"SIDEWALKS (FEAT. ALLISON GREY)" SINGLE RELEASED!

The lead single from the upcoming record is "Sidewalks" and is a duet with my very good friend Allison Grey.   The song is for the homeless and is my very first duet.   It's been an honor and pleasure to work with her on my new record and to introduce her and her voice to the world. 

Studio Diary #6

Tonight was a very special night in the studio.   Alli came in and recorded her vocals for the single.   It was kind of a magical moment and she loved it and sounded great and we also started working on another song together.  

This record is still very much in it's beginning phases but i can already tell it's going to be a huge departure from other things i have done.   I've no idea when the release date will be but I'm trying to finish the single before christmas.

Studio Diary #5

the full demo for the first single has been recorded.   i've rewritten the melody and lyrics 3 different times so far but the chorus of the song has been the same since day one.  later this week my friend and i will have lots and lots of drinks together and record the full demo together which is super exciting!  

Studio Diary #4

i think there's 11 rough cut demos so far.   it will be exciting to get to know these songs before going in and cutting the record.  the demos are just babies at this point and i've no idea what they will become.     on a side note, i also re-recorded 'xmas vacation.'   had a fun time with that, got to blow off some steam!

Studio Diary #3

7 and a half rough demos cut so far for the record.  it's still early on in the process so i can't really tell what kind of a record it will be.   i don't believe there will be any covers.   and i'm not diving into my older songs.   everything for this record will be songs i've written since i've lived in midtown.   don't really know what else to say right now....

Studio Diary #2

a late night of red wine and song writing.   i have 4 very rough demos recorded for this record so far.  i imagine there will be many many more.  i want this collection to be a very honest record.  focusing on the writing and melodies.   not much else to say... def in creative mode.

Studio Diary #1

writing has begun for the new record.   the first single will drop sometime in december but i'm not sure when the record itself will be complete.   working on the studio equipment setup.   begun the first rough demo for the record last night.   a collaborative effort with a good friend of mine.  

a long long way to go but the journey starts here....

SOMEONE 2 LOVE - RE-RELEASE

First recorded in 1992.  Re-written in 2010/2011 for the 'Closet Tapes' recordings.   Re-recorded for "Spin."   This version is a mash up of the ballad mix and the club mix that appear on the record.   My flatmates favorite of my recordings.   This is for her.

SWAGKILLA uploaded to youtube - FINALLLLY

Released mid October of this year, i've finally uploaded this little odd peice of my musical journey to youtube.   enjoy....  going to hit the studio soon for the new record.

"SWAGKILLA" SINGLE RELEASED

"Swagkilla" is the first proper single release from "Spin."   It's release is through soundcloud which is located to the right of this post if you would like to give "Swagkilla" a listen.

The song started out as kind of a joke during the recording sessions for the last record.    Some of the material was so deep that just to blow off some steam, i had started singing some of the lines of this song and thought "swag killer" was a hilarious idea...  

When choosing the new songs to include on this remix/revisited records, "Swagkilla" was in my demos and got a major face lift.   The musical track was an experiment I was working on for a remix to "Last Record Shop."   I played the vocal demo of 'swagkilla' and thought the two fit together perfect.

I will release to youtube maybe later this month, but just happy to have a fun dance song out there for now.   Oh, and just so you know...  that's my dog, Alijah starting the whole thing off!

PROMO SINGLE "THE LAST RECORD SHOP ON EARTH" FINALLY GETS IT'S RELEASE!

A year and a half after the release of "Generations: A Musical"  the record that this song originally appeared on, it finally gets it's chance to see the light of day.   A super fun song to sing for sure.    In the musical this is the part where Alijah decides to leave his hometown and move to NYC.    ...but really, we all have our "record shop" that we have to leave, don't we...

"SPIN" RECORD RELEASED: Remixed And Reinvented Songs!!!!!

I had a lot of remixes and revisted versions of songs that i have recorded and i wanted a place for them all to be.   i didn't want to call this a remix record because although there are remixes included, a lot of the songs have just been reinvented.

The word spin to me represents a 'new spin' on the songs and also 'spin' refers to the records playing and the dancing and the word also represents to me the different emotions the songs represent.  

With no real date set for a new record, this collection is meant to hold the place between the last record and the next.   Contains a cover of madonna's 'love spent' and 2 new songs, 'fantasy world' and 'swagkilla.'  

STARING AT GHOSTS

i think this may be one of the more personal songs i have ever written.   and here it is, 'staring at ghosts.'   from the 'staring at ghosts, living with trees' project.

