Working for the weekend…

Hilary Weaver ~ 'Alive' (JC Smith/Hilary Weaver)

Shaping up to be a busy weekend…putting finishing touches on the demo for ‘Ready To Be Broken‘ (JC/Diana).  Finally! Diana, will be the first to tell ya…this one has taken a while….

On Saturday,  I’ve been hired to produce a new recording for Hilary Weaver.  It’s for a song we are writing together called ‘Alive‘ (JC/Hilary Weaver).  Hilary’s received a lot of positive feedback from the song ‘Stop Boy‘ (JC Smith/Ava K) which was also recorded here at Jambotunes.  Ready to push things even further  with ‘Alive’.

On Sunday…Luke Willms is in from Vancouver and will be in to the studio to begin prep-work for his new 4 song E.P.  Really looking forward to getting started on this one.

On Monday morning…vocalist/artist extraorinaire Liz Rodrigues will be visiting Jambotunes to do us the huge favor of singing a female version of a song I co-wrote in Los Angeles last September called ‘Rocket Boy‘ (JC Smith/Alonzo/Steph Jones).  That particular song is being pitched by my publisher to a USA artist (they don’t come any bigger than this artist…so, competition will be fierce).  We’re lucky to have Liz in our corner!

More soon….gotta run…

Liz Rodrigues ~ @ Jambotunes on Monday

jc

All aboard…

Ok…all of a sudden things are just starting to roll again…work is pouring in…and my focus feels more intense than a soaring owl swooping down on a field mouse (ooh…ok…kinda graphic with that one).

Anyway…very happy about all of it…and very fortunate to have these opportunities:

Luke Willms ~ new EP to be co-written/recorded/produced @ Jambotunes

West Coast surfer dude type artist extraordinaire Luke Willms has just hired me to co-write/record/produce his upcoming EP.  Very excited about this project.  Luke is a special guy…he occupies a much needed space in the cosmos and we are all fortunate to have such a decent guy as him on our planet….oh ya…and he writes and sings great songs too.  We recently demo’d a song called ‘Throw It To The Universe‘ (JC Smith/Luke Willms)…and we will now revisit that song to bump it up to album quality and we will complete 3 other tunes as well.  Start date for this project is March 24, 2010.

Brandon Jones - ready to do it again...

Also just had a positive meeting with Brandon Jones and his manager Sir Robin Young (seriously, that’s his handle, gotta love it) about hiring me to record a new 4 song EP with him.  I co-wrote and recorded/produced Brandon’s first album ‘All For You’ which was his debut indie album after his stint as a Top 8 Finalist on Canadian Idol a few years ago.  The album turned out great…Brandon was able to place a number of recordings from that album in some major television shows such as ‘The Hills‘ and ‘DeGrassi The Next Generation‘.  Brandon’s grown in leaps in bounds as a writer since that album and we’re both excited about the new EP that we’ll be recording.  Start date for this project is TBD…but, the plan is for sometime in March/April.

Rocket Boy ~ demo re-vamp coming up...nice!

My publisher Ole has just commissioned me to revamp a demo for a song I co-wrote/produced in L.A. last fall called ‘Rocket Boy‘ (JC Smith/Alonzo/Steph Jones).  The song was written with the intention of having a female vocalist sing it…but, as things got a bit crazy at the camp…we ended up having a male vocal on the song (great work by Steph!).  However, the song has received some positive attention…but, the pitch-ability has been diminished somewhat by the lack of a female vocal.  Thus Ole has hired me to re-record this song with a female vocalist…and, they’ve also gone the extra mile to hire a high profile female vocalist/arist to sing the demo for us.  Gonna be good.  Ole has also hired me to finish another demo ‘Over Getting Over You‘ (JC Smith/Ava K) that has been kicking around for a little bit.  Time to get that one done! I called Ava today…I’ll get her over here so that we can discuss our vision for the final direction of the demo.

