david ramirez

Goodbye Blogspot Hello www.davidramirezmusic.com

2009-03-30T16:26:00.000-07:00

As much fun as I've had with my blogspot my time to retire has come.

My website has finally launched and there just isn't room in my life for two blogs. Thank you so much for following me here and I hope that you will continue to do so on the website.

Check it out and if you're really really really into the music you can take the extra commitment and register for the fan page.

I love you all so much and I can't wait to see you on the site!

Cheers,

David

www.davidramirezmusic.com

It's A Wonderful Life

2009-03-09T15:57:00.000-07:00

I finished tracking last Friday. It's seriously nuts how quickly this project came together.

I met Cason, via phone call, mid January and I was on my way to Nashville 2 weeks later. 5 days after that we were 90% done with the record. And 2 weeks after that it was complete.

Right now it's at Shane Wilsons studio undergoing mixing and in a couple weeks we'll send it to get mastered. All that to say everything is running exactly on time and come mid June 'American Soil' will be stacked 4 boxes high in my closet. (Hopefully on it's way soon after to cd players and ipods across the country)

I'm thrilled at how everything sounds. This project is so colorful and so bold, when I listen to it, I forget that it's my album. I've never seen these songs be so confident. It's like all this time I've been playing to a crowd of 10,000 without a microphone or amp and suddenly someone plugged me in and hit the switch.

Last night I was up till 6 am listening to all the records I've put out; trying hard to remember what all was going on when each of those songs was written and recorded. Doing so was hard but very humbling. The past 8 years have been an incredible ride and I feel like they all have been leading up to this point; this record.

What I mean to say is that I've grown up.

I jump around so much I forget to take a minute to see where I've been and it's nice to know, now that I've taken a minute, that I've moved a bit from where I remember being last.

If I had attempted to record this album 2 years ago, when I originally wanted to, it would've been a waste of a lot of money and a lot of peoples time. The songs weren't quality, the writing was amateur, my voice was inexperienced, the list goes on and on with the point being that the album would have been pitiful.

Completely.

It's nice to know that I'm not only finishing a great project but that it was done in the greatest space and time possible.

I really can't wait to show you.

On another note, 'Birmingham' is done with the press and will be at my place next week. At that same moment my website will be finished and all will be able to purchase a physical copy of the EP. It's not the biggest news but I'm excited.

Also, I'm about to launch a new house tour for April. If you're interested let me know asap and we'll book one.

As always thanks for reading. More soon.

Cheers,

David

Tweeting

2009-02-26T20:52:00.001-08:00

So apparently I've been behind in the online social world. It's come to my attention that "one of the fastest-growing phenomena on the internet" (New York Times) has crept right under my nose and free of my presence. If it weren't for a friend I never would've given "Twitter" a second glance. Sure I've heard the name tossed around a bit but I honestly thought it was an iphone application and since I'm not cool enough to have one of those strapped to my side I didn't think it worth the time to pursue.

Well as of this afternoon I'm a member. For some reason or another I find it extremely fascinating that there might be people in this world that actually care what I'm doing every minute of my day.

Twitter is the facebook status on steroids.

There ad campaign should read something like this:

No one to talk to? No one to text? Well not anymore! The whole galaxy is waiting to hear from you! Join Twitter and you'll never have nothing to do again!

I've only had it 6 hours and I'm trying to find cool things to do so I can "tweet" about them. I finally see just how boring my normal life is.

So all that to say, search for me. You can search my name or "sweetworld". Either one will lead you to my short list of amazing moments.

Tweet,

David

Almost, but not really, Famous

2009-02-10T13:24:00.000-08:00

All the tracking is officially done!

I am though a bit sad. This past week was such a blast but such a blur it's a little hard to put all the pieces together. They did come together though and as I listen over and over again to the rough mix, not only did they come together, they did so beautifully.

Thank you Cason, Will, Tony, Paul, and Tyler for this past week. Not only did all of you put your talent into this project but you really put a lot of heart into it. That in particular was the best part for me to see. Truth is I could've chosen to record anywhere in the country but after spending just three short days with you I know for a fact it wouldn't have been as successful or as meaningful. Thank you all.

