Now Tracking : 4 Songs just booked. Yours too?
Posted: February 1, 2014 Filed under: Client News, Now Tracking | Tags: now tracking, Stephene Bouchard Leave a comment
We have been contracted by singer/songwriter Stephene Bouchard of Canada, to record four original songs of various styles, with pre-production charting and rhythm section tracking (drums, bass, piano, guitar) the first two steps in the process of working long distance.
Update: Sorting through the tracks now and the first song is in Stephene’s hands to add vocals. We sent a rough mix of drums. bass and guitar rhythm tracks on a .wav file (via Hightail) of his song “Real Love”. Once back and we can hear exactly where the vocals sit, we’ll add the piano, strings and other overdubs. The mix will be done here.
Update: Stephane has also been forwarded a rough mix of “To Find You” to add vocals to.
Yes singers, it’s that easy to get a pro quality demo or CD over the Internet! Cost? Some of the four tunes are more complex than others but we agreed on an average of only $750 per song! That includes a full day of studio time per song, pre-production work, rhythm tracking, sending files back & forth, overdubs and mixing. Good deal!
Now Tracking : Wrangler Man on 1-8-14 Session! Your song too?
Posted: December 15, 2013 Filed under: Now Tracking | Tags: Blake Shelton's fiddle player Jenee Fleenor, Fractured Fairytale, Montgomery Gentry's drummer, William Ellis, Wrangler Man Leave a comment
Jenee of Nashville Trax
If you have a song you’d like to get demoed trio or full band style, fast and at a discount, shoot us an mp3 at nashtrax@bellsouth.net tthen pay via Pay Pal to the same address, less a full 15% off! This offer is good only through January 6th at midnight (we need time to chart it, make suggestions and revise for any approved changes). Limit 4 songs total so we may need to close doors on this if we get too many.
Your song will be on the 1-8-14 rhythm tracking session that includes Steve Peterson’s Wrangler Man which is going to be tracked as a walking bass country song. One other song, Fractured Fairytale, is scheduled so far and we have room for2 more songs in this 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. session.
This is your chance to have Montgomery Gentry’s drummer, William Ellis, play on your tune through world class equipment with pro pre-production, producing and mixing!
If you need fiddle, mandolin, female vocals or awesome stacked backup vocals on your tune, Blake Shelton’s fiddle player, Jenee Fleenor, will be doing overdubs on various songs in a 2:00 p.m.- 6:00 p.m. same day!
Visit Nashville Trax for more information on the session players available.
Update: One song, titled “Johnny” has been added, 1 slot left, If you want it, let us know!
Update: Full! Sorry, maybe next session.
Michael Jackson’s Rhianna Demo Finished!
Posted: December 10, 2013 Filed under: Client News, Now Tracking | Tags: before and after sample demo, Michael Jackson, play it again demos, Rhianna Leave a comment
Tim Zimmermann
The Michael Jackson (not THAT Michael Jackson!) penned, Rhianna, we were hired to produce a demo on is finished!
Here’s a brief clip of the “before” version we were furnished with:
Here’s the Play It Again “after” sung by our pop vocal and background vocal specialist, Tim Zimmermann (pictured above):
Click here for more information about this project.
Rhianna is © Michael Jackson 2013, posted by permission. All rights Reserved. Unauthorized use is a violation of U.S. and International copyright law.
If you’re interested in recording Rhianna or using it in any commercial application please let us know and we’ll forward your “request for a mechanical license.”
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 rough mp3 or mp4 attached to: nashtrax@bellsouth.net detailing what you want.
Write in another style? There are more samples of work to your right in Categories > Samples of Our Work.
Now Tracking : Fractured Fairytale
Posted: December 6, 2013 Filed under: Now Tracking | Tags: Billie Jean, Michael Jackson Leave a comment
Gone will be a fun song to mix!
This is songwriter Michael Jackson’s third song I’m producing for him (this Michael J is no relation to the M.J. of “Billie Jean” fame).
It’s a swampy Delta blues type tune that I’m thinking will need a rough, edgy vocal, a lot of acoustic instrumentation like harmonica, acoustic guitar and a full drum kit. The first order of business will be to ask our studio session drummers the best approach rhythmically.
I love the tune, can’t wait to hear it come together!-b.e.
Update: It’s finished. Click here to listen!
This Izotope Compression Plug in across the stereo mix will help give it that glossy big studio sound!
Long Day But Great Vocal Tracks!
Posted: December 1, 2013 Filed under: Now Tracking | Tags: background vocal specialist, Brittany Baptiste, guitar overdubs, Tim Zimmermann Leave a comment
We cut some fantastic Vocal Tracks!
