Today, we recorded my band’s second album. We’ve still got some overdubs to add, but for the most part, it’s done. Hip hip hooooo-ray. There really is nothing like recording live.
There’s also no scarier way to record.
Most of my music has been cut live. You’d think I’d be used to this by now. But I went into the studio today just as anxious as I was when I first started out all those years ago. The only thing that has evolved is the root of my nervousness.
When I first began making music live, I was worried if I’d mess up. That concern feels like a distant memory, but I remember having it. A few years later, my biggest fear while recording was whether or not the masses would like it. Those were my saddest days in the studio because I basically just gave away all of my joy to mysterious strangers that ultimately had no power over me. Later still, I was most worried that I was making music that wasn’t “good,” once again handing over control of my self-worth to music critics and other people that I thought were somehow worthy of qualifying my sound.
Today I feel like I’ve matured a bit. My fear these days?
Whether or not I’m making something real.
At a gig, musicians put on a show. It’s usually a bit of a presentation. We try to make people laugh. We try to take sweet solos. We try to have witty banter. In summation, we try to connect with the crowd.
But when we record, we try not to try. We’re shooting to make the most natural thing we can. We want truth and nothing but the truth. We want to seize a moment in time and be in it perfectly. We ask our brains to check out and simply make the most honest thing we can together. To do this, we can’t hope to make something believable; we must truly believe in ourselves.
Our band did this today. I don’t know if what we made is good. I don’t the masses will like it. And I don’t know how many mistakes I made. But I know we made something real, and so I feel really happy about it. If you want to keep up with us, head on over to http://www.stoneblindvalentine.com and check us out.
Reader, it’s going to be another busy week at the building for me, followed by a big weekend of Kickstarter shows. Whatever you’re up to, I hope you find yourself believing in what you’re doing, no matter what the world thinks of you. There’s nothing scarier…or better. See you next Sunday. -Em