Recording Projects Update
It’s been quite a great year for recording at Empty Sea. If you’ve only attended shows, you may not be aware that the studio doesn’t stand idle all week between concerts! We record acoustic-oriented albums here – 8 projects so far this year in a number of different genres.
It’s a real pleasure to get to show off some of the work that’s been coming out of the studio! Two of our artists recently released full-length albums which I’m happy to share with you. Each has also agreed to offer a free downloadable MP3 from their album exclusively for Empty Sea fans. Both of these discs are getting airplay on KBCS 91.3FM – thanks guys!
Jeremy Serwer – Roads
Roads (June 2010)
Free download from the album: Nervous Energy (click to download)
Click here to purchase Roads on CDBaby.
Fueled by an inordinate number of pastrami sandwiches from the Phinney Market, I produced and engineered Jeremy’s album Roads earlier this year at Empty Sea.
I was thrilled to recently find out that Roads received a CDBaby Editor’s Pick award.
Editor Alex Woodward wrote, “There’s something immediately gripping about Jeremy Serwer’s voice; it’s got just the right amount of gravel to complement his soulful timbre, or the female vocals who accompany him on several tracks…Album highlights include the haunting soul of “Dirty Entity” and the lovely “Bare Witness” which recalls Elliott Smith’s gorgeous melancholy. It’s really compelling, heartfelt music.”
The Blackberry Bushes - Little Bit of Grace
Little Bit of Grace (July 2010)
Free Download: Mermaid (click to download)
Click here to purchase Little Bit of Grace on CDBaby.
We had a full house over here while recording this inaugural studio album for the rocking stringband The Blackberry Bushes: a four-piece band and mandolin wizard Matt Sircely (Hot Club Sandwich), who I co-produced this record with. We’re all thrilled with the result, and the Bushes hit the road to tour just after the discs were delivered – word is that they’ve already had to reorder.
What else are we up to?
Too many projects to list – or apparently, update this blog with any regularity. There are several more album projects nearing completion – and several more coming down the pike! Plus a number of exciting longer-term projects which I can’t spill the beans on just yet, but which are going to be pretty darn cool.
Interested in recording here? Check out our recording section for more information and then contact me to set something up.
Courtney Robbins w/ Jeremy Serwer, Kate Graves
Tickets: $8.00 advance, $10.00 at the door.
Click here to purchase advance tickets.
Courtney Robbins’ music is a little bit folk, a little bit rock, and whole lot of awesome. From percussive guitar rhythms reminiscent of train engines to the mellow, heartbreaking vocals of her ballads, this Tucson-based independent singer-songwriter spans several genres. Her energetic performance, hard- hitting riffs, and smart lyrics have established a powerful connection with her fast growing fan-base and earned her such descriptions as ““Powerful… [one] of Tucson’s best singer-songwriters” – Tucsonscene.com.
Known to “play the shit out of [the guitar],” Courtney’s blistering guitar style often leaves her fingers bleeding; her straightforward songwriting skills are a figurative match. She has landed both a finalist spot in the 2008 Tucson Folk Festival Songwriting Competition, and the praise of critics. Dramanonymous.com’s Anna Pulley cheers: “Robbins’ muscular rhythms and melodic grace are impossible not to tap along to. Infused with raw nostalgia and emotional urgency, Robbins’ music artfully blends the taut intimacy of an acoustic affair with galloping riffs and a fragile, folk sensibility.”
Courtney has not only established herself as a rising star in Arizona, but is also garnering the admiration of folk fans nationwide. Her dichotomy of personal experience and broad-spectrum emotion draws crowds, and she is finding a loyal audience as she winds a path of live shows across the country performing solo and warming up the stage for artists like Melissa Ferrick, Lucy Kaplansky, Catie Curtis, Edie Carey, Meghan Toohey, Eddie from Ohio, and Dar Williams.
“Bittersweet ballads from the nether world,” states Angela Yeager of Salem Oregon’s Statesman Journal, a description as good as any other for the sound of Jeremy Serwer. Jeremy’s songs are a meandering journey through Americana, angst, sorrow and disenchantment with US social policy.
KINK Radio in Portland says, “His songs run the gamut from emotionally charged heartbreakers to pointed political statements. His ability to generate emotion in an audience is testament to his songwriting expertise and a powerful bluesy expressive delivery.” Jeremy is no stranger to the road, having embarked on several jaunts about the US and has also performed around South Korea. Jeremy has been active in bands including Rich Man’s Burden, Acoustic Minds and Thistle. He has accompanied songwriter/performer veteran Anne Weiss and worked in recording and live performances with Eric Pollard (Low, Retribution Gospel Choir, Sun Kil Moon), Skip Von Kuske (Portland Cello Project, M. Ward, Vagabond Opera), Jimi Cooper (Dukes of Hubbard, No Wait Wait, The Fractals) and many others.
Jeremy’s latest release FM is a portrait of a nine year existence in Portland’s ebb and flow musical aura. Jeremy currently resides in Tucson, AZ and is very active with his new band Seashell Radio. Jeremy is now working on his second solo release with producer/bandmate Fen Ikner.
Kate Graves writes little songs. She tries to spread them around like wildflower seeds.
Kate Graves likes wildflowers. If she could be a flower, she would be a thistle branch. She sometimes worries that by saying she would be a thistle branch, she is saying that she symbolically pricks things, but she still picks the thistle branch.
Kate Graves just went off on a tangent while writing her bio…
Kate Graves writes little songs. Sometimes they are sparse…sometimes filled with lots of words.
Often they are written about things like tasting sweet orange on your lips and wanting to kiss someone, so that they can experience tasting sweet orange on their lips.
Kate Graves likes kissing. And singing. And trying to explain to the world that her chihuahua is just scared and not really cold hearted.
Kate Graves hopes that you will forgive her for writing her name 7 times over in this little bio. She hopes very much so that you will listen to her songs.
