We’ve wrapped up recording our next album, and it was one helluva good time. We’re having a listening party with some radio friends tonight to showcase the songs we recorded in Toronto with Rick Jackett & James Black, as well as the batch we recorded at the Farm in Vancouver with Gggarth Richardson.
We were talking and had some highlights from each that we wanted to share.
Rick Jackett & James Black @ Coalition Entertainment – Toronto:
We met up with Rick and James on the first night. 4 hours and about 4,000 beers later, we had picked the songs we were going to record during out 3 weeks in town. James brought us into his studio for the pre-production and once we had solid arrangements, we headed to Coalition Entertainment to get down to business.
A steady diet of shwarma and alcohol fueled these sessions with maximum efficiency. Dave (@thegener8tor) flew out from Vancouver and recorded his drum parts in an old chapel. Massive sound, great place to do it. We also got a group of students from the ‘Artist Entrepreneur’ program at Coalition to sing the hook of the opening track with us.
Rick (@rickjackett) & James (@yojimbo_black) really proved they’d earned their reputation in the business. A great sense of what a song needs, when it needs it, and how to achieve that sound.
Our theme song throughout the process was “I Gotsta Get Paid” by ZZ Top. An old hip hop song they covered, and I must say, murdered appropriately. We wrapped a few days early so that meant celebrating and catching Jays games. Great people, even better music.
Gggarth Richardson @ the Farm – Vancouver, BC
When you walk in the building there’s a dazzling amount of platinum on the walls including one of our favorite records, the debut by Rage Against the Machine. When you’ve got the producer of that on your side (@gggarthfader), you know things are going to get big fast.
There’s also miles and miles of history in the studio we were in. The Farm studios used to be Little Mountain sound. You’d overhear the odd offhand comment like “that’s where Tommy Lee recorded the drums for Dr. Feelgood” and murmurings about Metallica’s “Black Album.” Four walls we were happy to live between for the month of October.
We juggled song selections during the first few days of pre-production, but when we made the final picks, we knew this album was gonna be a ripper. A balance of the story telling we’re known for, with the intensity of our live show.
Garth and engineer Ben Kaplan proved over and over why they’ve been so successful together. We’re thrilled to have worked with both of them.
We brought in friend, and Mother Mother keys/vocalist, Jasmin Parkin to sing a duet with us. She NAILED it. It worked out so well we’re naming the album after that song.
We’ve got behind the scenes footage, and a record we’re extremely proud of….all will be released in good time. You can check out photos here for now.
Got to give a massive thanks to the Staffs at both Studios. Made for an amazingly creative exciting time for the Head of the Herd. This is on another level.
-Neu & Clay
This is the artwork to accompany the march 25th release of the song “By This Time Tomorrow” by Head of the Herd featuring Jasmin Parkin.
