I'm feeling pretty upbeat about this one, Valentines tomorrow so progress will have to wait until Friday.
I'm really into cooking and usually do most of it, however Zoë has been to Sainsburys to gather an array of ingredients and it's a surprise. So tomorrow is a night for food and wine :-)
Matt
Wednesday, 13 February 2008
Tuesday, 12 February 2008
things to consider...
The problem with doing everything yourself is... well you have to do everything yourself. Write, Record, Produce, Mix, Design, Photograph & Promote. All of this has to be balanced between a fairly busy full-time job but to be honest I get buzz from everything. A good day at work usually means a productive night in the studio and visa versa. Of course I have to consider my family and having a 4 month baby girl also means that time is precious.
I've set a fairly tight schedule of having everything recorded by the end of June so we have a lot to do.
My nights out of the studio are spent working on artwork (and writing this), we have something quite special in mind for the album artwork and packaging so documenting this process is important.
Over the next few weeks and going to intersperse this blog with the non musical process of doing the last album and what we are also doing behind the scenes on this album.
But for now thanks for all the positive feedback we are getting and encouragement in keeping this blog updated.
Mattx
I've set a fairly tight schedule of having everything recorded by the end of June so we have a lot to do.
My nights out of the studio are spent working on artwork (and writing this), we have something quite special in mind for the album artwork and packaging so documenting this process is important.
Over the next few weeks and going to intersperse this blog with the non musical process of doing the last album and what we are also doing behind the scenes on this album.
But for now thanks for all the positive feedback we are getting and encouragement in keeping this blog updated.
Mattx
Monday, 11 February 2008
...in waves
Step 1.
Write idea, usually a simple melody & rhythm
Step 2.
Record Vocal melody, backing vocals, harmonies.
Step 3.
Re-write track around the vocals.
Step 4.
Complete the verse, bridge & chorus. Repeat these parts for the second verse.
Step 5.
Write middle eight, lead out.
Step 6.
Work on the percussion parts, effects & additional sounds.
Step 7.
Final Mix
--
So one track down, another 10 - 12 to go, feels like a massive task.
Made Baz from Electrobelle posh fish & chips last Friday, he admitted he would marry me but there would be no sex, I was fine with that!
Heard his new track and his next two ideas. All sounding good. I did have to point out that Charlie uses the word 'darling' in all three Electrobelle tracks. We had to listen to the tracks so I could be proven right - Baz you owe me £50 + the £50 for the Yazoo ticket, now that was an expensive night out.
Write idea, usually a simple melody & rhythm
Step 2.
Record Vocal melody, backing vocals, harmonies.
Step 3.
Re-write track around the vocals.
Step 4.
Complete the verse, bridge & chorus. Repeat these parts for the second verse.
Step 5.
Write middle eight, lead out.
Step 6.
Work on the percussion parts, effects & additional sounds.
Step 7.
Final Mix
--
So one track down, another 10 - 12 to go, feels like a massive task.
Made Baz from Electrobelle posh fish & chips last Friday, he admitted he would marry me but there would be no sex, I was fine with that!
Heard his new track and his next two ideas. All sounding good. I did have to point out that Charlie uses the word 'darling' in all three Electrobelle tracks. We had to listen to the tracks so I could be proven right - Baz you owe me £50 + the £50 for the Yazoo ticket, now that was an expensive night out.
Thursday, 7 February 2008
A OK
Decided to have a night off and drink some beer and watch Transformers.
After my breakthrough evening I thought I would mail Sarah a link to the progress on 'Into The Blue'
some positive reassurance from Sarah...
From: "Sarah Heeley"
Date: 7 February 2008 10:28:12 GMT
To: "Matt Culpin"
Subject: RE: Phew
wow
-----Original Message-----
From: Matt Culpin
Sent: 06 February 2008 22:47
To: Sarah Heeley
Subject: Phew
Think I have started to crack it...
http://www.northernkind.co.uk/ideas/...
Managed to keep it going in the direction I wanted, need to sort the EQ
out some parts as it's a bit tinny, also need to add some string sounds
and maybe a lead/hook somewhere and maybe the percussion sounds need
some work, ok still quite a bit to do :-)
What do you think?
Me x
A few comments from various people.
