I've been waiting for this day to arrive so long. Our first full lenght album is finally done after huge amount of work and it sounds awesome!
Yesterday Mr. Saksa had quite a bad day, I could say. He was supposed to do the last adjustments for the album, but suddenly his computer broke down. A brand new Apple computer, how is that even possible?! So, with few sweat drops on his forehead he started searching a new computer from his colleagues. Or actually Mr. Saksa is known to be cooler that cool in every situation. A true ICEMAN, unlike some ex-formula driver. :) After three hours of searching he found a new computer, but there were still some problems ahead. For some reason the new machine didn't recognize Mr. Saksa's screen size properly and he couldn't see all he was doing. But, around 8 pm he finally called me and said that everything is now ok and all the adjustments are done. Man, you can imagine just how relieved we felt.
This morning I went to Finnvox studios with Bob. We arrived there around 11 am and met our mastering engineer Mr. Jussila, who has worked with Nightwish, Chidren of Bodom and HIM back in the days. Before this session, Mr. Jussila has mastered only one of Edward's releases, our first demo tape in 2003. We had a blast during the session, because Mr. Jussila told us such crazy stories about music business' big names and how they laugh on their way to bank. The session lasted about four hours and everything went just fine. We left Finnvox studios with big smiles on our faces.
Tomorrow we're all heading to a cottage far far away to celebrate our first album. But right after that on Friday the 2nd of April we're starting our 2 months long release tour from RT Partyhouse in Järvenpää. Then it all starts. Make sure you don't miss that show.
Finally, I have a little time to write something here. I've been extremely busy during last two weeks and it quite frankly shows in my face. Just last week I realized that we're starting our spring tour in three weeks and we need the get the album and many other things done before the first gig.
But first, let's go back to the 6th of March, the day we took our new promotional shots. Our trusted (but shaky) photographer Colin Jameson took our photos at his working place in Espoo. We had a blast during the photoshoot and I'll upload some footage here as soon as I can get the material out of my camcorder.
Since that day I've been working (read: designing) my ass off, trying to get the following things done:
– Album covers – New posters – New t-shirt – New stickers and flyers – New website
Now, after many hours of sweaty sitting everything is almost done. We are mastering the debut album on 25th of March at Finnvox studios by Mika Jussila and then it goes straight to press, so that everyone can buy their own copy on 2nd of April, when our spring tour begins at RT Partyhouse in Järvenpää. In case you are just reading this blog and not visiting our website, here are the tour dates:
Fri 02.04.2010 RT Partyhouse, Järvenpää Sat 03.04.2010 Liberté,Helsinki Fri 09.04.2010 Glory Days, Porvoo (Acoustic gig) Thu 15.04.2010 Torvi, Lahti Fri 16.04.2010 Rocktown, Hämeenlinna Sat 17.04.2010 Monttu, Pori Wed 21.04.2010 YO-Talo, Tampere Thu 22.04.2010 Klubi, Turku Fri 23.04.2010 Kino Nights, Kerava Sat 24.04.2010 Blue Pool, Forssa Tue 27.04.2010 On The Rocks, Helsinki Fri 30.04.2010 Live Rock Cafe, Harjavalta (Acoustic gig) Sat 01.05.2010 Rock 'N' Roll Cafe, Lohja Fri 07.05.2010 Red Neck, Jyväskylä Sat 08.05.2010 Ravintola Rock, Kuopio Sat 15.05.2010 The Rocks, Savonlinna Fri 21.05.2010 Café Tivoli, Rovaniemi Sun 23.05.2010 45 Special, Oulu Fri 28.05.2010 Heven, Järvenpää
Last Thursday I went to the studio with Mikkis to sing more backing vocals. Mikkis finished all his vocals that day. Here are some footage of Mikkis singing quite high notes. :)
Since this week has mostly been about mixing and editing the album, I recorded the final backing vocals at our rehearsal place, so that our engineer, Mr. Saksa, can concentrate on his job.
If you're listening to Radio Rock, you may have noticed that there is this competition called 'Radio Rock Starba'. As soon as we get our album mastered, we'll take part of that competition with a brand new song, which will be revealed next week. The idea of the competition is to get as much votes as possible, so make sure you will vote us and spread the ED-word around. I'm guessing that judges will pick 9 bands to play in final which is to be held at On the Rocks on the end of May.
Our debut album is called 'Songs to Unchain Hidden Hopes'. In case, somebody wants to know the reason for that name, send me an email and I'll try to explain it. :)
At first, we're pressing 1000 copies of the album and these special edition copies are to be sold only on tour. So, if you want to get your own copy, come to see our live performance.
Here's the cover of the special edition of 'Songs to Unchain Hidden Hopes':
Here is the tracklist:
1. Born Again 2. A Life to Be Unreal 3. Hope for the Best 4. Open My Eyes 5. Back Home 6. Try to Make it Last 7. Way You Are 8. Side 9. Long Gone 10. Wake 11. How the World Ends to Me
I'll tell you more about this whole release thingie next week. Take care boys and girls!
It was about 11 am when Mikkis picked me up from my apartment with our brand new bling-bling band wagon and I was already shaking in my boots. I had been more than anxiously waiting for this day to arrive: A day to record lead vocals for the upcoming album. For those who don't know that much about me, I have to say that everytime I'm truly looking forward to something good, strange things happen to me mentally and physically.For E.G. I can catch a cold if I just happen to think of it. In a nutshell, I'm the kind of a guy, who is always overexcited and in my case, the exitement always ruins everything. So, there a was, sitting in a car with a sore throat, partly mute and unable to hear properly because of all the ringing in my ears. Some might say, I looked pretty pale too. :)
We arrived to the studios around noon and I started warming up my voice. Soon I noticed that because of all the exitement that I've been having, I couldn't sing properly. The higher notes where totally gone. To get something done, we decided to start with some easy, lower vocals for verses. After two or three hours of singing, I finally got myself relaxed a bit and we could start doing the parts that required higher singing.
