As a musician, one of the greatest joys is finding people who truly understand and share your vision, and have the raw talent to help bring it to life. Over the years, I've been incredibly fortunate to work with some of the most talented individuals in the music industry, but my partnership with Dave Way stands out as a defining force in my creative journey.
Dave and I first crossed paths when we worked together on my album The Tragic End of a Dreamer - and then again on The Savior, which went on to earn a GRAMMY nomination for Best Immersive Audio Album in 2019. From the moment we stepped into the studio, there was an undeniable synergy between us. Dave's keen ear, technical prowess, and innate understanding of my musical style made him the perfect co-pilot for this project.
Since that first album together, Dave has been an integral part of my creative process, co-producing and engineering my subsequent albums, including Lifelike, X, Short St., and most recently, Cottonwood, coming out this May. Our collaboration has become a well-oiled machine, with each project building upon the foundation of trust, respect, and shared passion for pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the studio.
When we set out to create Short St last year., Dave and I knew we wanted to capture something special. We began, as we always do, by reviewing my bare-bones demos and mining my vault of unfinished gems, looking for the songs that would form the heart of the album. Once we had our roadmap, we dove headfirst into the recording process, laying down tracks at my private studios in Virginia Beach and Malibu.
One of the things I love most about working with Dave is his ability to assemble a dream team of musicians who can bring our vision to life. For Short St., we were joined by some of the industry's most talented players, including Matt Chamberlain on drums, Dan Rothchild on bass, Kirk Hellie on guitars, and Phil Shenale on keys, among others. With Dave at the helm, we were able to create a sonic landscape that was both intimate and expansive, capturing the raw emotion and vulnerability at the core of the album.
Of course, no discussion of my collaborations with Dave would be complete without mentioning Bob Clearmountain, who has mixed four of my albums, including Short St. Bob's ability to craft mixes that are both technically flawless and emotionally resonant is truly unparalleled, and his work on Short St. in Dolby Atmos elevated the album to new heights.
As I reflect on my journey as a musician, I am filled with gratitude for the incredible team of collaborators who consistently help bring my deeply personal work to life. At the center of it all is Dave Way, whose passion, dedication, and unwavering belief in my music has been a constant source of inspiration. Together, we've created some things that I believe will stand the test of time.