Kristen from Newport Beach California, does her first recording ever at Nashville Trax!
Posted: August 31, 2020 Filed under: Client News, Now Tracking Leave a comment
Mother Kim (left) and Kristen at Nashville Trax
August 29th, 2020 was a big day for Kristen, her first time recording on pro equipment!
And that happened right here at Nashville Trax!
“It went very well, Kristen displayed great tone and range,” said producer Bill Watson as the the session unfolded. “She also has great personality, and to top it off, she dances and has awesome stage presence right in the vocal booth,” he chuckled. “With a little direction, focus and work she’ll be the whole package that’s required to build a career on.”
And Kristin’s mother Kim later e-mailed:
” Wow Bill!
What an amazing day we had with you !!
Kristin was so nervous coming in and came out so excited with the experience!!!
Until next time…😊 God Bless !! -Kim
If you would like to do a similar session- a couple of cover tunes for a few hours as a test before diving into a larger original song project- or maybe you’re ready to dive in on recording a full album? Contact us (text is best) as to your interest at 615-319-8616 or e-mail nashtrax@bellsouth.net.
The Greatest Gift Wins NCMAI Gospel Album of the Year, Produced at Nashville Trax
Posted: April 3, 2019 Filed under: Client News, Music Industry News Leave a comment
3-3-23 Update: It’s been a few years but The Greatest Gift is back in recording mode and sent Nashville Trax Producer, Bill Watson, the first two songs to start a new album.
Gospel music trio, The Greatest Gift. won the Gospel Album of the Year at the North American Country Music Association International 2019 competition on March 19th, with Bill Watson of Nashville Trax, who produced their “Closer than Ever” album music and sound tracks.
“We give all of the glory to God for giving us our talents and opportunities to praise Him,” they proclaimed.
Watson, who traveled from Nashville to Pigeon Forge, TN to witness the fruits of his labor, was impressed, “It made sense for the Greatest Gift projects to work remotely,” he explained. “Wayne e-mailed me piano/vocal roughs, I created the charts and arrangements, cut the music tracks, then they added their vocals and mixed on their end with me overseeing the final product.”
“After producing several albums,” Watson continued, “not only did we finally meet for the first time, I got to see them perform as well, utilizing some of the tracks we cut in Nashville. It was a kick!”
The Greatest Gift landed several other awards as well:
New Gospel Adult Vocal Group of the Year
Gospel Video of the Year
Wayne Patterson:
New Gospel Songwriter of the year for “Walk with Me”
New Gospel Male Adult Vocalist of the year
Most Promising New Gospel Male Adult Entertainer
Mike Biasin:
Traditional Gospel Adult Instrumentalist of the Year
Krys Smith:
Traditional Gospel Female Adult Vocalist Horizon Award
Traditional Gospel Female Adult Entertainer Horizon Award
Vocals and mixing for their album were done by Bob Catalano of Bobcat Studios.
Would you like to contact us about YOUR project? E-mail:
nashtrax@bellsouth.net
Music Production Client, Sean Morton Cashes $4,900 + Royalty Check, “Thank you Nashville Trax!”
Posted: December 8, 2018 Filed under: Client News, Client News, Home Music Production, Songwriting and Career Promotion, Songwriting Tips, Testimonials, Tracks Online | Tags: how to obtain radio airplay, Royalty Check, royalty cheque, song msrketing Leave a comment
Our music producer, Bill Watson, has been cutting tracks for various clients to add to their already-started projects for many years now. Most order repeatedly..
Sean Morton is one of those clients who hails from Canada, Nashville Trax has been supplying specific tracks for his projects for about two years now.
We have added drums, bass guitar, fiddle, guitar and more to his projects, whatever he thinks it needs, or he’ll send our producer, Bill Watson, a stereo mix and ask for Watson’s input on what might be beneficial.
When Sean started mentioning that he was receiving royalty checks for these projects, enough to fund additional track work on multiple songs, we became curious, thinking it might benefit our other clients and potential clients to know how he achieved this.
