InSync...

InSync will be the first one on the CD "Trillium". It is an introduction to what your listening experience will be like: Extremely diverse. However, I'll talk about that later in this post. I will probably extend the songs length as a few of you wanted more after hearing such a short clip of it. It actually isn't a clip.. its only a minute long..but I am sure to add more to it. To listen to it, go to the link click on it under the title of this blog.

This album is different than anything I have done in the past. I'll have songs that are strictly electronic and songs that will combine the electronic with the acoustic instrumentation. Lots of percussion/drums. The "theme" of Trillium is that it is number 3 for me. Many of you will experience.. Wow the music is so different. This is the direction I have been heading for. I have more tools at my disposal and I can combine the acoustic with the electronic much easier AND I am having many guest musicians working with me. Already, you know Jeff Oster and Seay are contributing. Jim McCarty is my drummer. I am keeping a lid on the other musicians that will be joining me until we have the songs "in the can".

You are experiencing what I am. I am writing about it all, I am showing you what it takes to get the music done the way I want it done. The video and pictures are my way of letting you "in on the fun".

I thank you so much for taking the time to be a part of this musical journey.

Peace in Music,

Kori

Celebrating!

We are celebrating the birth of iRoknNod Records, we received official documents today in the mail and everything is all set up and done.

I think I will celebrate without getting too goofy. Let me say, thank you for your support!

Peace in Music,

Kori

Video

Ok.. I worked all day yesterday getting this video uploaded, designed etc. This is when I was in the studio with Jeff Oster in March. Its not the best quality.. but I did it and I am sure I'll learn more! hehehe

Having some fun...

After handing over Dancin in the Clouds to Jeff Silverman's capable hands I took the week off to have a little bit of fun. Nothing really special, catching up on House MD. I really get a kick out of watching that show. Hugh Laurie plays a curmudgeon of a Doctor. The dialogue is exceptional, the story lines are just plain fun.

The week has been fraught with various hiccups. Lets just say, some of the stuff I've had to deal with was intense daily "mundane fires" I had to put out. Being a Mom of four very busy kids ( especially the boys) is never boring. I think I've earned more "Parental Stripes" as my husband calls them.

Then I got the mix back from Jeff S, and WOW. The overall feel of the song is incredible. Now we tweak the song. Which we will be working on Tuesday. Technology is both my bane, and my strength.

Last night my husband took me to Peppinos and a movie. IronMan. I wasn't sure if I'd like Robert Downy Jr in it, but I was pleasantly surprised by his performance. The whole cast worked well off of one another, the soundtrack matched the movie's overall storytelling. Music in the movies is something I always enjoy listening whether its right on or totally off the wall. Some movies get the right people for the job for writiing original music. I would recommend all film makers to hire people to get original music. I think my favorite composer right now is Danny Elfman. He writes the most off the wall music, and yet he gets it right on.

Pardon my scattered thoughts, its the best I can do right now. I hope you all have a GREAT weekend, and Happy Mother's Day to you Moms.

More to come...

Happy May!

Happy May! Dancin in the Clouds is on its way to being mixed. I searched for a good mixing/mastering engineer. I have asked a few good friends for their recommendations and decided on Jeff Silverman. Jeff has an impressive background in music, film trailers, editing.. etc. I am really excited to be working with him.

Jeff Silverman

Dancin in the Clouds will be my main focus in getting it mixed this month. June will be time to get all the rest of the songs on the CD ready for recording in July. Then August mixing all the songs except for two. The last two to get recorded/mixed will be Midnite and Nantucket. THESE two songs I have special plans for. But.. mum's the word on it for now.

I hope where ever you are, its warming up, flowers are blooming and life is good for you. I am very happy to say, I am doing well.

More to come...

K

Pure Energy

Pure Energy
Originally uploaded by Kori L Carothers

A great shot here with Jim with lots of energy going on! More to come!!

Flying High!

