Original Sunshine by Alec Betterley

Over a decade ago, in autumn of 2013, I spent two late evenings recording piano at a studio called Systems 2 in Kensington, Brooklyn. They shut their doors about six years ago after being open since the 70s. Mainly a jazz studio, the place had so much vibe - a big live room, all sorts of unique and wild gear (Coltrane's ribbon mic!), a deeply entrenched cigarette smell - and I asked to record with all the overhead lights out in the live room and just a single piano light alongside my music journal. I have distinct memories of the walk home from each night of recording - a dozen blocks back to Westminster Road, 1am or so, that snap of early fall air in central Brooklyn.

I've always been fond of the recordings but wanted to alter the sound ever-so-slightly to match a bit more of what I remembered in the room - dark and mysterious, nearing-midnight vibes, that scent of old smokes and the history build up across decades. The wonderful Brooklyn-based producer/engineer Philip Weinrobe helped out here, with what we dubbed a "creative pre-master" - he took the tunes through a sweet mix of old tube gear and ran them through tape - bringing more of that essence of what the room felt like to me. Mastered, as always, by the great Josh Bonati.

This is a little musical offering as I edit a large batch of new songs and start work on my next full-length LP.

Alec Betterley is an upstate NY-based songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and music therapist. He was a founding member of the groups My Friend Other & Toys and Tiny Instruments, and supports other artists on keys when he can find the time amidst a busy schedule of corralling three youngsters.

alecbetterley.com