Friday, February 5, 2010

In The Studio With Mountain Heart



I'm sitting in the A Room at Ocean Way studios in Nashville working on Mountain Heart's new record. Our engineer is working on a rough mix of a song as I type. I sang a ton of harmonies this morning, and I just wrapped up some B3 organ overdubs on a few songs.

This studio used to be an enormous church so, as you can imagine, the rooms have ridiculous ceilings and acoustics...I'm pinching myself as I think about so many of the greats that have cut in this place. Mountain Heart has been touring some, but for the most part the last few weeks has been spent in the studio and for me personally, writing songs.

In the next few weeks, I'm writing with some of my faves. Guys like Bryan White (yes the country singer), Jimmy Olander of Diamond Rio, and a known monster in Nashville, Marc Beeson. After all the writing and recording is over in February, Mountain Heart is heading out to Seattle for a couple of shows at the Wintergrass Festival. Directly after returning home from Seattle, we're all flying down to the Virgin Islands for a week where we'll be crashing at a swank resort called The Buccaneer on the island of St. Croix after our gigs. I lucked out and got to gig there last Spring, but this trip will be with the entire band so it should be freaking awesome. Until that nice dose of 70 degree temps comes, we're gonna be bundled up and hunkered down in Nashville working on the record.

The next thing on the agenda as far as recording is concerned is a few acoustic guitar overdubs. I'm starring at my guitar in the corner and thinking about the insane stuff Brian Sutton is gonna lay down shortly! The one common denominator that I see with all the axes laying around is they're all strung up with D'Addario strings. So, once again I'm saying “thank you” for the never ending support!

Until the next time,
Josh Shilling

www.mountainheart.com