Christian Song Before/After Production
Posted: August 5, 2023 Filed under: Samples of Our Work | Tags: Christian, Contemporary, demo, Song 2 Comments
Bill Watson, producer
Looking to have a Christian song produced? Give a listen to this client a capella “before” version of this song (titled “Paradise”) then our version.
Client “Before” version:
Nashville Trax “after” version:
Paradise is © 2024 Jon Smith, posted by permission. If you’re interested in recording this song; using it in a commercial application such as in a movie or on a website; or singing it in a performing situation please let us know and we’ll forward your request to the songwriter and song publisher.
Pro recordings make everyone- friends, family, artists, record company A & R and music publishers- take notice. Have 3 or 4 professional quality demos or masters to peddle and they’ll brand you as a pro-level songwriter every time you pitch them.
We would be thrilled to produce your music!
As one of the staff who worked on this track said while listening even prior to the final mixdown, “There are a lot of people in Nashville who wish their album tracks sounded this good!”
If you would like a quote on making a professional version of your song simply drop an e-mail with your rough mp3 or mp4 attached to: nashtrax@bellsouth.net with the details of what you want. We’ll likely bat a couple e-mails back and forth before we determine an exact price. The production can be completed over the Internet or, if you meet our three song minimum for in-person work, you can choose to be present for the entire process.
Write in another style? There are more samples of work to your right in Categories > Samples of Our Work.
New Zealander Grace Kelly scores BIG with “San Jose” produced at Nashville Trax.
Posted: July 30, 2021 Filed under: Client News, Music Industry News, Samples of Our Work | Tags: Grace Kelly, New Zealand, San Jose Leave a commentIt’s the city’s NEW theme song!
Say what?
Where?
The City of San Jose Tourism Bureau has officially replaced the song used to promote the city for the last 43 years, Dionne Warwick’s “Do You Know The Way To San Jose,” with Grace’s original, San Jose. San Jose was produced, mixed and mastered here at Nashville Trax, and is the track used in the City of San Jose’s vids posted here.
The third time recording here was the charm that landed New Zealander Grace Kelly major kudos, a lifetime coolness brag, and possible lifetime royalties from the use of her song by the San Jose Tourism Team. She also landed a show with Blake Shelton and has a major rap producer wanting the stems from her song for a rap remix!
San Jose credits:
Drums: Jim Riley (of Rascal Flatts)
Bass Guitar: Bill Watson (Nashville Trax producer)
Guitars: Tom Wild (B.J. Thomas, Mindy McCreedy, Brenda Lee)
Fiddle/Mandolin: Jenee Fleenor (Blake Shelton, Steven Tyler, The Voice)
Keyboards: Steve King (Keith Urban)
Vocals & Acoustic Guitar: Grace Kelly (songwriter)
Produced, Mixed and Mastered by Bill Watson for Nashville Trax.
To get YOUR project started and begin YOUR journey to success Text us at 615-319-8616
Grace has been tapped to open for country star Blake Shelton when Blake plays in San Jose on Sept. 13th.
Grace’s San Jose story also appeared on Auckland’s News Now
Serious? Need your song produced for real?
Text:
615-319-8616
E-mail:
nashtrax@bellsouth.net
The Thompson’s Band Video- Music Cut At Nashville Trax- Released!
Posted: June 19, 2019 Filed under: Samples of Our Work, Uncategorized Leave a commentRecorded, Mixed and Mastered For the Canadian Women’s Trucker Association, by producer Bill Watson of Nashville Trax:
Sample of Our Work: The Swansons NEW Video Released, Music Recorded at Nashville Trax!
