Guest Musicians July 16 2011

Guest Musicians: In August and September both of us felt confident that we had a list of tracks that would stand up to our own criticisms as well as other critics within our own circle. We both knew musicians who have experience above us and below. So for the first time we are pitching our product and seeing how people react.

Kev Corbett of Halifax, Nova Scotia was interested in adding some banjo to a few tracks as a contractor. "I just recently bought a banjo but I'll try to see what I can do with your songs. If I can't do it I'll definitely refer you to somebody who can."

Locally there are a number of musicians who are willing to set aside some time to complete the recordings. Four months later the whole band got set aside and we all listened to what we have and realized we don't need all these extra things in the

songs. So we just left it at that. I think songwriting and development goes through a natural process but everybody is different. My process is that I build and build put this whole huge thing together and tear it all down to simplify it.

In the beginning I thought we needed a drummer. I totally felt that our songs were incomplete without percussion. The songs that inspired us had a banjo so I thought we needed that too; I wanted to tap into our unlimited potential but in the end was it really necessary?

It turns out it wasn't necessary. After a year of production and refining these songs I've discovered that the songs sound perfectly fine the way they are because things should be kept natural. Any fancy work in music should be kept subtle. Anyways there's a difference between a recording and playing live.

Playing live is a great thing and it doesn't make a difference whether it's just jamming in a living room at a party or playing an open mic. Music gives you wings and playing in harmony with a group brings everybody closer.

The purpose of a musician shouldn't be to get famous; it's a lifelong journey of memories and self improvement.

Recording an album that features guest musicians will be a good memory and personal accomplishment in the grand scheme of things but what's the difference between that and good memories of playing together with other friends or people you don't know and making new friends and things like that?

Anyways that's where things are with guest musicians.