Dark Cloud (new song, un-released demo)

Heartbreak City updates, iPad demo, upcoming recordings, wip

Hello all,

I hope this finds you well and happy Wednesday.

Today I wanted to share another demo of an un-released song with y’all. A work in progress. Right now the working title of the track is “Dark Cloud”. I’ll probably think of something else later on that feels better. After listening to the track, let me know what you think of the name. Does it fit? I’m definitely open to suggestions.

The words aren’t quite where I want them. Sometimes that won’t happen till the week of going in to lay down the vocals or till the day of actually recording the track. It’ll hit you in the studio. Like a lot of things musically related, it can happen in the moment. Often the best stuff comes out then. The arrangement is there though.

This demo was made using my iPad, a cheap little iRig interface and a Shure 57 microphone + whatever guitar gear I had laying about at the the time. I believe I was using my ‘68 Custom Silverface Princeton Reverb and the electric guitar was a beautiful and unique one on loan from my friend Grey Bear Erickson. Recorded to Garage Band, as most of my demos are these days. Specifically this was made for my band as reference for a live session we were going to be doing and did last June. Adding a few more songs to this record I started working on last February. Progress on this album has been slow. Touring. Personal stuff. Funding. Life in general…all these things play a part in extending the process.

My goal is to have this record done by the summertime. Fingers crossed. Release date will be dependent on shopping it around, if I end up working with a label or just opt for putting it out myself.

I think I’m going to start sharing more of that progress and process on here as well. In part as another way of helping to keep me focused and hold myself accountable. Since I can be quite scattered at times.

In the meantime I hope you enjoy this song and find life smoothing out as we go into March.

A little house-keeping before I go, I’ll be playing some guitar with Alexandra Riorden (and company) this Saturday in Santa Barbara at Fox Wine Co. / Topa Topa around 7pm.

Then I’m playing a mellow solo set on Sunday from 12pm-3pm at Vega Vineyard in Buellton, CA.

Anyhow, maybe see you there. Talk to you soon. Thank you for following along.

~ J