Wow, in the studio before 7 am yesterday and still there at 8:00 p.m. yet it felt like only about four hours went by. We got some guitar overdubs done on 4 tunes early, then Brittany Baptiste, a session singer, came in at noon and did a tremendous job on a pop song. Her tone quality is truly exceptional. And the girl has good nature and patience to spare, she didn’t mind taking the extra time to get it right.
Then about 4 pm Tim Zimmermann, a background vocal specialist, flat out nailed a bgv heavy song titled “Forever and Me.” We’re cutting 6 versions of this song for targeting various segments of the Contemporary Christian and Southern Gospel markets.
Tim cut 3 leads and about 15 bgv tracks to cover 3 of the versions. His vocal licks were just off the hook, easily equal to and even exceeding the best bgvs I’ve ever heard and I’ve worked with several of Nashville’s best bgv singers.
Watch out folks, there’s a new boy in town!
The coolest thing is, unlike some musicians I’ve worked with in Nashville who were all about getting done as fast as possible and out the door, probably to ensure they got their 2 o’clock nap in, there wasn’t a hint of clock watching by anyone all day. It was all about making the music as great as possible; obviously I’m all about that.
Long day, but great tracks made it fun and worth it. We barely noticed time passing and, if anything, it was over too soon!- b.e.
Now Tracking : Gone
Posted: November 29, 2013 Filed under: Christian, Client News, Now Tracking | Tags: Gone, Jamie Grace, Michael Jackson, now tracking song Leave a commentA second song in queue at Play It Again Demos is by Michael Jackson, titled “Gone.” It’s a wonderful song with some interesting chord and lyric twists.
This would be a song I could hear Jamie Grace doing. I’m excited and looking forward to experiencing what I hear in my head coming to life.
The charts are finished and we’re tracking tomorrow, it should be mixed the first week of December!- b.e.
Update 12-1-13: The rhythm and overdub tracks are cut for Gone, the singer delivered some truly exceptional vocal tracks, now it’s on to mixing which is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon/Thursday!
Update 12-5-13: You can listen to the finished mix version here!
Tracking Now : Rhianna
Posted: November 15, 2013 Filed under: Client News, Now Tracking, Studio News | Tags: Elvis, Jackson 5, Johnny Cash, Little Feat, Michael Jackson, Train Hey Soul Sister Leave a comment
An interesting tune came in this afternoon and since I’m charting a few songs now as I write this, I’ve added it to the upcoming session.
It’s for songwriter Michael Jackson but I’m relatively sure he’s not the same guy who wrote Billie Jean and was a member of the Jackson 5. But then again they say Elvis is still alive and singing somewhere…who really knows? Michael, if you send a pic and you’re wearing a single white glove it’ll freak me out a little, that’s for sure.
Anyway I find it very cool and intriguing that this is one of those rare finds that could be translated in several radically disparate styles, and even more so that Michael has given me permission to go any direction I wish, even though I mentioned Little Feat, Train’s Hey, Soul Sister and Johnny Cash as possibilities. Wow!
Update: The song is charted and we’re ready to begin tracking on it this coming Tuesday. There’s no doubt it’s going to be a dramatic transformation from rough to polished demo. I’m excited!
Session Alert!
Posted: November 1, 2013 Filed under: Nashville Session Musicians, Now Tracking, Song Pitch Opportunity, Songwriting and Career Promotion, Studio News | Tags: Bill Watson Nashville Music Producer, Blake Shelton, Jenee Fleenor, Martina McBride, Montgomery Gentry, William Ellis Leave a comment
Three special recording/mixing session dates are coming up Nov. 26th, 2013 plus Dec. 3rd and Dec. 4th featuring some musicians who are regular members of Billboard charting country artist’s bands. Tracking and overdubs are on tap the first two days, mixing the last.
Jenee Fleenor, the backup singer and fiddle player who plays for hit recording artist Blake Shelton has confirmed. Blake Shelton’s Mine Would Be You is currently the #2 song on the Country Billboard charts.
Jenee also plays regularly for Martina McBride.
William Ellis, drummer for Montgomery Gentry will also be on board. We’ll also be recording bass guitar and guitar.
If you’d like to get a song or two in on this event, or even attend the session to watch your song get tracked and meet the musicians, simply e-mail nashtrax@bellsouth.net and let us know how many songs you want to include. We’ll promptly reply with the cost. 25% down will secure your slot but all remaining fees must be paid in full, in cash, by first downbeat. There’s room, we’ll work all night if necessary.
