Updates & Studio Video

lots going on here in Celldweller-land. "The Best It's Gonna Get" has been mixed and "Eon" is about halfway there. It would be pretty cool to finish this mix by tomorrow b/c it has to be finished by tomorrow (which of course would make finishing it tomorrow pretty cool.) Then these 2 tracks get sent off to mastering while I finish mixing Blue Stahli's "Anti You" (which also drops on the 8th), sift through and edit from 150 demos of TBIGG & EON, then master those and cut and edit the audio commentary for those tracks. I think I need a nap.

The "Louder Than Words" remix competition has ended, but voting for 1st, 2nd & 3rd place winners starts next Monday. Register at the site to vote and download remixes for free. Tomorrow, the "So Long Sentiment" remix files go live and start 8 weeks of remix competition for that track. What's cool about this round is Toksin has donated some stems from his "Anhedonia" remix of So Long Sentiment. You'll also get to stream his remix from the FiXT Remix site tomorrow!! (There's more - I guess I shouldn't leak this info yet, but what the hell: Toksin's "Anhedonia" remix will be included in the deluxe version of Chapter 02. This is the first Official track in for "Remixed Upon a Blackstar." with remixes coming up from BT, J. Scott G and other cool artists I dig.)

There's lots more to write but i have to pretend to be mixing over here, so I'll leave you with video of some synth elements from "The Best It's Gonna Get" I shot a few days ago.




Just a repost of the one I posted on the Black Friday in case you missed all of this excitement:



Bye

[Klayton]

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Mixing "The Best It's Gonna Get" (Video)

[Klayton]

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Wish Upon a Blackstar Chapter 02 Cover Art

Eon Screenshot: A lesson in overkill

Since almost 2 of you asked to see a screenshot of the stupid-amount of guitars I cut for "Eon," I decided to post it with some notes to really help you see what's going on here. I'll be in my studio (the temporary one I set up in the broom closet while my nicer one is being built) for the next few days sifting through all these performances, digging for parts I like. Somebody please save me...

P.S. - this is only one layer of Guitars. More to cut when I have these comped.

[Klayton]

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Wish Upon a Blackstar - Chapter 02

I'm pointing to my brain...

I have seen many of you asking the same general questions: "When can we expect Chapter 02?" "How long will it take to complete?" "Will there be puppies in heaven?"

In good conscience I can really only attempt to answer the first 2 general questions. Firstly, let me start by again thanking you for all the feedback still pouring in for Chapter 01. Lots of you love it and some of you don't. Either way, it's good for me to have a few of these monkeys off my back. Thank you for all the video responses coming in. I've been reposting random ones here so you can all share in the feedback. OK, on to Chapter 02...

I had already started working on Chapter 02 before Chapter 01 was even done. Live drums I cut for "Eon" and "The Best it's Gonna Get" are almost completely comped (which really just means "I sifted through an hour's worth of drum performances to find the stuff I liked and then "comped" it together.") I've been working on programming already. Some of the synths I used for the demos will make it to the final tracks, and most of them won't. That means a LOT more Beta Cessions content for Chapter 02 of stuff you would have never known existed.

I've been cutting guitars for "Eon" and "The Best it's Gonna Get" all week. Actually, a sad-but-true fact: "Eon" is a heavy, guitar-driven 6-7 minute track. I have only cut main guitars for the song so far and the raw cuts clocked in at over 70 minutes. So I have 70 minutes of guitar parts to sift through just to get through the first layer of guitars for a 6-7 minute song. Ugh.

Vocals: Those are pretty much completely done. I have decided that I've fallen in hate with some of my vocal performances in the bridge of TBIGG, so I'll just recut them with a little more balls. Won't take long.

Sounds like I'm not too far off, huh? Well, here's where a recent decision may prolong Chapter 02 a little, but considerably speed up Chapters 03-05. Grant and I decided that I'm going to cut all the main guitars for the 8 remaining songs *now*. This way while i'm working on other things I can have an editor or 2 cutting up guitars and getting them ready to go for me.

Believe you me, i'm hustling. I want to get this DONE as much as some of you want me to get this DONE. I've also been wanting to update you guys on the construction of my studio. It's almost done and I think i've only ever uploaded 1 pic from it very early on. All this stuff takes time, but when the studio is done, my musical output should conceptually increase significantly (Oh God, please....)

