Today we are recording two tracks with local, up-and-coming Indy rock group, “The Blank Slates.” (Troy Lawton is lead engineering, with Jonathon Wong as assistant engineer.  All of the interns have been helping out this week and rotating responsibilities.) Featuring Andrea Iacopini on guitar and vocals, they produce a high-intensity, earthy nuance with a forward drive. According to Andrea, “The Blank Slates” is a “concept of ever-changing sound, where each song has space to develop into its own without allowing the band itself to be easily categorized.”

Andrea was joined by drummer Cochrane McMillan in January of this year, with bassist Martin Fowler adding to the mix later that month. Not only are they solid musicians, but their tracks are chock full of well-blended harmonies and tight fills.

In “My Only Regret,” Cochrane takes the lead on drums and has been playing solid all day, with Turkish hand-hammered cymbals adding nice texture and shimmer.  Martin has a solid ear in this tune with dead-on rhythm and innovative fills. Andrea is a natural songwriter, and struck gold with his addictive opening guitar and bass lines.

www.myspace.com/theblankslates

The goal of today’s session is to create the majority of a demo for distribution to local radio stations.

Good energy, good times, good clean fun.

-Emily Hendricks

The National Association of Record Industry Professionals, will be hosting a panel about how to promote and make money from songs. This session will include live song critiques and a special breakout section on legal aspects of song collaborations, licensing and self-publishing. This is a great opportunity to get a crash course in the music business and develop the tools you’ll need to market your songs to labels, businesses, online vendors and individuals.

“NARIP’s July 19 program on this topic will take an in-depth look at the A&R process and provide insight into how to commercially exploit songs, perform many functions of a publisher, and secure and capitalize on licensing opportunities.”

Check it out!

Check out these tracks in the works:

“Mean Song” – Zack Vieira

“Call it in the Air” – Sparklebritches