Zen in the Studio

smoothmoniker · 05-09-2008, 01:46 PM

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.

smoothmoniker · 05-09-2008, 01:50 PM

photos

smoothmoniker · 05-09-2008, 01:51 PM

more photos

Sundae · 05-09-2008, 04:53 PM

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

Undertoad · 05-09-2008, 05:24 PM

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

smoothmoniker · 05-09-2008, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undertoad

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.

Undertoad · 05-09-2008, 06:39 PM

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!

kerosene · 05-09-2008, 07:15 PM

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.

smoothmoniker · 05-09-2008, 07:33 PM

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.

Cicero · 05-09-2008, 07:36 PM

aaah! Fun!!!

smoothmoniker · 05-09-2008, 07:48 PM

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

Elspode · 05-09-2008, 08:03 PM

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

Griff · 05-10-2008, 06:47 AM

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?

zippyt · 05-10-2008, 11:29 AM

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

smoothmoniker · 05-10-2008, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Griff

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

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.

05-09-2008, 01:46 PM	#1
smoothmoniker to live and die in LA Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,090	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. __________________ to live and die in LA

05-09-2008, 01:50 PM	#2
smoothmoniker to live and die in LA Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,090	photos Attached Images __________________ to live and die in LA

05-09-2008, 01:51 PM	#3
smoothmoniker to live and die in LA Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,090	more photos Attached Images __________________ to live and die in LA

05-09-2008, 04:53 PM	#4
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	Life is great when you love your work. Good for you SM x __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

05-09-2008, 07:33 PM	#9
smoothmoniker to live and die in LA Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,090	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. __________________ to live and die in LA Last edited by smoothmoniker; 05-09-2008 at 07:38 PM. Reason: spulling

05-09-2008, 05:24 PM	#5
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	If they're ASCAP, I will make sure the stuff gets into our system correctly so they get paid for any radio spins.

05-09-2008, 06:39 PM	#7
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	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!

05-09-2008, 07:15 PM	#8
kerosene Touring the facilities Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The plains of Colorado Posts: 3,476	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.

05-09-2008, 07:36 PM	#10
Cicero Looking forward to open mic night. Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: New Mexico Posts: 5,148	aaah! Fun!!! __________________ Show me a sane man, and I will cure him for you.- Carl Jung

05-09-2008, 07:48 PM	#11
smoothmoniker to live and die in LA Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,090	intensity shot. I feel like I could chew through nails in this one. Attached Images __________________ to live and die in LA

05-09-2008, 08:03 PM	#12
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	I envy you so much. Groove on, bro. __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

05-10-2008, 06:47 AM	#13
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	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? __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

05-10-2008, 11:29 AM	#14
zippyt LONG LIVE KING ZIPPY! per Feetz Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Arkansas Posts: 7,661	Its cool when things just flow , and even cooler when you are a part of it __________________ "Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get. " Brother Dave Gardner

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)