Hi John,

  I just listened to your interview with Dave Darling, and I don't think I've taken so many notes since I went through MMM2.0! This interview was very timely with me, because I am trying to get another CD finished, but having some problems. (besides taking too much time building a new website!)

Being a solo artist, I perform in many types of venues, and also in many styles, and as a result I also write songs in many different styles. My recordings were coming out the same way, and finally about a month ago I stepped back and asked myself just what kind of a record was I trying to make? I have discarded many of the songs because they didn't really fit together, and I have been seriously considering splitting my songs into two totaly different CD's.

I am a bit of an oddball, since I am primarily a "singer/songwriter type, but I also use a lot of guitar synth and loopers in my live shows, mostly to get a very full, warm sound. I have discovered, and you and Dave talked about this in the interview, that sometimes too much can "get in the way" of a recording. I have made some recordings that sounded incredible, but something just didn't seem right. There was too much going on, and it got in the way of the music. It still sounded good, but the end result had strayed away from the original idea.

After listening to your interview, I realize that I was being a bit too self focused, and I need to look at things more from the perspective of my target audience. This should have been more obvious, and I was doing it to a small degree, but it is hard to remain objective with a project that you get so wrapped up in, and have put so much work into. I now see the value of having a producer, and the right producer involved. Unfortunately, hiring a producer is not within my budget right now, but at least I have some new insight as to recording with a target audience firmly in mind.

This makes me think of the old saying in the real estate business. Everything is "location, location, location". I guess in the music biz, the saying should be "focus, focus, focus"!

Thanks for a good interview.