The next part of the chronicles of a forthcoming recording project. If you missed part 3, you can find it here.

I credit myself as the producer of Valley of Shadows, the first and only album from my band, The Sheltering Sky.^ Thing is, I was a clueless producer. Come to think of it, I barely understood what a producer did.

I have a better grip on things now. With that being said, I understand now that the previous album effort was … well, “half-assed” is a little cruel. “All over the place” is a little more accurate. My ADHD-addled brain would skip from one thought to the next, partially acting on each one, until I saw the next shiny object.+

Not this time.

There are too many moving parts to this project to leave everything to chance. And that’s where my little black notebook and a mechanical pencil come into play.

Yes, I still use pencil and paper now and then. I find things tend to stick in my head when I write my thoughts down instead of using a keyboard. This may not matter to others, but physical contact tends to help me more than hurt.

The thing about open-ended projects is that there’s always the worry of an idea slipping away before it can be explored. The average album produces eight to ten songs. Well, I already have concepts for at least 15 tunes. If I don’t keep track of them, they’ll run away.

So, the notebook is about details. Song names, arrangements, guest musicians where needed, instruments of choice, guitar processor settings, desired cameos, and so on. As long as I have the notebook, I’ll have a sense of direction, even if I stop a song midway through its production, which has been known to happen.

When I come up with an idea or think of a song I’d like to cover, the first thing I do is look at the wall where my guitar’s hang. The axe with the sound I need will reveal itself, then I can move forward. Una (my Number One Stratocaster) will no doubt do the heavy lifting, but she won’t always hade the sounds I need. Then I’ll have to switch it up.

But for now, the guitar priority is simply to practice toward being a much better player come February and the months beyond. The work I’ve been doing on Pink Floyd’s “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” is already paying off. Not only am I learning killer guitar parts, but all the string bending is both improving my technique and influencing soloing thought processes for my own tunes. Influences are everywhere.

Things are heading in the right direction.

^ This is also the first time I’ve referred to the Sky as MY band. It’s true, as I was the only one of the four members completely dedicated to the project and nothing else musical. I’m not out here to finger-point. I simply have the benefit of 20-plus years of hindsight.

+ I’ve been asked more than once why I share my mental health issues in public. Because mental health matters and too many people are afraid to talk about it. I have no problem discussing it because I want just one person to learn about my struggles, which could enable them to face their own and seek help. That makes it worthwhile to me. If you think my honesty is “TMI,” that’s on you.

#cirdecsongs

If you would like to have your music reviewed, contact me at cirdecsongs@gmail.com