ON CLOUD NINE

Working with The Dream Team!

Stay tuned to this space for ticket info for my 3/30/24 show at Vashon Center for the Arts.

Paid subscribers to this newsletter will have early access to tickets.

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Happy New Year!

I hope you had a wonderful holiday season. Mine was filled with music-making. Now that The Droge and Summers Blend is out in the world, I’ve turned my attention back to what will eventually become the next Pete Droge record.

Right now, I’m on cloud nine. Nothing compares to the buzz I get from finishing a track. On New Year’s Day, my co-producer, Paul Bryan, and I put the final touches on a song called “Barbara Ann.” And no, it’s not a cover of the old Beach Boys classic. Rather, it’s a deeply personal song where I sing to my birth mother, Barb, whom I missed meeting by mere months. More on all this later.

I’m blessed to work with a stellar group of collaborators. I’m calling them The Dream Team. Previously, I referred to them as my All-L.A. Band. It’s the same cast that appeared on my single “Fading Fast” from last year. On “Barbara Ann,” Jay Bellerose’s drums and percussion are as inventive and groovy as ever. Lee Pardini played Paul’s old Steinway upright with impeccable taste and soul. And for the final touch, Paul played a real Chamberlin. All this framed my guitar and voice beautifully. The results are stunning if I do say so myself. And I do!

Normally, I prefer to cut basic tracks with the band all playing at once. But for this record I am recording my parts first here in my studio on Vashon Island. Then, thanks to the wonders of technology, I can listen in and comment from the comfort of home as The Dream Team overdubs at Paul’s place down in L.A. This post on “Fading Fast” looks at what that process can look like.

We’ve got drums, bass and guitars on one other track. And I spent the holiday break getting my parts together for more songs. I have no idea when this music will see the light of day. Faithful readers of this newsletter will be the first to know.

Peace & Love Songs,

Pete

Paul Bryan’s old Steinway.

Paul Bryan’s Chamberlin.