Zen in the Studio
 

I'm in the studio this week working on the second record for an LA indie singer-songwriter duo called "The Dailies". I can't wait for this thing to come out so that I can tell you guys more about the project, and you can hear the songs. This is going to be a beautiful, beautiful record.

We had one of those moments last night where everything just clicked, the studio disappeared, it just became the four players in the band sitting down together and making music. It seems like that wouldn't be unusual for studio musicians to be able to do, but we were in 3 separate rooms, looking at each other through soundproof glass, only hearing on headphones, trying to stay tight to a click track, and reading charts on songs we've never heard before. It's very, very rare for all of those distractions to fade to the background and for a song to emerge.

Last night, that happened, in a major way. We were tracking a song called "The Tide" - coldplay style rolling piano song, pumping 1/8th notes in groups of 3+3+2. On about the 4th pass, everything, just everything went into zen mode. It was nearly the perfect studio moment

We kept on going back and playing it again, took another 4 passes after that, not because we needed to fix anything, but because the song was so beautiful, we wanted to keep playing it. Each pass was different, each one was incredible all on it's own. I don't envy the producer who has to go back and make the choice about which one to use.

Anyway ... all that to say, I love my job. Often, it's just work, but sometimes, it's simply beautiful.

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Life is great when you love your work.
Good for you SM x

If they're ASCAP, I will make sure the stuff gets into our system correctly so they get paid for any radio spins.

Cool, thanks, UT. I'll pass the info along.

I feel good about my tiny contribution. Let me expand a little.

Indie artists have a little trouble getting paid because it's hard to see their footprint sometimes. The company I work for has a for-pay service that guarantees people can get into the system and see their spins.

It's mostly for promoters. But artists who get played on radio -- at least the major indy radio stations in big markets -- can see a little check from ASCAP out of it. ASCAP uses our data to figure who's getting airplay.

Can't wait to hear this stuff SM!

So, I found the Dailies, an album called "What it is." Is this the same group? If so, I really like it and I can't wait to hear their new one. I am almost always in favor of indie music. It just seems to be more daring/imaginative/real than anything I hear on mainstream radio.

Same band, that was the record we did 2 years ago, in this same studio. This one is, roughly, 50 billion times better.

UT, that's very cool - I remember you mentioning that company before. When they are done with the record, I'll make sure the artist gets hooked up with you guys.

aaah! Fun!!!
:D

intensity shot. I feel like I could chew through nails in this one.

I envy you *so* much. Groove on, bro.

I can't wait to hear it. That last is one fierce shot.

Is this where we accuse you of being a spammer for the Dailies, drawing us in with content since 2003, to sell 8 discs? :cool:

Its cool when things just flow , and even cooler when you are a part of it

It would be, if I had any stake in the back end of this project. I'm strictly a session player on this, I get paid up front, and it doesn't matter if the record sells 5 copies or 5 million.