Travisty Music

Ryan has officially finished sample replacing the kick and snare drum hits on the Travisty album using Trigger, giving the live performances laid down by Brandon Allen of Heavywater and the sample drum kits an overall studio feel. This was along drawn out process that saw its fair share of DAE errors, but after a quick trip to fry’s for a new hard drive we’re back on track. Next we will be doing a follow up to the “Travisty Demo’s” podcast to discuss the evolution of myself as a musician/engineer and the album, making the final mixing notes.

As the summer heat blazed outside the studio the session today inside was smokin’. Ryan and I have successfully completed the first song for Travisty, thats 1 down 14 to go! Ryan and I were able to track and mix the final vox (baring a recently conceived vocal harmony in the chorus) and final guitar on the hard driving, hard hitting jam “Swallow My Smile.” I was able to defy MY nature and play the guitar part in a single take, not my specialty but today was a rare occasion. We were also able to track the final acoustic guitar for Until it Walks Away, achieving a perfectly blended sound of bright and crisp with the help of Ryan’s homemade go-bo. Nearing completion of this project is a slow climb up but each step brings more into view and its looking pretty sweet at the top.

One year ago today we  started this travesty of a mockery of a shame I laughingly refer to as my album. Truth be told any and all work we accomplished on that first 10 hour day back in 09, was completely scratched and has long since become null and void. So I guess its all in a days work. This year things are a little different. Today Ryan and I worked on our favorite song our preverbal sword o’ Damocles if you will, “Until it Walks Away.” The first song I tried to record and successfully failed at playing it to a click track. This particular song need something desperately to help it evolve, so in stepped father time. No wait, thats just Grandpa Joe and his mandolin. Thank’s Grandpa! So we laid down a beautiful little mandolin accompaniment and called that song a wrap. What a difference a day makes. A few more days of work laying down orchestra strings and on to final vox and guitar.

Well, after a long 10 hour marrathon session in the studion, Ryan has officially laid down and reamped all the bass tracks for the Travisty album. The long and winding road still has a few curves up ahead, but we’re rounding third and we’re on our way home now. We also enlisted the services of Cameron Mooney to lay down piano on track #13, and lay it down he did. Its a beautiful peice of music that gave the song the emotion that it desperatly needed, and for that I thank you.

Though its true I beat to a different drummer, for the time being it’s nice to let someone else do the work for a change. So now thanks to Brandon Allen of Heavy Water and Ryan Canestro, Travisty is now fully loaded and rock solid. Going back Wed. we’ll see what comes of that, we could be rounding 3rd on the home stretch!

Well, the tide has come and gone and as the waves inevitable wash away what’s written in the sand,  heavywater has cleared the beach so to speak of any visible trace of footprints. With the slate wiped clean, I walk away a little wiser and little lighter in my load. My thanks go out to the guys for their contributions to this effort and for helping me get one step closer to realizing a dream.

As the winter solstice looms over me like an ominous, yet oddly familiar and comforting cloud, I can’t help but reflect back on the long journey to the peak. The Winter Solstice is one of three important experiences that I’ve had in my life (the first was May 13 2001 my 21st “Deathday” and the most recent my mother’s passing Dec 14 2008) that truly define what you see and hear today. Looking back on it now it was heaven and hell, genius and insanity, yin and yang. It was my becoming. This time in 2002 I sat perched upon a Rocky Peak, physically and metaphorically. Satan right by my side, oh wait that was Toegee. It had been a long time coming and as I stood there, looking out across the valley I’ve come to love, I realized I was fully awaken. Consciousness became my mantra and wisdom my guide. Now I stand crest on another precipice, high, and for once the future is looking brighter on the horizon. Today was the originally recording date for the album, but as fate would have it, it just wasn’t meant to be. So now I count the days until the universe shows its love with Heavy Waters presence. 13 Days, 13 Tracks. My lucky number.

After a long drawn out negotiation a deal has been struck and its official. Orange Counties own Heavy Water has graciously stepped up and offered their services. My thanks in advance to all the guys. The band will make their way back to Ditch Road Records to record the entire Travisty album (God Wiling) in one day. The last minute replacement has put a whole new spin on the album and I’m more than excited to see what form the beast will take next!!! Gentlemen. Are you ready Rock? Oh I know that you are!!!

After recently purchasing Pro Tools 8, I’ve taken the reins, so to speak, in the last few months to really lay down the basic rubble that I call my foundation. The Demo’s have come a long way since the interview, and now they resemble something more like songs and less like circus music for the mentally deranged. But with the tireless work of Ryan Canestro and Ditch Road Records, as of 4am December 10th, the album is officially ready for the professionals to take over!

The “Travisty Demos” podcast is up and running, just click music and listen to the entire album’s demo cuts. Also the official yrics for the entire album are now available, just click on the lyrics.