I go back to Nashville in a couple weeks for overdubs and to track one more solo piano song. Then we send it to get mixed and mastered. Also, there is talk of pressing the record on vinyl, so all you little hipsters can finally use those dusty old record players you stole from your maw maws and paw paws. Yay!

Some of you have been asking about the track list for the record so without further ado, here it be:

Track 1

Carry Me Like the Wind

Arithmetic

You Only Kiss me When You're Drunk

Good To Be Bad

Mothers and Fathers

Deal Me In

I Could Start Fires

Bloom

I Am Ready To Go Home

Goodnight

A lot of you might be confused as to why I chose to redo more songs than write new ones but I needed these particular "redos" to be given the justice I feel they deserve. A few of these tracks so many of you love, as do I, so I wanted to make them shine to their full potential for us both. I will warn you they will be different. We did this not to necessarily make them better songs but to show a different side of them; a new perspective. I assure you though that they are all fantastic. This is by far the greatest thing I've yet to offer and I hope with all my heart that you can take it in with open arms.

Thanks for all the support so far. All of you have been so good to me.

More pics below and more news to come. Love you all.

Paul worked on and was awarded for Hilary Duff's debut album. Had to snap a pic. It's probably the closest I'll ever get to her.

We went old school on this one. All tape baby.

Paul, Will, Cason, Me, Tyler, Tony

Cheers,

David

The Smoakstack

2009-02-04T20:50:00.000-08:00

Today was the first day of tracking and I'm speechless. We've only completed three songs out of ten and if I died tonight in my sleep my soul would be completely satisfied. I cannot wait to share it with all of you.

Here's a quick run down of what the day looked like.

Cason (producer) picked me up at 9 and we met Will Sales (drummer) and Tyler Burkum (guitarist) for coffee.

Showed up at The Smoakstack (Yes... I know that's misspelled but check it. Paul, the owner/operator/engineer's last name is Moak. Add an "S" and you get "Smoak". So clever.) at 9:45 to start setting up with Paul Moak (guitarist/engineer) and Tony (bassist).

Passed out charts and Cason talked briefly about what we wanted to accomplish with the album.

I ran through the songs once to get everyone acquainted and 7 hours later we had 3 complete tracks. It was amazing!!

Believe me, it's odd for me to be this giddy, I mean what the hell I just made a list? I'm like the fat kid who finally got picked for the team. Seriously.

Enough childhood confessions. Here are some more pics. Two more days left. Cross your fingers!

Paul at work

Wurly/Rhodes/Odd keyboard room

Just making some Grammy's

Tyler on 'You only kiss me when you're Drunk"

About to track 'I could start Fires'

Tyler on lap steel

Will doing the do

Tony, my new best friend

Cheers,

David

Two Days Down

2009-02-03T15:10:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is the big day!

I arrived in Nashville late Sunday night and have been working for the past two days with Cason, the producer. We've been fixing weak parts of songs, rearranging, and getting the tracks charted for the band. It's seriously been a blast. I've never worked with a producer before and to get such honest evaluations and critique from Cason has been so good for me.

We start tracking in the studio tomorrow and will be until Friday night. I'm pumped more than a pair of Reeboks.

Here are some pics of the process so far. More soon.

Cason charting the tracks

Piano in Cason's studio

Yep... I do this too.

Love,

David

New Record

2009-01-28T14:40:00.001-08:00

This past weekend I played at House of Blues in Dallas, TX. It was incredible. Thank you to everyone that showed up in the D/FW area. Because of you we sold out the room which made it a wonderful evening. I'll be back in Dallas on March 6th at City Tavern (my favorite bar there in the big D) so I hope to see you guys out again for a great night of music.

I'll post some pics from the HOB here pretty soon so check back!

