Tag: Daemon Records

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updates

About two weeks ago I went by Daemon and just chatted. I asked questions about what was going on and how they felt about things. I found out that playing in the band makes my guitarist happy. I found out that the label feels like the CD did very well for them. They did have to repress it, after all, which is always a good thing.

Amy sent out a few packages last week. I don’t expect anything will come from it, but it’s a nice gesture if nothing else. She and Andrea talked a little about me at their last meeting and her advice, basically, was “make more records.” Which I also take to mean they want to put them out, that being sort of implied. One thing that IS certain is that if they put out the next one the budget will be very small. They couldn’t have afforded to pay for the recording on the most recent CD, and I can’t afford to do that again myself. So the next CD will need to be planned out in advance and recorded quickly and efficiently. I have a couple of options for recording, one of which I already know I could afford. But the other happens to be Rob who recorded my last two CDs and I really like what comes out of our relationship in the studio. But I don’t think he’ll be able to record the next CD with what I can afford to pay. The option that I know I can afford is also intriguing for the potentially different sound I would end up with there.

It’s all early right now, I don’t even have enough songs at the moment. I only have half of them written, and another 3 or 4 floating around in my head waiting to be written. I can’t imagine recording before late this year at the earliest. So there’s time to sort this all out.

Meanwhile, I remain unemployed. I made an attempt to talk about what happened with my last client which was received well but no conversation has taken place yet. So I’ll probably have to press the issue, because it’s leaving me hanging right now. My financial situation right now is not good and will come to a head within the next two weeks unless something miraculous happens. Basically, once I get back from the two dates opening for the Indigo Girls I will be in big trouble.

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updates

I have another phone interview Thursday morning with someone named Larry Flick, who apparently is a freelancer who has written for Rolling Stone. This is not to imply that I’m going to be in Rolling Stone, but the label did seem to feel it was a good sign that he was interested and wanted an interview.

Amy has also suggested that I just concentrate on booking solo gigs out of town, even doing open mics, if necessary. They’re fine with me just doing band shows in Atlanta and Athens. So, hopefully I can build up some sort of momentum and then the second or third time around score some band shows out of town.

Speaking of the band (the Million Box) it’s been continuingly difficult to schedule rehearsal for the CD release party in September. I’m not overly worried about the show coming together, but I did sort of have hopes of doing some new stuff, and maybe some cool stuff, which not having many rehearsals is sort of preventing me from doing. I have a couple of shows after the CD release (an in-store at Tower and the Candler Park festival) which I’ll have to find a replacement bassist for, so this becomes more unworkable as time passes. I already knew, since the current band is unable to play anywhere but in town, that I’d need to set up something else around the time of the release but I was worried about anyone’s feeling’s being hurt when I had to end it. but given how much trouble I’ve had over the past few shows trying to schedule things, it makes it a very easy case to make that I need to move on.

It’s getting closer to the release, even though it still doesn’t feel like it. It’s a weird spot to be in, the CD having been finished for a couple of months, with very little feedback while I wait. It’s strange enough recording in a vacuum and wondering if anyone will like it, odder still to have to wait around for the post mortem.

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trying to catch up

You know, I honestly thought that when I quit my job I would have free time. I suppose I should be glad to have genuine things making me busy, but very little of it is anything that is making me money, so in that sense it’s not good. While I had the job the mentality it put me in made it difficult to get other things done. So now I have a 3 month backlog of things to go through and try to get reorganized. Plus I have been getting press kits together and out to book for September around the release of the CD. The house is a mess, including all of my work stuff (and now, when I say work stuff, I mean my stuff, music and design) and so I am spending a lot of time trying to put things in some sort of order so I can feel like I know where I am and what I’m doing.

A little obsessive compulsive? Yeah, I’ve started to realize that. But I don’t feel like I can straighten out my head until everything around me is at least somewhat organized. Somewhere in all that I also need to get more work booked, before my cushion of money dries up.

Anyway, the highlights right now:

I went out to Ryan’s studio to do three songs. Just very basic me-and-the-acoustic-guitar versions so that I have something I can send to acoustic clubs rather than the full-blown versions. The studio he’s put together is really amazing; I honestly don’t know how he’s managed to cram that much amazing equipment into one place. Got it done in short order and once again feel the need to express my gratitude for fitting me in to get it done. I had been listening to board tapes from old Eddie’s Attic shows and just couldn’t find anything I wanted going out in a press kit. So he was a lifesaver, and all is well.

I signed the contract. I am now officially a Daemon recording artist, or more specifically, my CD is now officially licensed by Daemon Records for release in the US and overseas (they just recently signed a deal for European and Australian distribution). They still seem very excited about things. Late at night, when I’m really tired, I allow myself to hope they’re right.

The current list of cities I’m trying to book is: Athens, GA; Knoxville, TN; Nashville, TN; Asheville, NC; and Charlotte, NC. Another batch will probably go out in the next week or so, expanding the area. I’ll keep the out-of-towners updated.

I’m not gone. Not even a little. Actually, I’m suffering from the opposite, I feel like I’m too many places at once, and it’s very difficult to focus and get things done, even though it seems I’m working and doing all the time. Every day I make a list of things to do. Every day I mark a bunch off, and remember another batch. So every day my list seems to get longer rather than shorter. Somewhere along the way I know I’ll get above water. If anyone is feeling neglected please bear with me. My life is in a very odd place, and it’s not a place I have ever been in many ways. So it’s taking some getting used to, and it’s taking a lot more time than I thought just to try to get ahold of it.

Still to come (this is just the big list, not the infinite list of details):
– settling the issue of a band that will tour.
– International Pop Overthrow on July 27 (and I get to see Scott, plus any other west-coasters with time on their hands)
– start calling in support of the kits I’m sending out now
– finding freelance work
– living life at a normal speed
– poster design is due next week for the CD
– new website
– rehearse the Million Box and figure out the plan for the CD release party
– release the CD in September