Update 11-26-13. 6:00 p.m. We tracked multiple songs today starting at 10 a.m. after which every part was backed up to additional hard drives (we do 1 backup as we record). Long day but the tracks sound great so far, we’re looking forward to the next session!
https://twitter.com/BritttStip/status/401504526558969856
https://twitter.com/amanda7593/status/401413632929443840
Now Tracking : The Darker Side Of Love
Posted: September 23, 2013 Filed under: Client News, Now Tracking | Tags: play it again demos, pre-production, rockin country, Steve Zodiak, Tom Hogan Leave a comment
We’re finally getting around to the tracking of Tom Hogan’s (a.k.a. Steve Zodiak, his fictitious online name) “The Darker Side of Love” which was the subject of a previous post. It took a while to make some pre-production decisions and get the financials in order.
Love the tune! Uptempo contemporary country with a female vocal and lots of bgv’s. It’s “The Works” level demo ($1,200) so it’s also getting drums, bass guitar, two guitar tracks, fiddle, mandolin and harmonica with the harmonica and fiddle trading licks on the solo section. Steve said, “Make it Rockin’ Country!”
No one has to ask me that twice, LOL. Charts are complete and we’re ready to cut rhythm tracks on this bad boy.- b.e.
10-12-13 Update: Here’s the finished mix.
1 lead vocal track
2 harmony vocal tracks
10 Drum kit tracks (10 separate tracks with each drum microphone getting a separate track, kick, snare, top head, snare bottom head, etc.)
1 bass guitar track
2 split acoustic guitar tracks, panned wide
2 chorused clean electric guitar tracks panned wide
1 distorted rhythm electric guitar track
1 harmonica track
1 fiddle track
1 steel guitar track
1 mandolin track
The Darker Side of Love is © 2013, Tom Hogan, 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.
Tom’s comment on 11-17-13: “Thanks for all you’ve done. I’ve nothing to say but good things about the “Darker Side of Love” project.”
How do you like that harmonica work? It adds a lot, eh? And that awesome fiddle trading licks with the harmonica on the solo?
How would you like to be pitching work of this quality?
I can happen! Send us a copy of your working rough mp3 at nashtrax@bellsouth.net and request a quote today!
Now Tracking: Oh Lord I Sing To Thee
Posted: September 5, 2013 Filed under: Christian, Client News, Now Tracking | Tags: Paul Stookey, Play It Again Demos Song Recording Service, The Wedding Song Lyric Leave a comment
This is a Play It Again Demos client project: gospel piano and vocal demo with female lead and harmony vocal ($250 for a piano/vocal plus $65.00 for harmony/bgvs = $315 total).
I feel blessed to have the opportunity to produce this beautiful, heartfelt worship song for a lady named Heather who is wheelchair bound and convinced God is going to let her walk again.
Do you believe in miracles? Please pray for Heather.
Don’t dismiss it. We had a mini-miracle occur at one of the churches I attend a couple weeks ago. A member lady’s father was rushed into surgery at a local hospital, died and the nurse came out to tell her there was nothing they could do. (Later, the surgeon said sewing together what was left of his aorta was literally like sewing two pieces of wet toilet paper together, they couldn’t do it.)
A team was still working on the father but it was a legal formality. The daughter started frantically texting church members asking for prayer, saying her father had died on the op table but the doctors were still working on him. (I was not at the church but did get the texts).
As the pastor told it the following Sunday, the husband, who happened to be at an event at the church, received the text, and asked all present for prayer. The entire church hit their knees. Soon a text came in saying his father in law had revived. Three times he flatlined. Three times his heart started again, each time after a prayer request was texted by his daughter and the church prayed mightily until the next text came in saying he had revived.
He’s alive today. The doctors are dumbfounded, They can’t explain it as medically as it was simply not possible.
Coincidence? IMHO Just Jesus doing His thing.
That’s not to say every prayer evokes a miracle but I do believe Paul Stookey had it about right when he paraphrased Matthew 18:20 in The Wedding Song: “Whenever two or more of you are gathered in His name, there is love.”
That’s one of the most beautiful lyrics ever written I think: The Wedding Song Lyric Thought provoking intelligence and simplistic innocence working in parallel. I’m not positive the human mind can create that alone.
He is love. Gather, pray and He will be there. The serendipity for we mortals is how that love plays out-b.e.
