Got into Maple Sound Studio yesterday with the guys from Somewhere In Between. I couldn't have asked for a more incredible or smoother experience then that. I've never felt that any other band had more potential to be successful than these guys. Everyone showed up relatively on time and we started working as soon as everyone was there. Started working on How Far first and in the beginning of all of this, we were all under the impression that we were just mixing a demo track for MySpace, but after we were done, I think we all agreed and realized that we'd just made an incredible track for a potential self-released EP.
I started out by adding drum samples and tweaking drum sounds while CJ prepped the rest of the song, by converting the guitars and vocals so we could work on them. The samples really helped fill up the space that the drums seemed to be missing from the initial tracking (they were tracked in a garage, but you'll never be able to tell). Danny (ex-Name Taken) is an incredible drummer and the timing, feel, and dynamics of this song were well written. But there was so much more that would make this day unbelievable.
The bass and guitars didn't have much work to be done to them because the tones that were recorded by CJ were phenomenal. And he did it all with his Les Paul and a Pod. CJ, Jay, & Jeff work realy well together with their guitar work and songwriting. So we moved onto the vocals after we'd established a pretty good instrumental mix.
Matt "One-Liner" Reyes has an incredible vocal presence. Its uncanny. When I started mixing the vocals, I soloed his parts and the way he wrote all the melodies and harmonies had enough force to drive the song by itself. After all was said and done, we were all impressed with the way the song was coming along. The best part about the production and mixing process with these guys, besides the fact that the jokes, pizza, beer and good times were a' flowin', was that everyone was contributing to the ideas and we ended up with a really good solid first mix. We'll have to tweak and adjust a bit, but I'm very excited about working with this band.
Thought, since it was the end of the year and a lot has happened since I last updated, that it only be appropriate to inform everyone where each band was in the recording process. So here is the status on Paramount!, Misery Loves Comfort, (the) Cartoon Life, Tribute To A Martyr and my other singer-songwriters.
Paramount! First and foremost...Paramount! and myself have decided to part ways on the project due to among many things, creative differences. So they have enlisted the services of their friends to finish the record. There is no animosity towards any of the guys in the band and we wish them luck here at A Permanent Wreck Productions in their quest for rock stardom. Last time I talked to them, they were going to re-record the vocals and expected the record to come out sometime at the end of February or beginning of March. So keep your eye out for that record. I will still mix the record for myself, just to have in my demo reel, so if anyone wants to check that out, tracks will be posted when I'm done.
Misery Loves Comfort These guys have decided to part ways with each other due to creative differences. The members split into 2 different bands: Kiss The Blade and I don't think the other guys have a name yet for their band. Right now, Kiss The Blade is going to record an EP that should be out by February. As far as the other band, they're working on material and I'm not sure when they'll be playing shows.
(the) Cartoon Life This band never seems to stop amazing me. So because it took me some time to get into a studio, the band decided, along with me, that they needed to have another option. So they enlisted the services of their friend Tim to mix the record along with me. Both of us were biding for the coveted credit on the record. Well turns out after we both submitted our mixes, mine about a week before Tims, they chose his mixes over mine. The lighter side of things being that Shane liked my production better. So where are they now...well the funny thing is that the record was never put out except to be exposed on MySpace. They decided, especially after having heard these songs for over 3 years without a record, that they wanted to record a more professional EP (they recorded and mixed everything for free). So they flew down south to Atlanta, GA and recorded at the The Grand Caravan for 3 days. I recently got to hear some rough mixes, and they sound incredible. You will all be thoroughly impressed, so keep your ear out for this band. Its amazing and I love that after all was said and done, they've really started to define their sound.
Tribute To A Martyr This was a band I was really excited to work on, unfortunately in life sometimes things just don't go your way. After getting confirmation that we were going to be recording these guys, they decided that they didn't want to spend the amount it was going to cost to get a professional record and thought that recording another demo in their garage was in the best interest of the band. So I had no choice but to relinquish the project and hope that when they were ready to record professionally, that they would call me up. Unfortunately, days later, they parted ways with their singer JP Padilla and last time I checked in, they were still searching for a singer. As for JP Padilla, he's been working with me in the studio putting together a reel for bands so that he can join a new band. He's also looking to start some of his own stuff real soon and I'm looking forward to working with him.
