Introducing Haunted Cowboy Sounds - A 10-song collection of sadly-optimistic indie folk songs, exploring the highs and lows of love. The uplifting feeling of finding love - the heartbreak of saying goodbye.
If you have been following along on my musical journey lately, you’ll know that there is a particular quote from George Harrison of The Beatles that I use as a major influence in my songwriting - “Whatever it is supposed to be, it becomes that…”
I find that by using this as a personal mantra while writing and recording, it allows me to create more freely - I am not bound by any particular sound or style, I am just creating, letting the process evolve as I go. Whatever a project becomes, well, it becomes that…
When I walked into my music room in mid-July with a rough version of a song entitled, “She Came with the Rain”, I was preparing to slowly work on a follow up to The Robotanist album. I still feel that my tiny semi-depressed robot botanist friend has some stories to tell, but apparently that story would have to wait, something different was about to emerge. I was about to embark on my most ambitious project to date - to write and record an entire album in 30 days. I just didn’t know that was what I was about to do.
My family was away for the weekend, so I had all the time I needed to perfect this new song and start a new project. I fine-tuned the lyrics and began recording. It was going down a similar path sound-wise as The Robotanist album (with what I call my sparse “ghost piano” melodies a-la Nick Drake that were featured prominently on that album). But, it needed something extra… I went to an electric guitar sound I had used in past projects - an effect called “endless ambient”. It is great for adding depth and a mystical kind of sound when used sparingly in a song; playing a single note here and there, and letting it ring out in the background.
When I attempted to place a few notes here and there in She Came with the Rain, it was never quite right. Hmm, what would the song sound like if I played the entire song using this effect and not just individual notes? I recorded a version and was quite surprised by what emerged.
I sent the completed song to a few close friends, finishing each message with, “Listen for the haunted cowboy sound that comes in about half way through!”
To my ear, the electric guitar, being played with this effect, sounded like some kind of psychedelic lap steel guitar - a haunted cowboy sound…
Here is the isolated guitar track of the "haunted cowboy sound":
The phrase sparked a flurry of creating! In that first 48-hours, the first 3 songs on the album were completed, and 2 more were well underway. Whatever this album was going to be, well, it was becoming that. I began to explore similar sounds and the emotions that revolve around falling in (or out!) of love. By the 30th day, 10 songs were completed and an album was born. A few changes were made after day 30 - some tweaks and extra polish on some vocals had to be added. I’ll be sharing stories about the songs and the songwriting process in the coming weeks, right here on the blog.
The entire project was very healing for me personally, as I found myself reflecting on the love and joy in my life now, as well as working through some past heartbreak and emotional baggage that I had been consciously (and unconsciously) dragging along with me for years. My hope for you when you listen to the album, is that it brings you joy, and perhaps some healing too.
You can pre-order Haunted Cowboy Sounds now, and the full album arrives on Bandcamp on November 13th.
It hits Spotify and the streaming services on November 14th. Stay tuned here for more news about the album and some special online events.
There will also be a few surprises along the way!
See ya next time…
Let's keep the conversation going on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube or Spotify. You can also sign up for my newsletter.