Studio Diary #1: REMIX RECORD

been collecting remixes of some of the songs i've released.   this is kind of a side project but it will have some new songs on it.   some demos i've recorded but didn't know what to do with.  that sort of thing.   there's no title for the project just yet but i've got about 12 tracks ready to go.   worked on the single mix of the next single from 'staring at ghosts, living with trees,'  called 'staring at ghosts.'   it should be released around the first of october.   the remix/random project should be released later in the month of october.  

IT'S ONLY A PROCESS!!!!

The 3rd release (4th overall) from "Staring At Ghosts, Living With Trees" is "The Process."    It's a dance song that I recorded at the last minute for the record.   It tells a story of beginning again.   Breaking it down into a science of experiencing and feeling with the senses.   It's my favorite song on the album.

"HEY, EUGENE!" PROMO PINK MARTINI COVER RELEASED

cover of the Pink Martini song i did just for fun.   From "Staring At Ghosts, Living With Trees."

"HAPPY HERE (CALIFORNIA REMIX)"

The California Remix of "Happy Here" is finally complete.   Mixing it up with "Let The Sun Shine In."  

"HAPPY HERE" RELEASED!!

The second single from "Staring At Ghosts, Living With Trees" has been released to celebrate new friends and moving into midtown.   New beginnings...  

SIMON SEZ! VIDEO FINALLY RELEASED

The first release from "Staring at Ghosts, Living With Trees" is finally up in video forum on youtube.   The single was released on June 22, 2012

STARING AT GHOSTS, LIVING WITH TREES

Welcome to the new era.   My new record "Staring At Ghosts, Living With Trees"  is complete and released today along with the first single "Simon Sez" which i will post in just a little bit...   

From the artwork to the music and lyrics, I am proud and happy of this work and am happy to have it out in the world!

Studio Diary #10

just finished the art work and i'm working on the liner notes.   this record is just about complete and ready for release!   i love the look of it, the sound of it.   and i'm super happy with the final results of the project!

Studio Diary #9

The album is complete!!!!!!!!   Working on the track list right now....   soon =))

Studio Diary #8

the record did not release at midnight as planned, but vodka in hand the last missing track has come to be.   in the studio working on that... gonna be a long night!   we will see what happens.   a lot of life has happened as i've recorded this record and of all my albums - this is how i think music really should be!

Studio Diary #7: TITLE ANNOUNCED!

THE NEW RECORD WILL BE TITLED, "STARING AT GHOSTS, LIVING WITH TREES."


it is a little less than 18 hours till release date for this record and it is not done yet!    i listened back to what i had last night for the very first time and i liked what i heard so i have one more song to pick for sure for it and it has to be.. THE ONE!    but we're still on for midnight.  i'll have my vodka and i'll be celebrating.  i'm gonna make that damn deadline!  (haha we'll see)

for now, some sleep!  

Studio Diary #6

listened back at the 9 tracks i have laid down for this record this morning.   i have to say that i feel good about it.   i think it's a break up record, but also a celebration.   firmly planted in the present of my life!

the first single will be called "Simon Sez"  and will drop on Friday with the record!   Eeeeeeeeeeek!   I got a lot to do!  haha

Studio Diary #5

well, it's been a longgggggggggg night in the studio.   i have 9 tracks laid down and ready for the record.   i guess this record has a storysong/folk vibe to it.   along with a celebration of dance.   there's some latin vibes going on there, some country vibes, straight up dance song.  there's some old skool rock.   a little harder stuff.   all the music in my life that i love.   the songs tell a story.   things that happen on the streets of a city.   it's all about city life and celebration.    i have picked this friday as my release date for the record so - a lot to do!  

Studio Diary #4: (walking barefoot through midtown)

did a photo shoot for the album today with a friend of mine and i looked at the picture and i'm pretty sure i know what the record will be called...

very very very happy with the artwork so far!

it's back into the studio tonight to work on some of the tracks.  

Studio Diary #3

got about 12 demos so far... it's very left field of anywhere i've been in my musical journey.   everything is a bunch of rough demos and there is A LOT of work to be done but i'm excited for what has come out...  no clue on the title of this project.  or artwork.  or anything just yet.  

Studio Diary #2

i went to second saturday - a street festival in midtown filled with music and art and a lot of people.    i had gone into an empty street to be away from the people to light a cigarette and be4 i could light it i was surrounded by drummers and dancers and i think it was the first time in my entire life where i saw and witnessed and was part of people dancing just to dance...   it was such an inspiration and i think this record is  a reflection of that...  of dance and moving....

