Phase I: Inspiration for the Album

Travel, love and life have inspired me to write a new collection of songs… this time on acoustic guitar. The album is called Leopardwood and is recorded in Australia.

What is Leopardwood?

Apart from being the title of my upcoming album, Leopardwood is a type of tree that grows in Outback Australia. It ‘s very old.. and existed from a time when the area was rainforest. I am fascinated in how this tree can survive through both rainforest and drought… such a wide spectrum and intense elements to survive through!

To me the tree symbolizes evolution, resilience, and natural beauty. With so much elegance and grace, the Leopardwood tree reaches to the sky in the middle of a harsh but stunning environment.

It’s scientific name and definition:   Flindersia Maculosa aka Leopardwood

A shrub or small tree with attractive mottled bark, enitre lanceolate leaves and small cream flowers.

Phase II: Appletreecafe Flies to Australia!

My very great friend and creative partner, miss robyn aka appletreecafe, flies to Australia! Robyn and I met in Vancouver at jazz school over 10 years ago. We both love to challenge ourselves and share a passion of music, travel, self evolution, and twinkle lights. She’s supported my music since day one… and now I am sitting across from her in Australia (on an organic lamb station) planning and creating a whole new project in a whole new country.  Feels surreal, and I am very grateful.   She took the epic train / bus trip that I’ve taken a couple times (14+ hrs) on top of a 25hr flight from Toronto.

Robyn and I bounce ideas off each other daily and track everything on our vision boards. She’s a visual guru and will be capturing all the visuals for the album.

Phase III: Recording Guitar & Vocals in the Australian Outback

The Leopardwood Journals is a very raw account of my recording process over the course of 6 days in the Shearer’s Quarters located in the Australian Outback. Me, myself, and I (plus Myrtle the dog!) recording guitar and vocals.

Phase IV: Album is sent across the World to Producer/Engineer/Drummer, Mike Ardagh

Mike Ardagh will be overseeing the next few phases of the albums creation.  He and I first worked together back in Vancouver, and we clicked right away.  I am excited to have him on board with this project as he’s really committed and always has some magic up his sleeve.  Mike will be playing drums on the album, as well as taking on the roles of producer, recording engineer and mix engineer.

In the early stages of the album,  Mike and I decided it would be best to build the album up from the vocal and guitar performances, adding everything else to that foundation… no scratch tracks!  After recording myself in the outback, I sealed up all of the tracks on a USB drive in a little envelope and sent it across the world to Mike in Toronto.

Drums will be the next element to be added to the album.  Mike has been sending me demo versions of the songs with his ideas for the past few weeks and now he is heading off to Baltimore, Ontario with his mobile studio setup to perform and capture the final drum tracks.

After drums, the next phase will be adding bass. Justin Dunlop will be playing bass on the album and has already started pre-production with Mike at his home studio in Toronto.

Phase V: Drum & Bass Tracking: Done!

Phase VI:  Alvaro Rojas tracking guitar in Vancouver… almost done!

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Pre-Order Leopardwood Online

You can pre-order a copy of my upcoming album here. You choose the price!

All contributors receive:

• Digital download of album.
• PDF of album artwork, lyrics, & liner notes.
• Your name in the liner notes.

All donations help make this album a reality and assist with the following costs:

• Shipping Gear to/from Canada to the Australian Outback.
• Hiring of musicians to play on the album.
• Mixing
• Mastering
• PR & Marketing
• Album Artwork

Thank-you to everyone that has contributed to the project, whether you have donated, sent a positive thought, or have been part of the creative / inspiration process (you know who you are!).

I extend back a huge heart-felt THANKS.  Stay tuned for updates!