I used to hate recording. The truth is I find it tedious although it has become more pleasurable. First, having the guys at Easy Street Studio in Simi Valley, CA handle all the technical details is nice.

But anyway you cut it, the studio is NOT the stage. The stage provides immediate gratification. It also allows for “stylistic flexibility” – aka: mistakes. They are there and then gone – you move on, you perform, no one is any wiser. It is energy.

The studio, not so much and that is a critical component. A recent vocal professionally gave me this suggestion.. “Start performing in the studio – capture that energy. Don’t worry as much about pitch and performance. You can do as many takes as possible and you will get pitch but if you don’t perform you won’t get the energy.”

Okay.. that is sort of a paraphrase of a longer and more scattered conversation but the point is well-made and well-taken.

Other Observations & News

Backing Vocals/Harmonies

We are going back to the studio to finalize 8 songs we’ve tracked and start on at least 2 more. First, however, I’m taking some time to work on the backing vocals on those 10 songs and several more.

The same vocal pro referenced above, worked with Melinda and I. (Melinda is new to the band and a beautiful vocalist.. We’ll introduce her soon.) During that time, he encouraged me to stop worrying about the technical harmony – the 3rd – and simply find a new melody line to my song – and test it over my melody line. Practice with several – above and below my line. Of course.. that worked and great headway has been made.

Merchandise & Gigs

We are working hard to create some new t-shirts and book more gigs. The focus on recording took me off this activity but I am back to it again.

Also, we have a couple new t-shirt ideas in the works. Look for announcements.

For current gigs – look here. We are planning a combination of band, solo, and semi-band (me and Elliot, me and Melinda, me and some of the other band members) – NOTE, I AM IN ALL THOSE COMBOS. 

If you get a chance, come on out!

Some songs have a “real life” experience backing them up. This one doesn’t.

Those who know me know that I am “almost” a teetotaler. I drink a glass of wine every other night, maybe. Sort of funny when the bar you play music at gives you free drinks and you are ordering Arnold Palmers – that is my mixed beverage of choice.

This sort of came about as a phrase through some rapid random thoughts.

We had a bottle of wine on the counter next to some cheerios – and I thought.. “wine and cheerios.. breakfast of champions.” Then I thought, “It’s too early for wine and cheerios – so dump the cheerios and go for the wine.”

Almost immediately, the idea of this song arrived. I thought it would be too early for hard liquor and some heartbroken guy could choose wine instead. Hence:
“It’s too early for whiskey so I’m starting with wine.”

I liked it!

I wrote the chorus before I ever picked up my guitar but I knew immediately that it was a honkytonk – simple sort of tune. I’ve played it once before for my band and they like it – although, we’ve yet to adopt it.

CHORUS:
It’s too early for whiskey so I’m starting with wine
Too late for forgiveness, she’s made up her mind
I should be heartbroken but you know I feel fine
It’s too early for whiskey so I’m starting with wine

In my mind I created a scenario – a simple scene played over and over again.  The woman, finally fed up, leaves. In the song, I have her leave her wine so that my anti-hero can drink it the next morning. Rather than “drink it down” he “drunk it down” – which is a purposeful grammatical mishap.

I wrote the chorus, sang it for about 2 weeks before writing the rest of the song. I had the chorus written first, so I usually sing it starting with the chorus.

Here is the song in it’s entirety. Enjoy!

Too Early For Whiskey (so I’m starting with wine)

Copyright © Matthew Moran – 2010

CHORUS:

It’s too early for whiskey so I’m starting with wine
Too late for forgiveness, she’s made up her mind
I should be heartbroken but you know I feel fine
It’s too early for whiskey so I’m starting with wine

VERSE:

The sun comes up and the sorrow starts to make me think
That what I want for breakfast is a long tall drink
But my friends tell me that morning and Jack don’t mix
So this bottle of cheap red wine had better do the trick
(chorus)

VERSE

She finally got the nerve to say she’d had enough
Put her glass of wine down, packed her bags and threw them in the trunk
When I woke the next morning she was nowhere to be found
I took that half-finished glass of wine and I drunk it down
(chorus)

Let me know what you think.

I also showcase a new song, “Running”. See below.

As explained in the newsletter, Running, was inspired by The Zac Brown Band’s song, Highway 20 Ride – about a divorced father visiting his son (child).

I recorded in on my PC camera yesterday for Youtube. Enjoy!

Running
Copyright (c) 2010 – Matthew Moran

VERSE 1
I pick her up early Friday morning
Begging for a little extra time
I’m battling the guilt, time and the schedule
And praying about the impact on her life
She’s pays for my mistakes with smile
And she pays me back with tender-lovin’ grace
Not what she deserves, not what she asked for
My selfish tears fall as I drive away
(Chorus)

CHORUS
Sometimes I feel I’m running in circles
Sometimes I feel I’m just running down the line
But when this life and living leaves me longing for more
I know that I’m just running out of time

VERSE 2
Once upon a time I played the hero
Once upon a time I lost my way
And once upon a time I was so certain
Now I’m certain I know so much less today
I can’t redeem those calendars discarded
I can’t pull back the time that’s passed me by
And memories are sweet but their just memories
It’s making them that makes us come to life
(Chorus)

If you know of songwriters or the music interested in Las Vegas, let them know…

SONGWRITER PERFORMS AND TEACHES PERFORMERS HOW TO USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO LAUNCH CAREERS, DREAMS

LAS VEGAS, NV – Songwriter Matthew Moran used his expertise as a published author, social media expert and marketing consultant to launch a second career and now is leading workshops to teach other performers to do the same.

http://www.prlog.org/10485434-songwriter-performs-and-teaches-performers-how-to-use-social-media-to-launch-careers-dreams.html

The idea was initially full lyric sections. Then just the hook/song title. For Dangerous Girl and A Little Bit of Everything, it made sense to do a 2-sided shirt.

She’s a Dangerous Girl was simple…

Front: She’s a…
Back: Dangerous Girl!!

She’s a little bit of Everything is more complicated.. so I did 2..

Front: She’s a…
Back: Little bit of Everything!!

or

Front: She’s a little bit of…
Back: Everything!!

Which one? All?

Here are some of the other designs:

“The boots come on when the sun goes down From lace to leather, suburbia to downtown She’s a Dangerous Girl!!”	“She’s  a Sangria with her toes stuck in the sand. She’s a little bit of everything”
“She’ a Dangerous Girl!!”	“She’ a little bit of Everything!!”
“Dice have never rolled eyes of blue but Lady Love can, I’ll bet my 3 to your 2”

Either click the image to the right or read it here.

Updates have been a bit sparse of late – mostly due to the schedule of recording, consulting work, and other writing projects.

I did recently provide an update to the Facebook Group – Performing Songwriters (United Worldwide) – covering some tools and technology to help the songwriter on the business side of product/merchandise and promotion.

I’ll be sharing that information here and at:
TheSongwriterOnline.

Stay tuned!

 
~ the latest newsletter ~

And so, when there is a disagreement, you take it public.

Help me name the new CD project. You can hear demo’s of the respective songs – Where I Belong & Everyday Lies – right here. Plus