Welcome to an overview of my work. I am continually updating this page to reflect the work I am most proud of. My most recent work is at the top of the page. Unfortunately all the audio is web quality, if I could post real quality versions I would. I’ve provided outside links for some stuff so I can use a higher quality recordings.
Exit Ghost
I recently joined this band after we started recording together. We did a few songs in my basement, and a few songs at Engine Studios where I have been working. The Engine stuff will be posted when it is done. We also recently came out with an album called “Move Alone” that was mostly done before I joined, but that and other information is available from our website here.
Found My War
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
This was done in my basement. I had enough of a producer role that the band scooped me up and had me join.
Know You’re Alive
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
After the tracks were done on this song we went in and started editing, and came up with this. The final product is a great little tune.
Momo And The Coop
This is an A Capella group from Lewis & Clark College in Portland. My friend Jonah Geil-Neufeld (Audians Member) (Click here) is/was a part of the group. He recorded the tracks and then sent them to me to mix. This is the second time with this group that we have done this. You can listen to my mixes here
The Cajun Vagabonds
This is a traditional Cajun group that I am a part of in Chicago. I play the fiddle and accordion, and sometimes guitar. Follow the link for more info.
We recently put out an album that I produced from my basement. It is available here
Twice In One Night
One weekend Bill Frisch, John Wilson, James Ostrander, and I decided it would be fun to make an album. We did not have any songs, or really much of a plan. We brought all of the music and recording gear from our dorm rooms down to the orchestra rehearsal space and started working. We mostly operated by thinking of an idea, then working out a few parts, then making another section of music, then combining the two together, and within a couple of takes we had most of the instrumental sections done. We then overdubbed vocals over the course of the next couple of weeks. Within about 3 weeks we had a nine or so songs and we gathered them up and put them online for all to enjoy. Since we were in the orchestra space at Cornell, the instrumentation varies from marimbas, vibes and timpani, to analogue synths, guitars and noise loops. It turned out to be both a fun process and a fairly interesting album. On this project I was in charge of recording and production, but I also had an amazing time collaborating in a very free way. We named the group Twice In One Night because when we asked what should we call the group James immediately, without hesitation said Twice In One Night. It stuck, so it is available to download at our bandcamp site (here)
Kim France
Kim is a musician that I have known since before I was born. I grew up listening to him. Finally after a few years of saying we should record some of his songs we finally got it done. I had Kim lay down his acoustic guitars and vocals live for all the songs, along with some of my dad’s acoustic guitar. We just cranked the initial tracks out in an afternoon. Then I was left with a few tracks per song to do whatever I felt like. I had a lot of fun bringing some of these songs I have heard most of my life into a studio album. I think it really shows the span of what Kim can do as a songwriter. I have only included one song that I think shows perfectly what can happen in this type of situation.
DeFord Bailey
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
I was inspired by some stuff that the Wallflowers have done, as well as some stuff that Benmont Tench has done on various people’s albums. I added everything that is not acoustic guitar, bass, or vocals.
Sima Cunningham
Sima Cunningham (click here) is a member of the Audians, as well as an accomplished solo performer. We have been working and writing music together for years. Some of my first production work started with Sima. The album we did is available from her site. I have included a few things that I want to specifically talk about.
Warm White Echo
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
This is one of our earlier songs. Most of the tracks were recorded by me in my dorm room. Some of this song was done via email.
Boon
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
In depth production on my part I think.
Beyond the River
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
The inspiration for this comes from a Chopin nocturne. We had a blast with this one.
The Lost Boys
This group is a few friends of mine from Cornell. They hired me to record an album for them. We tracked the guitar, bass and drums live in a small practice room, with the guitar amps in the hall and the bass amp in the closet. We had only two inputs for live recording (Mbox 2 Pro Tools limitations), so we overdubbed the vocals and guitar solos later. All of the tracking was done over about three days.
New Day
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
I posted this because I feel that it captures what they really feel like. In addition to that I added an organ to the song during the mix that the guys really liked.
Love Is
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Take You Out Tonight
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Simon MacKenzie
Simon was almost a stranger to me when he hired me to do his album. We met a few times, then sat down in my dorm room and cranked it out over a week or so. Mostly we just wanted to capture his solo sound, but I took a few liberties and added some stuff to fill it out a little bit. I only included 2 tracks, but you can learn more about Simon here.
Relief
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
This is one of the tracks that was more than just guitar and vocals. I did the strings and helped him to fill out the vocal sounds as well.
Daydream
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Simon liked my guitar enough to let me do the solo.
The Audians
The Audians are a band that I was in during high school. For more information about this group click here. I have included a few songs that I feel represent something important. Also, I just like these songs…
Ordinary People
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
I helped write this song, and did all the guitar work on it. Recorded at Riverside Studios in Chicago
So Simple
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Early production in my basement.
Busted Peach
First session I recorded that I was not a member of the band for. I ended up having a pretty solid producer role for this record. This was done in my basement.
Standing In the Bathroom
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
I’ve Been Thinking
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
This song was fun, and I really went at it with production ideas
SmazE
This is this first rock group I was a part of. The members of this band joined forces with Sima Cunningham to create the Audians. I think we still have a myspace though (click here). Some of these songs are so old that I don’t remember how we thought of everything, but it is really some of the first stuff on which I spent time thinking about how to produce the songs. I am really amazed by some of the things we did, and at times I feel like I need to live up to the future that we created with this album in 2004 ( I was a freshman in high school.
Tree House
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
The piano, guitar, and some of the noise track are from me. I can here our fascination with Wilco’s Summerteeth.
Song For A Shoe
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
We really got into the studio mindset on this one. Backwards guitars and loops. Also I basically learned to play trumpet only for this song.
Reconnecting
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Lastly, I added this song because I love it so much and it is so good. I don’t really have much to say, except I don’t know how we did it. Just enjoy!!