The music and musings of a rock singer, songwriter, guitarist whose name is a little hard to spell.
...and home of on-again, off-again alternative rock band, Weszt.
Project: Ashen Mix/Blisters
Status: Rough demo
Oh hell yeah – I love this f’ing song. Abandoned the original verse after a few suggestions from my good friend, JW, wrote most of the lyrics while driving a U-Haul from Oregon to L.A., and was inspired to write it while watching skateboarders in Budapest and London. Rich history for a song I believe sums up the direction for Ashen Mix.
Don’t get the wrong idea – I’ll be living there. Already am, as a matter of fact, but recording is still on hold while we search for a more permanent residence. Excited to be here and with all the energy of Southern California, I’d be surprised if that all doesn’t have an influence on the music.
However, not all is wine and roses. U-Haul got robbed during our move and both Weszt-era Guild Jumbo 12-strings were stolen along with a Variax which we used to duplicate the sitar and other studio only sounds. A lot of love and history in those acoustics and a terrible way to close a chapter. I try not to think about the loss. Still doesn’t seem real. We will try to replace them, but how can you replace things like that? At least my bass and Fender Strat were in the other car.
So for now, I’ll be focusing mostly on lyrics, new song ideas, and getting used to Los Angeles. Big change from Corvallis, Oregon, I assure you, but a good one. I’m more than thrilled to be close to rock bands again. Ready to rejoin them.
That’s about it for now.
Unfortunately the Ashen Mix sessions are on hold for the moment as I relocate to a new home and state. More on that soon.
Despite travel, a massive head cold, and an ear infection, writing continues. I’m collaborating a little as well with an old friend so that’s added a new influence to the mix (*cough*) which so far has produced exciting results. I’ve got several new songs going, though I’m taking the opportunity away from the studio to focus on lyrics and other ideas.
For fun, can you guess from this picture where I’ve been lately?
Yes, I actually have blistered my fingers trying to perfect the guitars for the new recording.
So it looks like the new release will be called “Like Warm Honey” – album name, not the name of the “group”. Still plenty of time to change one’s mind, but that name’s stuck for a while now.
Here are the names of the songs that look to make the initial release:
There are many others in the works, but these so far look like they will be the first. I plan to release a few initially and then the others as they wrap up.
Hopefully soon you’ll hear the damn group name!
I tell you what, this whole DIY, lo-fi, do-or-die recording experience is a roller coaster. Exciting one minute, depressing the next. But all in all, the tracks just keep getting better.
This week has been almost entirely recording bass and guitar. Then recording them again. And yet again.
Performance is everything.
It’s entirely possible that I can copy and paste what I need but that’s crap. That’s sterile and the music will sound that way. I’m already relying on the computer for my drum sounds (nothing programmed, just the sounds) but that musician is tight. There’s no wiggle room with that guy, you’ve got to hit your marks every day time.
When I started this whole process, I’d never really played bass. Took me a while to get any measure of skill and there’s no guarantee I’ll be considered a real bass player when I finish. However it’ll be tight and I’m already proud of the work.
“Great Escape” is likely to be the opening track and I’m more or less working on songs in order of release… so hopefully I give my fingers a short break from tracking soon. Hard to type with all my fingers aching!
Weszt's morningafterlife EP
on sale now
