Shine A Light

By Scott Coner

Country Artist

 

            So earlier today, we all gathered at the studio here in Nashville. Each person had been hand picked for this day of tracking. I hadn’t thought about it much, but today things started to become clear. I was surrounded by some of the best players around.  I had been putting this group together with my engineer for quite a while. You see, I am finishing up an album that I have been working on for quite a while. And these final tracks were very important to me. I wanted to bring all of the primary players I had worked with together at one time and do four songs as one group to finish up the project.

            The keyboard player works with Clint Black and also is music director at The Flamingo in Vegas for Olivia Newton John. One of the guitar players and the drummer play for The Matthew West Band, and they have the #6 single on the Christian charts this week. The other guitar player has toured with nearly everyone you have ever heard of, and the lady singing with me is in Lynyrd Skynyrd. My wife, Cynthia was there doing film and photography. Then, there was me. This type of realization makes a guy realize the importance of being prepared.

            To be honest, as this process is still fully motion, I find myself to be emotional. It’s probably because I am nearly done with the album. But, I also realize how fortunate I have been to be a part of something so special. At dinner tonight, my wife had to leave the table to take a phone call. I sat there like a fool with big tears in my eyes. I was embarrassed, but too grateful to care what anybody else thought. More than anything, I need to tell God just how appreciative I am for this life he has allowed me to have. My children are beautiful and wonderful. My wife is perfect in every way possible. My parents are healthy. And I have been allowed to taste the dream that I have wanted for so long. 

            I don’t know when this ride ends. I didn’t even know I had a ticket in the first place until I was in the middle of things. I guess what I wanted to say is that I am very happy, very whole at this moment. Please don’t think that I am bragging about any of this because that is not what this is. Instead, I come very humbly, very thankfully to simply proclaim that I am very pleased and appreciative with how things finally turned out. I have seen my share of dark moments. We all have. But just know that life isn’t a collection of the dark times. Instead, life is about the light that shines for all of us if we are simply willing to have faith. I have truly had moments along this path when I didn’t know how much further I could go. But I had faith. I wasn’t strong because of my faith in myself. I found strength because I have always felt like God was in control of and for me. He has continually picked me from the fires that I alone started. He has allowed me learn. He has allowed me wisdom that I couldn’t obtain on my own. And he has answered my prayers. Life is Good. I am happy. Now, I’m going to have to quit writing now. Those tears keep on coming and I think maybe I could use a few Midol. And maybe some chocolate…

            By the way, the music we started today sounds better than I ever thought it could. It’s kind of funny what some light can do.  

'Roll With The Changes...'

By Country Artist Scott Coner

“As soon as you are able, women I am willing

To make the break that we are on the brink of

My cup is on the table, my love is spilling

Waiting here for you to take and drink of...

So if you’re tired of the same old story

Oh, turn some pages

I will be here when you are ready

To roll with the changes…."

-- K. Cronin / R.E.O Speed Wagon

            It’s cold today here in Indiana. The water for my horses is frozen, I can’t get the barn any warmer than it is, and my hands hurt from being out in the weather. I picked my parents up at the airport early this morning when they came in from their home in Florida, and I could see the shock on their faces as the cold wind whipped around them. These are the days that I long to be anywhere else but where I’m from. I grew up outside of the town that I currently live outside of, and I have to tell you that I need to leave as soon as possible.

            When I grew up here, it was a much smaller, much more personal community than it is now. My friends were here, my family pretty much all lived on the same road, and I was comfortable. I figured things would always stay the same. Man, was that ever an oversight. I still have a handful of friends around here, but we don’t really have anything in common. We rarely even see each other, and there isn’t much to say.  One of my childhood friends sells cars, and the other sells insurance. They are great guys, and I care deeply about them, but it sure sounds like a John Prine song doesn’t it? We just drifted apart. Our values are different, the way we raise kids is different, and what we enjoy is different. Long story short is, I’m ready to get on out of here for good.