Ryan Hansohn Not much here to update with this guy. He's still writing, working and reworking all of his material. He's kind of a perfectionist, so he's taking his time. With that said, I'll hopefully be able to convince him to start putting some tracks down soon and we'll start working on the record. Til then, I'm just keeping busy with other projects that I've picked up.
Other New Projects So in the past month, I've picked up a few projects, but we'll see which ones pan out. -First off, I'm working with one singer-songwriter named Jes. She's originally from Arizona, just moved out here to enjoy the California sun. She plays piano and sings and we'll start pre-production in the next coming months, once she settles down into life on the West Coast. -The second project is John from the Arizona band, Mourning Maxwell. He's out here in California as well and looking to start his own side project. So he's currently writing songs and getting members together to formulate his next rock ensemble. Should be a good thing, so I wait in anticipation for these 2 songwriters to put together what seem to be promising careers. -Other than that, I've been asked to do a few other projects such as writing drums for an electronic jazz fusion type act, 1982 Ferrari. -I've started writing a weekly blog for personal enlightenment, its appropriately titled "The Ramblings of a Man (Destined for Self-Proclaimed Greatness". Its basically going to be me getting things off my mind and onto digital paper as a cathartic process to heal my savage intellect or ego. -And I'm also getting ready to redesign the MySpace page. It will hopefully rock your socks off. -And finally, I am helping out my old band, My Destruction mix their demo. We'll head into whatever studio I can get available and edit and mix some tracks. The line up has changed significantly since I was in the band and only 2 members from the original line up remain, but sadly CJ has stepped down from the role of vocals due to throat complications. The band sounds incredible and we'll hopefully make some magic.
Life is going okay in the world of A Permanent Wreck Productions and we expect big things in the new year. My video partner is coming back, so we'll look to start doing band videos. I have a photographer and some other engineers, so more music and media is going to be on the rise and the start of something big for the little guys should be 'a comin'.
Proud to announce the newest addition to the family of artists we here at A Permanent Wreck Productions have been privileged enough to work with...my good friend and former bandmate Ryan Hansohn.
Ryan and I were in a band back in our days of junior college and we've been good friends ever since. He and I were in recording classes; I went on to continue recording and he chose a different path in computer technology. Well he's never stopped writing great songs and he and I decided to get together to write some songs and see what we can do.
As of now, we're going to write songs and work on structuring, arranging and rearranging what he has until we've got a good 6-10 songs to record. Check back later for updates and hopefully we'll have a MySpace page to promote and display our creations.
The one thing that sucks about not having your own studio to work out of...is that you can't work on projects whenever you want. So after a little over a month of waiting to get into Maple Sound Studios, and some much needed rest, I decided to hold myself up for the entire 3-day weekend to work on the Paramount! EP. Only had to work with 5 out of the original 8 songs (3 were never completed vocally).
The first day I basically spent editing the 5 songs, which basically means placing drum samples and getting scratch mixes together. Tragedy was the first song I completed a rough mix for and I think it came out really good. The guitars sound really full and as do the drums. The vocals and solos cut through just like I wanted them. To complete the first day I then worked on Theory. Didn't get to finish it the first day, but I'd say its coming along.
Second day, I focused on rough mixing Untitled and getting Coping With A Curse and Built From Fire ready for the next day. After I finished getting a really solid rough mix for Untitled and doing all the prep work (editing, adding samples, etc.) for the other songs, I made some changes to my mixes of Tragedy and Theory and went home for the night.
Third and final day, I arrived early at the studio and began tuning vocals for the last two songs, Coping With A Curse and Built From Fire. That took me a little over 3 hours and I worked on the rough mixes. The songs came out really powerful and I am excited about the mixes. I'm sure after listening to them and once the band reviews them I'm going to have to make changes but all in all I like where they sit right now. If you want to go check them out, head over their MySpace.
As for the next step in A Permanent Wreck Productions, we are going to start working on Tribute To A Martyr's debut EP and I'm still in pre-production with Ryan Hansohn on his solo project. We are currently songwriting and getting everything ready to begin recording the rough demos for his songs. And thats about it...so until next time, check out all of the bands we've worked on and become their friends on MySpace.
