Pat Kearns Music
  Pat Kearns Music
  • News
  • Performances
  • Bio and Pics
  • Listen/Watch
  • Backstage
  • Goat Mt
  • Store
    • So Long City CD Second Pressing
    • Deluxe Vinyl Package
    • LP Electric Blue Vinyl
    • Blue Skies for Black Hearts LP black vinyl
    • Embracing the Modern Age LP Vinyl
    • Embracing the Modern Age CD
    • Serenades and Hand Grenades CD
    • Jenny and Steve b/w Pretty People 7 inch vinyl
    • Love is Not Enough CD
    • Turn the Light Out CD
    • This Black Heart is Going to Break CD
    • Limited Special Pressing Sea Blue w/ Black Splatter
    • Blue Skies for Black Hearts CD
  • Contact
  • Blue Skies for Black Hearts
    • About
    • Listen
    • Videos
    • Backstage
    • Contact

News

Rags & Bones - Producing Dreams of the Father

11/9/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
I see my job, when working as the producer, as the person who helps the musicians realize their artistic potential.  In the case of the latest Rags & Bones EP, this started with a conversation between Rags, Joe Garcia and myself. 

Rags called Joe and I over to his remote Joshua Tree compound to discuss the next three songs he wanted to record.  He explained to Joe and I that he wanted to complete this project before he was obligated to move from the compound; Rags and his wife, Catherine, were putting the compound up for sale.  The conversation revolved around how important a role his residence had played in the development of his songs.  He recorded all the demos in a small office type studio on the grounds.  The little office had wood floors and a warm sound.  There was a small window looking out onto the open desert.  Rags dog, Steinbeck, was always either sleeping on the floor, or the couch when Rags let him get up there.  Although the three songs slated for the EP all dealt with memories of Rag's father and Rag's own Southern California upbringing, the Joshua Tree compound and it's little studio was just as present in the music, even if that wasn't reflected in the lyrics of the songs.  Perhaps it was the solitude at Rag's compound that encouraged the reflective period in Rags life that produced these songs?

Rags told Joe and I about the three songs slated for the album.  He mentioned the sentimentality he was feeling about potentially moving from the compound.  Rags initial plan was to do all of the tracking at my Solar Powered Cabin.  But after hearing both the stories behind California Bound, Drive and Foothill Boulevard as well as Rag's feelings about putting the compound up for sale, Joe and I both had the same reaction.  We both said to Rags, "You should do the tracking right here, in your studio."  I told Rags that the room had a sound. And then I pointed out how nice it would be to hear that sound on these songs.  It would always remind him of the compound. 

Rags was surprised but he agreed that it was a great idea.  The initial plan was to try and track basics of acoustic guitar, vocal and upright bass live.  But that plan quickly morphed into the method Rags is more accustomed to working; we first tracked Rags acoustic guitar to a click, and then we added a lead vocal track over that.  Bass was sent out to Baba Elefante in Los Angeles.  He sent his tracks to me through the web.  Bobby Furgo and Lisa Mednick Powell came way out to my Solar Powered Cabin for violin and accordion overdubs. Tim Chinnock also came out to the cabin for some drums and percussion overdubs.  Tim, Faith Chinnock and Atermis all recorded backing vocals with Rags over at his studio.  And Gar Robertson recorded pedal steel down at his Morongo Valley studio, Red Barn Recorders.  I did the mixing at my Solar Powered Cabin and Dennis Moody handled the mastering.  This was the second project I got to work on with Dennis, The Resolectrics being the first. 

I'm very happy with the vibe we achieved on these three songs.  Rags voice sounds intimate and clear.  I can hear Rags place in these tracks.  I hear the desert and I hear a good friend expressing beautiful sentiments in these three songs. As a producer, this hit the bullseye for me.  Joe Garcia deserves a special mention too as he helped water the original seed. 

Take a listen.  Come visit the desert by giving yourself up to these songs.
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/album/5S2RsR46c9eLtSyv3Bx2sW

Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FQSGHG9


0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Categories

    All

    Archives

    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015

    RSS Feed

    Home

    Pat Kearns

    Blue Skies

    Performances

Website by Blue Skies