I haven't been that regular about updating this blog, but I do communicate regularly with my fans through Facebook. Reviewing my Facebook posts over the past 3 years, I realized that I had a blow-by-blow chronology of my album development and recording in my Facebook posts. So I thought it would be fun to collate them here so you can see how the whole process unfolded.
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January 3, 2010. That boy is fast! I asked my friend Nabil Moghaddam if he wanted to try writing music to these lyrics, and he turned out a demo in a few hours! Loving it. Thanks, Nabil!
January 9, 2010. WOOOOO! Guitar arrangement of "softness can be strength." Should I debut it at the CRG today???? Rockin' out!
March 7, 2010.
gleam
May 9, 2010. Worked out guitar part for this today. Now have to practice it! Straight-up rock-pop.
gleam Katharine Key music
May 29, 2010. Got set up to record at home! Big breakthrough. Now I have to learn how to use the software...
December 7, 2010. So excited! I just booked my tickets to Dallas for winter break to go record some of my new material with my friend Andy S! He may be cooking up some performance opportunities while I'm there...
December 25, 2010. having a great time in Dallas with Andy starting to record my new material!
December 25, 2010. scratch tracks laid down for 3 songs; going to call it a day.
December 27, 2010. Andy recorded a rockin' guitar part to "softness can be strength" (see player below) this morning, and now Aztich is laying down some beautiful acoustic bass for "give in." Magic!
December 31, 2010. Katharine Key & Andy Sperandeo...what a team! Recorded basic tracks for 2 new songs & added bass to 3 this evening. Now to prepare for Saturday's concert...
December 31, 2010. recording!!!
January 3, 2011. performing, recording, performing, recording...
January 4, 2011. getting ready to go home after a very productive week and a half of recording with andy...i am so excited about this new material!
January 4, 2011 via Music Player.
rough mix of andy sperandeo's funked-out arrangement of softness can be strength [no longer available]
January 7, 2011. Thank you for breaking my heart. I got so many good songs out of it. Now on to write some happy ones! Look out.
February 10, 2011. my producer: "so when do you want to go over your tracks?"
me: "how about saturday?
producer: "i gotta work saturday and sunday. how about some night next week. how's monday night?"
me: "only if you're bringing chocolate and flowers."
February 13, 2011. spent the afternoon with producer Keny Ruyter drawing out plans for my new songs...
April 7, 2011. lightening up my load in other areas of life so i can focus more on my music. also wrote lyrics for a new song today. coincidentally my producer called tonight. getting back on track...
April 18, 2011. After a day's struggling finally got ProTools 8 working on my computer.
July 6, 2011. My producer Keny gave me ProTools 101 on Sunday. Getting back on track with this CD stuff.
July 19, 2011. recording session Sunday!!!!
July 31, 2011. back into the studio again today. hoping my voice isn't too tired. want to work on "give in," "softness can be strength," and "cornerstone."
July 31, 2011. narcisistically listening to new vocal harmonies over and over
November 1, 2011. I am so jazzed! Just got a hot guitar arrangement for one of my new songs from my buddy Andy Sperandeo. Can't wait to put the finishing touches so I can share it with you. This song is rockin'!!!!
December 16, 2011. getting my guitar chops up for my upcoming recording sessions...
December 17, 2011. another hot date with the guitar and the piano
December 17, 2011. practiced guitar so hard last night and today that i have a blister on my thumb. this has never happened.
December 22, 2011. got a little prezzie from my guitarist tonight..."softness can be strength" is getting there!
December 23, 2011. going into the studio today & tomorrow! woohoo!
December 24, 2011. I wish I knew an easy way to share mp3s on FB. I'd love to share some rough cuts from the recording session. FB took away the music player app.
December 24, 2011. some of what I was working on today...fancy guitar work by andy sperandeo
[softness can be strength on myspace.com, no longer available]
December 24, 2011. working on this yesterday with producer keny ruyter
[plexiglass on myspace.com, no longer available]
December 26, 2011. ever wonder what actually goes into recording?
what happens in the studio?
December 31, 2011. going back into the studio on New Year's Day. hopefully all is quiet. :)
January 1, 2012. Keny is laying down new drum & bass tracks for "Humpty Dumpty."
January 1, 2012. the fruits of today's labor. just a rough mix. listen now, as it won't stay up!
[humpty dumpty on myspace.com, no longer available]
January 2, 2012. today in the recording studio i am a punk librarian
January 2, 2012. the punk librarian strikes! again, listen now, for a limited time only. comments?
