I got another life lesson while running the other day. Hills. They can either kill your morale, or light a fire under you. I might not be the fastest or strongest runner, but I don't often let a hill get the best of me. Yet I've felt myself slowing down in other ways lately. There are so many obstacles in my path. Haven't I worked and sweat enough? I've become accustomed to the comfortable pace of 2 steady piano jobs (which I'm  more  than grateful for), but my original goal when moving here, was to song write and record. A process which is proving to be more time consuming and complicated than I would have ever imagined. Just when I think I see the finish line, another hill arises in my path.  That's when I'm reminded of the old saying (and excuse the cliche) it's not the destination, but the journey that's important. And so with each step, I admire the view around me and appreciate more than ever those miles stones that I pass along the way.  Ch...

There is an episode of the comedy TV show,  30 Rock , that I find has become quite relevant to me when recording for my album. The finished product of a song is flawless, perfect, smooth. But the road getting to that outcome is a  very  different story.  In this episode, Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin), records a business presentation. His staff watches the segment and is impressed with his impeccable deliverance of the lines, his eye contact, and his overall demeanor. They praise him as a "natural" on camera and ask him to make a guest appearance on their live TV show, to which he agrees. However, they get a hold of the outtakes from his recording session and are immediately terrified of how he will do on live TV. Click here for the hilarious clip of before and after. There are days when I've had to record one word of one lyric a half dozen times or more, just to get the pronunciation right, or the pitch just perfect, or the timing right on. But you'd never know it l...

I thought I'd share part of another nearly complete track from my album that I'm working hard on with Modern Vintage Recordings.  It is HARD to do background vocals! Since I've written these songs myself, I've only heard the melody in my head for  so  long, that it's difficult to hear new harmonies. Thank goodness for Jason Cummings who has harmonies oozing out his ears and has arranged most of these.  This video was taken directly after we finished background vocals for "How I Say Goodbye." Definitely the most upbeat and country sounding track on the album. Actually more like "ho-down" sounding. But it's a fun song. Enjoy! (And keep in mind, the track is far from being refined, mixed, and mastered).  Here are posts as I chronicle my album recording with Modern Vintage Recordings: 1 .  Optimistic Gamble 2.  Sophie's Choice 3.  Pre-Production Meeting Two 4.  Redeemed 5.  To Accordion or not to Accordion, that is the Question 6.  ...