Vocals and Travel

Not a lot going on since the last update.  I have been bogged down in work and have had less time than I would have liked to spend in the studio writing.  However, I have been focusing on strengthening my voice quite a bit lately.  For a while there I thought I was going through puberty again by the way my voice was cracking.  I found out that your voice goes through changes again later in life as well, thus the prepubescent squeaks that have been coming out of my middle range.  I'm trying to spend 30 to 60 minutes per day (mostly in the car) singing and focusing on the fundamentals.  I am happy to say that after a couple of weeks, I was able to sing all the way through Octavarium and Home (Dream Theater) on my way into the office this morning without a hitch.  Feels great to start getting my voice back.

Headed up to Rochester, NY for the holidays this Thursday.  Really looking forward to seeing family and friends!  This trip will also give NOS a chance to be in the same room as I will get to see Jay Rowland in person for awhile, rather than as a stream of texts and phone calls.  After the holidays, things should be able to pick up a bit on Happy Accidents.  However, it appears I will need to come up with a new name for the next album.  But that is a story for next time. . .

Take care,
Craig

Progress

Took a bit of time off this week for the holiday.  Jay is plugging away on Falling, and I love what I am hearing, very thick and complex.  Still working on Anthem; the skeleton is almost done and its looking to be about 22 minutes with lots of instrumentals.  I have to say that I was really inspired by the writing style of  Jem Godfrey of Frost* on this one.  Love their song Milliontown.

I was asked by Rodrigo San Martin to sing on a track on his upcoming album.  Love the song, very Porcupine Tree.  I should be able to get the vocals down later this week.

Starting to put feelers out to mixing engineers, going to have this next album mixed and mastered properly.

Well, that's about it until next time . . .

Take care,
Craig

Not Otherwise Specified Welcomes Jason Rowland of God Sized Hate

I would like to officially welcome Jason Rowland of God Size Hate to the fold of Not Otherwise Specified!  Jay is a long-time friend, past Sonic Images band-mate, ripping guitar player, seriously ridiculous theory-head, and all around good guy.  We have already started working on songs together and are going to try to cram in as much writing as possible before he starts playing out with GSH again later next year.  Jay adds a 180 degree perspective on the writing process for me, coming from the music theory side of writing versus my general approach of just winging it.  What we have done so far indicates that working together will add a whole new prog dimension to NOS.  As if he didn't have enough to do, he is currently working on putting the finishing touches on GSH's next album as well.  Look for it later this year.

Check out GSH's previous work and look for more prog from NOS in the near future!

Take care,
Craig Kerley

Studio Progress

"Falling" is moving along nicely.  Sent it off to Jason (Jay) Rowland and he is coming up with some great ideas to improve and enhance all of the guitar parts.  Really like the way it is sounding and can't wait to hear what else he comes up with.  The guy can really play guitar and will definitely add a more polished and heavier edge to the new music.

Spent a good deal of time this weekend working on the transitions on "Anthem".  Currently the song is over 19 minutes long and I think it is beginning to sound like a musical journey of sorts.  This is a whole new experience for me, linking song ideas together to make one epic yet cohesive piece.  I really like the way it is turning out and can't wait to see what happens when I hand it over to Jay.

Two other pieces are also in their infancy, making a total of about 45 minutes of unfinished music so far for the next album.  Probably going to attempt to push the time limits of CD's on this next one!

Take care!
Craig

To do list

Guide vocal . . . check that one off the to do list.

Back to the studio

After three long days of my day (and often night) job, I am looking forward to getting back into the studio tomorrow and Friday.  I have one song nearly finished (working title Falling) that rounds out at over 10 minutes.  I avoided writing an ending for it for a long time and then suddenly decided to start playing with time signatures and came up with an ending that my 12 and 10 year old sons say "Rocks".  The time goes from 11/8 to 6/8, to 7/8, 11/8, 9/8, and ending again with 11/8.  It was a lot of fun to write.  I hope to record the guide gocal for this track and begin them for a second track that is about half finished (working title Anthem).  Anthem looks to be at least 13 minutes long and could be significantly longer.  I should probably call it Soup, because I am incorporating at least 5 different song ideas into this one song.  So after I record some basic guide vocals, I plan on spending time writing transitions between the various parts.  I'm really finding the process of writing a true Prog Rock Anthem very challenging, but fun.