I'll leave you with just one crappy pic of the slats in the front wall of my main room. I'm pretty excited about at least having 1 friend around while i'm working in the new room.



[Klayton]

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Cellmate Video - Thanks Bryce

Bryce asks a very relevant question that I haven't had the time or place to address. I'll let him ask it and then I'll answer. Thanks Bryce. See you at Taco Bell in Portland!



Well Bryce (and the rest of you wanting to know the answer to that very question,) the answer is a simple "Hell Yeah!" This is the way it will work:

1) Buy Chapters 01-04 (any or all of them) from http://fixtstore.com. You need to make sure you have an account so we can keep track of what you bought of course.

2) Depending on how many Chapters you purchase, the price of the physical disc will be pro-rated. The more Chapters you buy, the bigger the discount towards the final CD.

Pretty effin' simple, huh? The actual specifics will be worked out and announced as we get closer to the release of the final CD, but you can count on not having to pay for the same album twice. (it would be great for me if you did though, bc then I could buy myself a pair of sweet ice skates and another monster truck. I'm just trying to be fair here...)

Another reminder about what the present plan overall is: Chapters 01-04 will initially be released digitally ONLY. This will include a new image for every Chapter that will eventually become one big cohesive image when Sam @ Dose Productions puts all 5 images together. The final Chapter (05) and the corresponding cover art (the actual CD Cover) will be released first as a physical disc. The Digital version will be released sometime after that.

Although specifics might be a bit nebulous right now, it will all get worked out. I'm pretty sure at least some of you know I like to be fair, so there's a pretty good chance I won't scam you out of your hard earned $, no matter how badly I want another monster truck that I can drive while wearing my sweet new ice skates. Sigh...

Good Question Bryce - I hope that's a good answer.

Hugs & kisses to you all and BIG thanks for sooooo many compliments on Chapter 01. There was a lot of work put into it and I'm glad many of you think it was worth it.

You guys rule.

[Klayton]

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Chapter 01 Goes Live Today-Servers Overloaded :(

Bummer. As many of you already know, the http://fixtstore.com is giving us all a 403 error. After management got the right person on the phone, we discover that it's bc there is so much traffic hitting the store that the server thinks it's getting hacked and locks everyone out. I guess you can't get mad at the poor little server - it's just doing it's job.

I did JUST hear back on the status of the tracks. I am hoping to have them in my hands in an hour from now. Then I need to listen and sign off so management can encode these last tracks and MAKE IT LIVE. We could (and hopefully should) be only a few hours away.

Look on the bright side: by this time next week, you'll be bored of the tracks anyway and onto the new Green Day album instead. I promise, we'll let you know on many fronts the second Chapter 01 is ready to go.

Been a busy day of tweets - possibly more than I've ever done before and I had the chance to answer a bunch of your questions. ( I think ) So if you're not following me on Twitter, do it.

[Klayton]

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Chapter 01 Drops Tomorrow (The Good News & Bad News & Then More Good News)

The good news is Chapter 01 of Wish Upon a Blackstar will finally be available tomorrow, exclusively from http://fixtstore.com. I almost cried as I was being updated on how many pre-orders were pouring in since Friday (tears of joy :) not sadness :( You guys continue to rock the tiny little world I live (and cry) in.

The bad news is..... It can't go live at midnight tonight EST like the FiXT Store usually does things (but it will go live tomorrow as orginally promised.) This is NOT because I love any of you any less or a new mandate has been handed down from Obama or even global warming: It simply is the byproduct of a scheduling misfortune. Without getting into unnecessary details, I am expecting final mixes sometime tomorrow. Thank God in the Heavenlies that in this new digital age, I can approve mixes and pass them off to management to encode and make live in the store within an hour. Pretty sweet.

So, to make things clear: due to circumstances beyond our control, Chapter 01 will not be released until sometime later in the day tomorrow at the very second I get my paws on the mixes and approve them. Every single other thing is ready to go. 30+ minutes of Beta Cessions demo, 30+ minutes of Beta Cessions Commentaries, and a badass 25 page PDF with lyrics and credits and artwork by YOU. For those who ordered the deluxe edition, get your 56k modems ready: It's over 250 mbs of stuff you'll be downloading.