Studio Diary #1

something about the a/c being broke... the temp spiking into some serious summer heat....   went to a street fair in midtown this past weekend and there were street dancers and lots of music and the city was alive!    so, cheap fans spinning and lots of big changes coming has me feeling a bit inspired.     

so, i am taking a few demos into the studio and all i can see is, we will see what happens.   i want a record that sounds like my life right now...     i intend to record this like i'm a rockstar.   making music how music should be made.   

Great Big World - Watercolors - The One That Won't Go Down

this is one of my older songs that I re-recorded for "the closet tapes" and then again for UCV2 to play around with autotunes and practice with the sounds i was going for.  i had another version of this with a pretty hard core drum track in it, but i like the beeps and panning in this one... 

"GREATEST" video released!

UCV2 RELEASED ALONG WITH "GREATEST" SINGLE!!!

"UCV2" has been released with my latest single, "Greatest."

UCV2 Studio Update #5

Album is finished and ready for release.    The release has been moved up to May 25, 2012 at midnight (20 minutes from now).   I've recorded so many extra tracks that I realize that I am infact writing a new record.

UCV2 Studio Update #4

today was the last day in the recording studio.   recorded 2 new songs, "happy here" and "make out with me."   two very different songs.   over the next week i'll finish up the artwork and final tracklisting and which new songs make it in...

this has been a fun project to work on to reimagine and reinvent all of these songs and record a few new ones.

UCV2 Studio Update #3

all songs are completed for this project!    I'm going to take a couple days vacation from it and then re-visit and see if i need any more changes.    re-recorded 'greatest' today and i believe i have the final version.   i'll be working on the video in the next few weeks and the single artwork and a couple changes to the album artwork.   but for now the collection is complete.   a very experimental project and i'm in autotunes overdrive.   'greatest' does not have any autotune except the backing vocals which are very faint in the distance so that's kind of interesting.

UCV2 Studio Update #2

have all of the vocal tracks down for the collection.    the album artwork might need a bit of tweaking.   i am re-doing some of the music for the record but i do have a final tracklist to reveal!

1. great big world
2. watercolors
3. the one that won't go down
4. no more love
5. trains
6. holy water
7. hotel song (dance mix)
8. brooklyn cowboy
9. what a difference a year makes (2012)
10. alien love song
11. alijah
12. 3 wishes (extended version)
13. we come from light
14. flowers
15. beat (igb version)
16. greatest

a friend and i did a photoshoot together in downtown, sacramento and the back cover features one from that set.     anyway, that's enough for now.    i think it's interesting to see these new versions and a LOT more work than i had intended but i'm glad i'm doing it!

UCV2 Studio Update #1

This has turned into quite the project.   I already shared the version of "holy water" that will be on the record.    I am doing all new versions of songs since the last collection which dropped in 93.   firstly, tough to pick which songs make the cut and which don't.   secondly... redoing vocals and musical tracks on all of them has turned into a pretty serious undertaking.

relying pretty heavily on an autotunes prog for this project.   i admit, it's a little ridiculous but a pretty cool sound effect just the same.  i've got enough records without any vocal manipulation so what the hell, right?

there is (so far) one new song on the collection called... get this... (wait for it) "Greatest."   (get it?  greatest hits.. hehehe)   actually, it's a very pretty piano ballad and i'm pretty sure it will be the single from the record.

over some orange soda and vodka tonight i found an online collage maker and added the 9 album covers (2 excluded were 'remixxit' and 'vault pt 2').   it looks pretty decent.  i'm happy with it so far.   i guess that's all for now.   i need a serious break from the studio for a few days.   focus on work and school and come back fresh to this in a few days....

it's coming along pretty quick.   i expect an early june release.  no later than june 12.

STARS!

The latest release from the "Silence" record is "Stars."  It contains a poem written by my mom called "My Version."   A video may follow, but for now here it is in all it's acoustic campfire lullaby greatness. Haha.    

"Everything we lost in the fire, everything we tried to keep."

UPDATES...

finished the single artwork for 'stars' which will be the next single.   also, i did the video edit today which just cuts off the last 45 or so seconds of instrumental fade out of the song.   artwork for the single is by allison rodriguez and was taken at the coffee garden open mic night on May 3rd 2012 in sacramento.   A possible video is to come and maybe a remix.   The release date for the single SHOULD be may 11.

the song is pretty special to me and contains a poem called "my life" that was written by my mom.  

HOLY WATER (UCV2)

The title track from my 2009 record.   This is a new version of the song.   Musically it is what i always envisioned as I wrote it.  Aggressive and intense, the way I felt when I wrote it.    This is a sample of the project I am working on right now.   "Ultimate Collection Volume 2."   It will contain songs from my back catalog that I am re-recording and remixing due in the coming months.

