So I ended up actually getting the Pro Tools sessions and redoing the mixes for the first couple songs on the LOFTS record. Holy shit. These songs are seriously amazing. I’ve put one up on my studio page, called “It’s True.”
I’m *so excited* for this record to come out. We need to find these guys a label. Have a listen to the track … anyone have any ideas what indie label would put this out?
I’m mastering a record today and tomorrow for an excellent band out of New York called LOFTS. Epic MBV-inspired noisy post-rock. Excellent record. I’m excited to share it with you all!
Cool news … I’m finally able to announce that I’ve been hired to make some recordings with an excellent band from San Francisco called dot punto! (Yes, with no capital letters. And I believe a period at the end.) I would call what they do … indie latin pop, perhaps? At any rate it’s going to be a super fun project. I actually signed on to do it in December, but it was a surprise Christmas gift to the band from the drummer’s boyfriend, and I had to keep quiet about it until the band found out. What a cool gift. It looks like we’ll be tracking maybe in April. Watch this space!
I’m just finishing up mastering a new EP for an “art rap” artist from San Antonio named Bryson Brooks. That’s his real name! You don’t see a lot of that in rap. It’s probably because he’s primarily a visual artist. How refreshing.
The EP is far out. It’s produced by my friend Gordon Raphael (Strokes/Regina Spektor). Lots of glitchy synths and sub-bass. As far as I can tell, all the songs are about women’s rear ends, and some are also about drugs. Perfect!
Seriously though, it’s good; check it when it comes out. I believe the first video is coming out at the end of the month; I’ll post the single on my studio page when it’s out!
I just sent off a revised master for The Ampersands record, and I’m feeling like this might be the one! I cannot WAIT for you guys to hear this. It’s a really excellent record all the way through.
This record was a total labor of love, both on the part of the main Ampersand, Aaron McQuade, and then on my end. We took our time with this, went back and forth and tweaked it a lot, and really focused in on both the individual songs and then the sequencing and pacing. Christ, we easily spent 8 hours just working on the transitions. I’m telling you, it’s *detailed*.
I feel like I brought a lot to this record and I’m going to be very proud to have it come out (it’s looking like an early spring release). Stay tuned; I’ll update this space as I learn more, and I’ll hopefully be posting a couple “sneak preview” songs very soon!
I did the first couple of rounds of mixes on the new Chris Bathgate record this week. Wow! This is going to be such a cool record. Sorry I haven’t posted in a minute; between touring with Shannon and mixing stuff here it’s been non-stop lately.
I also did a test mix this week for a really cool, dark goth/shoegaze project out of LA … fingers crossed I get picked to do the record, it promises to be super cool.
I’m heading out again in the morning with Shannon, up to the Northwest — we’re stopping en route tomorrow night in Oakland, where I’m mixing a live set for our friends Tremor Low. If you’re in that area you should consider coming to the show; the whole bill is good and it should be a great night.
I’m mastering some tracks today & tomorrow for my new friend Gordon Raphael! You might know him from producing records for The Strokes and Regina Spektor, among others. Fun fun.
Awesome news! I just got the gig to mix Chris Bathgate’s next record. I did a test mix for him last week of a song called Big Ghost (*amazing* song), and it went great, and I just got the good news a few days ago.
I’m really excited about this. I completely fell in love with Chris’s last record, which if you don’t know it, is a stunning tour de force of poetic imagery and bleak lyricism; check it out on Spotify. I’m thrilled to be working with another artist whose work I hold in such high regard, and I can’t wait to share it with everyone!
I just found out belatedly that Jens’s record debuted at #7 on the AIMS top 200 chart! Top ten! Woohoooooo! :)
Pitchfork gave the Jens Lekman EP a 7.9! Read Brian Howe’s very thoughtful review here:
http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/15850-an-argument-with-myself/
“There isn’t a wasted moment. Each song does something distinct both sonically and lyrically.” NICE!
