Musical Update
Hello my few readers!
Just giving you an update on where things stand musically with me.
At church, the new 249 bands kicked off this past Sunday and I thought it went great. Leading a band is a lot different than playing the drums.. both from a musical standpoint and a leadership standpoint. It’s going to be a great year though and I’m looking forward to it.
I have one of my worship songs ‘in the can’ at the church’s studio. It’s called “Emannuel” and I think you have seen the lyrics to it.. anyways it’s been fully tracked and is in the mixing stage. I’m at a crossroads, however, on how to prioritize my studio ventures. Should I try for a full-band, fully-produced studio EP or try for something more acoustic and less difficult? The latter can be produced quicker and would probably be something like a Hymns EP. The former would be a fully-done, maybe 5-track EP of my music and would take much longer.
What do you guys think? The ‘well-done’ EP, if you will, would include tracks like ‘Beside Me’ in production value but would vary in how they drive (drums, arrangements, etc). The ‘medium rare’ EP, if you will, would be something like just acoustic guitar and vocals on some tracks, just piano and vocals on some tracks, with probably some realistic (hopefully) sounding string samples tossed in occasionally.
I want your opinions. Both EPs would be cool and hopefully I’ll release one of each in the near future, but I do need to get one out of the door so I can get some cashflow going after my car purchase. This EP would not be free
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Thoughts? Opinions? Rebukes? Encouragements?
-Riley
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about 1 year ago
I’m WAY biased towards folk music, so I guess I like the acoustic idea best. I’m not a fan of glossy production, and I find I identify more with the imperfect and the spontaneous.
Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska is still the foremost example of what can happen when an acoustic record is done right. Springsteen was known for his larger-than-life anthems (which I love, by the way), but that album was the best thing he ever did.
about 1 year ago
Both.
about 1 year ago
I’m a big fan of acoustic stuff, but unless by ‘hymns’ you mean ‘worship songs I wrote,’ then I’d say go with the fancy EP. Otherwise, I’d love to hear an acoustic one. It’s just that everyone and their dog has produced a cd of hymns.
about 1 year ago
Why don’t you do a mixture? Have a few grandly produced songs, and a few acoustic-y ones? Or you can just go big and do two separate EPs. But now that you’ve introduced both ideas I don’t think anyone wants to just hear ONE of them! We want both! And by golly, give the people what they want!
about 1 year ago
You forgot option three. Do a House Show.
about 1 year ago
Haha thank you guys for your responses. I think a “combo-EP” is a little hard to do. An album (from my observation) is like a journey. It can have it’s high points and low points.. but it always has the same goal; the same feel; the same vibe. Even if some tracks are upbeat and some low.. the album works well if the whole thing fits together in the same niche under the same motif.
I think I’m going with the acoustic thing. Let me get an acoustic EP out the door, see how it works, and then we’ll go back for more.
Pray for me. The studio is my home right now!