Diana Chittester

WEEK 3 "NEW ALBUM CREATION PROJECT"  
November 30, 2015:

Finally, something is taking form! 

Last week I posed the question, “what kind of record are we creating.” I shared a little behind each new direction I took when approaching the previous records. What I was most interested to know for this new record was what was more important, authentic to my live show kinda album or entertainment driven album? 

Though I got some cool responses from listeners that made suggestions like, “try adding some New Orleans jazz,” or “maybe light percussion and harmonies to give dimension,” the over all response was, “do what you do.” Of course, this is exactly what an artists wants to hear! However, it was a conversation with a very close friend regarding the album writing project that made me really think about how I approach this new album. 

I asked my friend if he had any thoughts on the social media approach to writing a new record? He responded that he didn't like it because it took away from the image of an artist locking themselves away creating their art (I'm paraphrasing...). It got me thinking.... 

When I launched this project on social media, I was more excited to invite people in on the process of writing, recording and even distributing an album. Your feedback does influence decisions and it can help me make changes that need to be made to strengthen works, however, I will continue to write the stories I want to tell with the voice I think they're best told. The struggle lately has been finding that voice to tell those stories. 

For this week, I decided to post a video Jessica was taking while I was working out new words to a song that is finally taking form. It's a song that is weighing the good and bad of being a self-proclaimed “on your own” artist and player in life's game. Of course all comments and ideas are welcome, however this week, I'm not asking you for something but rather sharing.

WEEK 2 "NEW ALBUM CREATION PROJECT" 
November 23, 2015:

    Last week I admitted my frustration with writer's block.  Many of you responded with some very cool pieces of poetry, graphic novels, essay writer's and, of course, music that you found inspiring.  Others, reminded me to create space and allow my subconscious to breathe, otherwise it can't think.  So, in the past week, I made time to watch films on great writer's such as Hunter S. Thompson, I walked to the library to pick up a few works by Steven Wright and Virgina Wolfe.  I took advantage of the extended fall weather and walked to the Cleveland Metro parks to recharge my imagination.  All of these suggestions have been very effective in getting the creative juices flowing. 

   I do have some half-written choruses, as well as a few guitar riffs I'm anxious to share with you soon! But, I thought since we are at the very beginning of this project I should ask, “What type of record are we creating?” 

   Seems like a simple, obvious answer...  I play guitar and sing, so we're gonna make a “girl on guitar” record.  However, there are actually a lot of questions I have about what you're looking for from a performing artist like me? 

   I have three albums now, Soul, In This Skin and Find My Way Home.  With each release, I tried to be very attentive to people's reactions and suggestions.  All feedback given was applied to the next project... 

  With, Soul, I stepped in to a high cost studio for the first time in my life.  I planned to record a full album but turns out I was only able to afford 5 songs.  I recorded my guitar parts to click tracks and sang vocals separately.  I re-did vocal tracks on many of the songs several times because I was surprised how my voice sounded hearing it played back.  I had only performed a handful of times prior to recording the first disc and even fewer of them were ever previously recorded.  I had never really heard my voice from the ears of a listener before hearing playback in the studio.  I also had hired musicians that I did not know and never heard perform before.  They were friends of the engineer I was working with.  Fortunately, they were all extremely talented.  However, tracks were laid down and sent to my engineer from their home studios.  I had very little input over their parts and felt extremely disconnected from my own record. 

  For, In This Skin, I made sure that disconnection didn't happen again.  I worked in a studio run by a performing musician, Jim Wall.  He understood a working musician’s budget and was able to help me create a record in a more affordable setting.  I hired musicians that I knew personally from hearing them perform around the Cleveland music scene.  I sat in the studio with them while they did their parts and I was able to communicate what I liked or didn't like.  I got to sit in the control room and talk editing, mixing and production.  I felt connected to my own work! 

  However, my recording sessions were often during extremely late hours following a full 9 hour work day.  Therefore, I was tired and that lead me to cut corners and discouraged me from doing my best takes.  The feedback from that record was a combination of vocal work not being where it needed to be and my guitar work was hidden behind a very rockin' band. 

  Therefore, when I recorded, Find My Way Home, I first worked for a year with a vocal instructor on the music I would be recording for the album.  In addition, I decided to do an all-acoustic record. This advice came from an incredible performer and great friend, Kelly Richey.  She stated “only record what you can re-create live!”  Therefore, the only sounds I wanted on the record needed to be created by me.  I didn't want the risk of losing any guitar passion and I wanted it to represent exactly what I do.  Now, we recorded the album in 3 days. I sat in a room with 5 mic’s surrounding me, recorded vocals and guitar together, and to no click track.  I can tell ya that three 12 hour recording sessions has its down falls.  I lost my voice by the end.  In fact, if you listen to, “Astonished,” you can hear my voice is spent.  I also did not have enough time to let the recordings digest before mixing the final tracks. 

   But that's the technical end of recording.  I'm curious what you liked on the last record(s) and what needs to change?  Is it time for more production (radio friendly sounding)? Vocal effects? Guitar effects?   Do we want to it to represent exactly what I do on stage or a step it up with  guitar layering and harmonies?  Is it time to experiment with something other than acoustic guitar sounds? Electric? Banjo? Mandolin? Are you ready for a full band sound? Simple? Complex? Ballads? Guitar driven percussive picking tunes? A mixture of it all? Just something simple...???

  The door is open to your thoughts, there are no wrong answers!  I just want to know what you think.
 
email, facebook or tweet me ideas. 

Last week we launched a new approach to writing my next album.  I received a lot of emails and comments in response with ideas and direction already coming in, and I love it all!
 
Kandie Starr, a friend from Portland asked, "is there is a story in any of our Portland adventures to share?"  After a few of her wonderful suggestions, it got my head thinking about the day I was staring at the Atlantic Ocean in Asbury Park, NJ on a beautiful afternoon in August 2014. It sunk in there, that in just a few months I would be living on the other side of the country staring at the Pacific ocean.  A coast to coast tune could be a very intriguing story to tell. 

However, there is one major issue I'm facing right off the bat... 

When I sit down with my guitar, I will pound out the same riff over and over for hours.  I'll sing and hum ideas of what the melody, chorus and changes should sound like but I have no words!  (Trust me, I have A LOT to say) However, the few lines I do jot down, I feel myself giving me a dirty look while I'm singing them.  This is probably an indication that they're not the right words for the song. And this isn't recent. This has been going on since the move to Portland back in October of 2014. 

Guitar riffs have been piling up and I have a lot of "ideas" for songs.  Writer's block is preventing any of those stories from taking hold, however.  I've tried a few approaches to overcome this block, but I think I need inspiration from other writers to help me find voices for the stories I wanna tell.  

TASK: Can you send me the names of your favorite poets, lyricist, storytellers, etc. and give me your suggestions for what works I should read of theirs?

I will begin reading what you send me and hopefully it will spark something sooner than later!
 
 email, facebook or tweet me ideas. 

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