            The music is finally starting to get its own legs, my daughters are both pretty much raised, and my worst nightmare is that I don’t finally seek some change in my life. I stayed around to be with my parents if you want to know the truth, but they have moved on as well. They stay in Ft. Myers in the winter and travel most of the summer, and I am very happy for them. It’s me and my immediate family who need to move away. I just don’t have much to keep me here year-round anymore. I expect I’ll keep my house and farm. After all, it’s where my kids grew up. But I need to begin the process of looking around seriously for a different place to land when I'm in Nashville. I spend way too much time in hotels when I’m there, and I never feel fully relaxed. Life changes us in ways we never expected, doesn’t it?

Scott Coner ( Photo by Cynnamae Media Productions)

            When you are young, you think you have all of the time in the world. That big clock in the sky doesn’t even show itself until you begin to hear this very loud ticking, and you start to get things in perspective pretty quickly. There is so much I want to do. So many things I want to see with my wife and kids. I stand back these days and look at my music, listen to my songs, and I can’t always remember writing them all. There was a time I didn’t believe anything good was ever going to happen for me, and yet, finally things seem to have turned around. It leaves me with a warm, satisfied feeling in my heart. But I still feel detached where I’m at today, and I know it is close to time for me to move along. I don’t know why, but I expect that will be a sad, tearful day. I might just be relieved to be honest.

            I hope as you have read this you haven’t found yourself starting to think I am not appreciative for what I have. That’s not the case at all. Instead, I am truly grateful for all that has happened for me, and I always will be. What I hope you take away from this is something far more personal and real than my own complaints and ramblings. I hope you take a look at your life and your position, and do a self -check. Are you happy? Are you complete? Is there something missing that could actually be corrected? Don’t wait too long. Don’t put things off. Begin the process of change. Remember, it is a process and it doesn’t usually take place in one day.

            The things I need to do are scary for me. I get uncomfortable whenever things start to change. I’m a creature of habit. But change is usually good because it challenges us to be aware of things and allow for a new approach. I worry about being on the road with my music. I worry about being away from my family. I even worry about my farm and animals. But I have worked hard, and so has my wife. It is time to put all of our cards on the table and play the hand we have. And yes, it scares me quite a bit. I hope you will do the same thing. Place your bets people and believe in yourselves… and always "Keep Pushin’". (By the way, I sure miss Gary Richrath)

“Well, it’s coming together and I finally feel like a man

I never thought I’d be where I am

Every day I work a little bit harder

I keep pushing on.…"

-- K. Cronin / R.E.O Speed Wagon   

         Scott Coner is a country singer-songwriter who has worked in the studio with legendary artists such as Tanya Tucker, T. Graham Brown and Charlie Daniels. You can learn more about him and hear his music at www.Facebook.com/ScottConerMusic, www.YouTube.com/user/ScottConer, and www.ScottConer.com. Follow Scott at www.Twitter.com/ScottConer.

About My New Short Story 'When An Angel Cried'

By Scott Coner

Country Singer-Songwriter & Author

(Scott Coner will release the new short story "When An Angel Cried" at 1 p.m. CST Tuesday, Feb. 2, at www.ScottConer.com. The story is based on his heartfelt song and video about domestic abuse called "When The Angels Cry". In this blog article, he shares how this life-changing project came about. You can watch the video at https://youtu.be/SXUUgLl43TA )

         The characters in my song and short story on domestic abuse have been with me for a long time. Sometimes some of the people in my songs have a way of residing within me without anyone else knowing about them. They flash through my heart and mind without my beckoning them forward. They aren’t always welcome to be honest.

         I didn’t know for sure if I even wanted to record the song "When The Angels Cry", much less write the accompanying short story, "When An Angel Cried". I had carried the song with me for the better part of 20 years before I ever recorded it. It’s a dark theme, and I didn’t want people thinking I considered myself some kind of authority on the matter, because I’m not. Although like most of you, I do have some pretty strong opinions about the subject.

         My wife, Cyndi, has always been pretty descriptive when she tells a story. She doesn’t get in too big of a hurry and pays attention to details. In truth, she can tell me the story line about a movie she saw, and I usually don’t even feel like I need to see it any longer. So, when she told me about her own mother being abused after divorcing her biological father, it was like standing in the kitchen with all of the broken glass.  We hadn’t been married long at all when she brought all of those terrible details to life. I remember it was a weekday probably around 5:30 p.m. She was making dinner while I sat in the living room fiddling around with an Am chord. As I played, I thought about what it must have been like to be in her shoes. It didn’t seem fair to me that her young life had been altered in such a way -- that her loving, Christian home was turned upside down simply because of some terrible decisions by one person. But, it happens in millions of homes around the globe, and I suppose all we can do is try to break free from the chain of events and make a pact with ourselves to never be part of the problem.

