Putting the Pieces Together

We've been in the studio for several recording sessions per month, putting the pieces together for Kiera Plan: Album two.  Here's a rundown of what's been happening:

My Kiera Plan bandmates J.J. Davis, Tim Zaprala, and Kevin Brown have each been in tracking material. J.J. had some layers of synthesizer to put down, Tim came in for some backing vocals, and Kevin added some guitar riffage.

TKP drummer Kevin Brown, laying down some guitar.

Guest vocalists have also been dropping in.  Ann O'Brien and Dana Heinz, who fans will remember from their guest vocal appearance on Dedication's "Cross My Heart" were back in for another round of vocals.  Our friends Alison Cloud and Shawn Gamble from Kick Back Tomorrow came through, each making a stellar debut TKP vocal appearance.

Shawn Gamble and Alison Cloud

Mulch-instrumentalist Andrew Migliore from Idle Idols was also in the studio with us, adding some amazing string arrangements.  This is a first for The Kiera Plan, and we're really excited to have had Andrew in the mix.

Andrew Migliore, dropping some serious cello

As for me, I've been doing a variety of tracking on guitar, synth, and brass.  I was really excited to put down our fullest brass arrangement ever, reprising my role as trumpeteer and - for the first time since fourth grade - putting in some work on trombone as well.

A familiar face behind the trombone, yours truly, Shawn O'Brien

Meanwhile, comic book artists Matt Tyree and Val Staples have completed the cover art for album two, and we are so psyched for you to see what they've put together!

I'm headed into the studio with super-producer Vince Ratti for what could potentially be the last day of recording.  At this rate, we could have a single for you to hear as early as February, and the full album will definitely be coming your way in 2013.

For now, thank you so much for your interest, and for your support!

Shawn

Singing It Out

Shawn, singing @ The Skylight Studio, summer 2012

After six action-packed days in the studio over the last couple of months, singing it out with producer Vince Ratti, I've managed to lay down the vocals for all ten songs that will appear on Kiera Plan: Album Two.

Vince is a beast when it comes to vocals; he has a great sense for what a song does or doesn't need, and the wheels are always turning in his head in regards to what harmonies "might be cool here."

It's awesome to have Vince's decisiveness and reassurance at the helm when we're navigating the rough seas of vocal production.  The process for vocals is extremely exciting - you finally get to start really hearing the song you've been trying to put together - but there are so many options to consider at every point in the process (softer, louder, up an octave, down an octave, more sass, less sass, etc.) that, for me, it would be nerve-racking to be making all of these decisions from behind the mic without that great insight from behind the boards.

As to the big picture, while I have recorded the lead vocals for all the songs, and most backing vocals and harmonies, there are still some touch ups and additions to lay down.  There will also be a number of guest vocalists who will be coming in to the studio to make an appearance.  With the vocals in hand, we also still have some final pieces of instrumentation to record: keys, lead guitar riffs, strings, brass, supplemental percussion, and so forth.  It sound like a long list, but this stuff can go really quickly.  Some songs could be as little as 15 minutes of studio time away from being a wrap.

We definitely want to make sure that we don't leave any great ideas untapped for these songs, and we're really excited to get the guests we have lined up on the record.  So even though there isn't a lot of red light time left for album two, the coordination of the ten or so people who will be dropping in will probably take the recording process up to the end of September or early October.  At that point though, new music will be right around the corner!  We're incredibly excited for you to hear these songs.

I'll definitely be blasting session by session updates on Facebook and Twitter, so I hope all of our Tweeps will stay tuned there.

For now, thank you so much for your interest.

All the best!

Shawn

Inspiration and Instrumentation

Recording sessions for Kiera Plan Album Two have continued at the Skylight Studio with producer Vince Ratti over the last few weeks, and the record is really coming along.

Sessions at the end of May saw a couple of my bandmates getting in on the recording adventure.  Bassist Tim Zaprala helped finish up the bass tracks, and keyboardist J.J. Davis was in for the first round of synthesizer. 

Tim Zaprala on the left, J.J. Davis on the right

Just last week, I headed back into the studio for a couple of days, where Vince and I were able to lay down the lion's share of the guitar tracks for the record.  Getting the guitar down feels like turning a corner in the recording process:  the songs start to really sound like what you're hoping they'll sound like, and now there are a number of instruments playing off of each other.  There's a lot to like ("I love it when this guitar comes in!"  "Dude, that feedback sounds awesome there!").  I came away from these guitar days feeling so excited about how well everything is coming together.

A bearded Shawn O'Brien on guitar

Next up are vocals. We know from last time that we work through the vocals at the rate of only one or two songs per day, so we've scheduled a half dozen sessions between now and the middle of August.  Once the vocals are done though, we'll be within striking distance of wrapping up the actual tracking for the record.

It's definitely time to get psyched!  Album two is happening, team.  This is not a drill.

Thanks so much for your interest!  We'll continue to keep you posted, and we'll be really psyched to share some music with you. 

All the best!

Shawn

Recording for Album Two Kicks Off (Featuring Members of Zolof and Valencia)!

Recording sessions for our first album, Dedication, had wrapped up all the way back in 2008, so, needless to say, I was ecstatic to finally get back into the studio a couple weeks ago to start recording Kiera Plan: Album Two.

l-r: Daniel Pawlovich, Shawn O'Brien, Vince Ratti

I returned to The Skylight Studio in Fairless Hills with the incomparable Vince Ratti (of Zolof the Rock and Roll Destroyer) once again handling engineering and production.  This time out, I had the incredible pleasure to be joined by drummer Daniel Pawlovich (of Valencia).  All I can say about the lineup is that when you're starting your new album in collaboration with members of Zolof and Valencia, you know that you're in good hands with Allstate!

Leading up to these sessions, I'd been writing, demoing, and in some cases performing these songs live for a while now, and I want to thank John Collier, J.J. Davis, Tim Zaprala, and Kevin Brown who have already helped to make this collection of music something really special.  John and I had arranged the first album together, and we worked on several album two songs as well.  J.J., Tim, and Kevin have been performing live with me as the Kiera Plan and have all made contributions to the new material.

Vince, Dan, and I came into the studio on a mission to get the drums for all ten Album Two tracks laid down in the two days that we had together.  The sessions were just magic.  Ten tracks is a lot to try to get recorded in such a short window, and other than exchanging some demos via email, we hadn't had much prep time together.  In the end, that didn't really matter.  It was really exciting to be bringing in Vince and Dan's fresh ears to the songs, and Dan's drum work is incredible!

Dan, making the magic happen

I felt really lucky to have him on board for these sessions.  And after an action-packed 48 hours of production and percussion, we came away with the framework for a really great record.  Now we just have to build on that.

I'll be back in with Vince and a number of other collaborators over the course of the summer to continue recording.  I look forward to sharing the experience with you.  I can't wait to have something for you to hear!

For now, thank you so much for your interest.

Shawn