Ellis Easley - Recording my new album at the river
What’s the best way for me to jump into this? Whether it’s head first, feet first or actively tumbling, remains to be seen. But it certainly feels like a jump, whatever the result of the landing.
I’ve spent the last couple years here at home putting together a nice comfortable home studio in which I can write, record, mix, master and all that. And yet, here I am, ready to record my first full Ellis Easley album in almost 4 years, and I’ve been largely confined to my house for 9 months due to pandemic reasons. And I feel I need a change of scenery for this. I’m fortunate enough to have an option here: a small family owned house in a quiet neighborhood near the Guadalupe River.
Yes, I’m going to pack up just about every bit of equipment I own and transport my studio and instruments. There’s something about being a musician for x number of years in that you get to a point where no amount of gear is too much gear to move. So I’ll make the 45 minute drive and rebuild a suitable environment inside the house while enjoying the ever-suitable environment outside of the house when possible.
I’ve heard of so many different songwriting processes, as well as tried many variations myself over the years. To spare you reading through a list of different ways to write, record and fully produce your own album, I’ll just stick to talking about how I’m doing it this time around.
LYRICS FIRST!!
At the point of writing this post, I have lyrics written for 16 songs. I imagine when this is done, I should have a finished album of 11-12tracks; maybe 2-3 singles released separately; maybe trashing a couple. But that is part of the thrill, deciding how to fit these together in a cohesive delivery.
Before I began writing these songs I centered around a general theme, though I will keep that to myself for the moment. For now, let’s just say that I made an effort to write slowly, and in better penmanship than I ever have before, and in doing so, it gave back a deliberate, wholesome feel (similar to the experience of using a typewriter). Shaping each letter, to construct each word as a process nudged me into a more conscious state of mind while writing these. This may sound like complete bogus to some, and that’s fair. I’ve come to appreciate it.
… from “Protagonist”
Sometimes I pick a poetic structure, sometimes there’s a beat in my head, and other times I will embrace the loveliness of wild ramblings that come out in mouthfuls of jumbled prose. But when all is said and done, I have the starting line. In the weeks leading up to recording-week, it’s been time to sit down with the guitar, piano, drum kit or VST and start putting some tunes and vocal melodies to words. Reluctantly scratching out my painstakingly neat (for me) handwriting to reform the words into something that will sound like a song. It’s a beautiful grind.
So what happens next? Well, I suppose I get to work. Some songs that I put to acoustic guitar or piano are just that: acoustic versions. In being my own producer I am preparing to be fully disconnected from these acoustic songs so that I can magically turn them in to more. Not to poo-poo on acoustic songs of course. They will live on, and be performed as such through performance and video and all that. But I am fully prepared to Frankenstein the hell out of these things.
Which brings me to my final preparatory blog topic. Musical Palate.
Acoustic guitar. Electric guitar. Bass guitar. Drums. Mandolin. Piano. Violin. Viola. Cello. English horn. Electronic things.
It’s a rugged, brooding, hopeful indie adventure, and I hope that you all will accompany me in some form. Each coming day will produce God-knows-what and I will be updating this blog in the process.
Thank you all so much, and stay well.
EE
