Recording studio, audio training, bands and DJs - Aurora, Illinois

The people have spoken!

Tuesday night marked another fantastic Songwriter Showcase in our recording studio. Listeners were treated to original music from eight great artists, capped off with a beautiful performance from the Todd Kessler trio. Todd, accompanied by Chris Bauler on cello and Elana Hiller on violin, created some amazing moments - and a few lucky listeners went home with the recording.

Songwriters voted this month's favorite - by a long shot - to be Andrea Dawn. I'm thrilled to have Andrea lined up to play a more filled-out featured artist set at next month's showcase, Tuesday, August 4. (Songwriters and Guests can register here).

As if a great night of performing, a live recording and great feedback from other songwriters wasn't enough, we added something else this month - Guest feedback. Every listener provided feedback on our musicians' performances and songwriting, and we compiled the results according to age and gender. This is giving some very interesting and useful results: Showcase winner Andrea, for example, was a huge hit among the 18-25 set, but less popular with the under-18 and over-50 crowds.

In other words, our Showcases just became focus groups. Advertisers spend thousands to find out what kinds of people like what they do - we offer the service to songwriters for $25. Pretty cool.

Two tunesters, four formats!

Last night's Sound Foundations studio class kicked off with a bang - and a whole lot of microphones. We recorded a simple two-guitar acoustic performance on four different systems - from a one-track tape recorder to the full ProTools monty. It's always fantastic to hear the differences between formats.

Interested in learning audio? I'll be running Sound Foundations live and studio classes again in the Fall - watch the newsletter for details, or send me an e-mail if you're interested.

He puts his pants on - and makes gold records!

Like music itself, Backthird Audio runs on people. If you've been reading this blog or hanging around our Songwriter Showcases, you'll have noticed a new one in the control room these past few months. Kyle Schmidt is our new lead engineer. He's a singer, a guitarist and an avid biker - and I've got him pushing faders now as often as I can.

"My dad's band went to a recording studio and I tagged along," Kyle says. "I took a look around and said, yes - this is what I want to do! I was in the eighth grade."

Kyle studied music business and studio recording at Columbia College in Chicago and at Belmont University in Nashville. He interned at the House of Blues recording studio in Encino, Calif. before graduation, then spent several years freelancing for producers and songwriters in Nashville. Kyle engineered at the Sound Kitchen, Dark Horse and Quad Studios before he and his wife, Stacy, decided to transition back to Chicago to be closer to extended family.

Acoustic Alternatives

Kyle finished a new demo with Acoustic Alternatives last night. I've known Jack, Sherry and Kathleen for ages and it was a treat to finally get 'em in here for some tracking. Looking for another cover band that's not another cover band? They're your trio.

Come together right now...

Monkey business aside, we got the comeraderie flowing at last night's Guild meeting with a longer-than-usual conversation on projects and ideas and collaborations. I asked you to share things you were doing - or would like to do - to enhance our communities, spread the music and improve life. Here's what you brought to the table:

1. Church Songs, Stories and Q&A. Eli Suddarth, who leads music (and lots of other stuff) at River Valley Community Church, told us about an event he's cooking up for Nov. 7 teaming songwriter Scott Phillips with author Matthew Paul Turner. The goal is engaging a mixed audience of "churchy" and "non-churchy" types in thought and conversation on the ups and downs of Christian church and culture. Eli needs the (non-church) Aurora venue for a crowd of 200 or so, plus help from anyone who'd like to get involved in spreading the word. Click here if you'd like to drop Eli a line.

2. Songwriters United. Scott McNeil brought up an idea we've discussed before - how can we as songwriters and artists work together to do shows? For solo artists especially, it gets lonely setting up and playing on your own month after month. But colloaboration might also make us a more attractive package to venues and a bigger draw for audiences. What will it take to make this happen? A first step might be simply agreeing to call one another for opening-act spots more often. Eventually, though, it be nice to plan shows based around a family or artists instead of a single headliner. 

For a sense of how others are trying this, check out the Square Peg Alliance or the Chicago Songwriters Collective. I would LOVE to see something similar develop here at (or around) Backthird Audio. If anyone out there feels inspired to take leadership in this, let me know - and let me know how I can help!

We decided we'd make a start by starting a thread on the Backthird Facebook page where interested artists can leave their contact info. I've started a discussion thread for that - if you want in, click here to post!

3. The ADAM Project. Finally, architect Randall Coy shared his vision for ADAM - Architects, Designers, Artists and Musicians in collaboration to creatively impact community and culture. Our group was flush with ideas to infuse music more into Aurora, spreading joy and beauty all over. But ideas are one thing - if you're genuinely excited, Randall could use your help in bringing these ideas into reality! Click here and drop him a line if you'd like.

I've said this before, but I'm hoping next month will be our panel of booking agents - so stay tuned for an informative Guild meeting on Monday, July 27!