Posted: April 1, 2018 Filed under: Client News, Samples of Our Work, Uncategorized Leave a commentI Can’t Wait written by Joe Finley
Drums: Jim Riley
Bass Guitar: Bill Watson
Guitars: Brent Mason
Fiddle and Mandolin: Jenee Fleenor
Piano and B3 organ: Steve King
Harp: Michael Douchette
All music produced by Bill Watson at Nashville Trax
© 2018 The Swansons
“The Swansons were blessed a year and a half ago when Mr. Watson returned our phone call. We were looking for a change in our music and thought very highly of #Nashville and the great music they make here. Bill Watson produces records in Nashville and has a stellar reputation. I listened to his work and asked if he would be interested in working with the #Swansons. Thankfully he said yes and we are right in the middle of a really cool dream. Thank you Bill for EVERYTHING!! You are a super natural talent!! Absolutely Brilliant!!”– Joe Finley
Purchase the Swanson’s Country This album containing I Can’t Wait and 13 other Swansons original songs, all produced at Nashville Trax here: TheSwansonsMusic.com
Interested in doing your single or album at Nashville Trax?
e-mail:
nashtrax@bellsouth.net
Phone:
615-319-8616
NashvilleTrax.com
Join our Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/nashvilletrax/
The Nashville Trax A Team
Posted: May 18, 2017 Filed under: Now Tracking, Samples of Our Work, Testimonials Leave a commentWelcome to Nashville Trax! Yes, we are located in the Nashville, Tennessee area and we are the home base of the incredible Nashville Trax A Team detailed below.
Scroll down this samples page and you’ll find numerous samples of work we did for many different clients.
We produce Country, Contemporary Christian, Bluegrass, Folktronica, Southern Gospel, Americana, Rock, Blues, Hip Hop and Pop music!
Whether you need a demo of your song, a master, a performance track, a session quality instrument track added to a project you are producing, mastering of your mix, or even an entire album produced, the Nashville Trax A team, featuring our best players, is available at a price lower than you might think.
Read what one of our current clients e-mailed to Nashville Trax’ music producer (B. E. Watson):
“These tracks are smokin’ hot, Bill!!! This album is going to ROCK country style!!! Thanks man!!!! Wow!!!!!!” -Joe Finley, front man for The Swansons, regarding the tracks posted below.
And from client Mike Martin of the Sacramento, California area:
“Hi Bill, I have been playing my CD with the four songs you recorded for me and everyone is amazed at the quality of recording as well as the musicianship. You make records and even demos that are radio ready in my opinion and I just wanted to say thank you for all your work.”
The Swanson’s album, Country This, produced by Bill Watson right here at Nashville Trax won The Producer’s Choice Awards “Best Country Album” in April of 2018. The Swansons also cut their second award album here, “BAM” in 2019, and here in 2021 we’re finishing mixing and mastering on The Swanson’s album # three!
Here’s our A team- we call them The Hitmakers- on a music-only track intended for the Swansons’ album:
Something’s Better © 2017 Joe Finley, published by Listen Again Music (BMI):
Drums: Jim Riley (Rascal Flatts)
Bass Guitar: Bill Watson (Nashville Trax producer)
Acoustic and Electric Guitars: 10 times Music Row Session Guitar Player of the Year, Hall of Famer, Most recorded guitarist in history, Brent Mason
Harmonica: Mike Douchette (Tammy Wynette, George Jones, ZZ Top)
Mandolin: Jenee Fleenor(NBC’s The Voice fiddlist/Blake Shelton’s fiddlist, 2019 CMA Musician of The Year 2020/2021 CMA Musician of The Year.
Banjo: Aaron McDaris (with the #1 award winning bluegrass artist Rhonda Vincent)
Engineered, Arranged, Produced and Mixed by Bill Watson
The Swansons, who perform live shows and have their own band, have also started playing selected live shows here in Nashville and other locations with The Nashville Trax A Team, such as the 2018 Producer’s Choice Awards show in Las Vegas with the musicians who contribute on their albums : The Swansons, Brent Mason on guitar, Jenee Fleenor on fiddle, Bill Watson on bass guitar and Jim Riley on drums.
Would you like a quote on your project using these musicians?
Contact:
nashtrax@bellsouth.net Att: B.E. Watson, A Team quote.
