I’ve been working on this EP project for quite some time now and frankly I’m just ready to go ahead and finish it. There have been numerous setbacks over the last few months but now is the time to just do it.
I’ve put off almost all live playing and recording of any original songs for the past 6 years to focus solely on creating video guitar lessons. While I love creating the lessons, I also actually do really like to play and write original songs without worrying about teaching them.
It can be a hard balance because all of my income is due to Guitar Lessons and not writing music.
It’s actually very hard to write and record original music and at the same time be working on guitar lessons. It takes 2 different types of thinking to do each one and it’s very hard to switch back and forth for me.
With that said, I’m really proud of these songs me and Taylor have put together. It has helped get me through some very rough times as well.
Yesterday I went to Down in Deep Recording Studios to have Marty Kearns put some Hammond Organ and Piano on these songs. He’s got a really nice studio and he’s a super cool guy. It does really make a difference when the tracks are being played on a real Hammond and Leslie as well as a Yamaha C7 Grand, and a Rhodes.
The character and vibe of these vintage instruments reminds me of why I like the Vibrolux so much. It’s beat up and not perfect sounding and that is what makes it so special. It’s got Vibe out the Wazoo!
It also doesn’t hurt that Marty is a fantastic key player. He’s played on hundreds of projects through the years and worked with many artists such as Greg Allman, John Mayer, and Shawn Mullins.
He told me a cool story about when he played some shows with Greg Allman. While he was rehearsing with him, Marty said he asked Greg to show him how he got the tone and sound when playing the organ. He said Greg showed him exactly what he was doing and then Marty tried to replicate it. Marty said, “I set the drawbars just like he did and did everything he told me, but it still didn’t sound like Greg!”
It was a neat story.
Anyways, the next step is to record drums and bass playing over what I’ve already done which will hopefully be next Friday.
Here’s a short preview of what He did on one of the tunes.
Hi John, Sounds great, very soulful. Is that you singing? Great voice. when is it done?
Thanks. That’s Taylor singing lead and myself on backing vocals. Hopefully it will be finished by September.
John, now that is Southern. Strongly reminded me of those old demo tapes Gregg and Duane pitched to Capricorn. You know after they were produced mastered and released they sounded noting like the demo. Capricorn released them in the Anthology album. Reminded me of the good old days. I still have the copy on my computer. Thanks for letting us hear it!
Great sound, exceptional writing. I’m excited to hear it when it’s finished.
Thanks Michael! There’s been some amazing people involved in this so far. I couldn’t have done it without them.
Sounds great John. I can’t wait to hear what happens with the bass and drums. The keys sound fantastic…