Promises :)

So, in my response to the comments on the last post, I said I'd put something else up tonight. I've been putting up partial song clips for two reasons:

1) I still want you to be surprised and excited when you get the finished product

and

2) Some parts of these songs are still missing instruments, etc.

So, this clip will have a bit more on it, and background vocals, but "Nothing to Do With You" will sound something like this...

Done, and not done.

Well, I'm done. Or at least, done singing.

I'm currently at BWI, on my way back to Nashville from Boston. As of last night, I'm done with all the vocals and background vocals for the album. I'm so happy, and this weekend was the first time that I got to hear the tracks in their near-finished form. They still need a few elements (a sweet guitar pattern here and there. organ. magic.), and then to be mixed and mastered. But even as they are, I'm in love with them.

Every once in a while (but not all that often) I sit on the subway as I did this morning, and wonder what it's like to be that girl across the aisle. She had a very nice coat. She looked like she was on her way to a job that was dependable, lucrative and well-respected. I imagine she had an office. Owned a condo. Her income in June is the same as her income in November. That must be awesome.

Every time I wonder what it's like to be someone else or mentally trade places, I happily return to the path I'm on. Making this album has not only affirmed my career choice, but reminded me that I'm extraordinarily lucky.

And I am extraordinarily lucky because of you. You have donated to this album, and without that it simply would not have been possible. There is big gray cloud that seems to loom over the music industry these days. I suppose the folks who are afraid have every right to be. The ways they made music and made their livings are changing. I, however, am hopeful. As long as there are musicians, there will be music. And as long as there are folks like you, it will be heard.

Here are some sneak peaks...

Kamikaze Love:


Like You Mean It:


The Boston Song:

Ah! Overdue, I know :)

So, I'm off to Boston again in a few days. We'll be recording the final round of background vocals, and finalizing a lot of other parts, too. I can't wait. (It really does get hard to be away from the project. Brian has been diligently mixing and adding guitar parts for the past month. It's sounding great!)

Songs are at different levels of completion, and there are several songs that won't have much production beyond just me and the piano.

This song, "Somewhere" doesn't have any other parts yet, and we probably won't add much. I'm currently working out a second vocal part. Here it is for you, a bare bones version. Let's see how it ends up :)

Or I'll just put a song up now...

Well, what can I say. Thanks so much for bugging me to blog about the album. It got me thinking about the album... and then playing the keyboard... then adding a midi part to this song. Now it's 12:44 and I'm excited.

What I just added is the dreamy affected electric piano sound on this. Keep in mind, my new track hasn't been lined up, this is unmixed, it's missing the background vocals, etc. But you get the picture.



Yay!

-Kate

Updates! This Just In - Making an Album is Wicked Hard

I seemed to have forgotten that fact after making my last album. (I think it's similar to how women are designed to forget the pain of childbirth so that they continue to procreate. Now that I've insulted every woman who's ever given birth, let's move on...) Anyway, I can't thank you guys enough for your patience. I'm going to try to have another song up here for you this week, but in the meantime, I'll just write this quick post to remind you that I'm alive (and that the album is VERY much alive).

I got one of those "fallen tree" emails to remind me to post here. Thanks guys - I need the reminders! I'm STILL working hard on the album. I went to Boston last weekend and recorded some background vocals. The fabulous Kristin Cifelli came and sang on three songs, too. It's going to be awesome. I can't wait!

Right now, I could be described as a "giant ball of stress," as I REALLY REALLY want the album to be out in time for the holidays. The challenge proving most difficult is that the producer and studio are in Boston, and the artist (er... me) is down in Nashville most of the time. I've been racking up some frequent flyer miles, and just bought ANOTHER plane ticket today. (Ooh. By the way, Southwest is having a killer sale!)

Anyway, the artwork is evolving, too. Check this out!

I guess that's it for now. Check back this week - I'll have all or some of "Why It's Blue" posted.

(And S.W. - thanks for the email. I am most definitely not trapped under a fallen tree. :)
What do you guys do when you want to use an emoticon within parenthesis? I opt for the above maneuver - dual purpose parenthesis.

Update Shmupdate...

So, let's all thank Terry for bugging me to update this blog. Just know – when I go a few weeks without a post, it's because I'm busy making things awesome.

OR it's because I'm trapped under a fallen tree. Shoot. We need a plan.

Ok. If you don't hear from me for a few weeks, send me an email with the subject "Are you trapped under a fallen tree?" and if I don't respond within 2 days, please call my parents. In the event that I'm NOT trapped under a fallen tree, I'll take it as a friendly reminder that I need to update my blog.

Moving on...

The new album is certainly progressing! My initial goal of releasing it in the fall was ambitious. Too ambitious, in fact, but I promise it will be worth the wait. I still hope to release it before Christmas (blatant capitalism), and will keep you updated on that.

I flew to Boston a few weeks ago to add vocals to the rest of the tracks. As of now, we have lead vocals for all but one song. Here are some (top secret) samples for you. Please keep in mind that these are the ROUGH tracks, and they'll have fancy things like background vocals and sequins mixing/mastering on the final product.

The Boston Song (preview):


Kamikaze Love (preview):


I've also been working with the fabulous Abby Getman on the album artwork. She sent through some proofs, and the album will look something like this...

Awesome, huh?

I'm off to Boston again next weekend so that the amazing Kristin Cifelli can add background vocals. Barring any tragic tree incidents, there will be more updates soon.

Thank you so much for being a part of this process, and believing in me enough to help fund the album of my dreams :)

-Kate

Can Kate Fit In...

So, I'm back in Boston, and recording my butt off (then eating Indian food at 11pm, which promptly puts my butt back on). We now have vocals done for half the album, and I couldn't be more thrilled with how it's sounding.

---

Back when we were in college, we used to go on mini-tours ("we" being the band, including Brian, the album's producer) to play colleges throughout the northeast. The most memorable tour moments often occurred in the hotels—including the invention of the game "Can Kate Fit In..." (which is exactly what it sounds like).

Anyway, we brought the game out of retirement tonight, while grabbing some dinner at the grocery store: