When

I want to start writing about my music! I would like to share with you the writing, creating and recording processes of my songs. And as I record new songs I will be posting the step by step process that I go through. (For example right now I have guitar and vocals recorded for this particular song. I plan on doing more to the song and as I do I will let you know what was added so you can listen and hear the difference from the beginning to the end.)

The first song I am going to write about is the most recent song I have been working on. It is called When. It can be found at http://www.kattingey.com/music/unreleased.html so you can listen to it before or after you learn about it! :)
(If for some reason that link doesn't take you to the right place go to www.kattingey.com, click on music, then click on unreleased tracks, and that should take you to the right place!)

Writing and Creating of When
When I was writing this song, I had a particular progression of chords that I had been messing around with and I really wanted to use them in a song. I was trying a lot of different strumming and picking patterns and in the midst of messing around ended up making up my own pick pattern. Fancy! I know! :)

I had the pick pattern and strum patterns that I wanted but didn't know what to sing about. Here is a secret for you...I have a hard time writing lyrics to songs! I am not much of a poet...I don't think...but sometimes I swear it is just a moment of inspiration and then it is gone! It is amazing! And sometimes I am really surprised at the lyrics that come out.

When figuring out what I want to sing about I will often think of other peoples experiences I have watched or heard about, or I will make up a fictional experience that I am sure has happened to someone or I imagine happening to someone (if that makes any sense at all), OR...yes I know this is crazy!...I will write from my own personal experiences!

On this particular song, I wrote from my personal experience combined with some fictional feelings that are maybe a little more dramatic than what I would generally feel. In other words...sometimes my songs come out more dramatic than what I am really feeling... :)

I met someone kind of unexpectedly once and a relationship began to blossom pretty quickly. It had been a while since I had felt the feelings you get when you start a new relationship. So the song portrays someone who has been lonely and someone else comes in and takes that loneliness away kind of by surprise. So you get the lyrics, 'when did the sun shine again, when did the clouds part and penetrate my heart? When did I smile again?'

I find that being single for a long time makes a person put up more walls, or doubt the possibility of a relationship lasting. I don't mean to sound negative, but the reality is (in my opinion)...the longer you are single, the more times you get to deal with heartache! The reason I tell you this is to explain the part of the song that says, 'when will someone else be replacing me.' And there is another part where it says, 'can I let this happen again, can I open my heart and let you do your part? Dare I face the fear that love is? Can I?'

If you ask me, it is scary to open the relationship doors again and again! Especially when you have been hurt before. But...it is something we have to do, and we have to do it confidently or those doors can close again really fast merely because of your lack of willingness to try, your insecurities or fears.

In case you can't tell, I really do think a lot when I write lyrics to my songs. They all have deep meanings to me. I will try to keep up on posting new songs and old songs, including the reasons why I wrote them and their particular process of recording. Which brings us to our next subject!

Recording When


I record with Ryan Tilby and I like recording with him because he is fast and does a great job! He is great at editing while we go along, and I have found myself to be kind of an impatient recorder! ha ha!  I want things moving and done quickly but I want them done well too!

For this song I recorded the guitar part alone and then recorded the vocal track on top of that. I like doing the  parts separately because then you have a lot more control over the different parts. So if there is a spot where the guitar track needs to be softer then it doesn't effect the vocal part when you lower the volume on the guitar part. Stuff like that...if you know what I mean! :)

Once we have a rough recording Ryan gives it to me to listen to so I can pick at it. I usually find a few places that I want to fix, whether it is a spot where the guitar sounds funny, my vocal sounds funny or flat (I hate being flat!) or if I don't like the way I said a word...that happens sometimes...etc... Another thing I like to do is figure out if I am going to do back up vocals and where I am going to put them in the song. We decided that this particular song needed a lot of back up vocals so I listened to it a lot and came up with a lot of different ideas to try out.

