lot of musicians, it's easy to write, sing, and play. But when it comes to thinking business, having a plan, and thinking strategically, well. That's hard.

My thought, is to surround yourself with the type of people that will help you fill the weakness in your life.

The one thing that made the recording go so well last week was the fact that I surrounded myself with people who are more talented than myself. And that can only make me better.

The same goes for thinking about your music as a career. Thinking through the business side of the music industry.

Take the time to think. Make a plan.

Day 7 - More Vocals

This morning we have been working on the vocal parts to 'Hold Me Tighter'. It's one of my favorite songs and is a good song to start the day on.

As the recording gets closer to the end, I'm realizing the amoung of energy and time we have put into this has been amazing. I am totally exhaused.

Here's some more pics for you to look at.

Day 6 - Pics

Here's some more pics to entertain you with:

Day 6 - Vocals

Today we finished laying down vocals for 2 songs. It's amazing to keep seeing how these songs are taking shape the more layers we add to them.

One song, 'Last Chance', keeps getting cooler the more we add to it. Today while tracking, a whole new melodic ending came out of me while I was singing. And to that, some really powerful lyrics that add a new sense of passion to the song. I love seeing those things happen as a part of recording.

The lyrics: "Hurt won't break us, Love will make us, And this pain won't tear us a part."

In context with the song, they are really powerful. The song is 'Last Chance'. Here are the lyrics to he song:

How does life look now
After years of beating down
This is my last chance to make it right.

After all is said
And done, will love forget
The hurt that drove our past deep inside.

Burned cold heart
Please bleed warm
Let me feel emotion.

Burned cold heart
Please bleed warm
Don't let me miss this moment.

Time will heal most pain,
but when things just stay the same
Covered up to come back and break us down

When anger takes control
Certain words just bruise the soul
And damage all the love we'd stored inside

Burned cold heart
Please bleed warm
Let me feel emotion

Burned cold heart
Please bleeed warm
Don't let me miss this moment.

We Need an Intern!

After 6 days of recording, it is becoming clear that an intern is an essential part of the recording process.

I'm hungry!

Day 5 - Overdubs

Today has been filled with trying to find those perfect guitar parts. This part of recording has been really fun for me. One of the things I like most about songwriting is finding the melodies that really grab me, and I'm finding the same is true for a lot of the guitar parts I like. Finding the melodies that really add to the depth of the song.

Anyway, here's some pics from today.

Day 4 - Bill Champlin's Studio

We had an awesome opportunity to record at Bill Champlin's, of Chicago, studio today. They had the piano I needed for a few songs. One song, 'Keep Moving Forward', is going to be just piano, vocals, and possibly cello.

Here's some pics from the studio.

Day 4 - Pics

To see some pics of the day, go here.

Day 4 -Before Today's Session

I'm up early this morning getting ready for a few meetings before we start tracking piano overdubs.

The goal for today is to get the piano parts layed down for all the songs that will have piano on them. We're having to go to another studio that has a piano, so I'll get pics of that studio up when we have some.

I also signed up for twitter this morning. We'll see how that goes.

Day 3 - Pics

Jeff has finally arrived!

Here's some pics.

I Have an AWESOME Wife!!

Without me knowing, Kristin sent out a very, Very kind email to a lot our friends.

Hey everyone!

Well, after a move away from Music City, Trey has really been stirred to work on music. I know, that is generally the opposite of how the story is suppose to go. Since we moved here a year ago he has been writing like crazy and through a long series of events has decided to record those songs. So this week Trey is in Nashville recording an album. We are blessed to have a few investors backing him with the project. From here he hopes to get his songs on itunes as well as get the word out through MySpace music. It will be a LONG process but an exciting one.

He is documenting the long and exciting process on www.treyrollins.blogspot.com . He is going to be posting videos and pictures as well.

Who knows what will happen from this . . maybe absolutely nothing, maybe everything, maybe a little in between. But I wanted to do a little shameless promotion for him b/c I honestly feel that his songs are really, really, really good. If I did not, I certainly would not encourage him to do all this mess! I am his harshest critic . . I hope that's not bad considering I am his wife and all. I would like to think I am his biggest advocate as well! So check out his blog and look for his songs coming to a computer near you! Again, this is a LONG process, but once his songs get mastered and ready to go, if you like his stuff, be an advocate for it and tell your friends! :)

Thanks and we'll see what happens on the ride!
Kristin

Thanks babe! You're the best.

