The strange (yet wonderful) world of Recording

As you may know I've been gradually recording my 3rd album "The Light Broke In" with the very able recording engineer Richard Parsons of Rooflight Production.  I have also recently indulged myself by getting a copy of Cubase Artist 7.5 and an audio/midi interface for my P.C.

So, I thought I'd give you an insight into the two very different worlds of recording - home alone, and away with friends.

The discipline required for recording in a studio is huge.  First of all, you become aware of time as money in a way that has previously escaped you.  You also become completely unaware of time until it has disappeared in an 8 hour chunk and you have achieved a lot less than you came in believing you would.  So, it's all about having a plan, making sure things are set up correctly, and that the musicians you are working with are up to speed and happy.  That said, I've been a little less than conventional on this point.  I had written 10 songs on acoustic guitar/piano but was presented with a whole toolbox of fun of adding/layering and arranging songs with creative minds in the studio to help me.  So, the recording process became not just documenting what I'd written, but further embellishing, enabling and letting the songs take flight in a new way.

I guess the best example I can give of this is "Last Out of the Valleys" which began life as a slow, Mississippi inspired blues number, languid in pace and soulful in the vocals.  Once we got in the studio I had the urge to "funk it up" a little, and with the addition of Patrick Sanders on Electric rhythm guitar giving it the full Nile Rogers, it took on a new life.  It is still the same core song, same chords, same lyrics, but with a new shaft of light cast on it from a different angle.  That, for me, is the beauty of collaboration, not only with the musicians, but the recording engineer, and others involved throwing their pearls of wisdom into the mix.  It makes for a very interesting (if sometimes arduous and frustrating) process.  Anne-Marie Helder often describes her albums as her children, and she is right in the fact that they take a lot of nurturing, looking after and coaxing to be brought into the world.  The other part of that is letting go, even though it might seem not yet complete, because at some point it needs to make its own mark on the world.

Something which made the most recent recording session even more interesting was having a completely uninitiated visitor in the shape of Clive Hewes.  Clive said some time ago "I've seen studios on the television, and watched documentaries about recording, but I've never seen it in the flesh".  I invited him along to Rooflight Studios, and it was a joy to see his fascination unfold as we pieced together a song, worked on harmonies etc.  His reaction to the songs was wonderful to watch, as was his realisation of the hard work which goes in to making an album sound good.  Clive is a true music love, a true supportive and generous fan so to be able to give him something back in the shape of an experience was truly worthwhile.

So, on to the "Home Alone" approach.  Sometimes, you just need a gently lit room, a stick of incense and a raft of instruments to chose from to get inspired.  The freedom that digital recording at home gives is that time is of no consequence, and you can record as many layers as you like.  The danger is of course, no sleep and no finished tracks.  So, to solve that issue I requested the lovely people on Facebook to set me challenges of writing instrumentals on subjects that they provided me with.  I have completed 3 out of the 8 suggestions provided so far, which range from the sublime to the bizarre and beyond :)  These little ditties can be found at Songs From The Hobbithole.

I suppose the thing all of us, musicians and music fans alike is that recording, however, wherever and whenever you do it, is a creative process which takes time, effort, discipline and often money to get right.  The end product may not be to everyone's taste, but as long as it was created with integrity, passion and the desire to communicate ideas to others, then it's all worthwhile.

It's been a long long time, hasn't it?

Well, over 2 years to be precise!  The lack of a home computer after my lap-top power-supply decided to die meant that I was restricted to either using the Library computers or work computers in my lunch hour, which, as you'll understand is not conducive to a continuous relationship with the blogisphere.

Well I'm now back in the world of home computing, and a whole lot has happened in those two years.  Last time I blogged, I was about to support Panic Room for the first time, on the summer launch gigs of their album S K I N.  Since then I supported them on their full tour in November/December 2012 and in a lovely bit of serendipity on the 13th of June (almost 2 years to the day since the first time) I was invited to support Panic Room at The Robin2 in Bilston.  A very different set from first time as new songs have been written since and a new album is being recorded, but an old favourite of both mine and Jonathon Edwards' "Who Knows Where the Time Goes" by Sandy Denny was included for old time's sake, as was "The Delicious Company of Freaks" of course.

So, what's happening right now?  Well, I've formed a band to play my next album with me both in the studio, and later on the road, all the latest news about that can be found on my new website http://www.howardalansinclair.co.uk.

I am now also back in the world of the television viewer, but since my move to a one bed flat in the leafy parts of Cheltenham, it is less of a drain on my time, and is only watched when either something really good is on, or when I've done all the other important things I need to do and just want to wind down.

I am also once again the owner (well, borrower for the time being, it's on hire) of a Cello.  It was the first instrument I ever mastered as a child, and since there are at least two songs on this album which need Cello, I decided it was time to literally add another string to my bow.  It's been lovely rekindling my love for the sound and feel of the Cello, and I'm looking forward to using it in a number of ways.  A fantastic half hour or so was spent jamming on Cello with a good friend Magic Andy on the Lap Steel.  An unusually haunting and sensuous combination of sounds and one I'm going to start working with in my home studio for some instrumental projects, keep an eye on ReverbNation and Soundcloud for new tunes!

So, I'll keep it short for this first blog after a long break, but I'll be back when I have something more profound and thought provoking to say.  In the mean time, stay delicious, freaks :)