Sean gladly and unselfishly obliged.
We didn’t ask for it, we really just wanted to know the facts of how he went from recording at home to getting substantial airplay, but we received a bonus, it reads like a testimonial of our work:
“When I finished my EP (using a blend of my own work and tracks by the world class Nashville Trax musicians) I published it through CD baby which enabled me to get it onto all professional download and streaming services. The last step I took was to release it to country radio in Canada through DBDS service.
They picked it up and started playing it on satellite. That picture is the very first royalty cheque I received and I have received even more cheques since then.”
Songwriter Sean Morton. He can now preview the word “songwriter” with “Successful!”
Sean continues, “Utilizing Nashville Trax and getting the privilege of having some of the greatest studio players in the world play on my material ( I’m a country player “hack” up in Northern Alberta ) they inspired me to start writing again and more. They gave me the gift of recording and writing professional sounding music that was only made possible by having a cadre of professional artists readily accessible at a reasonable cost.
They gave me the confidence to risk pushing and exposing my music to the world because of the level to which they elevated things.
Even if I didn’t get those royalty cheques, Nashville Trax was worth the investment into myself. They allowed me to achieve a goal that was always on my bucket list for life. Release some quality sounding songs that I could be proud of.
I look forward to continue making great music together with Nashville Trax!”- Sean Morton, Northern Alberta, Canada
Would you like to contact us about YOUR project? E-mail:
nashtrax@bellsouth.net
Nashville Trax’ A Team Heads to Las Vegas to open Producer’s Choice Awards with The Swansons
Posted: November 8, 2018 Filed under: Client News, Music Industry News | Tags: Las Vegas NV, Nashville Trax A Team, Producer's Choice Awards 2018, The Swansons Leave a commentThe four core musicians comprising the Nashville Trax A Team will perform live at the prestigious Producer’s Choice Awards in Las Vegas on November 7th, 2018. They will open the show with five Swanson’s originals from the duo’s first country album, Country This, they played on.
Update! Pics from the show:
L to Rt: Jenee Fleenor of NBC’s The Voice & Blake Shelton’s Band, fiddle; Bandleader and Nashville Trax Producer, Bill Watson, on bass guitar; Joe and Angie Finley of The Swansons; Jim Riley of Rascal Flatts; 12 xs Academy of Country Music’s Guitar Player of the Year, Brent Mason. Opening the Hollywood Fame/Producer’s Choice Awards Show at Hard Rock Live on the Vegas strip 11-7-18
Would you like to contact us about YOUR project? E-mail:
nashtrax@bellsouth.net
Nashville Trax Produced Jingle Airing to Millions Daily!
Posted: October 31, 2018 Filed under: Client News, Client News, Music Industry News, Nashville Session Musicians, Testimonials Leave a commentTune in to the nationally syndicated Ellen K Show on KOST 103.5, Los Angeles, CA to hear The Swansons’ jingle opener for Rllen’s Thought of the Day segment. It was produced here at Nashville Trax and will play every morning moving forward until it wears out.
“I finished getting Jenee’s tracks on the project about 2 p.m. on Sept. 25th,” explains producer, Bill Watson.
“I wanted The Swansons songwriter, Joe, to hear how well it turned out. They had already supplied me with their vocal tracks so I did a quick mix, applied a little mastering, and Dropboxed it,” Watson continues, “As luck would have it Joe and Angie were still in a meeting at the radio station when they downloaded. The Program Director flipped over it and scheduled it daily starting the next morning, on the 26th.”
Jenee Fleenor of Blake Shelton’s band, a regular on NBC’s, The Voice, and fiddlist on several Billboard #1 country hits, figuring out her part on “Thought of the Day”.
“No way would I have thought the tracks we were cutting Tuesday would be heard on radio by millions of people within less than 24 hours, it’s crazy. God is good.”