[gleam on myspace.com, no longer available]
January 4, 2012. wow, the end is actually in sight with this album. still much work to do, but there's light at the end of the tunnel.
January 6, 2012. listening to my rough mixes in my car. guy walks by my car in the alley behind my house and says, "what's that music you're listening to?" i say, "that's my music." he says, "it's good" and walks off. and this was a song i thought nobody would like.
January 9, 2010. WOOOOO! Guitar arrangement of "softness can be strength." Should I debut it at the CRG today???? Rockin' out!
March 7, 2010.
gleam
May 9, 2010. Worked out guitar part for this today. Now have to practice it! Straight-up rock-pop.
gleam Katharine Key music
May 29, 2010. Got set up to record at home! Big breakthrough. Now I have to learn how to use the software...
December 7, 2010. So excited! I just booked my tickets to Dallas for winter break to go record some of my new material with my friend Andy S! He may be cooking up some performance opportunities while I'm there...
December 25, 2010. having a great time in Dallas with Andy starting to record my new material!
December 25, 2010. scratch tracks laid down for 3 songs; going to call it a day.
December 27, 2010. Andy recorded a rockin' guitar part to "softness can be strength" (see player below) this morning, and now Aztich is laying down some beautiful acoustic bass for "give in." Magic!
December 31, 2010. Katharine Key & Andy Sperandeo...what a team! Recorded basic tracks for 2 new songs & added bass to 3 this evening. Now to prepare for Saturday's concert...
December 31, 2010. recording!!!
January 3, 2011. performing, recording, performing, recording...
January 4, 2011. getting ready to go home after a very productive week and a half of recording with andy...i am so excited about this new material!
January 4, 2011 via Music Player.
rough mix of andy sperandeo's funked-out arrangement of softness can be strength [no longer available]
January 7, 2011. Thank you for breaking my heart. I got so many good songs out of it. Now on to write some happy ones! Look out.
February 10, 2011. my producer: "so when do you want to go over your tracks?"
me: "how about saturday?
producer: "i gotta work saturday and sunday. how about some night next week. how's monday night?"
me: "only if you're bringing chocolate and flowers."
February 13, 2011. spent the afternoon with producer Keny Ruyter drawing out plans for my new songs...
April 7, 2011. lightening up my load in other areas of life so i can focus more on my music. also wrote lyrics for a new song today. coincidentally my producer called tonight. getting back on track...
April 18, 2011. After a day's struggling finally got ProTools 8 working on my computer.
July 6, 2011. My producer Keny gave me ProTools 101 on Sunday. Getting back on track with this CD stuff.
July 19, 2011. recording session Sunday!!!!
July 31, 2011. back into the studio again today. hoping my voice isn't too tired. want to work on "give in," "softness can be strength," and "cornerstone."
July 31, 2011. narcisistically listening to new vocal harmonies over and over
November 1, 2011. I am so jazzed! Just got a hot guitar arrangement for one of my new songs from my buddy Andy Sperandeo. Can't wait to put the finishing touches so I can share it with you. This song is rockin'!!!!
December 16, 2011. getting my guitar chops up for my upcoming recording sessions...
December 17, 2011. another hot date with the guitar and the piano
December 17, 2011. practiced guitar so hard last night and today that i have a blister on my thumb. this has never happened.
December 22, 2011. got a little prezzie from my guitarist tonight..."softness can be strength" is getting there!
December 23, 2011. going into the studio today & tomorrow! woohoo!
December 24, 2011. I wish I knew an easy way to share mp3s on FB. I'd love to share some rough cuts from the recording session. FB took away the music player app.
December 24, 2011. some of what I was working on today...fancy guitar work by andy sperandeo
[softness can be strength on myspace.com, no longer available]
December 24, 2011. working on this yesterday with producer keny ruyter
[plexiglass on myspace.com, no longer available]
December 26, 2011. ever wonder what actually goes into recording?
what happens in the studio?
December 31, 2011. going back into the studio on New Year's Day. hopefully all is quiet. :)
January 1, 2012. Keny is laying down new drum & bass tracks for "Humpty Dumpty."
January 1, 2012. the fruits of today's labor. just a rough mix. listen now, as it won't stay up!
[humpty dumpty on myspace.com, no longer available]
January 2, 2012. today in the recording studio i am a punk librarian
January 2, 2012. the punk librarian strikes! again, listen now, for a limited time only. comments?
