Jason Shannon by Jason Shannon

This is my first official album. After stints with bands and solo performances and home recording, I decided to enter Wild Sound Studios in Northeast Minneapolis and make a record with studio owner Matthew Zimmerman and a few good friends. Everything was tracked on a few different occasions from January-May 2009.

We recorded about thirty tunes and I picked the takes I thought had a good live vibe. Much of the recording is all live with a few overdubs (strings, electric guitars, a couple of vocal takes). I gave minimal direction to the players upon attempting each take, allowing them to interpret the vibe of the song. This was a rewarding experience in that it allowed for others to feel the nature of the song as much as me. However, I learned that I'd like to be a little more vocal in the arrangement and timbre approaches in my next project.

Later on, I edited some of the tracks at my home studio and brought them back to Wild Sound, where Matthew Zimmerman and I sat at the desk and mixed everything together. This was my first time at a big board working with an experienced engineer and it further compelled me to dive further into the world of recording, mixing and engineering. I had a lot of fun testing out sounds and textures with Mr. Zimmerman and his studio inspired me to begin building my own miniature version of a working recording environment.

Two days after completing the mixes, I took a road trip with my friend and occasional musical partner, Eli Amerson, to Sterling Sound in New York City. We sat on the couch and watched Greg Calbi piece everything together. I had never been in a room with such great gear and speakers. It was cool watching someone with such a great track record work on my music. And then, suddenly, we were done.....

The album cover was shot at Park Point in Duluth, MN with Minneapolis photographer (and friend) Darin Back. I had a bunch of ideas that didn't really pan out and with about five minutes left of shooting, we somehow stumbled upon that shot. Although the image, in my opinion, captures a moment of danger, serenity, vision, and strength, the actual moment was anything but that. I remember telling myself, "I can hold this for five seconds and that's it!" And I did, all the while mumbling, "Take the f-----g picture, man!" And that is that.

I arranged the album with Karen Kopacz. In the foldout of the record, there is a quote by Mark Twain that I've always loved. It reads:

"In a little while you will be alone in shoreless space, to wander its limitless solitudes without friend or comrade forever--for you will remain a thought, the only existent thought, and by your nature inextinguishable, indestructible. But I, your poor servant, have revealed you to yourself and set you free. Dream other dreams, and better!

You perceive, now, that these things are all impossible except in a dream. You perceive that they are pure and puerile insanities, the silly creations of an imagination that is not conscious of its freaks - in a word, that they are a dream, and you the maker of it. The dream-marks are all present; you should have recognized them earlier.

It is true, that which I have revealed to you; there is no God, no universe, no human race, no earthly life, no heaven, no hell. It is all a dream - a grotesque and foolish dream. Nothing exists but you. And you are but a thought - a vagrant thought, a useless thought, a homeless thought, wandering forlorn among the empty eternities!"

Thanks to everyone who helped out on the project. We've been fortunate enough to tour across the country in support of the release and I'm excited to follow it up with a new direction in the near future with my new band.

Jason Shannon
March, 2010

jasonshannonband.com