Ava K ~ great writing chemistry

Also on the go right now…should be finished the ‘demo for hire’ work for ‘Ready To Be Broken‘ (JC Smith/Diana) by Snoopy from Montreal (who will be hanging around the studio this weekend, doggedly pushing me to finally finish this song for her deservedly so).  Also…I really need to finish the demo for hire for ‘Heart Attack‘ (JC Smith/Heather Longstaffe) — as this is the demo that has suffered most from my recently consuming schedule…and Heather has been an absolute angel (anxious  angel) waiting for me to finish it (she really has the right to be a lot more upset with me than she has been for the delay…not that she is….but, she could be…and that would’ve been appropriate.)

Just finished writing another new song with Marilou (Sony Music Canada/Sony France) and Rupert Gayle (Ole) yesterday called ‘Silent Stadium‘ (JC Smith/Rupert Gayle/Marilou) and that is now added to the list of demos to be finished.  We will also be writing again on Monday.

Trying to work out scheduling to have an East Coast artist/writer Tim Chaisson over to Jambotunes for a writing session.  This hook up was initiated by my publisher, they think we’d make a good combination….at least worth giving it a try for a song to see what we come up with.  Still trying to nail down the date for this session.

Ok…this train is leaving the station again…all aboard….! Feels good.

Medium Rotation

'Living On A Long Shot' ~ medium on Much

Good news today from CP Records…Chris Labelle’s ‘Living On A Long Shot‘ (written by JC Smith/Ben Dunk) music video has been bumped up to medium rotation @ Much Music this week.  Promo going out to radio stations next week.

On a personal note…

Some have noticed the occasional oblique [or not so oblique] reference to happenings behind the scenes here that seem to be of a personal nature.

My rule is to keep most of the personal stuff out of this blog – certainly I would never include personal details.  However, sometimes, the weight/influx of happenings on the personal side of my life does seem to end up influencing my music making process.  When that is the case, I tend to make a somewhat cryptic and/or vibey reference denoting the fact.  But, again, only when the processes are symbiotic.

The hard truth is…what does happen on the personal side of the mixing desk will sometimes drive me to dive even deeper into the artistic process as a coping measure [as a writier/producer I suppose that's the most productive approach] …or… sometimes the personal side will just blow me out of the water completely for a brief period of time.

Lately, it seems I’ve made more such references than I would like to.

Conversely,  I also think that I’ve made significant advances on the artistic front during the same period.

Coincidence?  I doubt it.

Thus, I’m thinking that sometimes the personal stuff (general vibe – not details) is part of the real Songwriter Story and rightly reflects upon the process…and should be included.

I hope you agree.

[And, I will continue to try to be appropriately selective.]

Best,

jc

Story Of Us.

Brian Melo ~ more than just a friendly ear.

Had a great visit from Brian Melo today.

It’s been a while since Brian and I last connected (before Xmas) so we started the afternoon with a visit to the local pub for fish & chips and a pint [thanks B!]…and a LOT of conversation.  Brian’s such a genuine, positive person…it’s always a blast to hang out and have a laugh.

Anyway…he played me the finished version of ‘Story Of Us‘ (JC Smith/Brian Melo/Shiloh) that was recorded for his upcoming album.  The song was written to be sung as a duet…and this version features Brian and Suzie McNeil handling the vocals together.

OMG…what a beautiful rendition of the song.  (Complete with live string section).  I was so happy and proud when I heard it.  So very lucky to have such amazing vocalists, musicians, producers etc giving such great energy to record something that you’ve had a hand in the writing of.  Very humbling.

After some more listening we settled in to a bit of a writing session.  Since Brian’s album is complete we kind of had a free slate to write anything we wanted to.  We ended up veering down a path that seems reminiscent of The Waterboy’s ‘Fisherman Blues’ album — so, that was super fine with me.

Brian and I will reconvene to finish the lyrics to that tune.

Also confirmed by the A&R rep for Sony Music — tomorrow I’ll be with Rupert Gayle and Marilou (Sony Music) — (I think…unless it’s Thursday afternoon? A bit of last minute confusion. ha)

Tonight: more training…another quick healthy dinner…(some laundry!)…and I will be revisiting a few mixes and also doing some work on the ‘Ready To Be Broken‘ demo for Diana in Montreal.