P.S. Update: The song is now tracked. You can listen to the before and after versions here!
https://twitter.com/MT_Underwood7/status/383766692515434498
https://twitter.com/vinestaylor11/status/383758842594471936
Update On Kerry McFate’s Clarence Lowden Album Project
Posted: July 7, 2013 Filed under: Client News, Client News, Pro Tools Software, Studio News | Tags: .wav, Bill Watson, Hank Williams Jr., Jamey Johnson, Johnny Cash, Kerry McFate, Mike Douchette On Pedal Steel, nashville trax, Taylor acoustic guitar, Wanda Vick on fiddle Leave a comment
Songwriter Kerry McFate (left) and producer Bill Watson (right) taking a break from mixing Kerry’s songs.
Songwriter Kerry McFate (left) and producer Bill Watson (right) take a break from mixing songs for Kerry’s Clarence Lowden album.
Kerry McFate will be taking his flight back to New York City tomorrow morning just thrilled with the experience at Nashville Trax and stoked about the way the songs came out.
“Bill, I’m blown away, I can’t thank you and your team enough for taking the songs I brought in, mere kernels really, and growing them into these fabulous recordings!” Kerry exclaimed as we parted.
He’ll be the first to admit he’s not a highly skilled singer technically, but he has a great voice and with do-over punch-ins, plus a little help from software, reverb, delay and EQ, his strong baritone, (which has shades of deep register country singers like Hank Williams Jr., Johnny Cash and Jamey Johnson) sounds just great, even better than he expected. He also played his own Taylor acoustic guitar and those tracks mixed in, no problem.
Fiddle and steel guitar are featured throughout, which Kerry requested when we first discussed the project, and sound super, thanks to the contributions of my favorite calls on both of those instruments, Wanda Vick on fiddle and Mike Douchette on pedal steel.
The mixes are finished on all three songs, which Kerry intends to release on CD under his fictitious Clarence Lowden name.
Kerry has the stereo mix .wav files as well as the (Pro Tools) session files on his hard drive. That’s actually the 8th or 9th copy of all files on 4 different drives because at Nashville Trax we meticulously back up on external hard drives in rotation at each stage of the recording process: After each song is tracked, after each overdub musician or singer completes their parts, and of course, after the final mix.
With these first few tunes I think we were able to define a direction and create a unique sound for Kerry that can be explored even further as the album is completed- b.e. watson
A Great Day Recording Music At Nashville Trax!
Posted: July 7, 2013 Filed under: Client News, Nashville Session Musicians, Now Tracking, Session Player Stories, Studio News | Tags: Avalon compressor/preamp, Avantone CK-7 large diaphragm microphone, Bill Watson Nashville Music Producer, David Northrup Drummer, Kerry McFate, mike Douchette, recording music, The Opry, tom wild, wanda vick Leave a comment
Songwriter Kerry McFate (left) and producer Bill Watson (right) take a break from mixing songs for Kerry’s Clarence Lowden album.
Wow! A truly fantastic day today tracking the first songs for the Kerry McFate CD at Nashville Trax. Two days of rain welcoming him to Nashville couldn’t dampen his enthusiasm that only increased as the recording progressed. Kerry ended that evening with, “Bill, this is way beyond anything I could have possibly imagined, just incredible, I’m so excited!”
Drummer David Northrup laid down fabulous tracks, including a couple of country shuffle beats, for Tom Wild, Wanda Vick, Mike Douchette and other session players to build on. As always, the Nashville Trax studio drum kit sounds were killer.
Kerry played his new Taylor acoustic purchased just for the session. It was routed through the Avantone CK-7 large diaphragm microphone plugged into the Avalon compressor/preamp, a combination I’ve come to rely on for acoustic instruments and it produced the rich, full bodied sound with excellent articulation it always does. We’re getting a reputation for delivering excellent acoustic guitar, fiddle, dobro and mandolin sounds.
Part of the fun for clients coming in to town is hanging out with the session players between takes. Kerry was treated to stories from David about his recent gigs with Wynonna and other artists, a story from Mike Douchette about how, back in the day, a master tape with hundreds of thousands of dollars of work on it, the only copy, was accidentally erased by some drunk guys clowning around who decided it would be a good idea to record their antics and grabbed the wrong tape to record over. Just lots of priceless stuff I’m sure Kerry will delight in sharing with everyone back home.
Tom Wild played two of the tunes on the same rig he used to played The Opry this past weekend, a maple Telecaster direct through his pedal board that could have easily passed for a Fender Twin Reverb amp.
Early vocal tracking on Kerry’s project, then mix tomorrow, I can’t wait to get at these fabulous tracks!- b.e.
A Songwriting & Recording Blog 