remembrance day in a studio...

session 2...

So Randor, Brent & Jered were sweet enough to humour me and record on a stat holiday. This past wednesday we all gathered in the studio to watch/listen to Brent lay down some more piano tracks. I brought oatmeal raising cookies that I baked the night before, and second cup coffees to show my appreciation.

We only spent the afternoon in the studio, but we got another three songs done. I'm really happy with the way the piano tracks are sounding. MIDI is a pretty incredible tool. I was apprehensive on how a midi piano vs. the real thing would turn out, but I have to say I almost prefer the midi. We can choose the mood and ambience of the piano, the layout of the mics and really create the atmosphere we want for the song we're working on. You can even choose to have the sound of the key hammer! Anyways I could go on and on, but basically to listen to the track you wouldn't know it wasn't a real piano in the studio, I guess except for the fact that I just told you. Haha let's keep that our little secret. :)

I was a bit anxious to bring Jered into the studio. He has met Randor before and digs his work, but he hadn't been to the studio yet to see for himself just where we'll be making this record. His opinion means THE WORLD to me and I want the three of us (Jered, Brent and myself) to be the creative facilitators on this record. These boys are the ones whose opinions and ideas are going to fuel this thing. I know what I want and don't want, but sometimes the difference between one acoustic guitar and another, or the difference between the way one cymbal rings vs. another gets a bit over my head. I'm really lucky to have these boys around to guide me and help me make these decisions together.

As I'm singing through these songs that I've written over the past few years I'm reminded of the people I wrote the songs for, or about. Some of them are still in the same place they were when I wrote the song but for the most part everyone has really grown up and changed. I haven't had a live show since September so I haven't really put myself emotionally into the songs for about over a month. Everytime I sing the songs I've written they take me back to when I wrote them, and what I was going through, what I was feeling. I think this record is going to have a very versatile feel to it for song content. I hope when it's finished people really feel the songs. I want people to be touched by the words I've written. I want them to get to know me through my songs, but also for them to get to know themselves or get a revelation of themselves and who they are. Again, I'm getting ahead of myself as I always seem to do. I just can't contain this feeling. It's going to be a rollercoaster for the next six months making this record. Good thing I love rollercoasters!

My lovely charts.

Brent on keys..

Listening back to it all...


Randor obviously enjoying himself. ;)

More to come...

a record of making my record...

So usually I just use this blog as a casual place for me to jot down songwriting ideas, or full songs, or the odd vent about life but that is about to change!
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.

grace like rain

verse
i'm longing for a peace, that transcends my understanding
my spirit is so weak but your love is never ending
your truth is all i need and i'm finally surrendering my heart, to you

new mercies everyday, even though i am not worthy
i get lost along the way, but you still reach out to help me
i stumble and you wait, for me to get back on my feet and live my life, for you

chorus
your grace, like rain
is falling down, on me

your grace, is like a flood
it fills me up, and sets me free

back to you

*a new song i'm working on. not autobiographical incase you were wondering. a story of losing your way and then finding your way back.

verse
i don't like who i've become today
it seems the worst has got the best of me
how did i fall so hard, and fall so fast
i never felt quite this hopeless

chorus
but i'm finding my way, back to you
you know my heart, you know the truth

verse two
i know old habits are hard to break
i get a little closer with every breath i take
how did i ever think this was ok
i'm worth too much to just give it all away

chorus
and i'm finding my way, back to you
you know my heart, you know the truth

better things

*wrote this song after receiving a bunch of rejection letters from various funding programs, showcase opportunities, etc. receiving these letters is a standard part of my life these days, but on this particular day i decided to sit down and write out the frustrations.


verse
someday i'm gonna show you
that i am, strictly self sufficient
that's a promise i'll hold on to
until this restlessness is nonexistent

i'm gonna prove, that i can do
anything i want to
i don't need your self righteous help
i can do this by myself
without you, because

chorus
i believe in better things
i believe in happy endings
i believe in conciously moving forward
i believe in so much more
than this

verse two
this power of injustice will only,
push these feelings further
so sick and tired of this,
fight to make all of it matter

i'm gonna prove, that i can do
anything i want to
i don't need your superficial help
i can do this by myself
without you, because

chorus
i believe in better things
i believe in happy endings
i believe in conciously moving forward
i believe in so much more
than this

piece of my heart

verse
i heard about an old friend today
he died so unexpectedly
he wasn't that much older than me

it got me thinking about the ones i love
and if i tell them even near enough
exactly what they mean to me

chorus
so this, this is for you
for everything you do
for everything you are

if my life, suddenly runs out
you'll never have to doubt
you had a piece of my heart
you know you have a piece of my heart you know you have a piece of my heart

verse

you love me like nobody else
make me feel like i can be myself
even when i'm feeling down

no matter what might come my way
you'll always have a part of me
so i'm telling you right here, right now

chorus
that this, this is for you
for everything you do
for everything you are

if my life, suddenly runs out
you'll never have to doubt
you had a piece of my heart
you know you have a piece of my heart
you know you have a piece of my heart

woman of integrity

*i recently wrote this song after being named the JACOB AMBASSADOR. i wanted to read their mission statement, and find out what being a part of this company meant. their company's values are integrity, passion, authenticity, respect and team spirit. what a great thing to be a part of! www.jacob.ca

verse

i'm just trying to make my way

through this crazy world we're livin' in

so i'm takin it day by day

and I live my life with a passion

prechorus

there's so many ways that i could go

i choose to take the highest road

chorus

because i am a woman of integrity

aware of my own beauty

living life as honestly as i know how and

i am a woman of humility

respect and authenticity

and i'm never backing down

because i am a woman of integrity

of integrity

verse

always cautious with my words

because i know they can life somebody up

instead of inflicting hurt

i choose to shower my surroundings with love

prechorus

with so many things that i could be

i work to bring out the best in me

chorus