By the way, I found a great blog entry by Jem Godfrey  of Frost*, and many other musical endeavors, about rules for the DIY musician.  When I read it, I was surprised how much his style of writing and recording matched mine.  The main difference is that he is light years ahead of me in the process.  Check it out when you get a chance.  

Take care,

Craig

A Dramatic Turn of Events - to Mike Portnoy

I have to say, being that Mike Portnoy is one of my favorite musicians of all time, I was more than just a little bit skeptical when I downloaded Dream Theater's new album A Dramatic Turn of Events. I wanted so much to dislike this album, possibly due to the seemingly genuine sadness Mike Portnoy displayed upon his parting with the group. I hurt for him, and secretly hoped that the new endeavor would fail for his ex-band mates. However, I was disappointed (but also excited) in that after three listens through the album I have to say this is one of my favorite. Sorry Mike, but it seems that Dream Theater is surviving without you. I guess one way of looking at it is that it frees you up to be involved in even better musical endeavors in the future. I hope this is the case and look forward to them. However, I have to say that A Dramatic Turn of Events will be a major influence on the music I write in the future.

Craig Kerley

New Review of Judgment at Sea of Tranquility

Check out the latest review of Judgment at Sea of Tranquility.
I think I'm blushing a bit . . .

Craig

Check out Judgment!

Check out NOS's debut album Judgment.  

More to come soon!

Take care,

Craig

Progress on "Happy Accidents"

I am at that wonderful stage of writing where I really don't care too much about how it sounds!  Just trying to be as creative as possible and get as many ideas on tape as I can.  Currently have three songs that appear to be taking shape, tentatively titled "Falling"  (dark and at times heavy with hints of Dream Theater), "Anthem" (Epic - 13+ minutes so far, with some tasty bits of Frost* and Transatlantic), and "12-string" (more of a  mellow jazzy proggy song, with a Todd Rundgren feel).  I am certain the titles will change, but I am feeling really happy about where these new songs are heading.  Also, I hope to be collaborating with Jay Rowland of God Size Hate on a few of the ideas I have.  Jay is a long-time friend and past band-mate and is arguably one of the best guitarists I have known.  I am really looking forward to collaborating after 2+ years of working in a dark room alone (only on music, the rest of my life is significantly less dismal :-) ).

Take care,
Craig

Equipment used during recording of "Judgment" and "Happy Accidents"

GUITARS 
Fender American VG Stratocaster
Ibanez SZR520 Electric Guitar
LTD MH-400 Electric Guitar
Ibanez AEG10NETNG Acoustic-Electric Guitar
Fender American Standard Jazz Bass
Ibanez GSR 4-string Bass Guitar

EFFECTS
Line 6 HD500 Guitar Effects Processor
dbx 266XL Compressor/Gate
Izotope Ozone 4
Waves Gold Bundle

MIKES
MXL MXL V67G Condenser Microphone
MXL 992 Condenser Microphone
Shure SM58 Microphone

DRUMS 
Yamaha DTXplorer Electronic Drum Set
XLN Audio Addictive Drums

KEYS
Yamaha SY-85 Music Workstation/Keyboard
Akai MK88 Midi Controller

SOUND
M-Audio Fast Track Pro Mobile USB Audio/MIDI Interface
Monster Power Pro 900
ART Tube MP USB Microphone Preamp

RECORDING 
HP Six-Core Computer with 8GB RAM running:
Ableton Live 8.0 Recording Software
Spectrasonics Omnisphere
GForce M-Tron Mellotron Emulator
Native Instruments Absynth
Native Instruments Hammond B4
Big Fish Audio VI.ONE Virtual Instrument Software

Based on the amount of junk laying around my studio, I am sure I forgot a few things.  Will add them as I trip over them.

Craig

Books for the DIY Musician

The following are books that I have read recently which have helped in the writing, recording, and marketing of my music.  I hope they are helpful!

Basic Mixing Techniques by Paul White

Mixing Audio:  Concepts, Practices, and Tools by Roey Izhaki

Basic Effects & Processors by Paul White

Vocal RESET by Jaime Vendera

Recording and Producing in the Home Studio:  A Complete Guide by David Franz

Music 3.0: A Survival Guide for Making Music in the Internet Age by Bobby Owsinski

I will keep adding as I read more.  Always looking for suggestions from those with actual experience in the field!