There are many more things to consider when preparing for a show aside
from remembering the songs. The sets I find myself playing these days
are more part specific than improvised and freewheeling. I often have
to re-create or imply the tones and emotion that is present on the
albums we are playing songs from.
The past 20 years has yielded a revolution in
the methods we use to capture music. Now we're finally passing the honeymoon
stage. The toys, whips and costumes that were once thrilling are now everyday props.
The newness and excitement over the unlimited editing options is passing.
Recently, I finished tracking for Vanessa Bley’s new EP. We tracked a lot of electric guitar on the tracks Disbeliever and Standstill. The tone was important on these tracks and it required some attention to capture the urgency in the parts.
As an artist and songwriter, do yourself a favor and take a trip to Nashville. Truly a songwriter’s town, Nashville is a place where literally every conversation I take part in or pass by there has to do with music. And though I love the vibe and energy of New York City, I look forward to my trips to experience the more relaxed, laid back atmosphere that Nashville offers … I can take my mind off of how I’m paying the rent and focus that week on being an artist 100% of the time.
There are numerous ways to record acoustic guitar. Before I even pull out a microphone, I like to ask myself a few questions to narrow down the search. What kind of sound am I going for? What are the correct tools to capture this sound?
