Tag Archives: cd project

CD Project Update #15 – Swedish Keyboards

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I’m pleased to report a couple of exciting new developments on the CD recording front for this week.

After a bit of a stop-start beginning to this year I’m going back into the studio tomorrow for the first recording session for 2011. I hope to finish off all of the main vocal parts.

The exciting part though is that the next day (February 10th), I’ll be recording keyboard parts at Chapel Lane Studios using Swedish producer and keyboard player Stig Lindell.

How all this came about was through a fortunate set of events that to me, demonstrates perfectly the power of networking.

Over the last week I’ve been laying down some bass tracks at Chapel Lane for good friend and amazing singer/songwriter Jay Jaxson’s new CD of which Stig is producing. Jay told me that there was some free time (as in availability not cost) in the studio coming up and that Stig was willing and able to do whatever music work was required.

After experiencing first hand Stig’s keyboard playing (he played some guide keys while I was recording) I jumped at the chance of using him. I asked and he said yes.

It’s amazing what happens when you just ask.

I know that getting the keyboard parts out the way will take a huge load off my mind as finding a good keyboard player with time on their hands to do some recording has been a very challenging task indeed.

What’s left are just the Electric Guitar parts of Darren Zaza plus some extra overdubs such as backing vocals and perhaps some percussion to do and that’s it.

It feels so good to get back into recording mode again. It’s been far too long.

Peace,

Corey :)

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CD Project Update #13 – More Vocals Please!

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Last week Darren and I completed the electric guitar overdubs for “Girl Like You” and today I’m hopeful that I finish the vocal tracks for the rest of the songs:

  • Don’t Turn To Me Now
  • Don’t Want To Let You Go
  • Jigsaw
  • Just One Kiss
  • Nothing Stands In Your Way
  • Seeing Stars
  • We Can’t Be Together Anymore
  • What Have We Got To Lose?

Another thing that I’ve started to do now is to keep track of what parts and/or what songs have been completed in the recording process.

At the moment I’m using a crudely drawn graph (as shown below) but I know that the neatness monster inside will force me to create a graph in Open Office or something like that.

After today I’m going to need to start thinking about getting Victor, the keyboard player in to do his tracks but first I’ll need to work out what songs need keys recorded before electric guitar.

An example of a song needing this process would be “Missing You Already” as my vision for the song dictates that it’s to be primarily a piano piece, similar to something that The Whitlams would do.

I’ve had a little bit of a head cold for the last few days so I’m hoping that my voice is ready for today. It feels good but getting the voice recorded can be a different beast altogether.

A few hours after I finish in the studio I’ll be doing a 20-30 minute guest spot at the Night Voices Open Mic at The Garage which starts at 7pm. If anything my voice will be nicely warmed up for that.

Now I’m off to get ready for the day ahead, wish me luck.

Peace,

Corey :)

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CD Project Update #12 – Vocals

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Despite me writing in my last CD project update that I was feeling very nervous about going back into the studio after such a long break, I had a great time in the studio today.

As Darren was busy this week I decided that I’d start putting down vocal tracks and by the end of todays session I had 7 songs completed.

  • Girl Like You
  • Back Of My Mind
  • Half Hearted Man
  • Shadows
  • Leave It All Behind
  • Missing You Already
  • Mountain Top

Todays session was the my first one post illness, and the main thing I’ve noticed is that my singing voice is much more reliable. Since I finished my course of antibiotics I’ve been feeling much clearer in my sinuses which has allowed me to become more confident in my singing.

I’m finding that lower and higher ranges are easy to get to and my overall pitching and ability to hold a note has improved dramatically. I had a feeling that was the case in my live shows but this was the first time I have heard this new and improved voice recorded and played back to me

I’m liking that a lot…

Next week Darren and I go back into the studio for some more guitar overdubs. Bring it on!