Yesterday, I drove up to Pasadena, CA. It wasn't a bad drive. I had directions to go from the toll roads onto the I-5 North to the 605, then the 210 west. I wanted to see what the 57 was like from the 5, so I took that instead of the 605, and found 210 west. No matter where I drive, SoCal looks the same. I don't mind that, its warm and I like all the palm trees.

I got there oh.. about 10:45am and found Jim waiting and what a great place! His home was very welcoming and he took me to his studio. WHAT a great place to work. He did most of the interior work himself it is quite amazing what he has done to get it the way he wanted it. We immediately dove into work. We worked on Carpe Diem first. He took some notes of the song's measure and bpm ( beats per minute) and then he hopped over to where his drum is set up/mics were. He told me to put on the Vic Firth headphones, which I did. ( to hear the music as well as protecting my ears). I told him he had free creativity.. I didn't want to limit him, I wanted to let him have the freedom to do what the music made him feel.

WOW.. he did an excellent job! He knows my music well enough that he truly nailed the rhythm, timing and dynamics of what I wanted for the song. He will be giving me the drum tracks so that I can have Seay listen to it and work with her part. Once Seay is done with the vocals we get it mixed!

I'd say about 1:30ish pm - 2pm, my stomach started to contribute some music of its own, and so we decided to get something to eat. We ate at the Crocodile Cafe, if you go and stay in Pasadena, go eat there. Its totally awesome. He showed me around Pasadena a little bit. I must say I love the older homes in that area. Some of the homes he showed me had a mixture of architecture from like the Spanish Villa's, to Southern Plantation, New England, and something I would call a Southwest Spanish homestead and a rambler. He has a Craftman type of home.. which is something from the 1920's - 1940's type of look. Its very lovely/homey. We went back, and Paul Franco was waiting for us. He is a friend from MySpace that came out to support me when I was at BB Kings. He also is a very good photographer. So, he came to join the fray and take photos of the session. He's a very funny, intelligent man and extremely talented with the camera.

We loaded up Dancin in the Clouds.. and Jim took notes again of the basics of the song. I was NOT disappointed. The man knows me so well, that he really let go and played his heart out. Meanwhile, Paul started taking photos. I am looking forward to what he took. Dancin is full of energy. Jim showed me some tricks to make some sounds from the drums that I would never have guessed. (I took some pictures, but I will upload them later on today. ) Paul will have some shots too, so between the two of us, we'll let you see what the studio looks like ..etc.

We worked up until I'd say about 5:45pm and Jim had a gig he needed to go play at and so we wrapped it all up. So by the time I got home, he had uploaded the two songs for me to access and listen.

I drove home in record time. I decided to take the 210 East, to the 605 South, then connect with the 5 South into OC, the 133 toll road to the 241 into Rancho Santa Marguerita. I noticed when I left there was a fire on the Pasadena foothills. Fires here already.. sup with that? It was burning in the "Cleveland National Shrubbery".... ok well THEY don't call it a National Shrubbery.. but I do.. the trees are NOT EVEN tall enough to be called a forest, they are at best shrubs. Hence my funny name for it. Anyway, I digress. I got home safe and sound... actually met my family to eat dinner with them and it was a fun homecoming. I was missed and I missed them.

As always these things tend to go way too fast because I AM having so much fun. After dinner we came home I was exhausted. I listened to the mp3's of our work and its SO awesome. I would post the two songs.. but I want you to wait for a little bit. I'll have them mixed and then I will post them.

Paul, thanks for coming! You are SO much fun, I enjoyed having you being there seeing what I live for. ( ok.. thats dramatic.. but I am a musician..and I am a bit of a drama queen ) I look forward to seeing the pictures.

Jim.. as always it was a pleasure to work with you and I truly felt like you knew what I wanted.. you have my thanks!

As always I can never sleep after these sessions. Last night was no exception. I am up early.. WHY that is I don't know *sigh* Anyway.. its gonna make the day a bit interesting.

Pictures to come soon.

Peace in Music,

Kori