BEHIND THE SCENES

Check back every week for updates on the recording process, from pre-production through to the CD release party!  We'll try to cover everything from songwriting to recording setup, to arrangement sessions to a report on the concert (if you absolutely can't be there in person!), through post-production. 

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2/19/08
Wow - it's been over a month since our last "update" - time is going quickly and the concert is quickly approaching! There's been so much done, but also much left to do. Some big things that have been accomplished...

- We've (almost) finished all the songs - there's just one song with a couple lines to be squared around, and still waiting on the rap (Chris?), but everything else is done. There have been some great songs coming out in the last couple months. For one, watch out for Vinecia Coleman's GSI debut song, "Vessel of Worship," a powerful reminder of our first and foremost call. Abdul has also written a laid back, but very soulful tune called "We Praise."

- We've also completed our first round of choir overdubs. We will actually record all the choir tracks in a controlled studio setting to mix in with the live sound. I'd love to tell you that everything on the CD will be live, but with drums banging and everything else going on, it's impossible to get a good, clean vocal sound in a live concert. Anyway, each section has recorde 3-4 songs, and they sound great!

- The process has been fun, but also very challenging on multiple levels. It has certainly required extra effort from everyone to prepare the music, but the consecration process has brought some things to light. That's been difficult, but I'm very proud of what God has done through our members. I know that we are all being equipped and refined to answer God's call on our lives.

We hope to see you at BCC next Friday. I know it's going to be a truly incredible night. I can't wait myself.

Grace and peace,
Peter 

1/20/08
Peter T.: Hey everyone, I'm BCC's Minister of Music, a leader of GSI, and the producer of this here project.  I'm so excited as we approach the live concert and recording.  God has done so much in GSI over the last year, and we can barely contain ourselves!  Here are a few behind-the-scenes things that have happened so far...

Planning meetings - our leaders have been meeting every 3-4 weeks since August in preparation for this project.  We've talked about vision, budgets, how we can improve musically and worship-ly, etc. Our meetings are usually long, but exciting at the same time.  Thanks to Tameka, Paula, Nick, Meisha, Abdul, and Amanda for your time!

Songwriting and arranging sessions - We've deliberately put a big emphasis on collaboration on this project.  Several of the songs have been a team effort, and collaboration on the musical and vocal arrangements  have been very fruitful. Several songs have been written in the last few weeks!  

Technical setup - We had to do a lot of rewiring to accommodate live multi-channel recording (recording each instrument and voice separately), and we did it all ourselves!  Together with Dave Paulson, John Paulson, my brothers Jeremy and Joshua, and even my wife Holly, we knocked out soldering over 200 audio connectors on various types of cable.  So now that you know how we spent our Thanksgiving afternoon...

Of course the next few weeks will find us refining arrangements, finishing the songs, rehearsing, and preparing spiritually.  After the concert, we jump right into post-production (editing, overdubs, mixing, etc.). We hope to send the CD off to be replicated (made into 1000 more CD's) on April 4 and have a big ol' party on April 18.  We hope you'll join us every step of the way!  

In worship, 
Peter