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.