         As I began writing the song, I wrote pretty much what Cyndi had told me. But, by the time I got to the bridge, a different character took over the story line. I didn't want my wife to re-live those experiences over and over again. So I decided to give the abused woman in the song more strength and common sense than Cyndi had been forced to witness first hand.   

         Cyndi put the video together herself last year. She told me where to stand, what to do, and where to look. She brought the actors into our home and shot their parts. She had scouted other locations, but it felt odd asking people if we could shoot a spousal abuse video in their home because it “just felt right”.

         By the time Cyndi edited the video, I had written most of the short story in my mind, and all I needed to do was write it down. I wanted to keep the story kind of barren the same way we had approached the recording of the song. Cyndi has ways of “classing” things up when she touches them. I have watched the video several times, and I always seem to see something else that she allowed to stay in a shot that’s significant in some way.

         I’m not in any way qualified to tell any woman what she should do if she finds herself in an abusive situation. But I believe I do have the right to say that everyone matters and no woman deserves to be treated badly. I have told this to my own daughters over and over again. I will never understand why anyone would stay in such a dark situation.

         I guess I just now realized all I can do is write about how I composed the song and wrote the short story. This is just one of those really heavy topics I don’t know how to approach... one of the many things that shouldn’t be in our society.

         Scott Coner is a country singer-songwriter who has worked in the studio with legendary artists such as Tanya Tucker, T. Graham Brown and Charlie Daniels. You can learn more about him and hear his music at www.Facebook.com/ScottConerMusic, www.YouTube.com/user/ScottConer, and www.ScottConer.com. Follow Scott at www.Twitter.com/ScottConer.

My Journey Into Music... So Far (Part Two)

By Scott Coner

Country Singer-Songwriter

(Following is the second part of a series of blog articles offering my experiences as a singer-songwriter.)

         It is unfortunate that everything has a price tag on it these days. But all of the steps required in music or just about anything else have a cost attached to them. The good news is that you can go at your own pace. This also will allow you time to be certain of every decision and every step you take along the way.

         These days there are several hot spots around the country that are more open and willing to help you during the development of your career. Los Angeles may be one of those areas you want to consider. Out there, you have all types of music genres as well as opportunities to work in soundtracks and commercials. New York has always been another area, as well as Seattle, and of course Nashville. I chose to work in Nashville for several reasons. The obvious reason was it was very close to where I live. The other was its openness and long history in country and Americana music. But, I have also had a real interest in possible opportunities in L.A.

         I always encourage young people to pursue an education with at least a minor in business. One thing is certain and that is you will need to have the capacity to look at things with some understanding from a business standpoint. I also think it is a good idea to seek advice from someone you love and trust, because it is always helpful to have someone else’s perspective.

         Below, I am going to list a few things you might want to consider as you begin. Please remember that I don’t know you or where you live, so certain items or needs and services might cost more or less money. Also, note that this list may not meet your requirements in any way at all and all of this doesn’t need to happen at once. It will probably be part of the your process.

         * A checking account with your music company name: This account is where you should track all expenses from including travel, recording, payments for services, etc., but you might see fit to use your existing account you have had all along.

         * Federal ID number: You need a tax number for tax purposes. All expenses should be kept track of. This is only good practice and it also helps you keep a finger on the pulse at all times of your investments. (But note that you may not need to do this just yet.)

         * Recording: I am not a huge fan of too many “at home” recordings, although there have been some great ones put together in a few basements. Just remember that your songs will be listened to by people who listen to some of the finest music on the planet every day, so you want to present yourself the best way possible. If you plan on going to a studio, you can negotiate a package for a group of songs, or you can record one or two at a time. Often times, you can get your song across nicely with an acoustic arrangement.

         * Web Site: This is important for all kinds of reasons. Be certain you have a design that is easy and practical for others to check out your music, your bio, and your photos and videos, along with any other pertinent information you feel needs to be shared.

