Musical collaborations, new songs, and recording

It has been an incredible several months for music on multiple fronts. New songs have come forth like mini volcanic eruptions. Collaborations have also been fruitful, both with other songwriters as well as other instrumentalists. The downside (if there is one) is that recording has come much slower, though that is about to change in the coming weeks and months.

The thing about songwriting is that it is dreadfully easy to become numb to our songs as new ones emerge. This isn't necessarily because our “older” songs aren't good or even great, but because we've played them so many times that they lose their virility. That's why it's so imperative we record them as soon as we have them down comfortably, but not so comfortably that our passion has dimmed. Songs are time capsules, and in an era of AI- driven rubbish, recording real people in the raw really captures the integrity and passion in our work.

The past year has given some of my songs a good amount of play time, such as “Nightcap Darling” and “Strange Winds.” These are likely the two I'll be recording soon (Nightcap for sure) which is why I booked a day at Temple of the Trees Studio in Seattle at the end of October. I'm so excited to finally get tracks laid out for this tune and have it mixed, mastered, and released for you all. It will be released first as a single, and later re-released on the eventual album.

Temple of the Trees is one of the coolest studios around. Some of my personal heroes have recorded there, such as Maynard James Keenan of TOOL, Puscifer, and A Perfect Circle. Just getting to set foot in there has me humbled and grateful. I'm also looking forward to working with Robbie Houston again, who will be lending his recording and mixing prowess to the tracks.

As for other recordings, I'll be recording and releasing acoustic or “unplugged” variations of some of my songs as well, since the album will be a longer-term effort. Expect an acoustic version of “Strange Winds” and others to be released in the coming month or so, with amazing contributions from some fantastic Seattle and Snoco-area artists such as Jerry Battista of the Davanos, Lucas Hobbs, Elise Dahlberg of The Love Grubs (Congrats to her and Brian on their engagement!), Emily Ovall, and Rolf DeDamme. As for the upcoming work at Temple of the Trees, I'll be working with drummer Kenneth Maldonado as well as jazz bassist extraordinaire Fredy Andrés.

Collaborations like this really bring my songs to life. Songwriting for me starts with solitude, introspection, and generally a guitar on my lap, but the end goal is typically collaborative, and the talent pool in our region is undeniable. I am also extremely grateful to have made friends with such brilliant artists who have offered their skills and talents to fortify and elevate my tunes.