Click Tracks and Time Signatures

Today Gunnar and I figured out all the tempos for the tracks, complete with a click. The click is used to keep the performer on beat so you can put record multiple tracks and multiple takes together. This is, as Gunnar put it, "the least musical part", but it really does make everything easier in the end. And it gave us some time to sit down and get a better idea of what we want drum wise.

Gunnar explaining shit.

Notes and words to live by.

The more we talk about it and the more work we do, the more excited I get about the EP. I think it's going to be a good one!

Love,

KJ

Back in the Studio

Tuesday was the first day in the studio. To start the process, Gunnar recorded me playing through the potential songs for the EP to create some scratch tracks. For those of you who haven't heard the term before, it's basically a guideline recording that will later be replaced. We're going to use them to record drums, percussion, and bass as a foundation. Once that's been recorded, we'll discard the scratch tracks and go back and record everything else.

Anyway, it's so fulfilling to be creating an original EP and hanging out in Gunnar's home studio. Here are a few pictures:

The set up - Gunnar's living room

Playing through "Steps to Drifting Apart"

Gunnar wanted a picturing of me smiling :)

Gunnar and I will be meeting up to do more work this week. More to follow.

Love,

KJ

Shaving Your Head

It has been several years since I've recorded a solo album. I've worked on a couple collaborative projects (such as Goat & Lion) and have been featured on other artists' recording projects (such as BandBoxBuster), but haven't hit the studio for just myself since 2010. It's been too long.

Since the release of "Natural Progression", I've finished my undergrad degree in music, worked a couple unrelated day jobs, and threw myself into the freelance world, and ended up teaching music among other things. Presently, I'm preparing myself for a move across the country to Boston, in order to pursue a masters degree in music therapy. This is extremely bittersweet, for Chicago has been my home for the past 8 years, but exciting because of the new adventures around the corner.

Recording a new solo EP is kind of a Chicago last hurrah (for now) and a study of the growth I've undergone over the past 5 years. The title, "Shaving Your Head", references a symbol of change and vulnerability, as well as an act that I have done during major transitions in my own life. The songs that will be featured are personal, intimate, and honest - sometimes uncomfortably so, but in a way that I hope will be relatable and eye-opening. Especially, since one can be motivated to shave their head for an endless number of reasons.

Working with me on the EP is the amazingly talented Gunnar Jebsen, who will be primarily serving as engineer and producer. However, because he is also an accomplished musician, he will also be working on bass, drums, and playing his most loved instrument, the banjo. He worked on "Natural Progression" as well.

My goal now is to document the gestation of "Shaving Your Head", for that is something I wish I had done with "Natural Progression" in retrospect. More posts to follow.

Love,
KJ