         * E-Mail Address: Obviously, you need this. I find myself checking my mail every time I look at a phone.

         * ASCAP, BMI or SESAC: You will want one of these companies to have all of your music registered. There are a few more companies like these you might want to check out. (I am with BMI, and I can’t say they have been much help so far.)

         * Facebook, Sound Cloud, Reverb Nation, etc.: These sites allow access to all types of people all over the world. Pretty amazing when you think about it.

         * Photo Work: You will need lots of photos made. We live in a digital world, so at least you don’t have to buy film. Always seek photos that seem to represent you in some way. Each of us has a certain identity, and that should always be conveyed the best way possible. I’m sure you will have a lot more to work with than

I do that’s for sure.

         * Video Work: I have grown to appreciate videos. If done well, they can give the listener even more to consider from the song.

         * Education: Try to study your field of interest as much as possible. Consider all of the different types of production, the artists and bands. You will find there are some pretty amazing artists out there. I have long considered myself a student of classic rock and classic country. To me, these genres both represent a part of my roots. In a way, I suppose it’s like a guitarist studying the Delta blues to better understand the craft. I find myself reading about all types of music and artists simply because they hold a special interest to me. I don’t even have to enjoy the music that much. I just have an interest in their approach to their craft.

         Anyway, this is a start at least. There is so much I would like to go over with you, but in truth, as you begin each path, you may find that you have different needs and interests. Just remember that in order for you to do this, other things may need to be put on the back burner, but life happens in the midst of it all.  It is impossible to have a specific plan going into this business. Instead, you can only prepare for everything the best you can and try to be open for changes as they arise. I hope this helps you in some small way.

 

         I look at music the same way I look at staying in shape. I can do well in the gym. I like to work out and feel the burn and the sweat. But it is the time away from the gym that offers the real challenge. If I work out hard but eat like a pig, I probably won’t accomplish what I want. It’s the same thing in music. The short time spent in the studio will be wasted unless you truly seek out and study the very best way to reach your goals. Always be aware of your time and money, be kind to people along the way, and listen to what everyone has to say. One day the fog will lift and you will see the road you need to take. That will be a special day for you. I promise that if you give your all, you will never regret the time, money and energy you invest.

         Scott Coner is a country singer-songwriter who has worked in the studio with legendary artists such as Tanya Tucker, T. Graham Brown and Charlie Daniels. You can learn more about him and hear his music at www.Facebook.com/ScottConerMusic, www.YouTube.com/user/ScottConer, and www.ScottConer.com. Follow Scott at www.Twitter.com/ScottConer.

(Stay tuned for future installments of "My Journey Into Music... So Far".)

The Perfect Song

By Scott Coner

Country Artist (and Proud Father)

            Twenty years ago this weekend, my first daughter was born. I was honestly in shock as all of the evidence of my wife’s very large stomach finally came into fruition. You see, I wasn’t really prepared for much of anything at that particular point in my life. I remember the day we were to bring her home from the hospital. I was supposed to go outside and bring the truck around to the front doors of the hospital and pick up Cynthia and the new human that I didn’t really know very well yet. I remember realizing I didn’t know how to put together a child's car seat and freaking out in front of everybody as I slammed the box on the sidewalk possibly screaming out words that didn’t match my adorable character.

            My fingers were wrapped around the steering wheel for all it was worth as we drove away from the nurses that had been helping Cyndi and me. I looked over to my right every now and again and could barely comprehend that this tiny humanoid was going to be part of my life as long as I lived. We stopped at my mom and dad’s before we went home to show my mom what I had made. We were all kind of spellbound as this tiny, skinny little baby opened her charcoal eyes. I never saw it coming, but everything in me melted like candlewax. This very small version of me and my wife took hold of me at that moment and has never let go. All I can say is that I am so glad she did. She set the stage that would allow me to feel feelings inside myself that I didn’t know existed. The love that I have felt since that day has continued to amaze me. 

 Video: Happy 20th Birthday Emi

            Three years after Emily was born, we found out that we had another little girl on the way. I remember being scared that I wouldn’t have any love left for her because Emily Sae already owned it all. But as I said, because of Emily, my heart had been conditioned to love the next baby every bit as much as the first one.

