Category Archives: leopardwood
Day 6 – Final Day!! Recording Leopardwood
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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Day 5 – Recording Leopardwood
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
Donate to this project.
DAY 5: April 30 2011
I woke up around 5am this morning with Endlessly playing in my head… over and over and over… I guess it did not want to be left off the album. So, I got up and had it tracked before sunrise. Crazy. Who thought I’d be singing that early in the morning? I should probably check it over later in the day, make sure it doesn’t sound too groggy.
I thought I’d make another video.. only thing is that every time I touched the fence you can hear the sound of the wire stretching… haha!
Today the sky is crystal clear… beautiful.
I’ve already gotten quite a bit done and it’s only 10:30. put some BG vocals on Pocket Love song.
12:00-1:00pm Took a break, and even layed down for a bit and tried to nap! Feeling good
3:11pm Was tired… I guess the 15 hr days working on music is a bit intense. I did some yoga. Feeling alive again. Gonna check out what else I have to do!!! Only the rest of today and tomorrow left!!!
Wow, went through all the tracks and realized I’m golden. A lot of the essential stuff is done!
I went for a celebratory run and made a good meal again. I think good nourishment and time out is worth it!
Dogs are barking like crazy tonight… so I might be doing some editing and then finishing TOMORROW!!!! DAY 6 Crazy and good.
8:00pm started to do some work and realized I should take the rest of the eve off. I could use a little bit of time doing something else and will listen with fresh energy and ears tomorrow morning.
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Day 4 – Recording Leopardwood
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
Donate to this project.
DAY 4: April 29, 2011
I was awake before sunrise, of course, so I went out this time with my camera and took a little video. Always good to change the routine of things…
7:59am – Starting to edit last night’s vocals. All sounding good!
10:16am – Damian came by and I also had a wonderful chat with Kev and Mark too. Mark is letting me take his car to Broken Hill when I fly to Sydney in a few days. I’m soooo grateful. Gives me some peace of mind to not have to organize something else! Mark is a gem and I am so lucky.
Definitely interesting having contact with the outside world. Today is the first day where I’ve had outside influence. Up until now it’s just been me in my own little universe. I feel even more fueled now. It’s amazing when you have positive and great people in your life.
10:35am I have been secretly a little bit frustrated with Gold Field. And I realize I’m just projecting it, and wanting it to turn out good! Must let it go.. let it come to life, let it be what it is.
12:37pm - Black Steps, worked on the whistling.. but its not quite right yet. BG’s done. Just to add one more vocal bit when I’m feeling it.
YES!! It’s all coming together.
12:54pm – I’m learning a lot here, this is a totally different process. With Unconventional Shining, I had no set deadline to complete… so I would write lists of what I needed to do to complete each song. Now it’s like, there is no time for a list, do it now. I’m also aware of how I’m spending my energy outside of recording and what I’m thinking about. What things are draining, or a waste of time… I choose wisely so all my positive energy can go into creating. Funny enough, this little journal fuels me… keeps me on track with each check-in.
12:56pm - Photographs.
Was just having a quick listen to see what should be next and felt that the vocals were lacking luster… so… put an image in my head of what the song is about and sung from that place.
Much better.
1:57pm Tummy is growling. Time for a quick fuel stop.
3:35pm Crazy sequence of events.
I decided after lunch that I’d run into Wilcannia for some chocolate. Just after I’ve been talking about what is and isn’t a waste of energy!!! I got ready to go, and couldn’t find my wallet. I checked over at the house, and in the ute. Everywhere. I finally decided… it’s okay… I lost my wallet, I can get it all back. I still have my passport, and I had it all figured out.
Then I found my wallet. Inside my bag, where it should have been.
I decided, okay, i’ll go into town. And, all the way there and back I was thinking.. am I missing something? I had a hunch that something was off.
Well.
I hadn’t saved the work I did on ‘Photographs’. And, it’s gone. I don’t know what happened… but the rad new vocals I put on are no longer there. I think my interface was somehow disconnected, I probably bumped it.
Anyways, I’m already mentally prepared from the ‘losing my wallet’ incident. The vocals are gone. And I’ll just have to get them back.
I’m backing up all my work again. Right now.
7:14pm. I’m still bummed about Photographs… but gotta let it go. It made me re-appreciate technology.. when it works. And, when the person operating it is using their brain. I’m grateful for the power, for the ability to have a portable studio and record way out here.
recording piano parts for 'red shoe laces'
I’m 2/3 of the way through the time I have to capture Leopardwood. It’s going well. I need to stay positive.
I’ve decided to cut a song. It’s called Endlessly and I don’t think it is essential to the whole. 10 is a nice round number.. and I’m feeling every other song has it’s place on the album.
What can I do to re-charge? I think I’ll take a break.
8:12pm Its been a few days since I’ve really cooked a big meal. So I made a feast! RE-CHARGED!!!!
BG vocals on Red Shoe Laces.
9:02pm. Calling it a day. Day 4 is over.
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