FIGHTING SILENCE!

newest original release from the "Silence" record is the title song...   about survival and remembering and MOMENTUM.  here is the video...

"it's gonna be alright yeah, ima write a new song tonight....."

BLACK & GOLD (PROMO RELEASED)

"Black & Gold" has been released as the latest promo single from "Silence".   A new original song will be posted and released later this month.    This is just such a cool song I wanted to do a fun remix of it.      This is my "Something Beyond Mix" that will end up on a remix album released later this year.

"FLOWERS" has been released

a lyric video for the song "Flowers."   it's a song about the break-up right after my mom's passing.   it's been a rough year.  i think this song is about both of those subjects and is about living life in the now.   including the apologies and not taking life for granted.   it can all be taken away SO quickly.   i love this song.   it's my favorite i think that i've ever done.

1,000 VIEWS ON YOUTUBE

my youtube channel has hit 1,000 views!  Eeek =)

"BEAT OF YOUR HEART" REMIX RELEASED WITH VIDEO!!!!

As promised, the video and remix to "Beat of Your Heart" are both released today.   This is called the "Alarms Remix" and i think it's pretty funky.   I think the song is a hopeful song for sure and i wanted the music to reflect the positive nature of the lyrics.

I've never done a video with ME in it before, so this was pretty horrifying haha.   Initially, i was going to film a video in San Francisco when i went for my birthday but I was in WAY over my head and had no idea how to edit together all of the footage so i cancelled that idea and went for the minimal.   I used my ipod and just went for it.   The special effect thing is pretty cool and i like the changing colors....    Cheers!  to another first.   My first effort at a music video and a pretty solid remix.

"BEAT OF YOUR HEART" SINGLE RELEASED!!!!

the 2nd (3rd overall) proper release from my "Silence" album.   I wrote this song initially when a friend of mine wanted to die, and i revisited and rewrote it when I wanted to.   I think it's a hope song and i'm proud of it.   I am working on a dance mix and also a proper video for the song...

VIDEO SHOOT FOR "BEAT OF YOUR HEART"

the 2nd release from the record is going to be 'beat of your heart.'   i'm in the studio now doing a new musical track for the video version of the song.   i'll be spending the friday (my birthday) in San Francisco shooting the video and then i'll edit and put it up sometime over the weekend or early next week.

"SILENCE" album is RELEASED!

1. Love Can Build A Bridge

2. Lay Me Down

3. Mad At Jesus

4. Black & Gold

5. Beat of Your Heart

6. Flowers

7. Promises To Keep

8. Silence

9. In The House of Stone And Light

10. If You Came To California

11. Before The World Ends

12. Philadelphia

13. Stars

My new record, the follow up to "Book of Goals."   This album is for my mother.  I miss you so much.

STUDIO DIARY #11

So this will be the last studio diary for what began as the whirlwind recording sessions and has ended with a brand new sound for me and what i like to think of as an evolution in my songwriting and recording.   The record will have 13 tracks on it and there are some very very raw moments on it.   Some pretty confessional and dark moments.  Some moments of joy and light.   This project has helped me a lot i think with my mom's death and figuring myself out right now.   it felt good to sing it and write it and watch it come to life rather than to talk to anyone about it...  so many hearts are in recovery and so many of us are learning to live over again (and again) sometimes.   i don't feel healed.  but i do feel ready...  

The record will be released in about 8 hours.   I'll post up the artwork and get 'mad @ jesus' on soundcloud.   Until then, i got some mad dash last minute work to be doing!

"MAD AT JESUS" has been released as the 2nd over-all and first proper single from the new record.

this is, i think the 2nd song I wrote for the record right after "Philadelphia."   I for sure finished this one first.   It was these 2 songs that woke me up to the idea of going into the studio again.   I love the harmonies and the play on 'jesus take the wheel.'   i was in an awful place when i found out my mom had passed.   these songs are for her and were to write and were to sing, and are to hear wildly theraputic for me, i think....   i've gotten this far...  i was afraid of the lyrics of this song.   scared what people would think about the actual way i really felt.  that i was somehow just being blasphemous but i don't think so.  i think the emotion of actually being mad is something that could not be felt for something/someone you did not believe in?     my own version of jesus, who i'm still angry with.

STUDIO DIARY #10 (Are you there vodka? It's me, Jay."

havin a ridiculously good time trying to write in a missing 3rd verse to one of the songs 'lay me down.'  i knew it was missing a verse and i tried to ignore it but i can't fool myself.   i keep messing it up and it's making me laugh.. having a lot of fun.  i love this song...  i am having a bit of an artiste crisis over which song i wish to post first.   as i do, i post a single from the album to the internet ever month or so and see if it gets any reaction... i call them singles.   it's usually super obvious to me which is going to be the first but for this record, what started as a couple days to myself around christmas has turned into my favorite project i've done so far ever.   even more so then generations...

