2015/07/28

RECORDING JOURNEYS EP #3

UPDATE 3:

A few more images from the evolving session / blog post! Just a brief catch up for now, and then there will be a final update next week on Tuesday.

We’ve had a great week in the studio and the first 4 songs we have put down towards Journeys #3 are called:

1. Where the Lovers Go
2. The Great Divide
3. Lets Do This Thing Called Life
4. Red Petrochia Scent

The session has been a very organic one. The second session has always been planned for September. Unlike the first 2 EP’s we are not recording this “in the one session”.

I’ve decided on a different strategy partly out of the fact that I just don’t feel in a rush (in myself), but also on a practical level, Journeys #2 is not released for another month, so there is no pressure.

That said i find it really hard to leave songs unfinished! But the energy built up is quite interesting because it feeds back into the writing. I have a lot written now, and ongoing, and I simply have no idea what songs will end up as the final two tracks on Journeys 3. We’ll see!

However, the planning for the traveling side is now developing in its early stages. A huge amount to do. One clue – going East not West!

It’s been a long week and then finished off with continuing my film work. It’s been a busy month on that side too, shooting the Live DVD for Hamburg, a commercial job for Paypal, the video for the first single for local musician Ben Barritt and now into a series of video’s for Universal’s Elias. Great to have the work, busy times. Making it happen, rolling on. At some stage I’ll will write a blog on the challenge of juggling one’s time – let me know your thoughts on the subject!

Here’s a very low light portrait taken of Elias during the shooting on the Sony A7s – the only photo taken as we were bustling away all evening on the video side!

UPDATE 2:

Just checking in from the studio. Things are rolling very well. There is a dance between money and time – something all independent artists understand. But there is a lot of experience in the studio, with both the musicians and the magically positive energy of Chris Van Niekirk who is producing. Here is a little video clip to give you a sense of the music and vibe. It’s a song called “Where the Lovers Go” – its really a little poem set to music. It is about the idea that “culture shock” is something you don’t experience when you go somewhere – but something you experience when you arrive back home. Something I feel quite deeply when I come back from my journeys expeditions. Anyway – a long way to go – but wanted to give you a sense of how things are developing.

UPDATE 1:

The EP is being produced by dear friend Chris Van Niekirk

Dan had a monster day yesterday on the drums. The joy for me is to play with these guys, and the simple truth is that I could not be as ambitious in the Journeys project with out them. Simply put, the playing is off such a high level & the chemistry so strong, that we can roll fast once we get into the studio. It’s not about the amount of time we are in the studio, but the energy within the time.

We are tracking the basic tracks live as usual. It’s a small but wonderful studio this time. The project is not flush with cash, so we are squeezing up, but none the less we are capturing the feeling of liveness which is at the heart of the Journeys music.

One of the most talented individuals I know, Austria’s Herr Dietrich – graphic designer, fixer, experimental jazz guru and most importantly, local hefeweizen drinking partner

You always feel confident rolling with this man, my anchor, rock and old friend Ben Barritt. Ben has just finished his own solo record -very exciting and sounding great. We are doing a lot of creative exchange at the moment, and I shot the first music video for his new record last week:

I’m really proud of the songs on this EP. It’s just exciting to be in a “continual cycle” of recording and released. It feels like I have finally broken down the strict lines between the writing and recording part of the process and the release and promotion. I like things to be ongoing and continual, and finally I feel in the artistic space I have been pursuing for, I guess 13 years

As we play the songs there is a little glowing globe next to me…I’m picturing how the music will find its way into the world, and what visual identity this will give the songs.

Finally – thank you Lucas for some of these shots. If anyone has any questions about the songs, process or releas plans, please feel free to comment below! Right – back to work – a big day ahead! x Jim