Days 1+2 = What?

So, with 2.5 weeks to bang out an album, 4 years after my last recording I headed into the studio for the first time.
It was pretty nerve-racking. I've never been a fan of studio recording - the task requires me to function as an instrumentalist, vocalist, writer, producer, arranger and wearing these hats all at once can get me neurotic and really mess with my performance...
which is why I was so surprised to find myself flying through the parts with ease, confidence and sounding great. WHAT? where did that come from? Not that I don't believe in myself, it just never came that easily before, I was shocked and proud of myself. Within 2 days and 9 hours of studio time I finished 4 songs, including all piano and vocal parts. And they are sounding awesome.

So, what was different this time around? Why did this work?

Here are some thoughts I will definitely be keeping for the future:

1. THE STUDIO ENVIRONMENT - Recording at "Dragonfly" with accomplished and eccentric musician Robert Sherwood. The studio was small and intimate, with Bob right in the room. No control rooms, no talking through monitors just communicating face to face. It got rid of so much of that usual neurosis, because the environment and Bob were chill and encouraging. Bob himself is an artist and multi-instrumentalist, so he showed a great amount of understanding of the process. Often engineers can get technical and cold, spewing out directions and faults not truly understanding the process of an artist in the studio. The wonderful piano helped...

2. ONE HAT AT A TIME - The thing that gets me most (and got me always) is analyzing my performance as I am playing/singing, or while listening back in the studio. I looked at the performance as a producer, and then tried to think of all the technical things I should change during my next take. It ended up hurting the performance, making it sound technical. That is no way to record and I finally let go. I don't perform like that live, so I chose to not listen back during the session, and only play and sing as if I was on stage. Wearing only the hat of the performer, that mindset was so incredibly helpful and made the performances heartfelt and effortless. Once at home, I would go through my takes and put together the best moment without criticism. Rather with empowerment, I did good.

3. PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE - yes it's been 4 years since "introverse" but throughout that time I was performing (admittedly not much, since baby came along), playing and getting comfortable with the music. I knew it so well that it really didn't take much to perform it, I'd do it in my sleep and feel comfortable.

great first step! onto cello, guitar, and sound design!