LEOPARDWOOD JOURNAL RAW

Notes taken while recording guitar and vocals in the Shearer’s Quarters on a station in the outback Australia.

6 days: April 26th – May 1st 2011
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DAY 6: May 1st 2011

6:30am   This morning I am giving gratitude to everything. Thanks for this space, my room that feels so good, the recording gear, microphones, laptop, electricity, my guitar, my radiant health that lets me sing and express, my creativity, each song on the album, my family, Kev, my friends, Mark, Mog and the girls, appletreecafe for coming all the way here to take photos, Mike for taking this to the next step with more instrumentation and mixing, my freedom, yummy coffee and delicious food, the sunrise and sunsets, the sky here that inspires.  There is a lot to be grateful for.

And today, the last day to add to the album.  I am putting positive energy into it that it each song is filled with heart and magic.  I am imagining sitting in Broken Hill tomorrow with a soy latte in my hand and writing in a card to Robyn.  I will feel alive and so grateful that I’ve accomplished making Leopardwood and feel so good that it comes from the heart and is made with love.  Regardless of how it is perceived, and what happens from this point on, I know I put in 100% effort.

I imagine the album soaring, being shared with people, inspiring others.  And, that I can do this again and again, on other parts of earth, creating and sharing music. The resources and opportunities for this to happen come easily. This is my dream.

12:55pm  I had purposely neglected to mention that I have been struggling a bit with the fact that I lost my awesome Photographs vocals… I had been putting off re-doing them.  It’s just not easy trying to ‘re-capture’ something… it’s always best if it is fresh…

So I just finished them now and a huge weight has been lifted!!!!!!!

NOW I GET TO PLAY!

First lunch.. re-fuel and then a listen to the whole album and add bits of color or whatever else is needed!!!!!

YEEEEEESSS.  I’m sooo happy!

Top Shelf:  Absolutely a ‘top shelf’ experience here… I took a microphone out to sample the sounds of Kalyanka… the birds especially.  And  a bird came up and started crowing in the tree above the microphone… and then flew away at the end of the song… Crazy perfect.

8:00pm Over the course of the afternoon / evening, I went through all of the songs and added some bits and pieces here and there.  It’s definitely a gritty and passionate work.  This album comes from the bottom of my heart, for sure.  I’d say it’s quite raw sounding at the moment.  And, I hope it’s not too ‘real.’   Some of the takes could be more polished.. but raw and honest was what I set out to capture.  And capture it I did!

I think it will do me some good to get out of this space and travel to Sydney tomorrow.  I can listen in a few days with fresh ears!

Thanks to everyone for following along  more to come very soon!

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