First Time’s a Charm

By Nathan Stafford

Remember your first time stepping into a recording studio? Never been? Ok, I realize not everyone who reads this will be able to relate, so I’ll try to be as broad as possible. It’s like doing anything for the first time – tying your shoelaces, buying a guitar, riding a bicycle. You know what I mean. SO many questions. SO many factors. SO many things that can go wrong! Only a select few get out alive. Ok, ok studio death is pretty rare, but you see where I’m going with this.

I recorded my first full length record when I was 18; my bandmates and I rehearsed every day for a week like we were working on the cure for some strange disease. Then, we taped up our blistered fingers and headed into the studio. I have to admit, I was nervous, and I didn’t know what to expect. What was happening in that little booth? What are all of those little dials and switches for? Who’s that guy, and why does he smoke so much? Putting all of this out of my mind, I just tuned up and laid down my parts like I had practised over and over and over (and over). I guess our preparation paid off, because in the end we had a good representation of the band, and the best part is, we didn’t go over budget!

I just met an artist who might be able to relate. Kyle Tubbs (see CD Reviews, Sept Issue) just turned 17 and he’s already released a full-length record, called Atlas is Going Bowling. Pretty impressive, I know, but what impressed me most was his laid-back demeanour and poise, along with his obsession with engineering and production. See, here is an artist who already knows what goes down in the studio. Apparently Kyle stays up until 3 or 4am every night, recording his own material with his 8-track recorder. You might say he’s done his homework.

I sat down with Kyle to ask him about his 1^st studio experience, plus a few other things that were on my mind:

NS: Great job on the album. Was this your first time in a recording studio, or are you pretty familiar with that world?

KT: This was my first experience recording in a studio. I’ve done lots of recordings on computers and 8 tracks prior.

NS: Ahh, so you came prepared. How much of a hand did you have in the actual production & engineering of the album? Afterall, it is YOUR record, but there are some things only those in the know know, y'know?

KT: Well, pretty much all of the producing was done by me, other than the odd suggestion here or there from members of the band or the engineers. I also had a few friends of mine come in and play their instruments on the record.

NS: Is that something you're interested in… production? Or are you strictly an artist?

KT: I’m definitely interested in the production side of it. I’m interested in every step of recording. Can’t get enough of it.

NS: As for the finished product, do you think these recordings captured your songwriting abilities, and where do you see your material going in the future?

KT: I’m happy with the record, yes. I don’t think my material will be leaving the singer/songwriter genre. If anything I want to fall deeper into my songwriting but I definitely will end up branching out to new styles and new ways of going about structure and sound. I don’t think ill ever stop writing songs.

NS: You’ve just released a record into the market. How do you feel it stacks up with a lot of the music that’s out there today?

KT: It seems a lot of the records bands are putting out now are starting to sound the same as their last one. I never want to get caught repeating the same type of thing album after album. I always want to be moving around and experimenting with new sounds and different genres.

NS: What is your favourite record?

KT: The record I’m caught up in right now is Cassedega by Bright Eyes, but my favourite artist would have to be Elliott Smith.

NS: A band that really inspired me when I recorded my first album was Silverchair. Say what you will about their latest material, but unless anyone else out there released Frogstomp when they were 15, forever hold your peace. Do you have any artists your own age, either local or abroad who you look to for inspiration?

KT: There isn’t really any artist my own age that has had a big impact on my music. But I do know that most of the artists I look up to started there careers when they were my age so that’s kind of comforting. Other then experience, age doesn’t have a lot to do with song writing.

NS: Truer words were never spoken. Thanks Kyle. I really appreciate you taking the time to chat. I hope your album does well, and you have indeed set a good example of how to succeed in your first studio experience.

So, Mr & Mrs Reader, make your first studio experience a walk in the park like Kyle’s! I’m not condoning staying up until 3 or 4am, but do a little research and remember that preparation is key. All the pro’s will tell you that time is money, and unless you saved an engineer’s life or discovered the cure for some strange new disease, do yourself a favour and get it right the first time. If not for me, do it for that man in the little booth. Make his life easier, and he might not smoke so much.

Check out Kyle’s website at www.kyletubbs.com for a sample of Atlas is Going Bowling & don’t miss his CD release party Oct 20^th in Langley at the West Langley Hall.