Since returning from Argentina a fortnight ago, my feet haven’t touched the ground. Not only do I have to catch up on domestic responsibilities whenever I’ve been gone on the road, but this time I was returning with “homework”.
Normally I’m going out, playing some shows, and then when I get home my time is focused back on the daily routine of family, fitness, and working on music. Most of the time the music side of things doesn’t have an expiration date on it, and I’m not normally crushed by a looming deadline.
This is obviously different though. With the new album, at least the rhythm section tracks, in the can, it has been non-stop working on the songs and getting them ready for the mixing and mastering stage.
It’s all on a very strict schedule as the release date for the album is now set for October 17th. Before then I have to edit all the songs, decide which ones are making it on the record, add guest musicians where I need them, and edit not only the feature length documentary we were shooting while I was in Argentina, but also three videos for singles I intend to release leading up to the album launch.
I’ve never done the more traditional “singles first album second” release sequence, but with the final afternoon of tracking available purely for filming, I was able to choose three songs and spend some time shooting film for the singles.
All this to say, there’s a reason the podcast has been absent this week, and that I’ve been generally silent. The behind the scenes situation is far more hectic than I had planned, and I’m super glad I’m giving myself two and a half months for this process. Last year, after the sessions in Spain, it was barely 5 weeks and the whole project was finished out there for everyone. I feel like this little extra time, despite it still feeling incredibly hectic, is really going to give me the best chance for success in terms of the level of product I’m about to put out.
So what gets my attention, as much as I would love it to include things like more YouTube videos and episodes of the podcast, is what is screaming the loudest. Right now, the 12 songs we cut in Argentina are calling my name every morning around 6:30am, and I’m loving the fact I have something meaningful of my own to work on every day and present something honest to you in a few weeks.
More soon,
Janek
November 4th - Bournemouth Masterclass 3pm | Absolute Music
November 6th - London Masterclass 2pm | Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho
November 6th - London | Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho
November 7th - London | Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho
November 8th - Nottingham Masterclass 3pm | Peggy’s Skylight
November 8th - Nottingham | Peggy’s Skylight