The day was done after 5 hours and man, did I feel down. We got like three of four verses and few choruses done and I wasn't that pleased with my own sound, not at all. I was so stressed out that once I got home, I went basically straight to bed and tried to get some sleep. While sleeping, I saw a dream of myself dropping down an elevator shaft with a strange mammals in my arms. Where is Mr. Freud, when we need him?
Day 2
I woke up at 10 am and suddenly noticed that my voice was working a way better than the day before. This time I drove alone all the way to Hämeenlinna and sang Soundgarden songs the whole way there. I'm so used to sing when I'm driving that I don't even notice it anymore. Still, it must be hilarious to see a man inside a vehice screaming his ass off while waiting the traffic lights to turn green.
Once I got to the studios we started recording right away. First we did more lower vocals for verses to warm up. After a while, our engineer Mr. Saksa said that maybe we could try the higher notes now. I was still in doubt, but went for it anyway and noticed to my surprise that everything was as it should be.
Because the singing wasn't so hard anymore, we ended up recording lots of choruses and higher screams without even having a break in the middle. Clock was about 7 pm, when we wrapped up. Suprisingly, we got done more than we had thought.
It's strange how one's feeling can change so much during two days of recording. When I left the studios, I had the biggest smile on my face. Nothing like the day before.
Day 3
On the third day Mikkis picked me up again. The feeling was already extremely high when we drove to Hämeenlinna. Lots of bad jokes and laughter. A plan for the third day was to record new vocals for couple of old songs: 'Try to Make it Last' and 'Life to Be Unreal'. Also, we recorded choruses and high screams for 'Back Home'. Other songs that we recorded were 'Way You Are' and a very sentimental piece called 'Wake'.
At some point there was only one song to record and I was feeling pretty releaved because of all the hard work. But as soon as I got myself a peace of mind, Mikkis and Mr. Saksa started doing something that I had no clue what so ever. While I was in a separate recording room, they made three alternative endings for 'Try to Make it Last' and didn't say a word to me. I was kept in a total silence for a long time. I just watched them laughing on the other side of the glass. They contacted me only when they needed me sing something they had just came up with. Oh man, it was weird. Those guys aren't to be left alone or some horrible will happen. :)
After the three alternative endings and the choruses of 'A Life to Be Unreal' everybody was feeling satisfied and we decided to head back home. Before closing the studios' front door, we saw Mr. Saksa pick up a big bottle of Leijona booze to go. That's propably a good way to spend a Thursday night, after recording us for three days in a row. ;)
Here you have it. I'll upload pictures and couple of videos here this weekend.
More posts coming next week, when we're recording backing vocals. Have a great weekend!
- Eppu (L.S.*)
* There might be a new artist name coming up when the album is out. ;)
I haven't had the time to write my latest studio diary. Fortunately, I'm writing this only two days late, so it isn't that bad. Now I have all the time in the world to tell you my story about recording acoustic guitars. Here I am, sitting on Leo's couch and listening Nikki Sixx's Heroin Diaries and drinking beer.
Like last time, I went to the Sound Supreme studios after working my ass off. This time, I was supposed to record some acoustic guitars with Mr. Saksa. But first of all, I wanted to listen some guitars that Wäiski did last time. Dudes!!! I have to say people that there are loads of new pretty fucking amazing stuff.
Well, anyways. After getting the guitar sound as it should, I started to play. It took me like 2 hours to play all the songs through. Then it was time to play some new stuff with many different arrangements. That took me maybe 2 hours more. Again, I'm satisfied with the sound and the whole recording session with Mr. Saksa. He had lots of new ideas, which worked heavenly well.
I guess that I don't have much more to say about recording the acoustic guitars. Next time i'm going to listen Leo's vocals and maybe do some singing myself. Now, it's time to have some beers and start getting ready for me nd Leo's show tonight.
Maybe I'll write something to you boys and girls after my singing session.
This week we're continuing to record the album. On Tuesday, Mikkis will go and play some acoustic guitars in and on Wednesday (or Thursday, the day isn't clear yet) it's Tommy's turn to record bass guitars for five songs. Next week, I'm going in to do some serious singing. We decided to take Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for vocals. Hopefully I don't get sick or lose my voice because of these butterflies in my stomach. :)
Last week we recorded demo vocals for each song. We came up with loads of new ideas that worked like a charm. Now the only thing I'm worried is, how the hell am I supposed to sing these new versions live. :) The reason, why I'm worried is that these versions contain loads of high notes and different kinds of screams which I've never sung before. :) Luckily, I have at least some time to practice before our release tour, so I don't have to shake in my boots during our live performances. ;D
I'm writing this only one and a half weeks after the day at the studio. :)
So, it was a friday afternoon, and after one hour of driving, taking a wrong turn and going in circles and almost getting lost, I found the place and we got down to business. There's actually not very much to tell about bass recording that I think would interest normal people, but let's try.
We plugged in the bass, and after tweaking the settings on my preamp (translation for mortals: bassomööpeli) Mr. Saksa made some mixing magic on the computer, and suddenly we had a pretty good bass sound that in my opinion mixed very well with the other instuments, and fitted the soundscape in general. We started recording, and during the 4-hour session we got about half of the songs done. Some songs went without much difficulty, and to others we had to figure out some new arrangements and stuff, but all in all I'm very pleased with the day at the studio, and I'm looking forward to recording the rest of the songs.
We'll continue recording in about two weeks, so hang in there and don't get overwhelmed with exitement!
