The Eight Oaks Sessions have begun! A few weeks ago my brother and I met at Eight Oaks (the cabin’s name where we are staying right now) and started a few scratch recordings that will eventually end up on a couple new CDs; one full of Scripture, the other a more artsy folk/rock CD. My little mobile studio is set up in the basement next to a warm wood stove….
First up is a solo tune. And, though Valentines Day may be behind us, here’s to all the married couples out there! It’s certainly a scratch take, with a few pitchy notes, but it’s gotten good response thus far.
I would love your feedback. I have no idea how to produce this tune. Should it stay solo? Should I add percussion and bass? Should I add background electric guitar? Mandolin? Leave a comment and let me know your opinion!
I’ve posted it on my FREE MUSIC PAGE.
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Nathan, the opening is very James Taylor-like, which I fully love and enjoy. While I am fond of the finger picking and think it should be highlighted, like in the opening, “Hey Love” could stand to layered a bit more. I like the Mandolin idea and, hey, when ever you can find an excuse to have Mark Stoffel play, why not?
I can’t visualize an electric guitar adding much to this in the way of enhancing more than distracting from your work. As for a bass, if it is an upright bass, then I would say, “Definitely!” Lastly, percussion may be a difficult add do the pace (beat) of the song. You do not want to rush the listener through and thus draw away from the lyrics.
Those are my thoughts to a song I look forward to hearing on your new album soon. (Do people still buy CDs?
Love the song! I think it would be great either way, but I tend to like simplicity.
Great song! especially the first half of the chorus. Really like that melody. You should do a solo version, a Nickel Creek version, and a full-on pop-Country version with extra twangy vocals.
Very nice! Now, I’m not a musician, so critique from a purely musical standpoint would be silly for me to offer, but I think to add other instruments might seem a bit antithetical to the message – like, “Hey love, come join me and the guys!” Though, I’m sure either way it will be great!
Dan – good point! Thanks for the comments folks. I’ll probably try a few ideas, and we’ll see what comes of it.
Great song, Nathan! The solo version is great. Like Tina said, the simplicity of being solo is really nice.
Love this one! it was especially sweet @ the Shoe – LIVE! I feel incredibly priveleged to have been there! thanks for the freebie!
You need a flute.
Nathan, I just listened to your song live this evening and I have to say, that as a love song, just like in your song “You make me smile” that this song will be better recieved as just a solo acoustic piece. Just my opinion! And thank you for a wonderful intimate concert in Leesburg.
Nathan, I think that the song is great. I would suggest a fiddle part in the background. I think that that would sound great. The concert was great at Trinity last Saturday!!!! Have a great day.
Hi, I like your song… I am by no means a professional musician– I just love music… I think maybe adding another stringed instrument might be nice (like a fiddle; violin or maybe a mandolin). And I wonder what a harmonica and maybe some light percussion (like the instrument that sounds like wind chimes) might add to the mix?? Something like the instrumental sounds in the old Doobie Brothers song Black Water (yeah I listened to them B.C.)
2 links to that song are below…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqZ95a249p0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=km4-eKvv3EM