Here’s the first single, releasing to radio in 2018: “Valentine” with Joe and Angie singing lead; Bill “B.E.” Watson on bass guitar; Jenee Fleenor fiddle; Brent Mason, guitars, Jim Riley, drums; Steve King, keys, Jamie and Jim Riley, background vocals:
The Nashville Trax A Team is comprised of session veterans such as Jenee Fleenor, who plays fiddle and mandolin for major label country artist, Blake Shelton.
She was also the fiddle player on John Pardi’s 2016 Billboard #1 country hit “Head Over Boots” as well as the fiddle player on the #1 followup song by Jon Pardi that was certified gold for sales and streaming of 500,000 copies “”Dirt On My Boots” which features Jenee’s playing throughout.
She is the 2016 CMA Touring Musician of the Year, 2020 CMA Musician of the Year, 2021CMA Musician of the Year as well as the fiddle player for the popular television show, The Voice.
In fact, Jenee turned down Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler’s offer to tour with him (to support his country album) but she is doing selected Steven Tyler dates…and guess what? Hire us and she’ll definitely play on your project!
The Swansons:
And here’s a quick rough mix of a three piece rockabilly jam with Brent Mason on guitar, Jim Riley drums and Bill Watson on bass guitar. More instrument parts have since been added; be sure to pick up a copy of The Swanson’s album (produced by Nashville Trax, intended for release November/December 2017) to hear the full mix:
Same song, same rhythm, track, but with Jenee, Mike, Joe and Angie Finley and other members of the A team on board, and EQ and effects applied to the tracks:
Here is our A Team playing that same song with The Swansons on their Nashville live debut/CD release party, 9-22-17:
The foundation rhythm section players: Jim Riley, Drums; Bill “B.E.” Watson, Bass Guitar; Brent Mason, Rhythm & Lead Guitars:
Some of the other A team tracking and overdub players we use:
“One of the best memories of my entire life!! Thanks to you and your crew of ‘Hitmakers’ Bill Watson!! Thanks again!
“- Songwriter Joe Finley of The Swansons.
Would you like a quote on your project?
Contact:
nashtrax@bellsouth.net Att: B.E. Watson, A Team quote.
Something’s Better, Valentine and I Need Your Love are all © 2017 Joe Finley, published by Listen Again Music (BMI). Posted for demonstration of production values only. Any other use is a violation of U.S. and International copyright law.
A Rockin’ Country Demo
Posted: November 10, 2016 Filed under: Samples of Our Work | Tags: country, demo, new country, rock, Song Leave a comment
Play It Again Demos
If you like older style country we can do that: fiddle, pedal steel out front in the mix, we love it!
But much of what makes radio these days incorporates more of a rock vibe. If there’s fiddle and steel they’ll have to fight for a spot in the mix, distorted guitars and cannon-like drums rule.
Here’s a demo produced by Play It Again Demos by produced here, titled “Renegade” that features those types of sounds.
Renegade is © 2013, 2016 Dan Mathews, used by permission of the songwriter. If you’re interested in recording this song please let us know and we’ll forward your request to the songwriter and music publisher.
Do you need a quality singer like this to make your song sound professional?
An arrangement that make your tune something special, not just regurgitate the rough version? The blues-scale riffs in the intro, halfway through the chorus and on through? The producer, Bill Watson, wrote them in during pre-production.
And how about these musicians? Wouldn’t it be thrilling to hear these guys doing your song? And so worth the money?
Pro demos make everyone– friends, family, artists, record company A & R and music publishers- take notice and will brand you as a pro-level songwriter every time you play them.
We would be as happy to do that for you! Just shoot us an e-mail at nashtrax@bellsouth.net with your rough mp3 version attached and request a quote today!
There are more samples of work to your right in Categories > Samples of Our Work.