Back in the studio we fixed all the little things that were bothering me, and then we started recording the back ups. Back ups are one of my favorite things to record!  I love harmonizing! I love coming up with new lines and melodies! And let me just tell you...sometimes miracles happen in the studio. Harmonies you never thought of...guitar parts that you have never played but accidentally come out and sound awesome, so you keep them! I love it! In this particular case, we ended up layering a lot of harmonies on top of each other and you may not realize it but there are a few parts where there are four different parts being sung at the same time! It is awesome!!

Whew! I hope you made it through all that! If not, I hope you at least listened to the song! :) Now...if you haven't already listened...you should definitely go listen now! Especially if you took the time to read my giant entry!... here is the link again! http://www.kattingey.com/music/unreleased.html

I hope I helped you understand my song a little better!!

Can you believe it is Fall!

Ok ok ok...so...I apologize that my blog has been stuck on July on it FOREVER! I have a feeling my blogging is going to come and go in phases! Just like everything else in my life...I swear, I live my life in phases.  Maybe I should write a song about that or something!  Ha!

Well, the summer has been great! I have been doing so much stuff and I haven't been telling you a thing about it! So sorry! I have made new awesome friends, played lots of shows and gone on lots of motorcycle rides (when I can talk my neighbor Kraig into taking me! hee hee)...I also learned to ride a dirt bike all by myself...I may have actually blogged about that already...can't remember...so here is what I am going to do...I am going to go through my pictures and give you a quick re-cap on my summer adventures!

Dirt Biking

Learned how to dirt bike! I drove up the mountain all by myself! Woohoo!!

My face got really dirty and I look stupid in this pic but I though it was funny...

Stadium of Fire Firework show (on the outside looking in!)

Trip up A.F. Canyon with Richard

we got really high...in fact almost to the top of the mountain!

This is Richard

Richard told me that we were going to look at some cabin property...he didn't say we were going to bushwack through 3' high jungle grass and mud! I wore short sleeves and flip flops!

Hanging with John

We played at the park...

Boating!!

I have the best dad in the world!  He drove the boat to Provo to take us out on Utah Lake!

I win...

Kristen & Branton - it looks like he's trying to do break dancing moves...ha ha

Boys...who knows what they are thinking!

Look! Mindy came!

Boating Again!!! (With Richards friends)

Kraig is not as little as he thinks he is I guess!

First time ever wakeboarding!

Woohoo! Not so bad for a newbee!

Look I even jumped!!...

JUST KIDDING! Thats Kraig....

Kristins Cabin in Fairview!!

I'm in that ranger...just so you know...

After the puddle...I look scary in this pic! Kind of like the devil! Eak!

Toys at the cabin, games at the cabin, guitars at the cabin! It was sooooo much fun! I think it was my favorite trip this whole summer!!

This is called the paperbag game...as you can see, the paper bag is pretty much gone...you aren't aloud to touch the floor with your hands or legs and you have to pick up the paperbag with your mouth and rip off the piece you touched with your mouth...it was way harder than I thought it was going to be!!

Outside Movie Night

Visit to Britts house to meet Indi

She is soooooo cute!!! And yep! She smiled just for me!!

Shakespeare Festival with the girls 

I even got a little Shakespeare action! He was just so smooth! Ha ha!! no pun intended!!

St George with Friends to see Tarzan!

We stayed at my parents house, it was super fun!

Bear Lake

Sadly these are the only two pics I have of this trip, but we had a fun group of people and my Dad took us out on the boat again!  I told you he was awesome! :) 

Hiking Stewart Falls

me and Kristin at the beginning of the hike. This was just last Saturday Sept, 18th...

I just liked this picture...ha ha its funny...

Me, Katie & Kristin...cuuuuute!! But seriously! Aren't the leaves beautiful!!!

Katie took "Senior Pictures" of Kristen and I, this was mine...obviously!... funny...

By the waterfall...Good times...

So there you have it...a patched up re-cap of some of the things I should have blogged about this summer!

I've played quite a few gigs this summer including the Weber County Fair and the Utah State Fair. I think my favorite was the concert I did for Mike Murphy at the Park in Bountiful...I really enjoyed playing there for some reason!

