WEEK THREE IN REVIEW

Week three was extremely hectic. I had featured artists coming in constantly to put their contributions to the album, as I worked desperately to finish mixing before the final mastering sessions began on sunday and monday.

It was difficult for me to get everything done in such a short amount of time, as well as trying to live up my last few days at Proctor. I got a lot of solid feedback from friends as well.

The album is 16 songs long and will be out shortly.

Tracklist

It has been so much fun recording but the work itself has been crazy. I would love to do work on another project with more time, so that I could let my creativity flow better. Nonetheless, I think the album is pretty good, and I'm thrilled to be finished with it and ready to share it. 

Artwork

As far as this blog goes, I might continue to use it in the summer for other projects if I do end up releasing more music before I head off to Rhodes College in late august. I guess I'll have to play it by ear and see if I can fit music into my schedule this summer (or find studio time / hours). I am so happy with the album, and I can't wait to graduate on saturday. 

More to come.... 

DAY TWENTY TWO

FUEGO (REMIX)

https://soundcloud.com/trillbullion/fuego-wb-remix

I decided it would be kind of cool if I released a remix to my good friend Nick's song, Fuego, which was produced by my other friend Nick. I had a lot of fun with it and that was pretty much how I spent my sunday. 

I also did a lot of editing and mixing, while also beginning to master the album.

I spent the entirety of today mastering the album, making sure that everything sounded good as a whole. I am excited and well prepared to release the album tomorrow at some point. I thought that Fuego (although a bit out of my comfort zone) was a fun way to promote the album as I put my own twist to an already good song. 

I can't wait to graduate, but I am also super excited about this album. It really is my best work and I'm insanely proud of it.

More to come.... 

https://soundcloud.com/trillbullion

DAY TWENTY ONE

Today, after doing some final recordings, I started to master the album. Mastering is very difficult, and I'm still not sure whether I'm doing it correctly or not. I probably spent a total of 10 hours in the studio today.

I had to cut one of the tracks also, due to my inability to reach a collaborator (it would've been an interlude).

The final album will include 15 tracks with one skit.

I am still not sure what to use as artwork, but I have sought out many different options.

Also, stay tuned tomorrow because I might drop a song.

This will be the back cover art (with the final tracklist)

More to come....

DAY EIGHTEEN

(Original Artwork, Later Scratched)

In a little more than a week, I'll be graduating. I want to look back on this album and remember the time and effort I put into it as well as the memories I had recording with my friends and being able to share my music with the greater community of Proctor Academy.

Today, I decided to switch it up and release Highlander Music, the second single for the album, which should be out either next monday or tuesday. Highlander Music is a conceptual, contextual song within the album.

The first half of the album (trouble) is representative of the stereotypical artist; reckless, rambunctious and yearning live life like a rockstar. One who loves traveling, substance, various women from around the globe, and experiencing life to the fullest. In a way, this represents me because I believe that music is my ticket to fill my life in the greatest way possible. Its almost dreamlike, because the "trouble" half of the album often covers material that I am not familiar with, or hope some day to be able to do.

I guess that first half is more just me trying to make hits, while the second half of the album is more true to who I am.

Highlander Music embodies the typical teenager: careless in school, and only focused on girls and partying. The song is a soundtrack for high school house parties, demonstrating the journey of four friends going to a party, and being careless teenagers, living up the "best four years" of their lives.

Highlander Music is the song that those teenagers would listen to on their way to a party.

When I write a song, espeically rap verses, I like to paint a picture, tell stories. I like to have the listener visualize my thought process or even mentally think of the song as a video or movie. And through Highlander, I believe I accomplish that. I also drive a Toyota Highlander, which is the car that my friends and I usually drive around in and blast loud music to.

My two features - J-Roc and Yung Messiah, both add a unique perspective to the track.

J-Roc eases his flow and delivers a clever verse where he boasts about his skill and lyrical prowess while also shouting me out. His worldplay is actually very impressive.

When I asked Nick (Yung Messiah) to be on my song, it was almost as if he didn't want to. For someone as good at rapping as Nick, it takes a solid amount of time to write a verse. So I told him to freestyle. And he delivered. Yet another clever verse from the Messiah makes the track flavorful and adds a nice contrast between the three emcees on the song. (After Yung did his, you know I had to write another verse.)

The song itself was actually recorded over the winter, with Nick and my final verses being recorded in the spring. The time of release just felt right.

Highlander Music

https://soundcloud.com/trillbullion/wb-highlander-music-feat-j-roc-yung-messiah

I liked this artwork better

More to come....

WEEK TWO IN REVIEW

This week it was very hard to put the time in to write blogs, since I was so focused on the music. Every waking moment I had, I would be in the studio; editing, recording, fixing, perfecting.