Ciao.

Dead To Me.

Keshia Chante ~ 'Dead To Me'

Maybe on a bit of a roll…?

Worked all night finishing the demo for Keshia Chante’s ‘Dead To Me‘ (JC Smith/Keshia Chante/Roz Bell).

Anyway…already zapped it over to my publisher this morning – and also to Roz (who just responded – and he’s diggin it).  Invoice for demo also sent to publisher.  Cool beans.

I like this song a lot.  It holds a lot of personal meaning for Keshia.  But, I gotta say…I think everybody lives (and dies) through the scenario detailed in this song at least a couple of times during their all too brief time on this terra firma.

All that aside…the production on this one is kind of interesting too?…think Madonna’s ‘Frozen’ mixed with One Republic/Timbaland ‘Apologize’.  Of course, those are just reference points…this song is definitely it’s own thing…as it should be.

Now, time for some sleep.  Later today…Brian Melo swinging by for a song writing session and to play some of the final recordings from his upcoming record.

Also just got an email from Rupert…him and Marilou are available – and looking for more writing sessions here at the studio this week.  Nice.

Holy…Snow.

Wow.  So much for thinking springtime was almost here.  You can’t believe how weird this snow storm seems to me.

Anyway…had the priviledge of writing with Marilou and Rupert Gayle again today.  We started a new song called “Hello, It’s In Your Face” — or something like that – since we’re not actually finished with it yet.  Regardless, it’s shaping up to be a beautiful and vulnerable song…despite what the working title might seem to indicate.

This was definitely one of those days when the ideas we came up with were great ones…but, unfortunately, we didn’t arrive at them quickly.

Rupert, Marilou...and 'the process'

A lot of non-musicians/non-writers ask me how we  go about writing a song…I think this picture of Rupert and Marilou pretty much says it all – at least as far as writing days like this go.  Sometimes there really are no speed bumps to speak of…but, usually there is at least a little bit of how the picture looks – at some point during any session.

Sometimes it just takes work…

Focus…

Tonight: training break, quick healthy dinner…then late night finishing up the Keshia demo.

Blue Girl?

Rebecca Everett ~ Blue Girl - no, not really.

Rebecca Everett visited the studio on Saturday afternoon and we worked on the lyrics for a song she started writing during a recent trip to England.  The song is called ‘Blue Girl‘ — and, unfortunately, I’m not even sure who the other writers are at this point (so I can’t list them).  Anyway, it’s a cool song…and I hope the lyrics we came up with help to take the song to another level.

Today, I had a visit from Diana from Montreal…and we went over a few things…including her demo for ‘Ready To Be Broken‘ (JC/Diana).

I’m also working on finishing the Keshia Chante demo for ‘Dead To Me‘ (JC/Keshia/Roz) +  I’m also going to make a slight adjustment to the mix for ‘Don’t Say Anything‘ (JC/Katia Zuccarelli/Luke McMaster) then send that on over to Luke McMaster who emailed me today saying he hasn’t heard it yet…but, would very much like to.

Marilou and Rupert Gayle are both in for a writing session tomorrow.

Brian Melo will be in to the studio on Tuesday.

Sun is shining. Spring time soon?

“Living On A Long Shot” official vid.

Thought I should actually put this up here on the site…it’s the official video for artist Chris Labelle singing “Living On A Long Shot” (song written by JC Smith/Ben Dunk).

The video is in rotation @ Much Music and Much More Music.

Coming up:

…more writing next week with Marilou…also Brian Melo.  Finishing Keshia Chante’s demo for ‘Dead To Me‘ (JC/Keshia/Roz Bell).  2 other demos to finish ASAP for Heather Longstaffe ~ ‘Heart Attack‘ and Diana from Montreal ‘Ready To Be Broken‘.

Throw It To The Universe…

Yes, I’m sneaking back in through the out door…

It’s been a while…Dec. 25th was the last post?  Since then…life has been a sobering reminder of…well, life.  Once again, making music has been the only somewhat reliable refuge in what has otherwise been a messy-a.k.a. not so neat-topsy-turvy pseudo~ish blah blah blah semi-translucent (wafer-thin) soul draining facade.

