One of the worst kept secrets I’ve been keeping? Probably not.
I’ve got an album coming out sometime within the next three months. I am almost done the second last track, and have one more track to record. It will be available for digital download and I am considering making actual physical product available as well. See, it’s been a dream since I was a teenager to record an album and I decided earlier this year that it’s about time I did it.
What can I tell you?
- There are a few re-mastered tracks that were released previously on the album. They’re just too good to pass up, honestly and releasing these will give these tracks a new audience.
- There will be 12 tracks on the album.
- 6 of the tracks are completely new as of this year, and I’ve very much been wanting to share these new tracks for a long time. Anyone who has been following Facebook or Instagram knows I’ve been sharing screenshots as teasers.
- Every piece of the studio was used, including Roland’s SH-101 plug-out released two to three weeks ago.
- I also commissioned Steve Curtis for some additional artwork that represents me see the LittleGuy(tm) to the left.
- I’ve always said I wrote something like “Cinematic House” but the truth is that it’s really more like “Cinematic Trance”.
- I genuinely like each track on the album. I’ve spent countless hours playing and replaying these tracks and in order and I am very pleased with it.
- There’s may be just one track that I don’t care much for on the album, but it’s still a fun track. I’ll let you guess which track it is.
- The fastest track on the album is 140bpm. The slowest is 120bpm.
- Rather than rushing, I actually took my time with the new tracks which is kind of surprising for me. I liked to rush, but I really wanted to give this my all. I was also quite fastidious with the new tracks.
- A track was in development for 5 years until I had a breakthrough in Dallas. Sometimes it’s good to sit on ideas.
- I’m actually having a surprisingly difficult time using the Roland TR-8 on tracks.
- I kind of get why some bands like playing one of their first ‘big hits’, and while I’ve not had a ‘big hit’, I do consider “Perceptis (Morning Glory)” as that song. I don’t ever want to be like Delirium and the number of times that “Silence” has been remixed.
- I have the challenge that when Perceptis (Morning Glory) was first released on iTunes and on Bear Tracks 3, either I submitted the wrong version or just something up with the mix which is horrible. I wasn’t happy with it.
- As a result, you’re getting the official original version as a bonus. You’re also getting the Ugly Bear Trance Mix that David (Ignatius Zoo) and I collaborated on. There area other mixes available that he did which are all great but they’re not on the album. Who knows, maybe I’ll release it as a ‘single’.
- Track topics and styles cover
- Cars,
- My impression of the last time I visited Los Angeles,
- If this were the late 80s or the early 90s, I would have an acid house/trance hit,
- A homage to Chris Sheppard inspired by LA Style, and the 90s rave scene. Complete, utter cheese!
- Organic cinematic trance,
- Industrial trance,
- Life journeys,
- My collection of sunset pictures,
- Ethereal chill,
- The tracks do have a specific ordering that has been well thought out. I think it flows nicely, but I also recognize that in today’s music environment that people want to download individual tracks. The tracks stand on their own.
- The inspirations on the album were (in alphabetical order): BKS, Blank & Jones, BT, Depeche Mode, 808 State, Imogen Heap, LA Style, Love Inc, Robyn, Röyksopp, Saint Etienne and Vince Clarke.
So there you go. Solarium – At your favourite digital music download store, coming soon.
Let’s just say, where I started 12 years ago versus where I am today is night and day.
One of the worst kept secrets I’ve been keeping? Probably not.