- It reminds me of DMs 'Precious' - Wife
- that doesn't sound like you at all - Colleague
- is that the melody from 'Small Town Boy' by Bronski Beat - A Twat
- yeah it's alright - Baz from Electrobelle*
* the only comment I took any notice of.
After my breakthrough evening I thought I would mail Sarah a link to the progress on 'Into The Blue'
some positive reassurance from Sarah...
From: "Sarah Heeley"
Date: 7 February 2008 10:28:12 GMT
To: "Matt Culpin"
Subject: RE: Phew
wow
-----Original Message-----
From: Matt Culpin
Sent: 06 February 2008 22:47
To: Sarah Heeley
Subject: Phew
Think I have started to crack it...
http://www.northernkind.co.uk/ideas/...
Managed to keep it going in the direction I wanted, need to sort the EQ
out some parts as it's a bit tinny, also need to add some string sounds
and maybe a lead/hook somewhere and maybe the percussion sounds need
some work, ok still quite a bit to do :-)
What do you think?
Me x
A few comments from various people.
- It reminds me of DMs 'Precious' - Wife
- that doesn't sound like you at all - Colleague
- is that the melody from 'Small Town Boy' by Bronski Beat - A Twat
- yeah it's alright - Baz from Electrobelle*
* the only comment I took any notice of.
Wednesday, 6 February 2008
Phew...
I was starting to get into a rut with 'Into The Blue' , after recording over the weekend this was the first track I wanted to play with. I quickly changed the original backing to suit the vocals but it wasn't really sitting well. After a couple of days of playing with this track y plan tonight was to wipe the sound-set and the arrangement and to start again. Something I have done quite often with other tracks but I do get a sense of dread as it means starting from a fresh. However I'm pleased to say I persevered with it again another night and fortunately I think I've cracked the basic structure.
My overall plan is to get a track completed each week, quite a tall order considering it took us a year to complete our last album but I would like to have 15 tracks to choose from for the next album.
With 53 Degrees there was a definite attempt to make it sound like a forgotten 80's album. I thought it would appeal to people with my taste in music which I think it certainly did. For this album as I think I have mentioned before I want to develop the sound and make it sound more current. I think 'Into The Blue' definitely has the feel I was hoping for, a little more edgy & futuristic, but still very NK.
Matt
Tuesday, 5 February 2008
(Sarah) New tunes
Yes, Yes, I like your dress
You look a mess
I like it.
- these are just some of the ground-breaking lyrics we are currently working with ;-)
But seriously, it really works and I'm sooooooo excited by the new tracks. Matt and I are really in the swing of things now and I enjoyed our session last weekend a lot. Even if the studio was a bit parky and I had to get the hang of singing with a minimum of 7 jumpers on. Ah well - I like to think it all adds 'character' to the music.
And as for the bed-spread, that pic was of course taken at my granny's house. I have made it a priority to re-shoot the image in the dark, glam electro-style surroundings of my own place.
Tatar for now x
You look a mess
I like it.
- these are just some of the ground-breaking lyrics we are currently working with ;-)
But seriously, it really works and I'm sooooooo excited by the new tracks. Matt and I are really in the swing of things now and I enjoyed our session last weekend a lot. Even if the studio was a bit parky and I had to get the hang of singing with a minimum of 7 jumpers on. Ah well - I like to think it all adds 'character' to the music.
And as for the bed-spread, that pic was of course taken at my granny's house. I have made it a priority to re-shoot the image in the dark, glam electro-style surroundings of my own place.
Tatar for now x
Sunday, 3 February 2008
A productive weekend.
Four new vocals have been recorded, the tracks are called.
THE YES/NO SONG
INTO THE BLUE
DIRTY YOUTH
AUTOMATIC
'DIrty Youth' is instantly the most upbeat and catchy one out of the bunch, but I think 'Into The Blue' is going to be pretty special, another one where my original backing track has already been scrapped, quite a challenging track but the vocals we have recorded are amazing.
Loads of work to do on all of the tracks but I'm really encouraged by this first session.
:-)
THE YES/NO SONG
INTO THE BLUE
DIRTY YOUTH
AUTOMATIC
'DIrty Youth' is instantly the most upbeat and catchy one out of the bunch, but I think 'Into The Blue' is going to be pretty special, another one where my original backing track has already been scrapped, quite a challenging track but the vocals we have recorded are amazing.
Loads of work to do on all of the tracks but I'm really encouraged by this first session.
:-)
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