I’m pretty excited about how 2011 is shaping up thus-far. First-off, I’ve made a goal for myself of releasing EP’s for at least three of the many side-projects I have, potentially including “Shaidar Logoth” (raw/ambient black metal), a yet-unnamed post-metal project, “God Damn Barbecue” (groovy southern bar-rock), “ishowyou” (ridiculous joke-death metal/deathcore), and/or a potential rock band in the vein of Thrice/Cave In. The Shaidar Logoth project will almost certainly happen, as we are only one song away from a complete four-song, 25+ min. EP. I have other ideas besides the ones listed, but I’m going for completion here.
As for general recording, we’ve completed tracking for a local Screamo/Pop-Rock band’s new album, which I’ll start mixing within the next couple of days. It took us several months to complete tracking (lots of 2-4 day short weekday nights), but I’m really digging how it sounds unmixed, so hopefully it’ll come together relatively quickly in the mixing process. I’ll likely do final mixing & mastering with Adam Tucker at SignatureTone Recording again, as he’s proven to be my magic touch as of late. Fortunately, he hasn’t tried to touch me. Much.
Aside from the Screamo/Pop-Rock album, I’m talking with a couple of my favorite recent clients to do some more recording with me in 2011, which I’m psyched for. I’ve learned some new tricks during the last few months that should really up my game this year: hopefully that’ll come through with these projects. There’s another death/thrash-metal demo I’m really excited for as well, and it’s looking like Iron Thrones’ next full-length will begin preproduction in late Summer/early Fall, if I can get out of the “listening to new music” phase and into the writing phase. That’s part of what the many side-projects are about: writing without the pressure. I know Iron Thrones is still technically a “nobody” band, but it means a lot to me, and it’s weird knowing that at least a few thousand people, along with many of the more prominent metal bloggers & reviewers, are going to hear our new music when it’s done, and it freaks me out a little bit. Not because I want to impress them (although it’s always convenient to hear that people like our stuff!), but because I’ve never really had anyone give a shit what I was doing, and now some people do and it’s just odd. Fun, but odd.
It’s actually more so that I really owe it to everyone to ignore any perceived outside approval or influence, and write whatever the fuck I/we want to, as that’s really what my job is, and what any band’s job is unless they’re making pop music. Given my extremely microscopic/limited experience with a few people wondering what I’m up to, I can’t even imagine what it must be like to get known/huge for writing music you love, and having to write a follow-up album that could make/break your career. Do you write the same stuff you did before, in attempt to keep your current fans? Do you try to make catchier stuff to gain more fans? Or do you intentionally make weirder stuff, to appear more “true” to yourself? I don’t have to worry about that now, but I can see how it’d suck to have such pressures.
Unfortunately, I don’t really have much planned for the commercial/film front this year. I’m beginning to miss doing sound design & composing for film, although I never really did all that much of it. Perhaps I’ll try to find some independent film circles in MN who are looking for some freelance audio work? It might be fun, even if I don’t get any money from it. I mean, money is definitely going to be incredibly tight this year, but I’d much rather be doing stuff I love for cheap/free, than doing stuff I hate for cheap/free, right?
As an aside, my buddy Derek aka “Mod Sun” had a hell of a year last year, and is set up to do some potentially insane stuff this year. I really missed working with him; he really is a super-talented dude, and is one person for whom any success he gets will be well-deserved. Hopefully, we can find a way to collaborate in 2011.
Like I said, lots of good stuff and potential good stuff lined up for 2011. Just need to plan & execute! Wish me luck.
Cheers,
-steve.h