View from outside the studio

A few milestones did happen. My first official single, Larry Bird was released.

https://soundcloud.com/trillbullion/larry-bird

I made significant progress on Dogs, which will feature Proctor's own Addie Lindley with a guest verse. That song still needs work, but is on its way. I also created an acoustic version of Dogs, which I will probably release this summer. 

I did however, make a short trip away from Proctor as I went to a wedding in Saratoga Springs, NY. I was able to relax a bit off campus, and relieve some of the stress that has been aching me lately due to this project. While in Saratoga, I was able to eat both Mexican and Thai food, and be able to meet up with one my closest friends, Proctor Alum (and Jazz / Rock Alum) Josh Gluck up at Skidmore College. 

Last years formal (2015)
(Left to Right: John Monteforte, Me, and Josh Gluck)

Josh and I were both in Thoreau House last year and had a great time. I

remember specifically our trip to New York City with Bill Wightman and the rest of the Jazz/Rock group and use those moments as inspiration to do what I do. I love to make music. And when you're making that music with people you enjoy, it makes it that much more worth it. 

When I returned to Proctor on Saturday, I performed in my final Jazz / Rock show at the wise. For me, it was bittersweet. I love those shows. Being able to relax and have fun with a good group of people is again, what music is all about. And what a way to go out. We played a great show and I was glad to see the community come and watch. 

I'll Never forget when I had to perform for Bill Wightman my sophomore fall as part of an evaluation for Applied Music. After hearing me play, he wanted me to be part of the band, and I took that opportunity with great musical risk and ambition, although it frightened me. I've come a long way since 16 and I'm glad I have. 

This sunday, when I fully returned to campus, I spent hours in the studio recording Too Surreal and jetblue. Two tracks I am very proud of. Each is quite different, but amazing in its own way. Too Surreal is more of a pop / electronic song while jetblue is an unplugged, vibe-filled masterpiece of an outro. 

J-Roc, WB, Yung Messiah

I was also thankfully able to record driveslow, the interlude that introduces Highlander Music, which is my next single I will drop sometime this week. I'm not going to lie, Highlander is a rap song. And it has its share of questionable material in it. But being an artist is all about having no boundaries, and being able to express myself in any way possible. But its a damn good song. It serves as context in my album. I'll touch more on this in my next blog. Highlander Music features Yung Me$$iah and J-Roc.

driveslow includes a skit about recklessness, driving, and friendship all in one as Mitchell Curry, Nick Sawaya, and Nick Takahashi all help me out to do the skit, which is over a Kanye West instrumental (with piano fills by myself). 

But no day would be over with some crazy event. I broke my key. Not sure how, but it is not functioning. Hopefully I can get into the studio tomorrow. (Sorry Bill)

Oops

I can't wait to share more music with the world. 

More to come....

DAY EIGHT

Today marks the day that the first single for troubleinparadise was released. This track means a lot to me. I spent essentially the entirety of winter term working on it and was finally able to finish the track and be proud of what I did. The song will be the first track on the album; the introduction to the trouble and the paradise. 

Larry Bird 

https://soundcloud.com/trillbullion/larry-bird

I also spent most of my day perfecting the album's second single, due out next week, "Highlander Music, which features the Yung Me$$iah (Nick Sawaya) and J-Roc (Jerry Rogan). It's fun, catchy, and a whole lot different from Larry. So be mindful of that, and look out for its release sometime in the near future.  

In the Lab Earlier Today (P/C Nick Takahashi)

For now however, I will be diligently working to complete the recording for the album, as I plan to start the mastering stages by the end of the week. I also hope that there will be some time in the end to record extraneous songs that won't make the final cut for the album.

More to come....

P/C Nick Takahashi

WEEK ONE IN REVIEW

I love the feeling of being accomplished. This past week has been just that. I've been able to bust out two whole songs in just under six days, and have made some serious ground on the other songs due for the album.

But I'm anxious. I always want to be in the studio. I can't sleep. I need to fulfill my needs and I need to be productive. I need to be constantly perfecting my work in every moment I can.

Because of my extreme focus on this one aspect of my life, I've let others fall, such as the cleanliness of my space and my commitment to other things.

I've also had doubts about finishing the album to the best of my ability, as sometimes I struggle to focus during the day or manage my time accordingly.

Nonetheless, I feel accomplished and ready to conquer these last two weeks of project and finish the album to the best of my ability.

I want to rush and record everything, but I know that that method will only get me further away from my goal. I've learned that recording is crazy, spontaneous, and unpredictable. Just because I did a whole song in one day does not mean that I will be able to have the same spark or motivation the next.

I look forward to finishing the album.