On a bigger note, I leave in 4 days for Nashville to record my new album. Yay! I'm super pumped. I'm cutting a full length and bringing in some incredible musicians to help make it fantastic. I'll be working with some of Matt Kearney's band as well as Derek Webb's producer. Stay tuned for more updates. I'll be posting pics of the process all next week to give you a little insiders peek of what all goes down.

This is my first time to record a full length since 2005 and with so much new material and direction I'm excited to see how it turns out. Cross your fingers for me and get ready to hear some new David tunes.

Tentative date for release is June '09.

My website is kind of in the works still BUT you can purchase "Birmingham" (www.davidramirezmusic.com) my latest 5 track EP in the store section. Just $7 will take you in and through the whimsical mind of Ramirez.

Thanks for all the love guys. I know things have been quiet on my side since I got off the road but they will be picking up again starting this Monday. Buckle up!!

David

Fluke?

2008-12-28T22:21:00.000-08:00

I'm never quite sure what to do with myself or my thoughts at the end of each year. I feel like I should give the last 12 months some thought, celebration, maybe even some mourning but am immediately distracted by the song and dance on January 1st that welcomes the next 12. Don't get me wrong I enjoy celebrating the coming months as much as the next guy but this time, this year, for 2008, I must tip my hat and take a moment of silence, for I'm leaving behind what has been the best year of my life.

There is no way I could ever explain to anyone, even those closest to me, what I was apart of this year. It was a revolution of the soul and mind and it was an accident, a fluke. I was depressed and angry so I sold what I owned and traveled the country living out of my car. I had no idea where I was going. I just wanted to drive around and skip out on life for 7 months and in the first 3 I had lived more life than I had in the past 24. I fell in love with breathing and it was not my intention.

This is what followed:

I had no idea how large America was or how diverse in landscape. It leaves me speechless just seeing a glimpse of how many people populate this great country and how many opinions and dreams come with each of those people. I've traveled overseas to many parts of Italy, China, and England thinking I was in heaven with what I saw not knowing that some of the most beautiful parts of the world are in my own backyard. I played volleyball on the beaches of Florida and stood in the snow on the mountains of Washington. I walked the campus of Princeton in New Jersey and slept in the dorms of Stanford in California. I drove with the windows down from coast to coast (twice) smelling the American air and for the first time being proud to call this place home. I ate food native to the cities I visited. I drank the beer that is brewed only in those towns. I slept on couches in houses across the country and in rest stops across our highway system. I fell in love with dogs, guacamole, and silence. I stood at the edge of the grand canyon, watched the sunset, and camped under those Arizona stars. I hiked halfway down that same canyon and took my first in the wild poop. I turned 25. I saw a sister go off to college and another learn to drive. I heard my brother say he wants to get married. I saw my folks more than I have since I graduated. I lost $400 at the tables in Las Vegas, Nevada and made $500 playing music in Mansfield, Texas. I had my first blow out and changed my first tire in California. I met my first call girl and went to my first gay bar in Alabama. I'd wear the same clothes for four days and not shower for 7. I lost a girlfriend. I got that girlfriend back.

I lived in Nashville, Tennessee.

I lived in my Kia Rio.

I lived in Austin, Texas.

I recorded a new EP. I played music.

I played a lot of music.

I learned that I need people in my life that love and care for me; that I'm not an island. I learned that I need to love and care for the people in my life because they are not islands.

I cried more times this year than in the past 20 years of my life. I also laughed more. I even laughed once so hard that I literally threw up. It was fantastic.

So here I am sitting in a Clarion Hotel across the street from the Seattle airport after playing my last show of the year. 2 days left in 2008. If the damn bar didn't close so early in this hotel I'd go buy myself a shot but as it does I'll settle for a Pepsi and cigarette.

So this is me tipping my hat and acknowledging all that went down. Fluke or no fluke I had a great time and to all that are reading I hope the same for you. If it didn't happen the way you had hoped get ready because another 12 months are awaiting your wishes. So make them well and pursue them hard. May 2009 be your best year to date.

Happy New Year and thanks for reading.

David Ramirez