What started as basic demos recorded into the GarageBand app in my phone turned into a collaborative fully produced album with Andy Reed.
I sent bare bones guitar and lead vocal tracks to which Andy built the songs from. Donny Brown (The Verve Pipe) on drums is always a great place to start a record. Andy then followed with bass tracks so I had a strong foundation to lay down my real guitars and vocals in the studio.
It's a couple hour drive from Grosse Ile to Bay City Michigan so we recorded really quick to make the most of our time. The first couple of takes are always the best anyway, and Andy is a speed demon in the studio.

After the songs took shape, Andy would overdub keys, some additional guitars, background vocals etc. A few of the songs had enough of Andy and Donny involvement in the arranging department that we called them co-writes. Joe Daksiewicz from Nick's band The Complicated Men, added guitar on three songs and also co-wrote the music to two songs as well. Lora Aldrich added a sweet harmony vocal on album closer Tragic Tragedy, and Donny added some background vocals as well.

I absolutely loved the last three albums I recorded with The Complicated Men, but I was looking for a different approach, and less rehearsing in recording this album. I was also looking for a different vibe that fit the more personal lyrics in the songs that were coming to me pretty effortlessly. The title Solo...ish gives credit that this is not a "one man band" kind of solo record, but a team effort with Andy captaining the ship.
So, pretty easy for me to make and it sounds fantastic! Recorded and Produced by Mr. Andy Reed at Reed Recording and mastered by Kim Rosen at Knack Mastering.