Well, it has taken quite a while to put all this together and it is now way past my bedtime so I am going to go to bed. Good Night!

July

Well, July has been kind of slow with the performances, I have one this Sunday at Ed Kenley Amphitheater in Layton, so come spend your relaxing Sunday evening listening to good tunes.  The address is on my website home page www.kattingey.com.  The show is free and it starts at 7pm.

The summer is going by so fast I feel like I haven't had time to even do anything with it!  My brothers family was in town for most of July, so I spent as much time as I could with them and it was great!  I miss those kids so much! My brother and his wife Stacie live in Pennsylvania with their three kids.  It was very fun to have them around for such a long time.

Other awesome things that I should document while I am here:

1. I learned how to dirt bike a couple of weeks ago!  I didn't fall once (probably because I am too cautious - but whatever!) It was a blast!  My arms got really sunburned though!  I just didn't even think about sunblock! Now I am all scaley like a dragon cause I am peeling!

2. I got a new phone that has internet on it and it is a touch screen!  I love it!  I have become a cell phone junkie!  I love being able to check and update my facebook, email, website, twitter and all the other sites I use for my music stuff!  It has been really fun and very convenient!

3. I went through the Draper Temple tonight for the first time!  It was beautiful!  Funny story though!  Totally forgot my temple clothes...yes I know...what a Kat thing to do!  It gets better, my recommend was expired too!  The cute temple workers were rushing around finding me clothes and getting me cleared with my Bishop just so that I could do the session with my ward!  They were so sweet and it meant so much to me because I was looking forward to going through that temple so much!!  God cares, and he watches over us! :)

So I am hoping to post some pictures of some of these events at a later time when I am not so anxious to go to bed!  :)

Goodnight!

My Shows in June!

Picture taken by Amie Hale www.persnicketypics.blogspot.com 

June is getting filled up with some really fun shows!  Here is what I have so far! I hope you will try to come to whatever you can!

June 12 - THIS SATURDAY!

Hammer Hands Concert Series

Where: The Loft in Provo - 177 W Center Street in Provo, UT

Time: Starts at 8pm

Cost: $5

Line up: 1-April Meservy, 2-Michael McClellin, 3-Kat Tingey, 4-Sarah Wilcox, Emcee: Weston Wride

I haven't played on one of these concert nights before, but I hear that they are a lot of fun, so come check it out!

June 17

Warehouse Gig

Where: I know it is in a Warehouse located somewhere around the SLC area - I'll email more details as it gets closer

Time: Probably 8-10

Cost: I want to say a can of food or something...

Line up: Steve Soelberg (comedian), Kat Tingey, Danny Heslop and band

Comedy and music!? How could this not be an awesome show! I will get more details on this as it gets closer, but I will tell you this...Steve makes me laugh really hard and Danny is very fun to listen to! He writes some awesome stuff and he is going to have more people playing with him on this show so it is really going to be worth coming out to see!

June 19

I entered a competition in Layton called "Show Layton Your Talent." There are 16 performers that made it to the finals and we will be judged on our one performance.  I need all the support I can get at this show because they have 4 judges and the audience is the last judge! 1st place wins $1000, 2nd $500 and 3rd $250!  So if you have the time come vote for me at this show!!

Where: Ed Kenley Amphitheater - 403 North Wasatch Drive Layton, UT 84041 

Time: Gates open at 7, show starts at 8pm

Cost: $5 for grass - I think the rest of the theater is about full but the tickets for actual seats are more I think the highest is $10 

Line up: 16 performers - I am number 13 in the line up

This show is not just music. It is all kinds of talent. There will be a lot of different acts, so it should be very entertaining, and you get to vote!

June 20

Sunday Night Series

Where: Ed Kenley Amphitheater - 403 North Wasatch Drive Layton, UT 84041 

Time: 7pm

Cost: Free!!

Line up: Kat Tingey (30-35 minute set) and Barbie Elliot

This will be a fun, relaxing concert, so come hang out and enjoy the night air and great tunes!