Peace,

Corey :)

CD Project Update #9 – Mixing The SCALA Exclusive Song “Billboard Angel”

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I just wanted to thank all of you who passed on feedback regarding which song should become the “SCALA Exclusive” release. I’ve now finally decided and the winner is Billboard Angel.

As Darren wasn’t able to make it to the studio to do his guitar parts yesterday I took the opportunity to finish off the vocals, minor tweaks and final mix-downs on the song.

I now have a CD of the final mix of Billboard Angel for me to review over the weekend and it sounds fantastic. I’m very happy with how the song has turned out.

Billboard Angel is a song that I co-wrote with a dear friend of mine and amazing instrumentalist/studio producer, Jeff Smith. The song is about a man who falls in love with a picture of a woman on a sexy billboard hence the title of the song.

The concept of the song was Jeff’s idea which demonstrates beautifully his off the wall sense of humour.

Doing the vocals was a bit touch and go at the beginning as I hadn’t properly warmed up before attempting the take but after a few run-throughs and a hot lemon and honey drink to help the vocal chords along I was able to complete the vocal tracks and do some harmonies in the bridge section.

Personally, the mixing process is a fascinating one for me to witness but one where I have no real clue as to what really goes on. My hearing is not that flash at the best of times so it’s wonderful to have Anthony’s ears working on the job at hand.

With every session I’m learning something new. It’s back to overdubbing electric guitars and keyboards next Wednesday.

Peace,

Corey :)

CD Project Update #8 – Electric Guitar Overdubs, The Fun Begins

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The recording session went very well yesterday however, I wasn’t quite prepared for the time it was going to take to get things done. Right now, it seems like it’s going to take forever to complete this CD.

In a 6 hour period Darren and I only completed one and a half songs and I was really feeling the frustration early on in the day after being so used to the immediacy of live music. I tell you the temptation to just say “yeah, that’s good enough” on any particular guitar track we recorded was high on my list but I remained strong.

I’m glad that we’re taking the time to get this part of the recording process just right.

We arrived at the studio at 9:30am started recording at around 10:30am after Darren finished setting up all of his guitars and amps that he and I were going to use for the day.

We started off proceedings with Billboard Angel

Overkill? I think NOT!

A nice rack

Once we finished Billboard Angel we had pizza for lunch thanks to Fat Pizza and Yiros (staple studio food) and by 2:30pm we started on the second song Back Of My Mind finishing up at around 4pm.

Anthony Stewart loves his pizza

Darren Zaza

I learnt a lot about patience and tolerance yesterday but I also started to learn the fine art of music production and how to use the recording studio as a separate musical instrument. It’s amazing what you can do to change the overall ambience of a song through the layering of sounds on top of one another.

By the end of the day I was absolutely worn out due to the amount of listening and concentration that was put into the session but somehow I had to get home and get ready to run the Open Mic @ The Dan that night.

The recording madness continues next Wednesday…

Peace,

Corey :)

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CD Project Update #7 – Recording Starts Again!

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Me @ Industrial Records Studio 1980
Image by Chris_Carter_ via Flickr

This Wednesday (September 8th) I go back into the studio again and start putting down electric guitar tracks with my good friend Darren Zaza and after almost 4 weeks of not recording I can safely say that I’ve really missed the studio.

I know that at the beginning of my CD Project Updates I said that “…at times the recording process felt a little disjointed” but I’m now getting used to the layered nature of the recording process. I can see why some musicians want to stop gigging and just record music.

What I’m beginning to love about the recording process is embracing the elements of the unknown that exist between what ideas I have in my head and the end result of an overdub.

You really don’t know what is going to happen until you do record the take and that to me, is really exciting.

I’ve also decided on what I’m going to do with the 16 songs that you can still hear on my CD Project page, I’m going to use all of them but, there’s still an opportunity for you all to have a say in what’s going on.

I’ve been asked by SCALA (Songwriters, Composers and Lyricists Association) to submit a song for their upcoming CD release in a couple of months time so one of the 16 songs will be a “SCALA Exclusive.”

