Lots of music is being recorded…multiple projects simultaneously, which I find helps eliminate time-waste. Basically, what I’m doing is to catch a wave on a given project, ride it fully, and then, rather than wait for another wave to come around on the same project, locate another wave on another project. Rinse, lather, repeat until the body of a song is all of a sudden there in front of me for refining. The process has gone from exciting to thrilling, which is giving me more energy than I should have, considering how I’ve been burning the midnight oil. Long-story-short: Stay tuned for tunes! We are weeks away at this point. I can’t wait to see you groove to, and interact with, the music.

Man, what a thrill it is to realize (produce and record) a song you’ve coaxed into existence through the only means possible: achingly focused listening and loving. I mean, there’s the pen-and-paper part of creating that helps locate, explore, whittle down and focus an idea. But the recording part of the process…. Let’s just say it’s beyond exciting to witness a music find it’s way from the ether to the listener.

To experience a music, which, only a short while a go, I could hear only internally, find and excite my ear drum, is magic and defies words. I’m high on the process (and some great, extra-bold Austrian espresso) and can’t wait to get you the music. That said, I’ll wait until it’s worthy of you. You’re the missing link at this point and I miss you in advance.

Sending you cheers and the wish that your Summer is going swimmingly,

David

Hello. I’m happy to report that mixing and mastering on “Cold World” is complete! I’ll be posting the song for you to hear as soon as the site’s music section is ready. The song is based on my grandmother and grandfather’s falling in love at the end of World War II. It’s about humans, love and how the former are capable of the latter, even in a cold, cold world.

If you listen closely, you may hear some playful, intentional noise and other distorted sound elements scattered throughout the piece. (I really had fun with this song, production-wise.) Interesting production tidbits include: (i) I doubled and offset the vocals in places to make them sound a tad crazed and robotic, (ii) I worked a few field recordings and samples (including giant explosions!) into the mix to help establish a war-torn, sonic landscape and (iii) I purposefully degraded the overall sound quality of the finished recording to make it sound as if it were being played through an old, lo-fi speaker, not unlike the kind used in Nazi work camps to play classical music for the incoming prisoners.

One final production tidbit to share: Be sure to listen for partner in life and crime, Marlene Sturm, who, towards the end of the recording, sings with me on the lyric: “take my hand.” It’s her big recording debut!, and, as expected, she assumed the role of pop diva with a confidence few could match:) (Move over Liza.  Ahem.)

And, folks, it’s official!:  I’m THRILLED  to announce that artist, Daniela’s Stochlinski, will be producing a hand-drawn, animated video for “Cold World.” Expect an update on how the video is shaping up and maybe even a teaser trailer too in the not-too-distant future. Daniela and her otherworldly art are going to set the music and your imagination ablaze. Follow the blog and you’ll come to know Daniela on a first-name basis.

Cheers, and stay tuned!,

David

Hello world! And, by world, I pretty much mean, myself, since no one is reading, or even knows about this blog yet. But, hey, why let GLARING realities, like perfect solitude, stop a person from excitedly blathering on at his keyboard, right? RIGHT!

Anywho: I just finished my first recording for this, here, um, recording project and blog. The song is called “A Fine Place to Begin.” It’ll be up soon for you to hear.

For those future readers out there who, by virtue of being merely future readers, can’t possibly know the following: I’ve decided to name the project “Staring at the Walls,” because, for one, staring at the walls is what I do. That is, it’s how I compose. It helps quiet everything but the melody I’ve set about listening for. Another reason for the title “Staring at the Walls,”…and this one ironical…is pretty much everything I’ve done in my life other than music has involved significant periods of me, well, listlessly staring at a wall:) Music!, on the other hand, is on a very short list of things that’s always held, and, thankfully, continues to hold, real magic for me. My goal for the site and the music that will live here is to share the magic I feel when writing and recording with you. Yes, YOU!: the very same folks who, it makes me smile to think, are, for the time being at least, perfectly unaware of this place:)

I’m so excited to begin “Staring at the Walls” with you;) I look forward to seein’ you ’round these parts. ‘Till then, then.

Cheers,

David