            I had started writing “The Perfect Song” as I sat on our bed watching Emily lie there as I played guitar. I must have set the song aside for quite a while, but I finished it sitting cross-legged next to my youngest daughter Taylor’s crib. I never planned on doing anything with the song, because it was so specifically about my own daughters. But, Cyndi has been making this “slide-show” for Emily’s birthday this weekend with the song as a backdrop, and I just wanted to share it with you. A lot of things are changing with my music very soon, and I don’t know how much longer I will be free to release little songs like this. The thing is, I know the song isn’t something that will speak to everyone. But it might speak to you in some way. I guess most of us have watched our kids play in the leaves or run across the yard as the sunshine danced across their hair. Those are the moments that God allowed me to have that I’ll always hold in my heart. My daughters have defined the man that I have become. So, as I’m driving to Wilmore, Ky., this weekend to see her on her birthday, I hope you can take a few minutes and allow me to share with you the story about two little girls that have truly blessed me. They are my “Perfect Song”, something far, far better than anything I could ever hope to write. Happy Birthday, Emily Sae Coner. I love you. 

My Journey Into Music… So Far (Part One)

By Scott Coner

Country Artist

(Following is the first of a series of blog articles offering my experiences as a singer-songwriter and performing artist in country, Americana and Southern Rock.)

            The music business isn’t a refined science. There are many ways to get somewhere in this business, and to be honest, they have all eluded me. My approach has been consistency. Simply forging ahead even when there didn’t seem to be any hope has been my policy. It is funny how things begin to take shape if you can remain standing though. You begin to notice that behind each curtain there was a purpose of some type. What may have appeared to be a waste of time and money might have turned out to be a stepping-stone.

            I have spent my private life involved in some type of construction for the most part. I have worked for contractors, but mostly I have run my own show. I found out pretty early that I had a knack for estimating and managing work. I seemed to excel at putting a job together along with a scope and timeline that would not only meet the clients needs and expectations, but it would also make a reasonable profit for everyone involved. The most important part of this type of work though is to have open conversation with a team that communicates well with others, as well as with me. As in most things in this world, it is always important to surround yourself with honest and competent people.

            I have approached the music pretty much the same way I have approached construction. I knew, and I think most of us know, that the whole process starts with a song. Now, I am a singer-songwriter with a specific skill set, so I felt that putting together a great team early on was probably the most important first ingredient. This team needed to work around any of my weaknesses. Then we could analyze and finalize where we needed to go from there. I wanted a group of players, along with an engineer who understood where I was coming from musically. I didn’t want a group of session players showing up for three hours at a studio, knocking out three songs, and calling things done. I began working with an engineer that was from a different musical background than me, but who understood where I wanted to go and how I wanted the songs to sound. For instance, I wanted very big sounding drums, so I would need to record in a room with tall ceilings with an outstanding drummer. (I have always used Kenny Aarnoff as my example as far as a drummer goes.)

            I didn’t want too much of the “sugary” type background singers in my mix, so I do a lot of my own backing vocals and I also work with Marcia Ramirez as often as possible. (In my opinion, she is one of the finest vocalists I have ever known.)  Marcia understands the importance of dialect and the layering of vocals. She is willing to “over-sing” her parts throughout a song, bringing all sorts of ideas I hadn’t taken into consideration for the final mix. We do the same thing with different guitar hooks, textures, pedals, bass lines, and whatever else. Then, we put together a “rough” mix to live with for a few weeks. After listening to the “ruff”, we meet to begin the final mix.

Scott Coner with acclaimed singer Marcia Ramirez (Photo by Cynnamae Media Productions)

            Early on, I had a friend back in Indiana helping lay some of my songs down using a Pro Tools application. This approach worked, but it also had its limitations simply because it had a tendency to close certain doors for future performance and production ideas. I have also used a BR-1600 to record on, but this was almost as limiting. What I do now is play the song on video using a loop for guitar if I have lead arrangements and send the file to my engineer/producer. I will usually discuss Ideas right there on the video either before or immediately after the song, and then we proceed from there.