[gleam on myspace.com, no longer available]
January 4, 2012. wow, the end is actually in sight with this album. still much work to do, but there's light at the end of the tunnel.
January 6, 2012. listening to my rough mixes in my car. guy walks by my car in the alley behind my house and says, "what's that music you're listening to?" i say, "that's my music." he says, "it's good" and walks off. and this was a song i thought nobody would like.
January 18, 2012. hoping today's wind will increase the size of the fire (recording "what the fire is")
January 18, 2012. it worked...
[photo of sign that says "recording, do not disturb"]
January 19, 2012. 1st 5 people to comment get a rough mix of "What the Fire Is" in its current state. If I don't have your email address, send it to me at http://www.justkat.com/contact.html
January 21, 2012. I can now listen to my album all the way through. So exciting! Just need to collect a few cello, upright bass, background vocal, and other miscellaneous parts while my producer is away in Thailand for a month. Once I get the remaining parts, unless we decide to change any of the arrangements, the editing and mixing process begins...
January 26, 2012. glad my cold waited until after i was done with recording last week
February 26, 2012. New tracks from my friends for Cornerstone and Softness Can Be Strength. Best Ayyam-i-Ha gift ever!!!!
May 4, 2012. closing in on finishing the recording...those final touches can be so elusive! hopefully i have now found a cellist...
May 4, 2012. my uncle is going to do my graphic design! he's retired now, but he used to do print layout for books and such, including the benetton catalogue. woot!
May 6, 2012. confirmed with the cellist and djembe player, got kelly's WOW arrangement of "doubt" -- moving forward! just a few finishing touches on the recording, then we proceed to mixing and mastering...
May 9, 2012. things R moving forward with the CD & it's so exciting!
May 12, 2012. Great recording session tonight with my good buddy, djembe player Gustaff Besungu! Thanks Gustaff!
July 9, 2012. just because i haven't been talking about it doesn't mean i'm not working on it...session with my producer today. need to record cello and bass & then we'll be done with the recording phase. then to mixing, mastering, cover design, and finally manufacturing!
July 14, 2012. who looks at lyrics in CD cases? i do, but i don't know how many others do. wondering if it's worth the expense to include them in the insert. i could put them on my website & put a pointer in the insert...what do you think?
July 15, 2012. sounds like most people are OK with having the lyrics available on the web. if you want to make a case for having them printed in the CD insert, speak now or forever hold your peace...
July 26, 2012. cello recording session on Monday--can't wait!
August 11, 2012 via mobile. Recording what I hope are the last of the backup vocals tonight.
August 11, 2012 via mobile. Ok ran out of steam. 2 more songs for next weekend.
August 18, 2012. 'nite Facebook! Gotta get some beauty sleep for my 6 a.m. album cover photo shoot.
August 19, 2012. Got some great shots; will post a few later when I get them. Was up at 4:30 a.m. to do the makeup and hair; back to sleep now!
August 19, 2012. here are some shots from today's photoshoot. thanks, Evan Wilder!
[what the fire is album photoshoot (12 photos)
photos by Evan Wilder]
August 24, 2012. which will you most likely buy, a physical CD or a digital download? i'm trying to figure out how many CDs to manufacture.
August 26, 2012 via mobile. Finished with tracking (recording)! Next mixing, cover art design, mastering, and manufacturing...then RELEASE!
August 26, 2012. that moment when you get a new part for a song and it finally comes together, and then you listen to it over and over again because you finally like it
thanks, kevin burnes!
August 27, 2012. DC peeps: ideas for a cool venue for CD release party?
must be in DC
metro accessible
fit 75-150 people
allow multiple performers and full drum kit
prefer if venue has own good sound system, good piano, serves food, but not absolute requirement
September 15, 2012 via mobile. I think I finally discovered the name for my genre. "Hard folk."
September 30, 2012 via mobile. The mixing process has begun! Just listened to 3 new mixes from my producer...
October 10, 2012. listening to mixes my producer sent me...getting closer to the finish line!
November 3, 2012. I have a complete mental/emotional block when it comes to promoting myself. My whole being rebels and says, "NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!"
November 4, 2012. Great news! Planning my CD release party for mid January. Have found a couple of helpers, putting together the band so you get the full experience of the music, and may have found a venue. What do you think about this place? It can hold 150. Metro accessible, in DC, good price, serves food, good community vibe. I'll still look at other potential venues, but this one seems like it will work.
Coffy Cafe [note, CD Release party was eventually booked at Ebenezer's Coffeehouse; see below]
November 4, 2012. Wow, so many confirmations coming in around my CD release party. Amazing! This is going to be really awesome and fun.