“Thought of the Day”
Written by Joe Finley of The Swansons
Vocals: Joe and Angie of The Swansons
Fiddle and mando: Jenee Fleenor (NBC’s The Voice/Blake Shelton’s band)
Guitars: 12 xs ACM’s Guitar Player of the Year, Brent Mason
Drums and percussion: Rascal Flatts drummer, Jim Riley
Bass Guitar: Nashville Trax producer, Bill Watson
Produced, engineered and mixed by Bill Watson, Nashville Trax
Would you like to contact us about YOUR project? E-mail:
nashtrax@bellsouth.net
Nashville Icon, Mike Curb, Showers High Praise on The Swansons, in Vegas, accepting Country Album of The Year, Bill Watson, producer. Cut @ Nashville Trax!
Posted: April 4, 2018 Filed under: Client News, Client News, Music Industry News, Studio News, Testimonials | Tags: Bill Watson, Curb Records, Mike Curn, The Swansons, Word Records Leave a commentThe Swansons had quite a night in Las Vegas this past Saturday, April 7th, 2018!
Opening the evening with a live performance, winning the “Country Album of the Year” award for the Nashville Trax produced, Country This and being singled out several times by the legendary Mike Curb of Curb Records in Nashville, during his acceptance of his Lifetime Achievement Award.
Mike Curb’s contributions to country radio and The Nashville Music Industry are far too numerous to mention here but he has written Billboard charting hit songs for everyone from The Four Seasons to The Osmonds to Hank Willians Jr, Tim McGraw, Chris Young, The Judds, Kenny Chesney and dozens more. The Four Seasons Curb-produced “Oh What A Night” was the very first single in music history to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 and remain for over a full year.
He founded Curb Records which now also owns the world’s largest Christian label, Word Records.
Here is one instance of several where Mike mentions The Swansons.
Could a deal with Curb Nashville be in the works?
Nashville Trax producer, Bill Watson, produced Country This and is currently producing The Swansons’ follow up album. Update 2-17-19: Mr. Watson is now several songs into producing The Swanson’s third country album done at Nashville Trax.
e-mail: nashtrax@bellsouth.net
Interested in having your record produced?
Contact Mr. Watson direct at 615-319-8616
Country Artist Cole Tomlinson Records First Single @ Nashville Trax
Posted: January 1, 2018 Filed under: Client News, Music Industry News, Now Tracking Leave a comment
16-year-old Cole Tomlinson, about to sing on his first single.
“Mr. Watson, I cannot express enough how pleased we are with the outcome. The sound is exactly what Cole wanted and you tapped into that. He can’t wait to work with you more and see where the other songs go as well. Thank you for making this process so easy!“-(Cole Tomlinson’s mother, Heather)
Even though he’s only sixteen, Cole Tomlinson is no novice. An accomplished singer, songwriter and guitarist he decided early that music was his focus. He played over 100 live shows in his native Georgia in 2017 and has visited Nashville many times to participate in songwriter’s nights.
After carefully researching the many possibilities, he decided he wanted to do his first record @ Nashville Trax with producer Bill Watson. And so he did. “Dirt Road Princess” releases in early 2018.
Here’s a sample*:
Musicians:
Electric Guitars: Brent Mason
Bass Guitar: Bill Watson
Drums: Jim Riley
Fiddle: Jenee Fleenor
Wurlitzer Keyboard; Steve King
Vocals and Acoustic Guitar: Cole Tomlinson
Produced by Bill Watson, Nashville Trax
Looking to do your first radio release and like what you hear? e-mail us at nashtrax@bellsouth.net
* Dirt Road Princess © 2015 Cole Tomlinson is provided as a demonstration of production values only. Any other use violates U.S. and International copyright law. Requests for copies by program directors for radio rotation and requests by other parties interested in recording or performing this song in TV, film or other commercial use should be e-mailed to nashtrax@bellsouth.net and will promptly be forwarded to the songwriter and/or publisher.
The Swansons To Perform With The Nashville Trax A Team LIVE SHOW at Rev-el-ry.