I've Got a Rockin' Guitarist

Ryan. The guitarist I'm using for this project is amazing! I've been really excited about some of the sounds we've been coming up with so far, and we're not even to the part in recording where we get to experiment with all the possibilites!

I actually know Ryan from Greenville, but after going to Musicians Institute in L.A. several years ago, he moved to Nashville to make his mark on the world. Ryan's had the opportunity to play on some really cool studio projects, including Pirates of the Caribiean, Unkle Cracker, Shooter Jennings, Willie Nelson. Now, don't let those country names put fear into your hearts about what sound we're producing! This is going to be a rockin' album.

Day 3

This morning, we are off to an early start. We're trying to lay down 3 songs so that we can stay on schedule and have all the base tracks finished off this evening.

The songs on the list today are, 'Last Chance', 'Won't Hold Me Down', and 'Found Wanting'.

Day 2

Today's been a long one. I'm just now taking a break and then we're getting back down to business! Tonight we will be finishing up 2 more songs. 'Hold Your Breath' and 'Come Undone'.

One thing I've loved the most about being in the studio are the conversations that take place. They have ranged from philisophical to silly slap stick comedy.

Tomorrow Jeff arrives, and we'll be taking more pictures. So. Hopefully, I'll have some stuff to post tomorrow.

Great 1st Day

Today was great! I love seeing what can be created with really, really talented musicians. So. I just got home from the studio, and I'm exhausted!

I'll be back in the studio tomorrow at 9a getting started on, hopefully, another very productive day.

Goodnight.

Day 1 - Afternoon Session

So. This afternoon we have been laying the second track, 'On the Mend'.

This is a song I wrote this year. It's more of a reflection about life when I lived in Nashville. Ya' know, life sometimes takes you by surprise, and sometimes, you don't realize how difficult life has been until you've had a chance to look back and see what you've been through. Part of my time in Nashville was like that. So. I put those feelings in a song.

This song has taken a totally different direction than I expected before we got together with the players here. And I think I love it.

We'll see how it turns out.

Day 1 - Morning Session

My goal is to lay the basic tracks for 2 songs a day. That will leave us most of the rest of the week for overdubs and vocals.

This morning we are working through 'Hold Me Tighter'. After a slow start we are starting to see the vision of the song take off.

I'll post some pics of the studio later today, after we are able to take another break.

We also decided to bring a video camera and record some of the sessions. So, hopefully later next week I'll have some short clips I'll be able to post.

Pre-recording is work!

I have a real appreciation for audio engineers. The ones I know seem to get great pleasure in taking their time to make sure every little detail is covered. The positioning of the instruments in a room. Where the mics are set up. How they are set up. Even down to the neatness of the studio before anyone arrives.

I love this. I love this, because it is so not me. The one thing that has bugged me most about recording in the past is the time (and I mean TIME) it takes to get everything ready before you can actually START recording. It drove me crazy.

Today, though, I took great pleasure in watching Jason (my engineer), maticulously go about each procedure. Wow, those drums can take some time setting up! Mainly, because I saw it as time to hang with some great people.

I guess in the past, I was so caught up in getting started, I missed one of the great aspects of recording. The people. Isn't it the people that make life more enjoyable? All our differences. All our mess. All our creativity. And when you put us all in a room, we're able to make something beautiful.

I have to be honest. I have been terrified of the response I would get from everyone working on this project. Would they like my music? It's such a personal thing; music. Especially, when those songs are a reflection of your soul. Of what life has done to you. What you've experienced. Be it joy. Pain. Love. Betrayel.

Fortunately, the response (so far) has been more than I expected. I hope my music can be a source that helps people connect with what they are going through in life. To help. To console. To free.

Lofty ideas. I know.

There and Back Again

I'm leaving for Nashville this morning. Last night, I was on the phone with my audio engineer and co-producer finalizing some thoughts for the next week. It really is cool to see how we are on the same page for the sound I want to produce. Even talking to the players last night was refreshing. As they listened to the rough demos I sent them a couple weeks ago, they have brought some great ideas to the table.

I really look forward to getting in the studio and seeing what comes out on the other side.

Tonight, I will be laying scratch guitars and vocals, so that tomorrow morning we can run straight in and get started. That's the hope.

I'll keep you posted. Also, look here for more photos and a different perspective throughout the week.