There's more good news too:

I've spent the last few days mixing a brand new Blue Stahli track "Throw Away" and I just now wrapped up mastering for it. so at MIDNIGHT TONIGHT, "Throw Away", 7 Beta Cessions demos, an expanded PDF booklet with cool descriptions of the demos from Bret himself and a badass little pdf book of "The more mundane adventures of Blue Stahli" by Collin Landis at Strangities.com will be live at http://fixtstore.com.

I think there is even more good news, but I can't think of what it is right now. Oh, I remember: I have leftover Peanut M&M's from the theater (Inglorious Basterds.) They melt in my mouth, not in my hands.

[Klayton]

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Wish Upon a Blackstar (Chapter 01) Pricing and Pre-Orders

Wow, this almost feels like it's really happening. New Celldweller? Can it be possible? Looking that way... I finished recording my "Commentary" tracks yesterday, and the merch is starting to roll in so next Tuesday - Official release of Wish Upon a Blackstar (Chapter 01)

Pre-orders go live this Friday at the FiXT store - less than 2 days to wait.

I'm just going to repost some of the FiXT newsletter that was just sent out with pricing, pics and info for not only Chapter 01. but a new Blue Stahli track as well ("Throw Away" - I love this song.) Check the full FiXT Newsletter to see other new stuff we've got coming in, like another FiXT Original shirt by Sam @ Dose Productions.

Hugs not Drugs -

[Klayton]

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Wish Upon A Blackstar: Chapter 01

Chapter 01 Release & Pre-Order Details
Klayton has announced that Chapter 01 of "Wish Upon a Blackstar" will have two different download options: Chapter 01 and Chapter 01 Deluxe Edition. The Deluxe Edition will include demo versions of both "Louder Than Words" and "So Long Sentiment" clocking in at over 30 minutes, plus a separate audio commentary by Klayton detailing the progression of the demos spoken over them as they play. The Deluxe Edition of Chapter 01 will have a total play-time of of nearly 90 minutes of audio.

Chapter 01
01 "Louder Than Words" (4:41)
02 "So Long Sentiment" (6:11)
PDF Booklet (24 Pages: Concept Art, Lyrics, Credits & Inspired Art)
Price: $1.98

Chapter 01 Deluxe Edition
01 "Louder Than Words" (4:41)
02 "So Long Sentiment" (6:11)
03 "Louder Than Words" (Custom Instrumental)
04 "So Long Sentiment" (Instrumental)
05 - 17 "Louder Than Words" (Beta Cessions Demos)
18 - 29 "So Long Sentiment" (Beta Cessions Demos)
30 "Louder Than Words" (Beta Cessions Audio Commentary)
31 "So Long Sentiment" (Beta Cessions Audio Commentary)
PDF Booklet (24 Pages: Concept Art, Lyrics, Credits & Inspired Art)
Over 90 minutes of Audio
Price: $4.99

The MP3 downloads for Chapter 01 will be available on Tuesday, 8/25, exclusively from the FiXT Store, but you can Pre-Order your copy, plus several merch options, beginning this Friday, 8/21. Some physical merch items may take 3-4 weeks to ship.

Wish Upon A Blackstar Merchandise

Chapter 01 T-shirt

Soft, Fine Jersey 100% Cotton T-Shirt (4.3oz) by American Apparel. 2-Sided Full Color Print on an Ash Gray Shirt.
$24.99 each

Chapter 01 Limited Edition Record Flat

250 Piece LImited Edition, Hand Numbered 12" x 12" Full Color Record Flat. The 1st in a series of 5 images from the 5 Chapters of the album that will make up a final composite image 60" wide.
$14.99 each

Chapter 01 Sticker

Full Color 4"x4" Vinyl Sticker with art from Chapter 01 of Wish Upon A Blackstar.
$1.99 each

Chapter 01 Dog Tag

2-Sided Metallic Black Dog Tag with Chain.
$4.99 each

Merch Bundles | Buy More & Save

Bundle 1:
Chapter 01 Deluxe Edition
Limited Edition Record Flat/Poster
Sticker
Total Retail Value: $21.97
Combo Price: $16.97 (Save $5.00)

Bundle 2:
Chapter 01 Deluxe Edition
T-Shirt
Sticker
Total Retail Value: $31.97
Combo Price: $25.97 (Save $6.00)

Bundle 3:
Chapter 01 Deluxe Edition
T-Shirt
Limited Edition Record Flat/Poster
Sticker
Total Retail Value: $46.96
Combo Price: $39.96 (Save $7.00)

Add a Chapter 01 Dog Tag to any of the bundles for only $3.99 (Save $1.00 automatically at checkout).