Posted: August 9, 2017 Filed under: Client News, Client News, Music Industry News, Studio News, Testimonials, Uncategorized | Tags: Brent Mason, Jenee Fleenor, Los Angeles, Nashville, nashville trax recording studio, show, The Swansons Leave a comment
ATTENTION Singer/Songwriters!! What better way to give your band a career boost than an album, video and show package featuring the same Nashville Trax A Team musicians who played on your album?
You get a stellar album recorded, mixed and mastered, footage of your rehearsal, your first single promoted on social media platforms and all footage from a two camera crew of the show that you can use for promotion for years to come!
A single release and vid starting under $2,000, yes, really! Complete 10 song album/show/video packages start as low as $15,000 and 20 song deluxe packages top out at under $45,000! Payment options are available. Get a quote TODAY: nashtrax@bellsouth.net
Note that the complete Nashville Trax A Team Players are only available to play live on release party shows playing your album of at least 10 songs and subject to the player’s schedules.
Here’s a Nashville Trax A Team rehearsal Tuesday evening, 9-19-17:
And footage from the show on 9-22-17:
The Nashville Trax A Team: The sound of guitar on country radio for the last couple decades, Brent Mason: guitar; Rascal Flatts long time drummer, Jim Riley; Steve King (Keith Urban) keys; Nashville Trax producer, Bill Watson, bass guitar and band leader; Jenee Fleenor (Blake Shelton & The Voice) fiddle and mandolin; Steel guitar legend Mike Doucheete, all backing the highly entertaining, high octane Joe and Angie Finley of The Swansons!
Joe and Angie: The Swansons
The Swansons have achieved considerable notoriety in the Los Angeles area. They have pop/rock albums out, winning awards and have built a large fan base. But after starting their latest recording project they felt the urge to “go country”. They wanted a country album and wanted to do it in the Nashville area. After careful research, they decided Bill Watson of Nashville Trax was the best choice to produce them.
The album was started about six months ago and 18 songs have been cut.
This is their first country live performance, announcing their turn toward country music and releasing their new music to the public. Some of the musicians who will back them on the show:
Nashville Session Guitar Player, Brent Mason at Nashville Trax Recording Studio
Jenee Fleenor, fiddle, mandolin, vocals
Band leader, Bill Watson, and his ’78 Fender Precision Bass Guitar
Jim Riley Playing the studio drum track to The Swansons song, Getting Ready 5-16-17
Jim Riley Cymbal swells
Footage clip from the show, 9-22-17:
Valentine © 2017 Joe Finley of The Swansons, published by Listen Again Music (BMI).
Los Angeles Band, The Swansons 1st (and 2nd) Country Album In Progress At Nashville Trax!
Posted: June 15, 2017 Filed under: Client News, Music Industry News, Now Tracking | Tags: Joe and Angie, The Swasons Los Angeles Leave a commentDay One of a full week lockout to cut vocals on 14 songs for the band that won The Producer’s Choice Award, Best Band In Los Angeles, 2017, The Swansons:
The Swansons meet The Nashville Trax A Team. Left: The Swansons with our fiddle player, Jenee, Middle: guitarist Brent Mason, producer & bassist Bill Watson, Joe Finley of The Swansons, Right: Joe plays Brent Mason the new song he wrote during his stay here.
Joe Finley of The Swansons trades stories with long time Rascal Flatts drummer, Jim Riley. Here telling Jim, he has sometimes been mistaken for Rascal Flatts’ lead singer, Gary LeVox.
Day One: Angie Finley meets Nashville Trax producer Bill Watson. Time to add Angie and Joe’s vocals to the songs Mr. Watson has been cutting music tracks on for several months. “Playing over 2,000 live shows I learned there’s a vast difference between a ‘danceable’ song and the next level,” says Watson, “The tunes on this album are the prized ‘pull ’em out of their seats’ dance tunes every artist wants to cut and radio loves. People are going to dig this album!”
Be sure to pick up a copy of The Swansons country album when it’s released in late Summer/early Fall of this year!!!
