Last week, on thursday, november 5th I went into the studio for the very first recording session of my very first full length album. I have been dreaming about, talking about and writing grants for this project for so long, that to finally be in the studio laying down the first few instrumental tracks was a surreal experience for me. After years of writing project grants to every funding initiative in the country and beyond, and never getting anywhere I've decided to just do it. I don't really know how I'm going to pay for it, or how successful it will be but I do know that I'm going to pour my heart and soul into this record. My EP just can't cut it anymore. People keep asking me when I'm going to make a record, and I always would just shrug my shoulders and say "one day". Well that day is here, is now. Tomorrow is our second session and although the finished product is FAR far away, I am beyond stoked.
I'm recording at Turnkey Audio here in Edmonton, Alberta. The engineer's name is Randor Lin. Randor is from the vast Grant MacEwan music program graduate community here in town. I found Turnkey on the internet, back when I was looking for someone to mix my EP that I recorded in my own little basement studio. I felt like we hit it off right away back then, we have very similar personalities. I knew when I finally got around to recording a full length album that I would want to do it with Randor.
Anyways back to the topic of this blog. A few days ago when I was thinking about the huge process that this record will be, I decided I wanted to have some sort of record of making my record. I want to be able to go back and relive what it was like to make my first album. So I'm going to post a diary of sorts here on this blog to document my progress.
The musicians on this album are as near and dear to my heart and the album itself. My brother in law Brent Schaitel is going to be playing keys, organ, acoustic guitar and will be singing some back up vocals. My husband Jered Evangelos will be playing all things drums and percussion. I plan to have my buddy Ryan Jacobson involved as much as possible (he is a busy psych student these days) playing electric bass. My dear friend Justin Litun will be playing upright bass on a few tracks. Other than that, I plan to have electric guitar, hopefully mandolin & harmonica (still looking for those players) and even a little cameo vocal performance by my niece Isla Joy.
I have so many plans, but I have to take a deep breath and calm myself when I start thinking about it all because I don't want to rush it. I also don't want to drag it out to death, but I most importantly want to nurse this little baby. Her name by the way is going to be "Prairie Bell," which is the name of one of the songs that will be on the record. It's the song on the record that I think most accurately describes me as a person. A city girl, with a heart for the prairies, winter, road trips, patchwork farms, and most importantly my family and friends. These are things I hold close. Just like I am going to hold this record close to my heart!
Ok ok. Enough drama and silliness. In all seriousness this is probably going to be the biggest (personal) accomplishment of my life up to this point and I just want to make sure I don't forget about all these feelings that I'm currently experiencing when I look back on it a year or ten years from now. More updates to come.
brent laying down piano on "Here's A Love".
Randor & Brent working hard.
me laying down some scratch vocals.
