mattrossmurray-blog

[mattrossmurray-blog]

Bricktop Sessions | “This State” Re-Release (2013)

PSA: Bricktop Sessions now available here: https://mattrossmurray.bandcamp.com/album/bricktop-sessions-2013

About 5 years ago around this time, I joined forces with a few friends to help record a batch of songs at Bricktop Recording. We made a record over the course of 5 days which included a break-in at the studio and some sweaty evenings. Long story short, we released it under a few band names and performed live once. The band gradually dissolved like many other projects. But, for some reason, this time around, I’d like to expand more on why it’s such a ‘long story.’

Before the Bricktop recording sessions, I collaborated with a rotating cast of friends on new songs that I was writing at the time. Across many basements and garages, I was still inhabiting a very intense mentality about writing and arranging songs. I remember that I used to assign a grade to every single run through of the songs at practices. Although I was being somewhat facetious, looking back, there was some unfortunate truths behind setting such high expectations and pressure on myself and others.   During this period, music was not supposed to be fun. It was a serious endeavor with consequences and idealistic end goals. Coming off a band that had a taste of a little success, I was determined to get back to where I was before as soon as I could. On the one hand, this pushed me to write better songs, but on the other hand, it made the process itself pretty frustrating as I was always dissatisfied. I also cringe at and repress a lot of those memories as I was most likely not too fun to be around in music settings. This is partly the reason as to why I have basically shelved a lot of these songs for the past 5 years. I associate with it an almost unbearable reflection of myself that I don’t want to revisit. I understand this is probably my own exaggerated, subjective self-report of this time…...

Last week a stumbled upon these recordings again. In hindsight, I am really proud with how these came out. So here they are re-released so to speak. I hope y’all enjoy listening to them. The whole record with b-sides and demos can be downloaded or streamed for free on BandCamp.

It is a fairly eclectic set of songs…from the Gin Blossoms-inspired ‘Twenty Days’ to the Jimmy Eat World-sounding ‘Fireworks’ & ‘I Wanted Out.’ There is even a song I recorded back at Bricktop in 2011 called ‘Plans’ that has never been released. Kristen is also a guest vocalist on the songs ‘This State’ and ‘Nothing’s Wrong.’  Adrian S. from The Burst & Bloom shreds some lead guitar licks and Justin S. came up with great drum parts! Justin Pence helped quite a bit with editing these songs down (lyrics and melody) before we went into the studio and sings insanely high back up vocals. The bonus demos include appearances from good friends like Pat Kearns on guitar, Dave Urie on bass and Andy Kearns on drums. Best of all, my Dad laid down the bass on a demo as well!

Sincerely, Matt

[mattrossmurray-blog]

co-writing

It’s been awhile since I’ve released new music that I’m genuinely excited to share with everyone. 

For the past several years I’ve been through a handful of lineups including good friends/musicians that quickly dissolved for reasons I won’t bore you with here, but largely in part because I wasn’t writing exciting songs anymore…

During the end of yet another lineup, I had a startling realization that I hadn’t written a song that made me truly excited in a long time…the type of songwriting session where you are completely immersed in the process..and when you step out of it you feel like you’ve created your best work…

Not too long ago, I started to feel that sensation when I started co-writing again for the first time in years.  In my first “semi-serious” band (hotel ahead) during HS/College I co-wrote most, if not all the songs with the guitarist and we had several of those creatively inspired moments.  In a later project (black canvas) l also co-wrote the songs with another band member…those sessions were also very inspired and emotionally charged.  If I’ve learned anything from the past 4 years of feeling lost musically, it’s that my best songs are almost always written with someone else in the room.

I also took at step back from arranging songs in a typical rock band setting…2 guitars/drum/bass..and decided to return to the basics of writing on acoustic guitar and piano.  I was getting really tired of spending more time on arranging a song for a full band setting instead of focusing on the song itself.  Essentially, I wanted to write a few really good quality tunes..without worrying about all the loud noise surrounding it….drum fills…lead parts…etc..etc..at least until the song was completely ready…

The new project is called Wilder and we’ll be launching everything very soon.  this wine is making me tired so I’m going to stop here for now.  but can’t wait to start playing music “semi-seriously” again and playing shows blah blah blah.  I’ll write some more about how this project came together later but for now have a good night.

later

-m