Studio Time

By William Thomason, August 10, 2019

Being able to play and record my original music is an amazing experience. Its something I would think every musician aspires to do. I’m fortunate that I have two producers I’m going to be working with on my material. One in Oakland and one in Detroit. I’ve never been in a studio in my life nor have I ever had any professional exposure. But in a way, I feel like I’ve been preparing for this moment my entire life.

I’m so very thankful for the family I was raised in. For many reasons. One of them was the “live” music that I was exposed to on a daily basis My mother was a phenomenal piano player (primarily jazz) and my Uncle Jerry was an amazing percussionist, Congo and Bongo player. There where others, but these were the two primary influences I had.

My mother played the piano everyday. Before she went to work in the morning and before we went to bed at night for as long as I could remember. And every night before bedtime, she would let me pick a song for her to play before I went to sleep. My favorite, Erroll Garners version of “I Remember April”.

My Uncle Jerry introduced me to what people commonly refer to now as “World” music and Latin Jazz. In particular, Afro Cuban and Afro Brazilian. One of my favorite artists was Mongo Santamaria. This song brings back fond memories of my Uncle Jerry.

He lived with us for several years while I was growing up, He was my mothers youngest brother. So between both of them playing live music in the house every day and Mom playing everything from Motown to Mozart on the Stereo and “Unc” playing the World and Latin music, you can see why I love music and variety the way I do. I was born to be involved in music in some way. It just took me a while to get here.

For years I’ve been writing my own original music. I have journals full of songs and lyrics that I have done nothing with, until now.

I’m reluctant to name drop on this blog. But I have the opportunity to work with two amazing musicians who are going to help me record and produce my original music for the first time. Both are titans in the industry. The first is producer who has worked with a number of well known R&B and Hip Hop artists. He has also done film scoring and music for video games.

The second has been a musician for over 20 years with one of the best selling alternative rock bands in recent memory. His band has filled stadiums around the globe. He is now flexing is production chops.

The first producer began the process while I was in the Bay Area in July 2019. We started with two tracks. The second producer and I will start this month once he returns from LA. The picture in this blog was taken inside the studio of the producer in California. I’ll probably disclose the name(s) once I have my music completed and I have their permission. I’ll upload my music here and on my Soundcloud page.

The overall experience of being in the studio for the first time was ethereal. I could hardly even play my guitar at first. The first song we started to work on was an original disco tune I wrote called “Shame on You”. I did it as a tribute to Nile Rodgers and Chic who I loved growing up listening to as a kid in the 70s. And yes, I still listen to disco and I’m not ashamed to admit it.

Nile was/is one of my guitar icons. His style and signature sound are unique. In addition to being a phenomenal guitar player and songwriter, he is a producer that has worked with everyone from Madonna to The Pointer Sisters to David Bowie to Pharrell. Talk about range and diversity!

And so it begins. My musical journey.