So far that is all I have for June! So pick what you would like to go to and mark it on your calendars!! I will send out updates as each show gets closer.  

Thanks for all the support I have out there!

Feel free to email me any songs you would like to hear on any specific night and/or if you have any questions about any of these events!! My email is www.kattingey@gmail.com

Last Saturday House Party

Last Saturday May 15th I used my new sound system for the first time!!  It was very exciting for me, and it worked really well for us.  There are still some kinks that I am going to have to figure out.  Like, when I sing really loud it peaks and goes kind of fuzzy sounding, and that is no good because singing loud is what I do best!!

Anyway, the party was a lot of fun!  They had a BBQ and a lot of people came and most of them stayed for the entertainment too!  Danny Heslop played first and did great as usual and then Steve Soelberg did some stand up and he did really great...he even got everyone to stop and listen, which was cool.  Then I played and it was fun.  I have to admit that I felt kind of bad when I finished and someone said, "I thought you were going to play a lot more from your album." I really should play more from my CD.  Here is the problem.  When I write new songs, the old songs just don't seem as good to me anymore!  But I forget that the people that have bought my album are excited to hear me play because of the songs on the albums!  So, therefore...I am going to try and play the songs from my albums more and I will just sprinkle in a few new songs and a cover song or two.

So the party was a hit, my sound system was fantastic!  Oh and guess what else!  You can totally plug your ipod or nano or whatever you have into it and play music!  I could totally DJ a party or something!

One thing that I am excited about is that I can take it wherever and have my own little show.  My neighbor Kraig and I are going to put on some amphitheater and park gigs this summer.  I am excited!  I think it will be great!

That is all for now...sorry I didn't take any pictures for you! I was too busy being a sound man!  :)  And now it is time to go do some catching up on Lost!  Mindy and I are almost all the way up to real time!

MS Benefit Concert 2010

If you couldn't make it to the MS benefit concert last night then you missed out on a really good time!

I think that was the most fun I have had on stage at that concert yet! Ryan Tilby came and played bass with me and it was a blast! I felt like I played really well (Ryan played great, just like he always does) and my vocals felt really on! It was awesome!

I don't have any pictures to show you, but I will post some on the website when I do get them.  Everyone played really great and we all kind of played and sang with each other throughout the show and that made it a lot of fun too.

The main reason for the show was to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis, and I think we did a pretty good job!

Thank you to everyone that came to the concert and contributed! It was a really great night!

New Toys...

I BOUGHT A SOUND SYSTEM!!!  YEEEEAAAAHHHH!  

I finally did it!  I probably should have bought a sound system a long time ago, but that is that and this is now!  I went to Murphy's Guitars in Bountiful last Saturday to pick it up.  Mike Murphy was my first guitar teacher when I took the beginning group guitar class in High School.  He told me about this awesome little system and I was sold!

It is so cool!  There are two speakers that hook together like so...

Then there is also a mixer and it just fits right into the back of one of the speakers like so...

Ooops!  My foot got in the pic!  Ha ha... now you think that is cool...but watch this!

Simply unlock here...

and you can take out the mixer and put it where ever you want!!

Ooops....foot got in the pic again...sorry about that!  :)  I'm kind of in a hurry right now so deal with the feet! 

I can plug in 4 guitars or 4 mics or 2 guitars with 2 mics or I can listen to my ipod, I can even plug in a piano if I want!!  I am so excited I can hardly stand it!!!!

Here is the grand finale!

WOOOOHOOOOO!!!  I think I played with it for about 3 hours on Sunday!  It was fantastic!  So if you want me to play at your house or your park or your garage or your porch you just give me a shout and I will be there with my little, light, compact system!!!  :)

I will be using this fancy system at my next gig which is a double header - Me for 30 minutes and then my friend Steve has a stand up routine.  Very funny!  It is going to be a great great night so you should all definitely try to come to this one!  It will be well worth the drive, the money (probably $10) and the sides hurting from all the laughing you will do!

This is the very happy end of this very happy blog!