(Huh?)

“And there’s also a negative side”  ba-dump-bump! (Hunter S. Thompson).

Yes, I have been working away…although, admittedly adrift in a kind of dream state.  Surprised? Not much.  Lots of music getting done – and more still to get done (that’s a good thing)…many sounds, words and ideas that inspire, drain and refuel (wash, rinse, repeat?) – and, still, I float like some spaceman tethered to a drifting, orbit-less capsule.  Haunting, in a ‘2001:A Space Odyssey’ kind of way…? and comforting too?  Weird.

Luke Willms ~ 'Throw It To The Universe'...

So…let’s see…Brian Melo left a message on my cell phone tonight saying that his new album is done (includes 8 JC Smith co-writes? Brian’s support has been meaningful beyond measure this past year).  Brian’s new album should be released in the spring, is what I hear.  He wants to set up a time to come by and play me the last two recordings “Soundproof” (JC Smith/Shiloh/Brian Melo) and “The Story Of Us” (JC Smith/Shiloh/Brian Melo)…the latter being a duet with Brian and Suzie McNeil (nice).  I’ve heard Soundproof…my creative rep played it for me during my last meeting with my publisher a week ago.  That song could go places.

'Goodnite' - John-Angus MacDonald (The Trews)

The video for Chris Labelle’s ‘Living On A Long Shot‘ (JC Smith/Ben Dunk) is finished and has been in rotation on Much Music and Much More Music for about 2 weeks now. Check out the post to follow this one…for a link to view.

Finished the demo for ‘Throw It To The Universe‘ (JC Smith/Luke Willms). Vocals/acoustic guitar (and co-written) by Luke Willms.  It’s up on my MySpace if you’d like to check it out here.  Definitely kind of an epic feel to this one…indicative of where I’m drifting to creatively.

It’s become more and more evident…my talents lie in the areas of energy, colour, reckless abandon and blinding white strobe lights…if those things could be musical things, that is.  I’m not interested in doing anything else than what I do best…at least for right now — and I’m not interested in whether anybody else likes it or not…at least not at this point.  It’s kind of like the size of  your dick: at some point you realize, it is what it is.  As Letterman said once upon a time…”it’s not like you can throw it (your dick) back in the water and fish for another one”.  Again…energy, colour, reckless abandon and blinding white strobe lights…fuck it, let’s party.

Marilou ~ 'All About Now'

Had John-Angus MacDonald from The Trews in to Jambotunes for a co-writing session at the start of the year.  We wrote a song (lullaby?) called ‘Goodnite‘ (JC Smtih/John-Angus MacDonald).  Sometimes sessions seem to be more about building trusting creative relationships – as opposed to nailing the be-all-end-all song on the first go around.  This was one of those sessions.  Honest, vulnerable and wide open.  The  potential for more writing exists, we agreed.  Next time with Colin in tow is what John-Angus says…

Marilou visited from Montreal for 2 songwriting sessions. Those 2 sessions yielded 1 new song “All About Now” (JC Smith/Rupert Gayle/Marilou).  This song holds extra special meaning for Marilou:  her grandmother is dealing with a certain issue…and Marilou mentioned prior to our writing session that she was hoping to one day write a song about how this issue is now a part of their relationship.  Sometimes we really do nail a song conceptually — this was one of those times.

Katia Zuccarelli ~ 'Don't Say Anything'

Finished the demo for ‘Don’t Say Anything‘ (JC Smith/Luke McMaster/Katia Zuccarelli) — vocals by Katia Zuccarelli.  Cute song. Great vocals by Katia.  I was commissioned by my publisher to do up a demo for this one so that it could be pitched to an artist in the USA (think Colbie Caillat, no..not her..but, along those lines, is what they said)…and also to be pitched for TV and film.  Could work…kind of light and fluffy and romantic in a ‘Kiss Me’ or ‘Don’t Know Why’ kind of vein.