It’s Elementary is finally out! It’s actually kind of crazy. I’ve been working on some of these songs on and off for over two years! I started my Master’s Degree program in 2024, and as part of my degree in Music Technology, I was writing and recording songs all the time. I wrote and recorded a bunch, and these four songs were a big part of my capstone project, the culmination of my studies.
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As I listen back, I can hear the imperfections. There are things that I would do differently. But as I listen, I am proud of what I was able to accomplish. And, with all the AI craziness in the world right now, some imperfection, some humanity, is probably what we need right now! I was very often on tight deadlines to get projects done, and a big part of this EP was my desire to bring in local musicians to perform on it. I didn’t want it to just be me in my studio, crafting MIDI sounds and playing bass. I wanted full compositions. I wanted to involve as many musicians as I could, and I wanted these to be more than just extensions of what I do on YouTube. I had more to prove with this album than just taking my bass grooves and putting more musical elements behind them. I had to come away with a project that showcased my abilities as a producer, a recording engineer, and a mix engineer, and had to prove that my humble home studio could really accomplish a full album project. And I believe I accomplished all of that! Things were tight in the studio. My wife and kids were very patient with me as I made lots of noise, and as I listened to these tracks over and over and over again! So many listening tests on so many different speakers, all trying to train my ear to mix better and to hear little details that we so often ignore. You would think that after working on this project for so long, and working crazy hours to make these songs happen, that I would be tired and ready to just release this music and move on to something else. But no! I’m already working on the next single, recording singles for another band I work with, and planning out more recording projects. Recording this EP was more than just a homework assignment. This project was a journey of self-discovery, where I found that producing, recording, and mixing are my thing. I don’t get tired of it. I don’t get bored with it. I just keep on working on projects, and it keeps being fun and engaging. I love the variety. I love the challenge. I (for some reason) love the subjective nature of making music; there’s no wrong way to make music so long as it sounds good! And so I will continue working toward making this recording studio work for me! And I hope you enjoy the album!