My Time at Ardent - Day 02

Day 2 was all about the studio. After our morning round of coffee, we headed over to Ardent Records to master the record. Kevin & Larry Nix run the mastering suite and do an amazing job - kudos!

About 1/2 way through, we gave our ears a break, took a full studio tour and heard a little more of the Ardent history...very rich!

The place is adorned with platinum and gold records, Grammy's, and some amazing vintage equipment. We even ran into Luther Dickinson (singer/guitarist for The Black Crowes & The North Mississippi All-stars).

We wrapped up the project in the afternoon and it sounds absolutely O-mazing!

Enjoy a few more pics:

Peace,
Ross

Memphis - Day 01

On the trip to Memphis, we killed 2 birds with 1 stone (actually 3, if you count devouring some amazing ribs!).

First, we took our time getting there and setup several cool photo shoots. We went from scurvy "should-be" abandoned motels (that's with a very hard M - i think they charged by the hour here), some cool dark, smoky taverns, downtown Memphis, and finished fully-clothed in a swimming pool.

Here's a few of the results:


Tomorrow will be 100% studio...see ya' then!

Peace,
Ross

Ardent Records

I head out first thing in the morning for Ardent Records to wrap up a big recording project I've been producing for the past 8 or so months. I am very pumped to make it back down to Ardent, eat 3+ persons worth of ribs, and enjoy Memphis for a couple days.

I'll post more from the studio in a bit...

Peace,
Ross

The Lost Narrative

I realize that this is WAY overdue, but I'm finally ready to announce that my sister (Lacy Adair) and I are working on a E.P. as The Lost Narrative.

Its been a fun project thus far and we're barely into it. Its part folk, part electronic, but all creative and I think you'll really dig it.

The plan is to release it online this fall through iTunes, NoiseTrade, and more...

I'll keep you updated as there's more to discuss.

In the meantime, join us here:

FACEBOOK
TWITTER
MYSPACE


Peace,
Ross

Back in STL

Welp, we're back in St. Louis from a fun (but exhausting) weekend down at Tablerock Lake with the fam. We boated, knee-boarded, and tubed...alas, I'm sun burnt & sore!

More to blog tomorrow.

Good night & good luck,
Ross

New Art Project for the House

Last night I did an art project for the house. Our entry way has been bare since we moved here back in February, and needed some life.

I ran by Home Depot and picked up the supplies. 3 hours later, we have new lively art in the entry way.

(here's some grainy iPhone pics of the project in process...)



Word.

-Ross

Tracking

Kate and the girls are out of town, so last night I got a great deal of studio-work done on a song/riff/idea I've been toying with for almost a year now. I was able to lay down all of the drum tracks, bass, acoustic guitars, and 3 electric guitar tracks. The sounds are SO organic and raw - I'm lovin' it! I also laid down a couple string ideas on the synth, which I'll later replace with a symphony of beauty...that's what I do :-)

The plan (for now) is to play this beast over and over until I'm able to find just the right lyrics for it. I work that way.

Instrumentals and structure first.
Lyrics second. (most of the time anyway)

So now comes the process of reviewing and looking back at years of lyrics. I try and write about 5 songs/poems each week, so I have a dense catalog when it comes time to plug in the text. I already have a couple melodies in mind, so that should help narrow the search.

That's plenty for now, but I'll be showcasing a lot of the studio "happenings" in the weeks and months to come.
Peace!
-Ross

p.s. here's the real rock star of the family...

this one is for the ages...

When I was a kid, I remember my parents taking me to a Dino Christmas Concert at the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City. 2 weekends ago, I saw that Dino was playing a tiny baptist church in Columbia, MO.

What happened?
Where's the love?

Watch these and be touched - by Dino, Chariots of Fire, sequins, Cheryl (watch vid #2), fantastic hair, and exuberance...lots and lots of exuberance!

Enjoy!

Whispering Danny

I just found this video from the guy (whispering danny) that did my tattoo a few years back.

Whispering Danny from Austin Walsh on Vimeo.

Have a wonderful weekend!
-Ross

Studio Vlog (numero dos-o-tron)

Here's another quick look inside one of the recording-projects I'm working on...



Peace,
Ross

The Book of Eli (& other post-apocylaptic images)

Last night, Kate and I watched The Book of Eli (don't worry, I won't give away the ending), and it got me thinking...why does every post-apocalyptic thriller (i.e. Mad Max, The Road, Escape from New York, etc.) suppose we all drive around in 1982 model Chevy Suburbans? That's all.

-Ross

p.s. oh yeah, Denzel is blind the whole time, the Bible is braille, but no worries, he's memorized it all.

July Vlog-o-Tron

Incredible Video That's Worth Your Time...

I've posted another couple videos from the guys at BLU...this is a new one that I promise is worth the 9:55 investment.



Peace,
Ross

This Weekend (fun + resistance + sobbing + eagles in flight = grand times)

This weekend was like most weekends...spent on the road (visiting family, friends, playing concerts, camping, etc.) This particular weekend we headed to Columbia, MO for my sister's Master's graduation party at their brand new house. Congrats Lacy!

But like most road-trip-weekends, it requires a fair amount of prep; which rarely comes without a titch-bit of resistance.

As you'll see, it always starts fun, moves to a sob-fest, and ends in rejoicing-cuteness (and the occasional Majestic Eagle-in-flight-Statuary).

Hope you all had a good one!
-Ross

studio.studio.studio.

These past few months I've been in the studio producing a couple great artists. One project is 99% complete, and with a trip to Ardent Records in Memphis later this month to master the record, I'll wrap that project up. The other is about 70% complete. And now I'm itching to record my own stuff that's been brewing up since I released The River Child, back in 2008.

The plan (as of today) is to release a Ross Christopher E.P. sometime before Christmas, and to release an album with my sister (Lacy Adair - her album is incredible - CHECK IT OUT!) sometime late Fall. Both projects will be totally unique in their own right(s).

I'm mostly pumped because both are in the pre-production stages, and they span totally different genres - progressive/indie/rock to electronic/folk...yeah buddy, we went there.

I'll keep everyone posted as things progress. In the meantime, you can download The River Child HERE!

Peace,
Ross

my perfect photography subject

I tested a new iPhone camera filter (the Hipstamatic) with, what I consider, a perfect subject! Its cool, has awesome options, and is very vintage.




Peace,
Ross

Book Excerpt #12 (Ask the Right Questions)

Here's another quick book excerpt from my upcoming book, Outsourcing God. Enjoy!

© 2010 Ross Christopher Donaldson.

I’ve since learned that surrounding myself with passionate people and giving them freedom to take chances (win or lose) is the way to truly lead. One specific area that excels in this arena is our creative planning and brainstorm process. This is the team of people that are passionate about communicating vision, mission, and making a difference through art and beauty. But the group is also intentionally composed of individuals that are first, second, and third time visitors.

What I soon learned was the more I could tap the mind of our un-churched and dis-churched community, the more accurate questions we could ask, the closer our language resembled the community’s, and the more authentic we were. Not to mention, there is immediate buy-in when you’re on the creation side of things.

And in one afternoon huddled around dry erase boards and empty pizza boxes, I know without a doubt that this amazing network of people are asking and addressing the questions that are on the minds of our un-churched and dis-churched community.

Thursday = Mumford & Sons

Here's some live videos from one of my favorite bands these days, Mumford & Sons. Spend a few minutes at lunch or fake a smoke break and check these out (by the way, smoking is bad for you and you should quit anyway) Enjoy!







Peace and enjoy your Thursday!
-Ross