You Can’t Deny – Update

Last week I announced You Can’t Deny What’s Inside, my first solo commercial music release. I’m thankful for the positive and encouraging response from so many of you. I’m writing now as a way to reply to some of the questions I’ve received.

At the time I called You Can’t Deny What’s Inside an EP, but I’m dropping that. From now on it’s just an album. I’ve decided it expand the release from five songs to eight, so calling it an EP feels odd.

This week I’m adding the last recordings to each song and from there it’s time for final mixing (all the songs are partially mixed already), mastering and the tedious minutia that goes along with a commercial release.

Hack To The End

Everything about this project has been designed to make sure it sees the light of day. I’ve talked myself out of previous releases for all sorts of reasons. So, this time, I’ve made every decision based on what makes it easier to guarantee I release the album.

Does that mean I’ve cut corners? Kind of. This will be a digital-only release because making CDs adds a whole layer of complications. I’ve done my own artwork because, frankly, it was faster. I haven’t invited other musicians in because I didn’t want to get bogged down writing arrangements.

I think this approach has given You Can’t Deny What’s Inside a very different feel, but, far more importantly, it has ensured it won’t be another piece of musical vapourware.

A Few Technical Details

The simple answer to most of the technical questions is, “yes, it’s going well.” I am working with the desk I wrote about earlier in the year and I am delighted with the sound. Using two different AD/DA converters has not been an issue for me, since everything goes through the same summing mixer and is also being compressed and EQ’d in analog as well, at the stereo stage.

And, I’m loving my three 500 series preamps, the API512C, A Designs P1 and Rupert Neve Designs 511. Each has it’s own sound and they cover my needs, especially for guitars, very well.

When Can You Hear It?

I’m preparing a special podcast for the first week of May, where you’ll get a chance to hear the tracks along with some commentary on how the project was conceived and created. Rather than write another long essay, I thought it might be more interesting for you to hear me in the studio talking about the album.

Show Me The Money

Last week’s announcement was written in a way that carefully avoided asking you to reach for your wallet. I’m tired of the way many creatives can’t seem to talk about their work without dumping a sales pitch in the middle of every statement.

And, honestly, it felt inappropriate to do so since so many of you have been waiting a long time for me to offer some new music up. I wanted to talk a little about how this project came about, before talking about commerce.

Of course, all that aside, I have had lots of questions about how to pick up a copy of You Can’t Deny What’s Inside. As I mentioned earlier, this will be a digital-only release and you’ll be able to buy it through iTunes, Bandcamp and other digital outlets. The release will be mid-May, though I don’t have an exact release date just yet.

Next week I’ll be launching a mailing list, where you can sign up for updates on this and future music releases and a little competition, including free copies of the album and some limited edition prints of the cover art.

That’s all for now. I’ll write some more about You Can’t Deny What’s Inside once the album goes into the full mixing stage.