            Okay, so that is a simplified version of how I work on my songs. You probably have a better and more advanced approach, but I have to keep things kind of simple. I’m a pretty simple guy. So, let’s assume you already have a large bag of hit songs written and recorded. What would be your next step? Well, to me, the next step was pretty obvious. I needed to launch a social media campaign. I needed to reach out into the world and let people know about what it is that I do, and why and how I do it. I didn’t understand how all of that works, and I still don’t, so I hired a publicist. A publicist is a pretty big part of the puzzle from here on out, so I suggest that you try your best to locate someone that you like and trust. After all, you are about to give that person access to your entire library of music, photos and thoughts.  You might want to look at their current and more recent clients. Check out their “brand”. Did the publicist do a solid job representing that artist or band? Do the colors, the fonts, the press, and photos work well with who and what is being represented? Could you see any type of growth or other transformation? Can you afford this service at this time? Do you have enough material put together that would allow for this to take place now? Or do you need to get back into the trenches and maybe get some video work and photos done, then see where you stand? I think the most important step is to be willing to take your time. Don’t rush things.

            I already had photos and some video work started, so I felt that the time was right for me to get started developing some media attention. I had already written one book and was in the process of completing another. I had 30 or 40 songs in the can, and I had already experienced some success overseas on their charts and had some radio play in the U.S. We got started with some pretty dismal numbers at first, but we worked together and discussed how we planned to attack each quarter of the year, and built up some pretty nice numbers. I found out that I truly enjoyed writing blog articles and Facebook and Twitter entries. I also began to develop a very personal involvement with the folks that were following my music. I could see their families, their likes and dislikes right there on my computer. It began to look like maybe we could get some wind under our wings. We needed to take another step.

            Managers seem to be effective only if you have more than you can find time to manage on your own. Through recent years, I have tried a few, and although they were nice people, I can’t tell you that they got anything of value done. Especially when you consider the cost factor. So, my next step had to be a deliberate one that was willing to take risks and put my cards on the table. I hired a music attorney. This person is knowledgeable in all facets of the industry, and they can be very effective in getting certain doors open when the time is right. An attorney will probably only take you on if he or she like and believes in the music. They need to see you have spent ample time on development of your brand. And finally, they need to feel like they can take the fruits of your labor and develop some type of deal.

            Remember, everything we are going over here has to be in your own time. You may need to take baby steps. You might even need to get a second job in order to save up the money to get this done because it is an expensive start-up. But if it is in your heart, you really don’t have much of a choice. You just have to figure out how to get things done within your own budget and timetable. I have always said there are people that play golf; others are season ticket holders for sports teams; and some drive fancy cars. I am like none of those people. I am a songwriter. These songs are important to me. Sound is important to me. It is where my passion is.

            I am aware that this is an incredibly thin overview of what I have done and how I have done it. But, if it is in your heart, you will find a way. Enjoy the journey. Enjoy the people you meet along the way, and allow yourself to grow from all of the new experiences that the world of music has to offer. I can only tell you from my own experience that it has been a fun and exciting trip so far. In this world, most everyone is a little bit different. They see things more colorfully and challenge me in ways that I had never before considered. I have stood shoulder to shoulder with some pretty amazing and talented people, and I wouldn’t change it for the world. I am certain your trip will be pretty special in its own way.

            Scott Coner is a country singer-songwriter who has worked in the studio with legendary artists such as Tanya Tucker, T. Graham Brown and Charlie Daniels. You can learn more about him and hear his music at www.Facebook.com/ScottConerMusic, www.YouTube.com/user/ScottConer, and www.ScottConer.com. Follow Scott at www.Twitter.com/ScottConer.

(Stay tuned for part two of "My Journey Into Music... So Far".)

It's All About That Tone

By Scott Coner

Country Artist

When I first began playing guitar, my appreciation for music began changing around the same time. I wasn’t really exposed to FM music until I was around 15 years old, so as I have said countless times, I listened to country music that my parents listened to, and I had an AM radio in my bedroom that played whatever Top 40 pop hits were on the charts.

            It was around this time that I washed the family car and my dad’s work truck on the weekends for extra spending money. One weekend was a little different though. My older sister must have needed her Maverick washed, so I worked on it as well. I remember exactly where it was parked in the backyard as I fiddled around with an 8-track tape called “Toys In the Attic” by a band called Aerosmith. I was scrubbing the tires when “Walk This Way” came on. I had never heard anything like it before. The drums at the front of the song were cool, but when Joe Perry cut loose on the guitar hook, I saw guitar possibilities in high definition.