STUDIO DIARY #9

headin back in2 the studio l8r 2day 2 re-record the vocals for a track called 'stars.'    also need to play some hard core guitar on 'b&g.'   letcha all know how that works out haha.

STUDIO DIARY #8

wrote and recorded another new song for the album and even worked out an early tracklisting.   there are 6 tracks confirmed and READY to go at this point but i think something like 14 or 15 have been recorded.   i quit smoking yesterday (the 10th)  and so i'm kinda rocking the insomnia tonight trying to figure out the first single.   i know it's one of 2 songs but we'll see which one it turns out to be...  that's about it for now.   just kinda googly eyed and stoopid right now =)

STUDIO DIARY #7

still a lot of work left to do on the album.  no idea what the final track list is going to be or the singles.   still some sound tweaking and remixing left to do, but i think all of the songs have been picked now.   i just wanted to pop on and announce the release date for the "silence" album as my birthday, February 3, 2012.   The fist single will also be released on that day!   So we are 3 weeks away from the new era!! (although we're kinda over lapping eras right now with 'remember me' and 'love can build a bridge' both out there...)

so, ok.. peace out

STUDIO DIARY #6

had the photo shoot for the album today.  like i said before, it was an homage to rudy valentino and though i'm still working on it all.. it's looking pretty decent.   wrote and recorded a new song for the album "Before The World Ends."   Been dealing with some pretty heavy stuff during these sessions and so it kinda felt good to put a lighter dance song on the album. i think i'm rounding the finish line on the record.   have some remixes to do and some touch ups here and there... but then again, who knows, out came "Be4 the world ends" today so i guess anything is possible.   yes.  the album title is "SILENCE."

STUDIO DIARY #5

7:07am...  i guess i kinda am a rockstar... after a long night of good drinks, good convos, and possibly even good music... i've laid down about 3 or so more tracks...  there's some volume tweaking and edits to do but the majority of the album has been recorded...   as i've mentioned be4, i am in no rush with this record so it'll be interesting to see how what i have now evolves...   i will say, vodka in hand, that i am in love with this new record...   that's a good sign, right?  it's such a departure from the last album...    the album title... is it 'silence' or is it 'stars'?

STUDIO DIARY #4

just finished another day in the studio today... listening back over so that i can pick up on some things i might want to change... but i am really proud of what i'm creating.   this album is turning out to be pretty real and raw and has a lot of heart.   there's a vibe of anger, but of also spirit... some of the songs are pretty drum and bass and then some acoustic and then others along the lines of 'love can build a bridge.'   

i thought i had recorded all of the vocals but as i learned today while recording the title track, my 3rd verse was written and so back to the mic i went...

also not sure that all of the songs will make the album.   might be yet another full vocal session.   i'm sure what doesn't show up on the album will pop up on the next vault collection...    

for now, a few days break from the studio perhaps?   no promises!  i get so addicted! 

STUDIO DIARY #3

hit the studio 2nite to do an updated version of "black & gold' for the album.  the beat is pretty sick so i'm happy with it.  also worked on 'beat.'   it's got a tribal flair for sure and i really love it...   getting kind of into this as the project is lifting off of the ground a little bit...

LOVE CAN BUILD A BRIDGE PROMO SINGLE RELEASED

the video, a tribute to my mom was released via facebook, jblog, and youtube on christmas eve but i'm officially releasing "love can build a bridge" as the first promo single from the new album.   i can also confirm that the albums title will be "SILENCE" and the cover art will be an homage to ruldolph valentino and silent movies.  

"REMEMBER ME" released as the 4th (5th overall) and final (?) single from BOOK OF GOALS

I have to admit, i love this song.  I love the percussion.  I love the message.   I'd like to remake it someday with stronger vocal.   I do think it's a beautiful song though and I'm happy it made it's way to being a single.  It deserved it.  It was the first song fully recorded and finished for the "BOG" album.   Welcome to the new year. A good way to open it!

THE CLOSET TAPES 1992-1995 VOL I, II, & III RELEASED!!!!!!!!!

"THE CLOSET TAPES 1992-1995 VOL I, II, & III" The early years collection that i have been working on since i think may of last year is officially released today in 3 volumes.   44 songs total.   There is no single release from the collection at this time since most of these songs have already had their day, I'm just really happy to have these songs back into my audio world/catalog.   This collection means a lot to me!   HAPPY NEW YEAR!