I’ve narrowed down my choice to 3 songs

Billboard Angel

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Don’t Turn To Me Now

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Girl Like You

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Have a listen and let me know which song should be the “SCALA Exclusive.”

As for the other 15 songs, I’ve decided to use all of them because I simply can’t choose which ones to leave out and all of the opinions that you’ve put through to me point to that very conclusion as well.

Barring any recording disasters or acts of God, “Out With The Old And In With The New” will be a 15 track CD project and that’s okay, I’m very happy with that outcome.

I’m proud of what I’ve done so far and I’m looking forward to continuing on with the recording on Wednesday.

Now, on to working out how to sell this CD…

Peace,

Corey :)

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Updated CD Project Songs Are Now Online!

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CD-Rs

Image via Wikipedia

I’ve finally put the updated versions of the 16 remaining songs up on the CD Project page for you all to listen to.

Please bear in mind, even though these songs are recorded with drums, bass, acoustic guitar and guide vocals they are still unmixed, unequalised, unmastered and unfinished.

I am of course still open to any and all feedback, comments and/or suggestions that you may have. You can do that by either contacting me or leaving your comments below.

Peace,

Corey :)

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CD Project Update #6 – Acoustic Guitar Tracks Done!

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The last couple of days have been very, very busy on the recording front.

All of the acoustic guitar tracks are now done and in my possession is a CD with the all of the songs recorded so far. just the guide vocals, bass, drums and acoustic guitar. All I need to do now is burn a copy of the songs for the other musicians.

I’m in the process of putting the updated songs up on the CD Project page but in the meantime, here are some photos for you to check out

The Studio Setup

Another Angle (with Anthony’s De Gruchy in the background)

As it stands at the moment, recording wont start again until the beginning of September because Anthony Stewart (owner of Red Brick Music) will be away for the rest of August as he is a guitarist for hire in his own right and will be busy touring.

This will give the other musicians (Darren Zaza on electric guitar and Victor Oria on keys) time to work out what parts they will be playing plus, the time away from the studio will also allow me to finalise the songs for the CD.

By all means though, keep the feedback on what songs you’d like to hear on the CD coming. It’s really helping.

Peace,

Corey :)

CD Project Update #5 – Two Songs Culled, Four To Go

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First of all I want to thank all of you who submitted feedback to me regarding what songs I should keep on my CD and what songs I should leave behind. Your suggestions are very valuable and have given me some food for thought.

So far I’ve decided to drop “All Good Things (Must Come To An End)” off the list. This is my guide recording of the song with a click wasn’t as accurate as first though and therefore, the song hasn’t gelled with the other instruments in the recording process.

It sounds really weird and it messes with your head (just ask Tim about it).

The second song I’m thinking of leaving behind is “The Long Drive Home” because I misinterpreted the BPM for the guide track and hence it was recorded way too slow.

Talk about dragging…

I do however, love the song (especially the lyrics) plus, a few of you have said that you’d like to hear it on the CD so I may just do a piano and voice version when Victor’s in the studio next and see how that goes.

Hmmm, I feel paralysed by having too much choice sometimes. In the meantime, keep the feedback flowing.

Peace,

Corey :)

CD Project Update #4 – Bass Tracks Complete

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Green tick
Image via Wikipedia

Yesterday I completed all the bass tracks and they are sounding very, very tight. I love the sound of bass and kick drum working as one.

The next step is replacing the acoustic guitar guide tracks with the proper acoustic guitar tracks.

This will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week and once done, I’ll have a CD of the tracks to give to Darren Zaza (Electric Guitar) and Victor Oria (Keys) so they can work out what parts they’ll record on the CD in the near future.

I’ll also be able to update the music on my CD Project page. I’ll let you know when the new versions of the songs are up on the site, ready for you to listen (and to give feedback to of course).

Yesterday was a good day.

Peace,

Corey :)

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