A New Musical Journey: Studio Sessions with Rob Mostert part one
Week 1 Recap
Last week, we finally kicked off an exciting new musical project with Rob Mostert. It’s been a long time coming, but we’re thrilled to have finally found the time to dive into some fresh ideas together. The process started with setting up a basic rig in Rob’s studio so that we could start working on some songs and get into a creative flow.
Day 1: We spent the first day listening through demos and exploring ideas I had been working on for a while. This was all about setting the direction and vibe for the project, getting a feel for the sonic palette we’re aiming for, and pinpointing which songs resonate the most. It was a day full of brainstorming and refining the concepts.
Day 2: The second day was all about technical groundwork. We began the process of porting the songs from Ableton into Logic, which is where we’ll be doing the bulk of our production. Once we got everything set up and the tracks properly organized, we got to work on two of the songs. Laying down those initial tracks really helped bring the songs to life.
Day 3: On the third day, we shifted gears to recording. We focused primarily on laying down guitar parts for the demo of Unavoidable Goodbyes, which really started to capture the emotional core of the song. We also wrote and arranged the outro chords for Tearstop, which is shaping up to be a poignant piece.
My Current Writing and Demo Setup
For this project, my setup has been kept pretty streamlined, allowing me to focus more on creativity than on gear distractions. For guitars, I’m using my Taylor 214CE Plus and Fender Telecaster which I run through my Walrus Audio Essentials ambient pedal and into a Fender Mustang GT amp with an AC30 sound profile. I’ve been debating whether to pick up a tube AC30 or AC15 for a more authentic tone, but for now, the Mustang GT works great for quickly getting ideas down. The ease of plugging in with just two XLR cables straight into Rob’s system has kept the workflow smooth.
On the keys and synth front, I’m working with the Ableton Push 3, Arturia Microfreak, and my trusty (but aging) M-Audio Axiom keyboard. I’m currently eyeing the Arturia KeyLab 88 MkII as a replacement – those nice wooden legs would not only look amazing in the studio but also be perfect for when we eventually take these songs on tour.
What’s Next?
That’s all for now! We’ve made a lot of progress in just a few days, but there’s still a long way to go. I’ll be taking a short break for the holidays, and then it’s back to the studio. I can’t wait to share more updates as the project develops. Stay tuned!
