Album written, rehearsed, recorded, mixed…what’s next?

How about succumbing to the master(ing)!

Took a nice drive up to Joe Lambert Mastering in Peekskill, NY, very scenic trip, always good to have a change of scenery. Upon arrival, Mike and I sat and witnessed Joe get animated while listening to ACT NATURAL. This was my first time sitting in on a mastering session. In short, mastering is basically smoothing out the levels, making sure everything sits in the pocket, so to speak.

Trust me, it’s more challenging to describe, so leave it there.

I purposely have not listen to the unmastered album in a while. Wanted to feel like I was experiencing it for the first time, as Joe was doing that too. What a rush hearing the songs come through HUGE speakers…reminded me of listening to music in my old house as a kid. Watching Joe twiddle knobs, play with switches, it was all so fascinating.

And we had pizza too!

Got home around 5:40, did a short walk, and then proceeded to download/meta-tag the songs so I can send to DistroKid. In turn, they will distribute to Spotify, iTunes, etc. I am putting the album on Bandcamp soon, and then will get the hard copies pressed. In the meantime, those who pre-ordered received a free download of the new album in their emails. ENJOY!

And then there’s Joe’s dog Hendrix…

Hard to believe half of August is over. Still got some summer left, so all hope is not lost. But I tell ya, this was THE fastest summer that I can recall.

Who can I talk to about slowing it down?

Been receiving more pre-orders for the upcoming cd ACT NATURAL and it’s very much appreciated. Mike, Brian and I worked very hard to make the music really shine. Props to TC and CJ (any more initials?) for their contributions as well. And of course, Rob Engelhardt for helping me once again with putting the cd jacket together.

The first single/video for the title track has seen some ebb and flow. Some people liked it right away, a few were unsure but grew to dig it. Yes, I’ve had a couple of negative comments (privately) about how “strange” the video is. That’s just who I am, and how I operate. No cookie cutter here.

A second single/video will be released in about two weeks, give or take, to round out the summer as we head into autumn. This one will be more straight-ahead heavy metal. Much like the single “Never Be The Sane” from MOOD SWINGS (and that song made people excited!), this new song is in vein of Judas Priest/Loudness with a very intentional nod to Deep Purple. I am confident it will raise your arm hairs.

People have been asking me about a release date. I do not have one but rest assured, as soon as I get one, you all will know. I realize things have been taking a bit longer this time around and your patience is very much appreciated. Without you, the music will just sit in silence. Knowing that after 20 years of being an instrumental artist, interest in the music is still strong. So pat yourselves on the back.

Pre-order link: Act Natural

The video for “Act Natural” has been out for roughly two weeks. And in my few years of making videos, this one seems to be polarizing.

I must have done something right then.

Comments ranging from “This is really weird!” to “This is pretty cool” seem to be infiltrating the socials. But this morning I was greeted to a very nice comment from a high school friend via LinkedIn. (He gave me permission to use his name…)

Andrew Durkin

4h

No offense to the good people who put the video together but I have to subscribe to what John Lennon put forth as a means of consuming music…”Turn off your mind, Relax and float down stream”
because I just have to tell you that the musical journey  Steve and friends just put me on was unabashedly awesome!
let the music flow through you!
feel it soar!
let it take you places!
let it take you back to that 10 year old kid who was too young to go out on a Friday night, but had his older brothers records at his disposal and just discovered one of the greats for the first time…

I have left this as is, no editing.

When you least expect it, nice things happen.

This put me in a good frame of mind, so thank you, Durk!

Pre-orders can be taken here: Act Natural

This past Friday July 28th, the first video from the upcoming album ACT NATURAL made its debut. The title track was broadcast on my YouTube page at 10am, and responses were (and still are) very nice. So it’s great to see people giving a damn.

Now’s the time…

Pre-orders are being taken for the eventual release of said 9th opus. No release date is set but like the previous couple of cds, any pre-orders get a free download sent to your email while you wait for the signed hard copy. This offer will last up until the actual release date. I will still sign all copies no matter when they are ordered.

There are eight songs on the cd:
1. Walk Through Lightning
2. Act Natural
3. Unraveled
4. Better Mirrors
5. Neurotic Bliss (featuring TC Tolliver)
6. Damaged Halo
7. Can’t Swim Anymore
8. Empty Galaxy

Mike Sabatini on drums, Brian Smith on bass (both from Attacker). TC Tolliver of Plasmatics on one song. Mastering by Joe Lambert.

You can go to this link to pre-order: Act Natural

Fire away!

It is Friday July 28th, 2023.

Here is the first video from the upcoming album ACT NATURAL. This is the title track. Hope you enjoy the music and the visuals.

Pre-order info to follow shortly…

Dig in!

Your eyes are not deceiving you. That’s a new song from yours truly.

Tie down any loose breakable objects first before listening.