November 10, 2012. had a fun and fruitful afternoon checking out possible venues for my CD release party. some promising places! i'll let you know when it's booked & the date is set.
November 15, 2012. draft of CD cover art!
photos by Evan Wilder
painting by Talia Segal Fidler
graphic design by Yaron Fidler and John Cohoe
November 18, 2012. Here is one of the songs from my upcoming album, "what the fire is," set to be released in January 2013.
plexiglass on soundcloud
November 19, 2012. Is it OK to have a CD release party a month after you release your CD?
November 26, 2012. Confirmed!!! Saturday night, February 16 at Ebenezer's Coffee House in DC. Mark your calendars! More info to follow. This is a great space--you are going to love it! And I will have a full band so you get the full experience of the music.
November 27, 2012. w00t! http://ebenezerscoffeehouse.com/events/detail/katharine-key-cd-release/
November 28. mastering session scheduled! what's a mastering session? the second to last step before manufacturing! http://www.justkat.com/1/post/2011/12/what-happens-in-the-studio.html
November 30, 2012.
Here's another preview from the upcoming album...
humpty dumpty on BandPage
December 6, 2012.
I've shared another track from "what the fire is" to my BandPage. Getting excited about getting this album out!
lights and suns on BandPage
December 7, 2012. It wouldn't be an album without a little last-minute drama right before the mastering session.
December 8, 2012. Kelly Snook blesses the album by putting her fingerprints on the title track. ♥♥♥
December 10, 2012. On pins and needles to get Kelly's mix of the title track! Mastering session tomorrow! Woo!
December 11, 2012.
Special preview, up for only 48 hours! Here's the title track from my upcoming album.
[what the fire is on BandPage, no longer available]
December 14, 2012. finally got the master files today! just a few tweaks & then we can send for manufacturing...home stretch!
December 18, 2012. just approved the cover art proofs!
December 19, 2012 near Broadview Park, FL via mobile. Masters finalized. Manufacturing commenced.
December 30, 2012.
CD Release Party Posters (3 photos)
please "like" one poster (not all 3 posters) to vote for your favorite
January 1, 2013.
Special pre-release copies of the album and downloads! Help me with the final push to get the album out and get cool rewards! This is like a Kickstarter page, except I pay lower fees & I get to keep all the proceeds regardless of the amount raised. Please share with your friends!
"what the fire is" album - Kapipal
January 18, 2012. it worked...
[photo of sign that says "recording, do not disturb"]
January 19, 2012. 1st 5 people to comment get a rough mix of "What the Fire Is" in its current state. If I don't have your email address, send it to me at http://www.justkat.com/contact.html
January 21, 2012. I can now listen to my album all the way through. So exciting! Just need to collect a few cello, upright bass, background vocal, and other miscellaneous parts while my producer is away in Thailand for a month. Once I get the remaining parts, unless we decide to change any of the arrangements, the editing and mixing process begins...
January 26, 2012. glad my cold waited until after i was done with recording last week
February 26, 2012. New tracks from my friends for Cornerstone and Softness Can Be Strength. Best Ayyam-i-Ha gift ever!!!!
May 4, 2012. closing in on finishing the recording...those final touches can be so elusive! hopefully i have now found a cellist...
May 4, 2012. my uncle is going to do my graphic design! he's retired now, but he used to do print layout for books and such, including the benetton catalogue. woot!
May 6, 2012. confirmed with the cellist and djembe player, got kelly's WOW arrangement of "doubt" -- moving forward! just a few finishing touches on the recording, then we proceed to mixing and mastering...
May 9, 2012. things R moving forward with the CD & it's so exciting!
May 12, 2012. Great recording session tonight with my good buddy, djembe player Gustaff Besungu! Thanks Gustaff!
July 9, 2012. just because i haven't been talking about it doesn't mean i'm not working on it...session with my producer today. need to record cello and bass & then we'll be done with the recording phase. then to mixing, mastering, cover design, and finally manufacturing!
July 14, 2012. who looks at lyrics in CD cases? i do, but i don't know how many others do. wondering if it's worth the expense to include them in the insert. i could put them on my website & put a pointer in the insert...what do you think?
July 15, 2012. sounds like most people are OK with having the lyrics available on the web. if you want to make a case for having them printed in the CD insert, speak now or forever hold your peace...
July 26, 2012. cello recording session on Monday--can't wait!
August 11, 2012 via mobile. Recording what I hope are the last of the backup vocals tonight.
