No matter how long I have been doing this there is still always more to learn. Deciding to get into music production was truly “falling down the rabbit hole.” Just when you think you have learned something, all you have really figured out is how much more there is to learn. Intriguing, frustrating, compelling. It never stops…..

There was a small glitch with the new podcast episode on iTunes. It was showing as episode 4, but playing episode 3. This error has been corrected and you can now listen to Chris’ mindless ramblings about luggage. We know you were REALLY waiting for that!!
12 Inches Of Cox Episode 004

There is no doubt that Duck Sauce’s “Barbra Streisand” is one of the most popular songs of the past year. Some would even argue that it is one of the most fresh and original tracks around…… or is it????

There is no doubt that those two words they added (“Barbra” and “Streisand”) gave it a unique twist and easy to name vocal hook, but the true essence of the track is the music.

Are Duck Sauce geniuses, or another in a long line of electronic music P.T. Barnums?
Take a listen to this track by Boney M. from 1979 and judge for yourself.

I know, I know…. I am being berated by many people for not posting any updates. Believe me it is not because of laziness. Since the middle of July I have been on a non-stop work and travel spree that has been so intense that I have rarely found the time do actually TELL people what I have been up to.

I have some great footage and stories from the road, and will start to open the spout soon….. I promise.

People often ask me, “so what are you working on now?” It’s asked in interviews, in clubs, and by peers and friends. I don’t know how to answer this many times because SO many things can change during the course of a project that it might not turn out to be the project you previously announced. I get so nervous when I see producers say “I’m in the studio working on…… with ……” (I’m guilty of it myself)

Why is this bad? When you announce the birth of something on the night that it is still being created, too many things can change that will leave people asking in the future “whatever happened to that song that you said was coming out?” It’s like the tradition of not discussing a pregnancy until the 2nd trimester. Even if you did an amazing job in the studio, the project is still at the mercy of management, labels, promo people, lawyers, etc…. Maybe the artist gets dropped, pregnant, or involved in some scandal that halts an entire album (been through ALL of those). In other words, until a record gets released, it does a better service to the artist and all involved to be a little more discreet. Plus, it adds a nice air of mystery when you can just release a project and people can THEN view the “behind the scenes” moments. For that same reason I hate seeing specials on how a movie was made BEFORE I have actually seen the movie.

I know it’s all about hype, promo, and bragging rights to tell the world what you are doing the second you are doing it, but I personally enjoy the privacy and uninhibited nature of the recording studio. Of secretly working in the studio on some monster that you will soon unleash on the world!

So with this is mind I can honestly tell you that I am currently working on:

1. a track by a person who used to be in a big band
2. a track by another person who is still in a big band
3. a track by a big artist working with another big artist
4. a track by an artist who hopes to be big someday
5. a track by an artist that you have not heard of (yet)
6. a track by a guy who makes tracks for other people

There! Time to get to work………..