Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Shelving moved.

Element fits with doors wide open.

Drum kit has very small and isolated spot, closed off from the rest of the studio.


Taping off the walls and door openings.

The next step:

Both the attic access and crawl space access will need to be moved since they are currently located where I plan to build. I have have consulted "the professional," Mr. Suhre, who is a dear friend and master carpenter on the details of the next phase. After the access move comes framing!!!

Stoked!

Friday, October 23, 2009

Names



So I feel like I have got some direction about names this week. I have been frustrated with trying to come up with a name for this instrumental project. After a lot of thought and time spent in a thesaurus and brief web search I thought that I would name the record "Resound". I also figured that my artist name would simply be my name. So on that basis I started this blog. Well the following day. I decided to type in Resound Project in the little Google search bar and found this Resound "downtown music project" an amazing local project..... Here!..... In OKC! What are the odds?!!....... Classic! So I continued my search by typing in Christopher Clark. Well it turns out there are quite a few artists under that same name as well.

Insert lots of frustration!

I almost deleted the blog all together....

So after a couple weeks of thinking through all this, here is what I have come up with

My artist name will officially be:

Sunrise Over Cemeteries.

My Studio name will be (not in stone):

Resound Studio

The Record title is still to be decided.


I will post soon about the inspiration behind name Sunrise Over Cemeteries.

One a more exciting note. It is a tremendous honor to announce that Sunrise Over Cemeteries will be opening for Zach Payne and Brad Kilman on November 6th. Brad Kilman had released a new record, "Mouths Like Trumpets" and this is the official "release show".

More info to come.

Jumping......

So it is official. As of today October 23rd 2009. A dream will continue to take shape. A studio will be built at our home. Thanks to very loving and supportive family, the funds are in place and building will begin.


The tool boxes have been opened.



This is the area in which the new studio will sit.



Most of this is music gear that just gets piled up in the corner. It will soon be set up inside The Resound Studio.

This is the side our Honda will reside. I will also be installing shelving along the upper portion of this wall for storage. The open door leads into our kitchen. The closed door leads to outside.

So the first step is a bit of organizing and finalizing the basic floor plan for the new room. Next comes a trip to the lumber yard and a truck load of 2x4s. Hopefully the framing will begin this week!

I plan to post frequently about the progress.

Lastly, I am on a budget for this project so if anyone has any building materials they are looking to get rid of for a good price or if anyone has any connections for great prices, please let me know.

Jumping.....


Sigur Ros "Glosoli"

"Glosoli"

by Sigur Ros

I love the contemplative morning. I love the foot tapping. I love the boy who leads with a drum. I love the innocent kiss. I love laying down to rest in the midst of fun and adventure. I love the drum rolling down the hill as the children run toward the cliff. I love that they jump. I love that they fly......

We were created for such simple yet profound things.....

I want to lead....

I want to run....

I want to rest.....

I want jump....

I want to fly....

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Lets Build.



Renting a space just doesn't feel like the right thing to do at this time. Taking on more monthly expense doesn't fit the budget and besides the money would just be lost to somebody else. So....I am good with my hands. I can build things. I can paint things. It would be nice to work from home. Lets build a studio at home! I can purchase materials and build gradually...a sort of one wall, one door at a time concept.

Materials Cost: $2,500-$3,000

Material List:

80 Studs
40 Sheets of Drywall
2 Solid Core Doors
1 Tubular Skylight
100 sqft. of Laminate Wood Flooring
50 ft. of Base
80 ft. of Casing
2 Light Fixtures
4 8" Glass Blocks
Fiber Glass Roll Out Insulation
Screws
Nails
Lots of other small things I have not thought of yet.


Things to be excited about:

The first time being able to set up my drum kit to practice on a regular basis since High School. (10 years)

The opportunity to record my music on a regular basis.

The opportunity to record Emery's music!

The potential to start taking on students. (drums/viola/violin)

My boys getting to grow up with a music room.

The potential to take on more recording projects.



It's rainy today......man it would be a great day to start building.

Friday, October 9, 2009

I Need Space

So here it is... October... Autumn.... Fall.... The cool air gently singing summer to sleep and ushering in the long night. The smell of dust bunnies awakened by the first rattle of the heater. The slow rise of smoke from the chimney. The tea kettle whistling it's tune again after a long rest at the back of the stove. The winter beard coming in full to shield my face from the sting of the winter winds to come. Scarfs, hats, hoods, wool socks, coats....and just around the bend, large family gatherings sharing meals, conversing about life, and celebrating holidays.

What a wonderful season.

I am greatly inspired in the fall. It's just easier for me to see the beauty in creation and in life. I can feel melodies stirring in my soul. I am excited to start tracking this project!


Hurdle #1

I need space. I think the biggest hurdle for me right now to starting this project, is having a designated space to set up my gear, create, and record. My humble 1,100 square foot house is at maximum capacity with the four of us, so all the instruments currently reside in a large corner of our garage, packed away in cases and crying out to be used. On this note I have had two ideas.

First: Build out a small 10x10 room in the garage. I am somewhat handy and could do 90 percent of the work my self. I like this idea because it would be a way to work out of home with enough privacy to focus. The down side is that it would take time to build, since the labor would need to be in my limited spare time. I am estimating $1000.00 to $1500.00 Dollars to get this room up and running.

Second: Rent space. I recently was asked if I would be interested in renting some space on Western Ave. A 400 square foot loft style, finished out, office space in a very well built and insulated commercial building. When I got to the top of the stairs and turned on the light my jaw dropped. It was perfect! It had a bathroom, a little kitchenette, and plenty of closet space beneath. I felt my self stuffing the excitement down with both hands has I pictured a small studio in the room. I was trying not to get my hopes up......well....because of the money. The reality is I don't really have the extra cash flow to be renting something right now. So the verdict is that the space would cost me $200 a month, if I could find two others to rent the large shop space below for $400. I have found one taker and would need to find one more. Also I would need to find away to come up with an extra $200 a month. Ironically the only sign on the whole building reads, in bold; HOPE.

Third: A place that someone would let me use for a month or two free of charge. A place where I could come and go freely. A place where I could leave all my gear set up. A place where noise and time would not be an issue.



I am doing my best to think creatively about how I can get the ball rolling on this. The bottom line is that I need space and I need help. It has been a dream of mine for quite sometime now to have a space to create music. I am believing that the time is now to step out and move forward. If anyone has any thoughts or ideas on this topic, please send them my way.


Eager to begin.....