I often talk about the role of collaboration in music. I also tend to point out that "solo artist" is generally a misnomer.

In the era of AI and extreme corner-cutting (or skill acquisition avoidance, as I call it), I try to keep it old school in terms of how my songs get arranged and layered. As the music I am currently writing is built around guitar and vocals, any additional instrumentation that gets added will often involve the skill and effort of other artists to whom I owe a mountain of gratitude.

I have been dropping into the studio sporadically over the last few months to record a few of my songs which will be released as singles soon. Each of these songs started as most of mine do, with a single instrument, my voice, as well as a (sometimes vague) notion of what other instrumentation would elevate the tune. One of these songs, "Thaw," was written on a whim some time ago and was actually the first song I had written in many years. I was not sure I would even record it at first, especially after having written some 12-14 songs after, but “Thaw” was a dear song to me, and it really was the springboard for everything else that followed, so I tracked the guitar as well as vocals in my home recording space a few months back. At the time of the song's writing, I knew it needed cello. Thankfully, since that time, I met a tremendous cellist in our region, Anastasiia Ermolaeva, who had already contributed to one of my songs, "Strange Winds," with great finesse. She was an easy choice for “Thaw.”

At this stage, after mulling it over, I felt the song would be best served with female harmonies, so I reached out to my friend and local rising star Izzy Burns who is a tremendous singer-songwriter. She has a voice that I felt would really accommodate the song, so her and I booked time with Don Gunn, a well-known engineer and producer in Seattle who has experience mixing and working with some of my favorite artists, from Soundgarden to Robert Fripp (of King Crimson) to Death Cab for Cutie. He was also, by coincidence, a friend of my friend: local guitar hero Jerry Battista, who is already a key contributor to my songs. All of it fell neatly into place like clockwork.

When it was time to track harmony vocals, Izzy, of course, did not disappoint. As I sat there on the couch while Don recorded and produced, I knew it was the right call. Vocally, Izzy brought the perfect accompaniment: Her voice, as well as harmony prowess, elevated the song from a solitary folk feel to something much richer.

The cello tracking with Anastasiia, which followed, had the same effect: The song became richer, and more sweeping. The emotional impact just rang truer. I'm not a tenured producer by any stretch, but I trust my intuition instrumentally, and this really affirmed it. Her cello was, in effect, the lead instrument, solo and all. 

The point of all this?

In very few cases do we do this alone. Music is greatly enhanced by a collaborative charge between artists with different skillsets and backgrounds. Each person brings with them unique experiences, skills, and personal stories. When someone hears one of my songs, I don't want them to hear my voice and guitar surrounded by AI slop. If going at it alone suits the song, I will, but there is something amazing to me about music that is, at its core, comprised of multiple interpretations, if not expressions of a greater whole. For example, "Thaw" at its most basic could only possibly be what I could pour into it. But as a collaboration, it is so much better: Izzy brings her own unique voice, not to mention skillful harmonies to the table. Anastasiia brings her many years of playing and composition on the cello, and Don brings years of professional mixing and production experience. 

When we have a great team, we are all elevated and the music becomes not just my story, but the stories of those who contribute as well. 

Have a great week my friends! Looking forward to the Chop Suey (Seattle) show on 2/25 which Izzy herself is joining me for, as well as the upcoming release of the studio recording of “Thaw”. 
 

                              Anastasiia Ermolaeva
 

                              Izzy Burns

                              Don Gunn