            These days, most of us have heard that song a million times on the radio. We know about the drugs and drama that followed that band around for several decades. And we know about, at least to some degree, how many outstanding songs they have released. But for me, as far as that band goes, everything comes back to Joe Perry. His guitar work is outstanding, and the “tone” of his guitar is dark and deep.

            There have been several of these bands around that just had a “sound” or a “tone” that is so recognizable that the listener only needs a second to establish just who is on the radio. My mind goes to the bands Boston, AC/DC, ZZ Top, Dire Straits, or Pink Floyd. These bands came to us with strong music, but they had a sound that was theirs and only theirs. 

Scott Coner performs (Photo by Cynnamae Media Productions)

            In today’s music, I sometimes think this variable may be missing. I don’t think this lack of a trademark sound is missing only in the current rock genre. I believe it is missing in a big way in country music as well. Maybe the business of music has changed in a way that is based on money. There are union players in Nashville that are so good, so amazing, that they could easily play and record up to an album a day every day of the week. This is without a doubt remarkable, and I don’t mean to take anything away from such a talent. It saves time and money to be this precise at anything. But, if this is happening at a large scale around Nashville, don’t you think in the end, most of the music begins to get “sterilized” in some way? Have you not noticed that nearly all of the tones, the vocal mixes, the drums, as well as the guitars, tend to sound alike in certain ways these days?

There is an outstanding documentary on Netflix right now called “The Wrecking Crew”. The show documents the process of an outstanding group of West Coast session players and how they shaped a large portion of 1960s and 1970s pop music. I will freely admit that some of those, if not most of those tracks, were perfect. But I am not sure that this is happening today, and I am also certain that part of the contributing factor is technology itself. Pro-Tools, computers and keyboards can replace pieces and parts on a track that end up sounding cold and slick and maybe a little bit too “un-human”.

            I started thinking about all of this the other day while listening to some older Dwight Yoakam. His sound has always pretty much been his. And yes, I am also aware that his sound was loosely based on Buck Owens. But if you listen to “Long White Cadillac”, you can hear what Dwight was about. He had a sound that was his. His production was outstanding, and that guitar “tone” was alive and well living in the forefront of the songs.

            It has been a natural movement for me to pull away from the type of recording that occurs in some of the studios. I found myself pretty unhappy too many days in a row after working on a song, then losing its heart and soul during the recording process. I am in no way being critical of anything or anyone. It was and is just my approach, and I didn’t want to lose sight of what I was trying to accomplish. To me, it would be like getting your picture taken and somebody making you wear an ugly sweater for the picture even though you didn’t bring it to the photo shoot. It’s not my sweater, and it wasn’t the sound I had in mind. Sometimes it might be best to stand your ground and give BillCosby back his shirt.

            I’m from Indiana, and when I was a teenager, John Mellencamp was a big deal in our neck of the woods. I remember him talking about why certain people found him a little bit hard to deal with, and this very issue was one of the primary problems. He wanted big-sounding drums, so he hired Kenny Aronoff. He had Larry Crane and Mike Wanchic on guitar, and he had a sound that was all his own. I admire that. I think we need more of that attitude. Mr. Mellencamp might have needed to work on his people skills a little, but he brought serious game.

            So, if you’re reading this and you happen to be an artist, I guess I want to challenge you to be who you are. If you wrote the song, don’t allow the song to be lost of its energy. But be careful. Many of the players in Nashville also have the ability to take a mediocre song and make it a hit. It’s a fine line. Personally, I have found a good way to hold on to your ideas is to pre-record the song before you record in a major studio. If you have guitar hooks, background harmonies, beats, or whatever, bring that information to a preliminary meeting. See what your team thinks, listen to their ideas, and allow the music to flow. Remember, it’s your song.       

            Scott Coner is a country singer-songwriter who has worked in the studio with legendary artists such as Tanya Tucker, T. Graham Brown and Charlie Daniels. You can learn more about him and hear his music at www.Facebook.com/ScottConerMusic, www.YouTube.com/user/ScottConer, and www.ScottConer.com. Follow Scott at www.Twitter.com/ScottConer.