This is the title track from the upcoming 9th studio album ACT NATURAL. Hard to fathom that I wrote songs for this opus starting around Xmas 2021, a mere few months after MOOD SWINGS was released. I guess my brain refuses to stop working.

“Act Natural” made its debut Wednesday night on DJ Metal Mistress’ show for Cranium Radio. The responses were very positive, so that’s a great sign. So I posted this tune on here, as well as Reverbnation and Soundcloud. I will submit the whole album to Distrokid and they will in turn distribute to Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music, etc. But that will wait a bit. I really hope/want the song to generate heat and when the time is right to post the video and take pre-orders, then great.

For years I’ve said my music was a mix of Living Colour and Pantera. I think we nailed it. Mike and Brian really brought my songs to life, adding their own touches (as subtle as a jackhammer!) and this is the result.

Enjoy and don’t hurt yourself.

I’m smiling?

The world really has gone berzerk! (See what I did there?)

Well, today is a banner day for yours truly. The new album is finally mixed and DONE!! Went down to Bandmother Recording in the insane rain (another reference?) Showed up to listen to the final mixes of album nine. Been listening to things on my earbuds and while it’s cool, nothing beats sitting in front of a big speaker system.

Listened to all eight songs and the sounds are MASSIVE! The clarity is unreal, everything packs a punch and of course it’s METAL (along with progressive funk leanings…and a bit of jazz too? Hmmm…) I will be making the first single/video soon and depending on timing, it may be released this weekend or next. The only hint I will give: it’s the title track.

The late great Tom Petty said it best…

“The waiting is the hardest part…”

Since last Thursday, it’s been feeling like Christmas in July.

And I’m not really a holiday person.

As some of you know, Mike started mixing some songs down and sending files to Brian and myself. All three of us agree that this is shaping up to be THE HEAVIEST album I ever wrote. And when you have the Attacker rhythm section giving the music a facelift, it can’t help but be the heaviest.

And as some of you also know, I am a blunt/direct person. I left GHS Strings after six years as an artist endorser. I reached out Aurora Strings in Bridgeport, CT last weekend and talked with the rep Jake. He was very happy to have me on board, very accommodating. He gave me the terms of my endorsement and that was it. I have one set of bright green strings (!!) on the blue Ibanez 7. The shop is closed for vacation but I will order more strings very soon. I am very excited and pleased to be part of the Aurora team, plus it’s nice to have colors back on my guitars after many years.

Also received my Ampturco pink-and-green cable in the mail yesterday. Seeing the mailman hand me the white bubble envelope made me all giddy. It’s the simple things…

So between mixing the new album, a new string deal, and a new cable…any other new things coming my way?

One never knows…

Amazing how time flies when you’re having fun. Or if you’re a frog, time’s fun when you’re having flies.

I’ll see myself out…but first…

Behold! Something I’ve been asking/hoping/waiting for since I signed on with Ampturco Cables a year ago (June 27 to be precise). Months and months of me asking Anthony “So…any news?” have finally paid off. And here it is:

PINK CABLE WITH GREEN ENDS!!

How punk 🙂

I have a plethora of Ampturco cables in my arsenal so why want another one? Why not! And everyone knows (okay, a few people) that I enjoy pink. I have two pink guitars, a sneaker with a pink lace, some pink on my pedalboard. No I am not turning into Poison but rather, my interest in pink came from seeing Steve Vai’s Ibanez JEM guitar in 1987. Yes there were pink guitars before him but this was REALLY pink! SCREAMING PINK! And I decided that I had to add this color to my repertoire.

Another reason as of late is because I am a cheerleader for those who are battling breast cancer (and sadly lost a friend or two to it in recent years). So when I don anything pink, it’s to show support.

Don’t expect me to wear a pink salmon suit like Adrian Belew did in the 80s.

Even I know my own boundaries…

Biding my time here. No I’m not in a rush but at the same time, cannot wait to release the first single/video for my ninth album. Oh there’s one thing we have to do first…

Mix the darn album!

Mike told me that he will start mixing on July 3 (my son Julian’s 22nd birthday!) and that I will be able to come to the studio to give the preliminary mixes a listen. Being away from the music is a good thing, as you gain a new perspective after immersing yourself in it for so long. In the past, mixes would usually happen a day or two after. In this case, slow and steady wins the race.

Something like that.

What’s great is people are asking “So when’s the new album coming out?” I do not have a release date for that, nor for the first single. Knowing that there’s a buzz in the air gives me hope. Often times (and most musicians can back me up here), I think “Will people care?” Thankfully my fears are not realized.

I also get asked “What’s the name of the album?” and “Name some song titles!” Again, in the past I would have done just that but not anymore. I can say that there will be eight songs on the album. I’ll leave it at that for now.

“Ain’t I a stinkah?”