Modern Country Music Samples
Posted: December 1, 2013 Filed under: Samples of Our Work | Tags: Country Ballad Sample Demo, Uptempo Country Music Sample Leave a commentIf you write country songs that require more modern sounding drums, guitars and such, similar to what makes it to radio these days, you’ll find that here.
Here’s a song we produced, aiming for that market, featuring the 70’s/80’s distorted rock guitar and rock drumming elements, ubiquitous on country radio from the 90s to the present:
If you like what you hear why not shoot out an e-mail to: nashtrax@bellsouth.net and request a quote to make your song sound like this?
Note that a lot of today’s country borrows from 70’s and 80’s folk rock (Jason Aldean is a good example) while another segment has pop music elements, for example, most of Taylor Swift’s releases when she still was considered a country artist.
If you would like a quote on making a professional version of your song simply drop an e-mail with your MP3 rough version attached to nashtrax@bellsouth.net with the details of what you want. We’ll likely bat a couple e-mails back and forth before we figure out an exact price. It can be completed over the Internet or you can be present for the entire project.
We can do Country Pop, Country Rock, Traditional Country, Bluegrass, Americana and all points in between!
Lady In The Harbor © 2024, posted by permission of the songwriters. If you’re interested in recording either song, using it in media or using it in a live performance situation, please let us know and we’ll forward your request to the songwriter and to the music publisher.
Rockin’ Contemporary Christian Sample Demo
Posted: November 15, 2013 Filed under: Christian, Samples of Our Work | Tags: Bill Watson, Christian Demo Sample, David Northrup, Jessica Brooks, Nashville singer Taryn Murphy, We Pray Leave a commentLooking to have a Contemporary Christian song demo produced that needs to rock? Please give a listen to We Pray. Powerful rock drumming by David Northrup as well as bass guitar, rhythm guitar and lead guitar tracks played by Bill Watson supply energy to inspire the two female vocalists.
Jessica Brooks delivers a heartfelt, emotional lead track as Nashville session singer Taryn, lays down those awesome gospel influenced bgvs… eight tracks of stacked bgv tracks, no less! Ron Fairchild adds greatly on piano also. We Pray is © 2024, posted by permission. If you’re interested in recording this song; using it in a commercial application such as in a movie or on a website; or singing it in a performing situation please let us know and we’ll forward your request to the songwriter and song publisher. We Pray:
Vocals: Jessica Brooks and Taryn M
Piano: Ron Fairchild (The Oak Ridge Boys)
Drums: David Northrup (Travis Tritt, The Oaks)
All Guitars and Bass Guitar: Bill Watson
Produced and Arranged by Bill Watson for Nashville Trax and songwriter Dan Mathews.
Pro demos make everyone- friends, family, artists, record company A & R and music publishers- take notice.
Have 3 or 4 pro demos to peddle and they’ll brand you as a pro-level songwriter every time you pitch them. We would be thrilled to do that for you! If you would like a quote on making a professional version of your song simply drop an e-mail with your MP3 rough version attached to: nashtrax@bellsouth.net with the details of what you want. We’ll likely bat a couple e-mails back and forth before we figure out an exact price. It can be completed over the Internet or you can be present for the entire project. Write in another style? There are more samples of work to your left in Categories > Samples of Our Work. We do bluegrass, rock, country, pop, rap, hip-hop, blues you name it!
Basket Case: A Nashville Session Player Band
Posted: October 2, 2013 Filed under: Nashville Session Musicians, Samples of Our Work, Session Player Stories | Tags: Basket Case, Bill Watson, David Northrup, Jon Smith, Kristen McNamara, Rodney Ingle, Steve King, The White Coat Band, Tigar Bell, tom wild Leave a comment
Basket Case
Basket Case at 3rd & Lindsley, Left to Rt: Steve King (keyboard); Holly Steele (background vocals); Rodney Ingle (background vocals); Tom Wild (guitar); Kristen McNamara (lead vocals); Bill Watson (bass guitar/bandleader); Tigar Bell (fiddle) ; John Heinrick, (sax). Background: David Northrup, (drums).
