Finally!
January 26, 2010
After seven months since recording commenced, numerous mixing and re-mixing and mastering and re-mastering, my new album is finally done and has been sent off to be pressed into CDs. We celebrated in good fashion.
The mixing and mastering proved to be very vexing because although we had a clear idea of how we wanted the album to sound, there were still so many options and angles to go at the songs. Plus, both Fab Leseure (my co-producer) and I can be perfectionist and had a hard time letting go of the project.
Also, for those of you who don't know what mastering is, it happens after mixing and is the last process that the music goes through before it is pressed into CDs. Basically, a mastering engineer takes the songs and runs them through both analogue and digital equipment trying to give the album an extra sheen, spit and polish and also to make sure the recording will sound good whether you are listening to it on your laptop speakers or through a hi-fi stereo system.
Sounds simple enough, but it is a real art form that requires a great deal of expertise, especially if you want your album to sound as good as any commercial release out there. We ended up having the album mastered 6 times with 5 different mastering companies involved over a 5 week head-melting period. The good news is we learned a huge amount and got the album to sound the way we wanted.
In the end, we chose mastering engineer Simon Davey who works at The Exchange in London. He has mastered albums for the likes of Amy Winehouse, Depeche Mode, Bjork, Scissor Sisters, Bad Company and yes, Spice Girls. Simon was a great help and guidance to us and needless to say, extremely skilled at his job. If was a pleasure having him master my album and working with the team at The Exchange.
So, the CD Master is now on its way to America where Oasis (not the band) will manufacture the CDs in about 3 weeks time.
We are now moving into full promotional swing and will be rolling out some new videos and previews of the songs and asking for your generous help and support in spreading the music as far and as wide as possible over the next few weeks.
Until then...
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