Update 3-6-18: We have already started The Swanson’s album #2 and have about 5 sides tracked!
Ready to cut your own “for real this time” album? e-mail: nashtrax@bellsouth.net. Or call producer Bill Watson @ 615. 319. 8616.
Should You Have A Demo, A Master, A Single or an Album Produced?
Posted: June 7, 2017 Filed under: Client News, Songwriting and Career Promotion, Testimonials | Tags: Demo or Master?, radio airplay royalty check Leave a comment
Dan Thompson’s first quarter U.S. radio airplay royalty check from Sound Exchange for the single Miles and Miles produced by Bill Watson at Nashville Trax, It did even better overseas.
“My first royalty check for the Miles & Miles release in the US… This is for one Quarter.. Miles & Miles was played over 1000 times per week in the US… it did really good.. Thanks for the great work Bill!” – Dan Thompson
Your song is finished, now what? You aren’t capable of producing a professional quality recording on your own so you need a demo produced.
Or do you need a master? But if a master, how do you get it on the radio?
They seem to have the same basic steps, what’s the difference between a master and a demo anyway?
You’re confused. Let’s clear that up!
As this time the cost to have a four to six piece band with a session singer demo produced at Nashville Trax is $750 to $1,400.
Each song production is unique but, in general, the higher price point may include background vocals, more instruments, better musicians and more time spent on the mix. A demo mix requires between 45 minutes to about 3 hours of mix time.
You’d do a demo if initial cost is a huge issue and the song will be used mainly to pitch to music publishers and other A & R industry professionals.
Some of our clients have assembled demos into an album and burned it on a CD but in most cases they aren’t true airplay quality. If you want radio airplay you really need to let us know that upfront, bite the bullet, and invest the additional money to ensure we deliver that.
Some of our clients have successfully attracted investors with a demo. For example, client Chad Barnes of Phoenix Arizona was able to interest an investor in putting $5,000 into his song “Cowboys” based on the initial sketch recording Bill Watson made of the tune. As the full blown production progressed he was able to interest an investor to put up an additional $100,000, presumably for promotion and distribution.
A master suitable for radio airplay typically lands at about $2,500 but could be much lower or higher depending on the same factors detailed above for demos.
While a demo might have one of our A Team musicians on it, a master has only our A Team musicians. Your master may also have a more intricate arrangement; doubling and stacking of tracks (the musician physically playing a part multiple times to thicken the part) as well as a more detailed mix requiring up to 10 hours of mix time.
You’d do a master if you are making an album for release and intend to get radio airplay.
Nashville Trax is a music production facility, we do not go beyond that role; however, we have witnessed the previous successes of our clients over the years and once your demo or master is produced we have a network of companies who can handle your next step effectively.
That list includes music publishing companies; song pluggers; music promotion companies, concert promoters; distributors who can obtain major label distribution for your album or single; and yes, we can connect you with the same radio promotion team that obtained radio airplay for our client Dan Thompson.
Read more about Dan Thomson’s album and single releases this article opened with:
Dan Thompson’s “Miles And Miles” Makes The Country Radio Most Added Prime Mover Chart!
Miles and Miles by Dan Thompson Gaining Traction On Radio, including on the BBC!
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 contrbute 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.
Christian Group, Dads and Daughters, Adds Sponsors, Website And Records 1st Single
Posted: May 17, 2017 Filed under: Christian, Client News, Music Industry News Leave a commentThe Nashville based Christian group, Dads and Daughters, has added Nashville Trax and Play It Again Demos to their growing list of sponsors.
Nashville Trax is providing free studio time and free space for the band’s web page:
Play It Again Demos is providing free management for the group.
Look for their first single to be released in September of 2017.
While they do receive free studio time to record this Dads and Daughters original song, they are donating 100% of all profits from the single to Christian charity. Yet they must pay for the studio musician fees and CD manufacturing costs. Therefore donations at their website noted above are welcome.
A Songwriting & Recording Blog 