I received the first e-mail from songwriter Jon Smith back in my short hair days, 2005 I believe, saying he was disappointed with the work he’d received on his songs at several other Nashville studios and asking that 5 songs be produced for him at a budget far higher than any I’d experienced up to that point. The previous attempts to record his songs were interesting and the musicians competent, Jon said, but the music was flat, bland. There was no magic that he was sure was there.
We found it.
That initial e-mail led to multiple sessions totaling over 80 songs, a friendship, lots of rehearsals at S.I.R, and Soundcheck Nashville, a CD release, two videos and this live band that played Jon Smith tunes at venues in the greater Nashville area. What great fun it was!
Over the years of producing those sessions I used a lot of different top Nashville session players, excellent musicians all, but when Jon asked that a band be assembled so he could hear his songs performed live, I chose the ones I considered not just great musicians and singers, but also friends.
And my friends came through big time, the band sounded fantastic!
We initially resisted Jon’s suggestion that the male members wear white coats, but it turned out to be simply one more stroke of Jon genius. We only did a few gigs but quickly became known as “the white coat band” and it was memorable enough people still mention it occasionally, always referencing the white coats.
Here’s a swingin’ little tune that always made the setlist:
My Tears Are Puttin’ Out Your Fire is © 2007 Jon Smith. Co-writers: Jon Smith/Bill Watson, produced by Bill Watson. Used by permission.
That’s the studio version of MTAPOYF I produced in ’07 using mostly the same band pictured above.
Jon’s work was where I learned how to use horns effectively as opposed to creating a train wreck. Arranging, doubling, combining different horns together, stabs, swells, stacked horn tracks… if you have a tune you need sax, trumpet, clarinet or trombone on, or any combination of them, you’re at the right place! Send out an e-mail to nashtrax@bellsouth.net and ask for a quote!
I have the vids around of the band yet too and when I get around to it, will post some footage- b.e.
Left: David Northrup drums, Bill Watson Bass Guitar. No wonder the band was called Basket Case. Two prime examples for sure!
Who Cares What The Deputy Thinks? Will A One Man Band Do?
Posted: March 19, 2013 Filed under: Samples of Our Work | Tags: hire a one man band demo, Who Cares What The Deputy Thinks? Bill Watson Leave a comment
Bill Watson can reduce the budget on your project by providing multiple instruments for a lower total rate.
If you can’t afford an “all session player” recording perhaps a one man band recording will work?
So here’s a sample that can best be described as total strangeness, lol, but it does demonstrate my abilities fairly well.
One-man-band style, our producer wrote it, played the guitars and other instruments, plus sang the vocals (if you want to call it singing) through a harmonizer, produced, arranged & mixed.
He programmed the drum track on the Roland R-8 machine.
That bizarre melody thing happening through the intro, repeated just after on guitar, that sounds like it must be a synthesized kazoo part or something? Nope, vocal through a vocal effects processor.
Weirdness.
That spacey, wild electric lead guitar? If you think it might work on your song, just reference this post and ask.
So, would a one-man-band type of demo do for your needs?
Pricing on one-man-band projects is somewhat less than for a full band of pro session players and, depending on your goal for the project, may suit your needs.
Please note that one-man-band skills are limited to drum programming, bass guitar, rhythm guitar, lead guitar (acoustic or electric) and keyboard sounds like strings, choirs, B3 patch, assorted pad sounds, and such.
For piano a real piano guy may need to be hired. For vocals a pro singer may need to be hired. Some pop and rap is better with a drum program and/or drum loops but for most styles a real drummer does make a difference.
Who Cares What The Deputy Thinks is © 2024, Bill Watson. For demonstration purposes only. Any other use is a violation of U.S. and International copyright law.
If a one man band demo will work for you Shoot us an e-mail at nashtrax@bellsouth.net with your rough mp3 version attached and request a quote today!
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