3rd album update: Here we are.

Well here we are, or rather, here I am.

I'm finally at the home stretch, after four long years. Yes, over four years of having a vision, a story, a musical direction that no one has been able to hear but me. Something that has pushed me out of my comfort zone, and challenged me to do things in a way I have not done them before. A musical vision that has pushed each of my musicians to their limit, only to demand even more from them.

It's almost surreal being at this stage now. For the longest time it seemed as if being this close to finally hearing something the way it's been in my mind would never come. In fact, all of my musicians thought the same. Oh ye of little faith.

With some relief, I can tell you that the vocals are all finished, which concludes any and all recording needed for this album.

I've been working almost constantly, prepping every song, sound, and tone across the journey. And it looks like I may begin mixing as early as . . . . today. I'm both apprehensive and excited. It's going to be a major undertaking and I'm predicting my brain hurting by the end.

The down side for you ladies and gentlemen, is that you still may not be able to hear the album for quite sometime. Even once it's finished, I have a lot of work to do to ensure that this album does not end up like the other two, due to my reluctance and apathy.

So with that I bid you farewell, and disappear into the magical realm of listening fatigue .

You'll hear from me again soon.

NIKO

3rd album update: everything is now on me

I'm happy to say that all of the instrument recording is finally complete. It's quite a sigh of relief to have everything that is not directly in my control out of the way, and to put the pressure back solely on my quaint shoulders where it belongs.

Just minutes ago, John and I completed a very long day in which we wrote and recorded the last three remaining solos (out of a total of about 8 on this album, not including the written leads). I'm quite pleased with the results, as writing that many solo ideas, and trying to give each one a unique style and voice in context with the song was very challenging. Thankfully, these days are over and done.

Bryan and I finished the last bass parts just last Thursday. Again, we pulled a long day and finished two long songs and several lines we missed from other sessions. I'm feeling very productive at the moment (which will only last me about five minutes, and then I get frustrated with myself). Bryan should feel good about what he has been able to accomplish and how far he has come, even just considering where he was when we started recording. To steal from Tim and Eric: Great Job!

So what now? I'll tell you. Some of you read my last blog in which I almost died. Because of that trifle, we lost some time and have to deal with that. But I've already picked up where I left off, and started getting back in the flow of recording vocals. I've completed three songs so far, but I move quickly, unlike my musician brethren, and if I have no distractions, should be done in no less then a week and a half.

Then I have some final tweaking to do to a lot of the sounds before I can waltz into the mixing stage. I've been getting irritated with certain aspects of the sound, and as a result, I have to spend several days adjusting minute things and listening carefully for hours at a time, which is both tedious and boring, trust me. But the end result is worth it, and who else is going to do this but me?

Once I'm satisfied again (which I mentioned, lasts only five minutes), I will move on to the overwhelming job of mixing this beast, which seems daunting right now.

Yar, that be tha news for now. Hopefully everyone is doing somewhat alright in these strange times.

Talk to you again when there are things to talk about.

NIKO