Hey, guys!
It is about time for another album update.
What I have loved most about working on my first record is that it has all been so organic. There have been a lot of changes in my personal life and things finally are settling down. I've ended up with a most inspiring woman in my life and this relationship has caused many new songs.
Besides all of that, I have actually turned this record into a bit of a concept album. The concept is basically a metaphor using travel by train to show how far I have come in my life and in my art. The album, if I was able to put it on vinyl, would technically be a short double album divided into two specific sections. Sections one, I have dubbed "8th and Waco" and the second section is (as of now) "25th and Beyond."
I'm not completely sold on those two titles, but I am sold on what they represent. The first section will be a selection of the many songs I wrote while I attended Baylor University, which was the only place I really felt at home in since the Bay Area of California, or before that period in my life when I first started writing songs in 2004.
There are a couple of songs from that time period that will not make the album by virtue or there already being produced by another guy back when I was starting out (shoutout to Steve Collins whereever you are). Those two songs are "dancing under orion" and "city of flames," two cuts I am supremely proud of having made. It was a good experience and gave me more insight into studio work. In any case, those two songs will be released in single form and available for purchase on itunes and the like in the next month.
Anyway, the first 5 songs of the record are related to that epoch of my life. The subsequent 5 songs will be from the period of May 2009 until now. These songs highlight my time living in Denton and various other things about my life for the past three years. So, in keeping with the subway metaphor, I called it "25th and Beyond," as I previously stated.
I plan on putting my interpretations of 1 to 3 songs by other artists I love. The only explanation for this is simply that it is fun to do that, and interpretation and different expressions are what make music beautiful.
So, that is where I am with the album, I've decided that I am fairly sure about 6 out of the many, many songs I have written are going to make the record. They all are in similar phases of polish and just need to be perfected before they are truly ready. The other songs need to be arranged and brought to the fullness of their being.
With that, I bid thee all adieu.
ZK
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Album Update
Hey Everyone!
I am just writing this to show you all where my head is at for this record.
Things are going quite well, a lot of songs are very far along, and this pleases me greatly. Some of the songs need more work, but I feel as though the production aspects are coming along nicely for an overwhelming majority of the songs I have written.
In fact, I've been fairly prolific with my producing and arranging. I have 9 songs that are in excellent position to be strong tracks. Some of the songs are fairly new, while others are ancient and have taken a completely different direction than they were originally written in. I am loving the whole process, actually. I am learning to have patience and to not fret when things do not immediately fall into place. I do have at least 3 months to complete the entire album, after all. I am hoping to release it on my birthday (Oct 13th) when I will turn 25. I feel as though it is going to be a significant year for me, so it seems fitting.
That said, this is my first time really trying to produce and arrange my own material. I have primarily stuck to playing acoustic shows and my first EP lacked real production, as we recorded every track in one take and I merely added the vocals later because I had no microphone for singing. I am trying to figure out how to make this album available for like 2-3 dollars on itunes and everywhere else, just so people can get a feel for how far I've come.
The fact that I am attempting this signifies a jump in both my seriousness about my craft and confidence in my abilities. I am excited for the future!
I lost my train of thought, but I may pop up again to talk about specific songs.
Love and Peace,
ZK
I am just writing this to show you all where my head is at for this record.
Things are going quite well, a lot of songs are very far along, and this pleases me greatly. Some of the songs need more work, but I feel as though the production aspects are coming along nicely for an overwhelming majority of the songs I have written.
In fact, I've been fairly prolific with my producing and arranging. I have 9 songs that are in excellent position to be strong tracks. Some of the songs are fairly new, while others are ancient and have taken a completely different direction than they were originally written in. I am loving the whole process, actually. I am learning to have patience and to not fret when things do not immediately fall into place. I do have at least 3 months to complete the entire album, after all. I am hoping to release it on my birthday (Oct 13th) when I will turn 25. I feel as though it is going to be a significant year for me, so it seems fitting.
That said, this is my first time really trying to produce and arrange my own material. I have primarily stuck to playing acoustic shows and my first EP lacked real production, as we recorded every track in one take and I merely added the vocals later because I had no microphone for singing. I am trying to figure out how to make this album available for like 2-3 dollars on itunes and everywhere else, just so people can get a feel for how far I've come.
The fact that I am attempting this signifies a jump in both my seriousness about my craft and confidence in my abilities. I am excited for the future!
I lost my train of thought, but I may pop up again to talk about specific songs.
Love and Peace,
ZK
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