a dilemma
Janis is recording bands in his new studio. It is good that he is able to do that, finally. It would have really sucked if he had to quit his dream.
In other news:
Last week, Joel sent our demo to Mitch, an engineer in Nashville who is very excited about our stuff. He wants to set up a meeting with EMI so that we could get some major label support and record with him. Though he (who has engineered for "Jars of Clay") is not quite what we had in mind, it would be great to be working with a Christian with lots of engineering experience and it would be nice not to have to ask our friends and family for $20,000+ to record, provided a label would indeed be interested in us. The problem, though, is that we don't relate to immediately to his aesthetic. But the producers we'd really like to work with are too expensive and too well-known. The other guy in the studio with Mitch produced Tom Waits (you know the "Big in Japan" beat? Yeah, that was him), Smashmouth and Kings of Leon and that stuff sounds great and would be alot closer to what we're going for sonically, but he costs over $50,000 a month.
It's agonizing to know what we want sonically but not have the resources to get it. So we find ourselves faced with a choice between two ways of going forward:
Option 1-- You have to start somewhere. So just take the first step, even if it's not what you ideally want. But then you think, we've spent over 5 years working on this stuff so the production is fresh and new and wild. We don't want to take a producer who might just make it sound the same. But Mr. Dane says he likes the freshness and wants to be part of a band that thinks innovatively about sound. If he likes it so much, maybe others would too--maybe other engineers who fit our aesthetic a little bit better. But would they help set up a meeting with a major label? If we say no, are we passing up a good opportunity or remaining true to our musical/artistic ideals? Or maybe we're holding on too tight to these ideals.
Option 2--Hold out until you can afford that special someone (this might take years of touring etc.). So far we've taken this route and although it has not achieved financial success, it has been the wiser path for our art. But is it time to try a new strategy?
Comments
Grant & Joel,
I've been following this soap opera... er... I mean, rock opera for a few years now. It's good to finally see some good news, or at very least, encouraging news. It seems like you've taken one hard turn after another lately.
Maybe Mr. Dane's the guy, maybe he's not. But it's nice to know he likes your stuff, either way! So, if nothing else, that's something good.
Maybe, here's an idea. If this is your normal MO, then ignore me, please. But maybe, just try talking with him. Tell him some of your vision and story. Ask him about his vision and story. Ask him what was some of the most creative stuff he's worked on and what he liked about it. Even tell him your concerns and why it's been difficult to find the right producer. Even about your worries of getting "the Nashville sound" rather than something new and fresh. Ask him for advice, as someone with some experience. And then see if there is something there that resonates in your spirits. See if your visions converge at some good places. Or if not.
You don't have to commit right away to be open to a possibility. But I'd be really happy for you guys if you did finally find someone to work with. I'm praying for you both and the success of the band.
Matt
Posted by: Matt McGuire | February 27, 2006 04:37 PM