August 11, 2012 via mobile. Ok ran out of steam. 2 more songs for next weekend.
August 18, 2012. 'nite Facebook! Gotta get some beauty sleep for my 6 a.m. album cover photo shoot.
August 19, 2012. Got some great shots; will post a few later when I get them. Was up at 4:30 a.m. to do the makeup and hair; back to sleep now!
August 19, 2012. here are some shots from today's photoshoot. thanks, Evan Wilder!
[what the fire is album photoshoot (12 photos)
photos by Evan Wilder]
August 24, 2012. which will you most likely buy, a physical CD or a digital download? i'm trying to figure out how many CDs to manufacture.
August 26, 2012 via mobile. Finished with tracking (recording)! Next mixing, cover art design, mastering, and manufacturing...then RELEASE!
August 26, 2012. that moment when you get a new part for a song and it finally comes together, and then you listen to it over and over again because you finally like it
thanks, kevin burnes!
August 27, 2012. DC peeps: ideas for a cool venue for CD release party?
must be in DC
metro accessible
fit 75-150 people
allow multiple performers and full drum kit
prefer if venue has own good sound system, good piano, serves food, but not absolute requirement
September 15, 2012 via mobile. I think I finally discovered the name for my genre. "Hard folk."
September 30, 2012 via mobile. The mixing process has begun! Just listened to 3 new mixes from my producer...
October 10, 2012. listening to mixes my producer sent me...getting closer to the finish line!
November 3, 2012. I have a complete mental/emotional block when it comes to promoting myself. My whole being rebels and says, "NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!"
November 4, 2012. Great news! Planning my CD release party for mid January. Have found a couple of helpers, putting together the band so you get the full experience of the music, and may have found a venue. What do you think about this place? It can hold 150. Metro accessible, in DC, good price, serves food, good community vibe. I'll still look at other potential venues, but this one seems like it will work.
Coffy Cafe [note, CD Release party was eventually booked at Ebenezer's Coffeehouse; see below]
November 4, 2012. Wow, so many confirmations coming in around my CD release party. Amazing! This is going to be really awesome and fun.
November 10, 2012. had a fun and fruitful afternoon checking out possible venues for my CD release party. some promising places! i'll let you know when it's booked & the date is set.
November 15, 2012. draft of CD cover art!
photos by Evan Wilder
painting by Talia Segal Fidler
graphic design by Yaron Fidler and John Cohoe
November 18, 2012. Here is one of the songs from my upcoming album, "what the fire is," set to be released in January 2013.
plexiglass on soundcloud
November 19, 2012. Is it OK to have a CD release party a month after you release your CD?
November 26, 2012. Confirmed!!! Saturday night, February 16 at Ebenezer's Coffee House in DC. Mark your calendars! More info to follow. This is a great space--you are going to love it! And I will have a full band so you get the full experience of the music.
November 27, 2012. w00t! http://ebenezerscoffeehouse.com/events/detail/katharine-key-cd-release/
November 28. mastering session scheduled! what's a mastering session? the second to last step before manufacturing! http://www.justkat.com/1/post/2011/12/what-happens-in-the-studio.html
November 30, 2012.
Here's another preview from the upcoming album...
humpty dumpty on BandPage
December 6, 2012.
I've shared another track from "what the fire is" to my BandPage. Getting excited about getting this album out!
lights and suns on BandPage
December 7, 2012. It wouldn't be an album without a little last-minute drama right before the mastering session.
December 8, 2012. Kelly Snook blesses the album by putting her fingerprints on the title track. ♥♥♥
December 10, 2012. On pins and needles to get Kelly's mix of the title track! Mastering session tomorrow! Woo!
December 11, 2012.
Special preview, up for only 48 hours! Here's the title track from my upcoming album.
[what the fire is on BandPage, no longer available]
December 14, 2012. finally got the master files today! just a few tweaks & then we can send for manufacturing...home stretch!
December 18, 2012. just approved the cover art proofs!
December 19, 2012 near Broadview Park, FL via mobile. Masters finalized. Manufacturing commenced.
December 30, 2012.
CD Release Party Posters (3 photos)
please "like" one poster (not all 3 posters) to vote for your favorite
January 1, 2013.
Special pre-release copies of the album and downloads! Help me with the final push to get the album out and get cool rewards! This is like a Kickstarter page, except I pay lower fees & I get to keep all the proceeds regardless of the amount raised. Please share with your friends!
"what the fire is" album - Kapipal
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