Recording, Shows, Muppets, and Queen

So much got done today!!!

We (David, Miguel, and me) did some acoustic demos with Ben Strano at Hat Factory Cinco today. I just needed to get some recordings of some of the new material we have started playing that there are no recordings of yet! That was so easy... and fun!

We ate lunch at Siam Cafe which was voted Nashville's Best Thai Restaurant of 2009. And it is the type of place that I probably wouldn't have gone into just by the looks... not unless someone could vouch for it. It's not that it looks gross or anything, but it is tucked away in an unlikely neighborhood... but once you get inside it is cute, the smells are amazing, and I think it is my favorite dish of chicken fried rice. :) Plus, the waitress that is there always gives us (but mostly Ben) a hard time! She's got a very thick accent, but she says things like "I hope it's raining when you leave so you get wet when you walk back!" And then just laughs and laughs all the way back into the kitchen. It's pretty spectacular.

I then came home, got all rock-starred up and headed down to the Rutledge to play an acoustic set for the Berklee students. The Berklee Spring Break Trip is in town this week. They have already gotten to partake in clinics with Alison Krauss and Vince Gill!!! Every year they get a bunch of alumni together to do a show for the kids... just to give them a taste of Nashville! It was so fun - and it is always great to get to catch up with all the Berklee kids and teachers. They kids are so gracious and it feels good to be a part of such a great community. David played with me tonight and he sounded SO good. He is really a talented guy and we are so lucky to have found him. He is a fantastic acoustic player and made me sound great tonight. Thank you David!

And before I head to bed and snuggle with Cinnamon...

I must share a video that was just shared with me. :) It is of one of the BEST versions of one of the greatest songs of all time. Enjoy as the Muppets give you their version of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody!



My favorite part is definitely Animal when he keeps saying "Mamma". What's yours?

Peace. Love. Fiddle.
MAMMMMA!!!!!

~natalie

Happy Fedorial Day!

Happy Birthday Fedora!! It's the Sonic Fedora's birthday, today. :) So we only worked a half day in the studio. But we were surprisingly productive for a half day! Wait... that sounds like I am surprised that we are productive.... But I mean.... surprised at how MUCH we got done in a short time... umm, eh, ok. Not important. :)

In honor of the Fedora's Birthday, I am putting up my favorite picture of us from recording the first record...


Awww... the Hat Factory II. I miss that place. :)

We listened down all the tracks. It's a LOT to take in. It doesn't seem real. It's been almost 3 years since I have recorded any new music. (Other than demos) It's great and crazy and ridiculous that it has been that long!

I am glad we've waited. I've written a lot since the first record, but not everything I write necessarily deserves a spot on an album, ya know? So I had to write, rewrite, and write some more. And now, I have a really solid EP going, and I already have a GREAT start on some music that I am excited about for the future as well. No more of this "playing catch up" thing.

With the first record I would write... we'd record 3 songs or so... and then I'd have to go write more music (and make more money) to go back into the studio. The first album took over a year and a half to record. This one? Probably going to take a week and a half for the whole thing. Granted, it's half the amount of songs.... but still!

Today, I got the vocals done on "Standing My Ground." It took, oh, a couple hours. With the first record? We'd spend DAYS on a song sometimes. I would punch in on the first half a word sometimes. :) It's amazing how much you learn and grow in 3 years. Plus, I've been singing these songs live for long enough that I know EXACTLY what I want on them. So that's cool.

James wasn't even allowed in the room when we were cutting vocals the first go 'round. I had completely forgotten about that! That's so funny to me now. But Ben and I were both SO SERIOUS about NO ONE ELSE being in the room when I was doing vocals. Now, I think it would be really really weird if James wasn't there.

It's a good thing we're getting this done quickly, though. I don't think I could wait that long to share it with everyone!

Peace. Love. Fiddle.