What would you do if you won the lottery?

I love making records.

If I won the lottery, I would still be doing what I do.

I would just have a seriously kick ass studio.

That’s all.

The Provincial Archive

If you didn’t know already, I’m the managing partner for The Audio Department. We are a pro audio recording rentals company in Edmonton. We specialize in recording equipment such as pre amps, microphones, compressors etc. Drop us a line if you need gear for your recording session.

The Audio Department website

There are a few groups and individuals out there that really get me going. Every time I see or hear their works, it makes me want to work harder. Their imagination and creativity really push the limits and always makes me want to do more. These are the groups and people that inspire me.

Digital Kitchen – This production company has created some of the best opening sequences for TV I’ve seen. Their attention to detail amazes me. Check out some of the case studies on their website. Pretty cool stuff.

Hi-Res! – This Design group has created some of the best websites I’ve seen on the web. It’s always a treat to see new works from them and be drawn into their creative world. Check out their show reel

T Bone Burnett – One of my all time favorite music producers. The vibe he gets on his recordings is like no other. The soundtrack work he’s done has made movie’s come to life. He’s produced a couple of my all time favorite albums – Robert Plant & Alison Krauss (Raising Sand) and Sam Phillips (Boot & A Shoe). I always look forward to his next projects.

Nellee Hooper – Another one of my all time favorite music producers. More on the pop side of things. I love his work for Massive Attack, Bjork, Madonna and U2 etc. His soundtrack work for Baz Luhrman’s Romeo & Juliet is quite amazing stuff.

Antoni Gaudi – The amazing Spanish architect. I was in Barcelona, Spain last year and got to experience some of his amazing works – La Sagrada Familia, Casa Batllo, Park Guell & Casa Mila. His influence has appeared in Pokemon and Star Wars films and musical projects by Alan Parsons Project and Robert Rich.

Michel Gondry – This French director’s vision has inspired me on many levels. From his movie’s Science of Sleep and Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind to his music video’s for The Chemical Brothers, Bjork etc. I’m constantly amazed with his creativity. I’m looking forward to his next movie – The Green Hornet.

Wade Robson – Choreographer. This guy is nuts. He tells stories through movement. If you watch – So You Think You Can Dance, then you know what I’m talking’ bout.

JFlow’s new track – Say It Ain’t So, is released. Here’s the track.

Over the past 6 months, I’ve been helping with the development of a new young country artist. Her name is Livy Jeanne and we’ve been in the studio working on some of her original tunes. Checkout her new website that goes live on June 27th. We will have music ready soon.

http://livyjeanne.com/

I’ve also started production on singer songwriter Peggy Donelly’s record and have completed mastering a new album by The Consonance along with singles for Justice Star, Christina Dennehy, Hands Of Stone.

I attended the mastering session for The Provincial Archive record last Monday in Toronto at Joao Carvalho mastering. I haven’t been there in about 3 years and it was nice to be back there and see the JCM crew. Joao showed me the new Revolution Recording studio they’re building across the street. It’s going to be a killer studio when they’re done with it. I’m sure there will be some huge buzz about it when it’s done. At any rate, the mastering TPA went well and all sounds awesome.

I arrived back in Edmonton last Tuesday and went straight to the studio to record for rapper Jflow and producer Vinay. I tracked vocals for a great song that features Justin Blais. The track is a serious hot jam. These guys have some serious fire behind them and will be doing big things, I’m sure.

I’m just mastering a record for Warren Finlay called Northern Light that consists of a bunch of traditional tunes. Mr. Thom Bennett tracked it and it sounds great.

That’s all for now. I’m off on vacation as of Thursday. Heading to Amsterdam for a few days and then to Egypt for a couple weeks. Really looking forward to it.