"Use what you have" -- The release of my first album, "Feel Better" is very exciting for me. I definitely think that I'll - uh - Feel Better when it's out there. Here are the basics: There are 11 original songs on the album. All are written by me. All piano and vocal parts are me, too. When you hear that tasty bass come in, that's Zev Katz (Hall&Oates). Thank you Zev! The recording took place in Williamsburg, Brooklyn on my very own baby grand. My dear baby grand had a few more problems than I first suspected, but between me and the wonderful Russian piano technicians (see picture below), we worked out the issues. Fits and starts occurred in the recording process due to the almost never-ending construction out the window and in the hallway. The studio-apartment converted into just a studio for about 8 days. My talented friend, Gerardo Giraldo was the fabulous recording engineer for the week. One of my goals for this project was for it to be a very true experience of my songwriting, my voice, my piano playing, and my life. I tried my best to "use what I have" and not go looking in all sorts of directions and get caught on trails leading me somewhere I'm not yet ready to go to... I play the songs just how I practice them. No overdubs. No fancy effects. I think it's a good place to start in general. You gotta take care of what you're given. It's no easy task. Doing the thing right in front of you can be the most challenging. But I am so grateful that I had enough time to write, record, and produce this album. I really hope that as you listen to these eleven songs, you will feel better - especially if life has recently gotten you down. Oftentimes, my whole being aches for the souls and wounds of people around me. I barely ever have answers, but sometimes... I have memories, I have stories, I have ideas, and when all these collide, I have songs. Russian piano technician! Moving Blankets come in handy!
5 Comments
|
Anna Paddocksinger-songwriter Archives
April 2016
Categories |