released March 20, 2017

With this album, my goal was to create an interesting sonic space drawing from a wide range of experiences, yet always anchored in the acoustic music that I call “wooden music.” This is the kind of music I compose while I am “Waiting for Lyrics” to inspire me. You are invited to take a brief holiday from your normal activities and immerse yourself in the musical textures of these ten tunes.
The album features acoustic guitars, electric guitars, mandolins, and mandola, along with occasional percussion and synthesizer. You will hear a variety of styles and influences from traditional to jazz, from perky to chill.
I composed the songs, played all the instruments, and engineered the recordings at Wooden Music Studio in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
My sincere wish is that you find something in this album that provides the soundscape you crave, the vision that delights you, the feeling that you need – whatever that may be.
Sonny Bill Glover
February, 2017

PS – Here is a little bit of detail for those of you who are music and recording nerds like me ;-)

Track 1. Waiting for Lyrics – The title tune, about making music without lyrics; featuring 2006 Martin 00-28K2 acoustic guitar recorded with a Royer 121 and a Rode NT4 stereo pair.

Track 2. Keeping Promises – A long time ago, an old friend asked me to record an album of only instrumentals. Well, I am keeping my promise. This tune is performed on a 2011 Weber Bitterroot acoustic mandola and recorded with a Neumann KM184, Royer 121 stereo pair, and Rode NT4 stereo pair microphones.

Track 3. Song for Mona – This is a song for my “adopted” sister, Mona. I play a 1942 Martin 0-17 acoustic guitar and 2014 Collings OM1 Mh acoustic guitar (high strung) on this one. The tune was recorded with a Neumann KM184 microphone, a Royer 121 stereo pair, and Rode NT4 stereo pair.

Track 4. Letter to a Friend – Writing letters has almost become a lost art. The intention of this tune is to capture the sound of composing a heartfelt letter. I play a 2014 Collings OM1 Mh acoustic guitar (high strung), and 1978 Guild X-175 electric guitar. The acoustic guitar was recorded with a Neumann KM184, a Royer 121 stereo pair, and a Rode NT4 stereo pair. The electric guitar was recorded “direct in” through a CAPI VP312 preamp.

Track 5. Falling for You – This is a love song written and performed on a 1981 Eric Sahlin custom 6 string acoustic guitar. The recording was made with a Royer 121 and a Rode NT4 stereo pair, blended with a “direct in” using K&K pure mini pickup through a CAPI VP312 preamp.

Track 6. Apple Pie Time – This composition is about the simplicity and joy of picking apples and making pies, as chronicled in the children’s book of the same name (by DD Glover.) The song is played on a 1981 Eric Sahlin classical guitar and recorded with a Royer 121 and a Rode NT4 stereo pair.

Track 7. Seattle Strut – The feel of this tune is meant to evoke the feel of my hometown. The sound is layered with a new version on top of an old version (kinda like Seattle!) The instruments you hear are a 2011 Martin HD-28 acoustic guitar, a 2006 Weber Yellowstone mandolin, a 1981 Eric Sahlin custom 6 acoustic guitar, and a 1917 Gibson Style A mandolin. The old layer was recorded with a Rode NT1 microphone and the new layer was recorded with a Neumann TLM103, Royer 121 stereo pair, and Rode NT4 stereo pair.

Track 8. Dee Emm Jam Bit – This is a pure jam in D minor with everything clicking. It is performed on a Regal RC-58TT tricone acoustic guitar with National cones. The recording was made with Royer 121 and AEA R84 microphones. Kevin Jones did the mixdown on this tune.

Track 9. Short Report – My aim with this tune was to share the texture of a 1994 Eric Sahlin custom 12 string acoustic guitar. The composition and recording were done almost simultaneously, so I simply recorded “direct in” using K&K pure mini pickup through a CAPI VP312 preamp.

Track 10. Snowflake Meditation – Here is my chill tune featuring 2011 Gibson SG electric guitar recorded “direct in” through a CAPI VP312 preamp. PS – I recommend headphones for this one.

All compositions and performances by Sonny Bill Glover.
All recording and mixing by Sonny Bill Glover (except mixdown on Dee
Emm Jam Bit by Kevin Jones.)
Mastering by Paul Speer.