Listening back to something I've recently recorded usually involves cringing at every flaw, questioning my competency as a musical person, and then comforting myself with the knowledge that the next attempt will be more successful. Every new song/performance/album is an opportunity to improve, develop and reinvent, and I know I will soon move on from this batch of music. But at this minute I'm actually very happy, proud, and attached to these 3 songs and the way they were expressed in the studio. Here's how it all happened:
About a year ago I responded to a craigslist post by some guy in seattle looking to connect with other northwest musicians. We started talking about music, recording, and our favorite artists. This seattle guy, Justin Freund, invited me up to his house to do some recording-- just me, no band, and no subtle ultimatums of payment or collaboration. He just liked my songs and wanted to record them in a way that would bring them to life (as opposed to recording them to death with plastic microphones and garageband...which is what I tend to do when left to my own devices.) We set a date in early spring for me to head up there (despite my mom's concern that Justin was actually a serial murderer). Then I ran into some tendonitis issues and had to take a break from guitar playing....(not a new thing for me). We pushed the date back, and further back, and then kind of stopped trying to reschedule. I was in a rather foul mood. I started writing songs. Lots of them. "Poplar Trees" is about someone leaving (the earth, your life, whatever) before you think they should. "Young Love" wonders if that first crush is actually the truest of loves, and if the rest is just a cruel diluted imitation. Australia is an invocation for a new start, a violent rebirth. Not exactly sappy love party songs-- this music definitely had a darker shade. I finally made it up to Justin's in the fall and we hit it off famously. The songs took shape in a cozy wood floored room overlooking Lake Washington. It rained, the fireplace heated the house, the dog slept on the couch, and we recorded allllll day long. And the songs changed. They adapted the comfort of the house (you can even hear the screen door and front porch rain drops on Australia) and the hopeful feeling of meeting a new friend who is willing to donate time and energy without expecting anything in return. So put on a pair of headphones, dim the lights, and enjoy!