Touch
Just finished a day in the studio today. Here is an electro pop single version of one of our newest: Touch. The Vocals and guitar aren't quite done, but you get the gist.
Ended the day with a pick-up non-21+ gig at a tea house.... we have a really big sound for a tea house. And it was great: tight band, good audience, good tea.
Be looking for more releases soon.
Truckin along!
The album is coming along. Here is a preview of "Don't Hide" (the more soulful version). The vocals are ghost tracks and the rest needs editing, but it is still pretty tasty.
Look for our upcoming shows in Eau Claire and the Cities while we finish the album.
MRP Album Update
The fall has reared its colorful face here in the Northwest. With it comes the reminder that time is an unruly beast! That being said, we have indeed seen progress with our upcoming double album. As it turns out the Island of Dr. Lee- a recording studio run by sound engineer and musician, Jaime Hansen- is allowing us to work some of the editing outside of the studio. All of the rhythm tracks are being edited off-site including keyboards, bass, and drums. They are then going to be transferred to the digital audio workstation at the studio for more tracking and the mix-down. At this point, we have the cuts for the drums and after long-last have finished laying down the bass tracks- right before Mr. Andrew Detra went to basic training for the Airforce Band. Keyboards are soon to follow for the foundational mix. The guitars will then be addressed at The Island of Dr. Lee, with its seeming limitless models of digital and analogue guitar amps. We anticipate bringing the party back to the studio in mid-November. That is when the magic happens...
New Logo from Passion & Pursenality Arts Design
Incredible design from www.PassionPursenality.com !
Sounds Like Sweet Summer – a collaborative Concert
Here is a video of the end of our performance at Phoenix Park with the "Sounds like Summer" Concert series, hosted by Eau Claire's culture Magazine, Volume One. We went all out... we had rehearsed a Gospel choir for 6 weeks, and invited some dancers from the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire to add their bit to it as well. Hm... collaboration is way more interesting than just playing.
The MRProject Choir!
Well, we are at it again. We are finding that we can rarely just "play a concert." That is too ordinary. There are even a lot of good concerts with good bands. We want extraordinary. Not that we have already become this- but it seems it is more a direction you decide to go. Let me ask- would you rather leave a concert having a "good time," or leave a concert inspired? A friend of ours asked a peculiar question before a gig in March. He said, "Is this going to change my life?" Well, maybe. We are going to try our best.
So here it is, our second attempt at a MRProject Choir for the local "Sounds like Summer" Concert series sponsored by our local culture magazine, "Volume One." It is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy creating art as a community. Do you live in the Eau Claire area? Do you like to sing? Join us starting this Tuesday through Tuesday, July 19th as we prepare to razzle dazzle on Thursday, July 21st @ 6:00pm in Phoenix Park in Eau Claire. We will meet from 7:00-8:30 at B-side community. Map
What's more- we've provided you with stereo practice recordings to get your parts down in between rehearsals. Tenors are panned Right, Alto's are panned left, and Soprano's are center. Featuring some of the drum tracks to our upcoming double album, here is a link to a free download of the practice recording for the choir.
What’s in a Name?
This cycle of thought has recently traveled the haunts of our minds as we finish the album. On a personal note, we birthed the name for my wife and my daughter as we stared at her in the hospital bed two weeks ago. Gwenyth Diane. Gwenyth means, "one who is blessed with happiness," and Diane refers to the bringing of light. It seems some names don't have a purpose at all, and others do. Almost no name is simply "out of the blue." To portray something old, or something new, or recapitulate the hopes of a few.
Perhaps the muse goes deeper still, to address the heart or wandering will, to excite the flame that makes you ill when your thinking about what you are becoming.
In otherwords, we are looking for a band name. Any thoughts?
We put the “Fun” in “Function”
Status Report:
Album: Plodding along
Band: High Spirits, but transitioning musicians through the summer.
Music: Still experimental, but pleasantly stimulating
Live Show: Never been better, and improving.
Vision: exciting, next to impossible
Over-all: Great! We are picking up the steam over the summer to ensure a dynamic entry with the upcoming album.
Pop, Soul, Let's Rock and Roll
The Upcoming Album: Concept Decision
Hello gang. I am taking time to let you know that we have come to a consensus over our upcoming album. Please know that we intend to honor all people who have sponsored songs for the album! Your investment and opinion is valuable. Our task seemed more complicated as we were combining songs from our different pockets of influence- we had too many sounds to make a cohesive and artistic album concept. The solution: Two albums (well... an Artistic album) and then a super-fan-flex album with additional tracks- or just a regular album and a super-duper fan flex EP 3000. The Album will be focusing on groove, hook, and urban pop sensability... the same sensation that one may get when you wear the cool shades walking in downtown manhattan into a sweet Jazz Club. We will not feign from using quality production-sound, and pop interjections not uncommon in top 40 pop. We will do all of this while trying to maintain our transparency as humans.
The 2nd EP or album will focus on a more pop-rock approach to our song-craft. A submersion in subtle experimental textures, and raw, modest rock with magnificent color and thoughtful strophs - this EP will give room for our more reflective songs like, "Promises" to shine.
Going for it: the Aaron Hedenstrom Orchestra
Aaron Hedenstrom, graduating composition major from UWEC and guitar/keyboardist/wind player in the MRProject serves as a great example to all of us of not letting the 'stuff' of life get in the way of creating something beautiful. His summer project is now a complete studio album soon to be available on itunes. If you would like a copy of this inspiring artistic concept, email us at mike@themichaelramboproject.com.
If you would like to read more about this recording project, visit: www.aaronhedenstromorchestra.com
for a few audio samples, visit www.myspace.com/aaronhedenstromslaststand
Art changes the world. What are you doing?