"Louder Than Words" & "So Long Sentiment" Previews
Klayton has posted previews from both songs in Chapter 01 of Wish Upon A Blackstar. Listen below:

"Louder Than Words"

"So Long Sentiment"

FiXT STORE | New Home Page Goes Live This Friday (8/21)

This Friday, the FiXT Store home page will be re-booted, featuring a revamped layout with a refined central navigation scheme. The new layout will allow you to browse many categories from the store home page and more clearly identify new & featured products.

Some of the highlighted categories you will be able to browse from the home page include:
• Featured Releases
• New Releases
• What's Hot
• Deals of the Week
• Just Added
• Exclusives
• FiXT Remix
• Merch
• Digital Art

There will also be a Featured Tracks audio player at the top of the store homepage, allowing you to start previewing new/featured music as soon as the page loads.

Along with all the new features/site updates, we've got an extensive list of new products getting added to the store over the next week, including new T-shirts, Dog Tags, Shooter Glasses, Music Albums/EPs, Posters and more.

Be sure to check out the all new FiXT Store homepage this Friday!

Visit the FiXT Store

Blue Stahli | Throw Away, Merch & "The Final Destination"

Bret (Blue Stahli) has just confirmed that a brand new track will be hitting the FiXT Store in the next week! The new track "Throw Away" will come in both standard and Deluxe Editions featuring bonus content and instrumentals in the latter. Bret is in the middle of final mix as you read this and he hopes to have the track available for next Tuesday (8/25). Check his blog at www.bluestahli.com for more details!

The first merch item for Blue Stahli is now available! Get a 2-sided Metallic-Black Dog Tag with the Blue Stahli logo and Blue Stahli logo-swirl. Available this Friday (8/21) at the FiXT Store for $4.99 each.

Blue Stahli's "ULTRAnumb" has been featured in a new TV Spot for the upcoming movie "The Final Destination." Watch the spot below:

Visit www.bluestahli.com

Wish Upon a Blackstar-Chapter 01 Official Release Details

How's that for a title you never thought you would see? More like, how's that for a title I thought I'd never see? I'm here to tell you, it's true. Chapter 01 is done - mostly. I have a buttload (eww) of updates to drop on you (double-eww.) So grab a coffee, Pop Tart, Vaseline or all of the above and read on...

Let me get right to what 98% of you actually want to know: When is the release date? Today is Tuesday, August 4th and in exactly THREE WEEKS Chapter 01 drops like an old man's trousers at a colonoscopy. TUESDAY, AUGUST 25TH, Chapter 01 goes live.

Here are a lot more details about the release:

I recognize that it seems like things have been quiet on my end the last few weeks. The truth is I wanted to be able to actually focus on getting things done so i can really show them to you instead of just talk about how I was getting them done. Well, now they're mostly done. Both "Louder Than Words" and "So Long Sentiment" are completely mixed - final. I am currently wrapping up editing a custom instrumental version of "Louder Than Words" where I added a few sounds to make it cooler IMHO. I also ended up using different music for the verses in the custom instrumental as well. I had this heavily sidechained live bassline that was fighting with the vocal, so I scrapped it and created something else so the vocal could pop. I've always liked the gritty, nasty live bass and felt in an instrumental context it was cooler, so now you'll have it.

To answer a question many of you have been asking: "How long is Chapter 01?" The 2 songs collectively clock in at almost 11 minutes. Think about it this way - it's about the same length as 4 pop songs. Wow, lots of bang for your buck.

Next comes some stuff that I've been promised will be cool (cooler for you than me however.) I probably wouldn't have naturally done this, but the good people around me swear that there will be at least 3 or 4 people who will want extra stuff, i.e. - my demos. I collected over a dozen different demos of the songs in various stages during the writing process. I'm planning on editing sections from each for those peeps who want to hear where these songs came from to how they ultimately ended up.

Next I need to do an edit of "Louder Than Words" so I can post a preview for you to hear. Wait, huh? I'm jumping ahead of myself. I meant, NEXT I need to send the songs off to mastering to make them sound a little more bad-asser.

I also tweeted last week that I had signed off on the final artwork for Chapter 01. What I haven't told you is that during the last few weeks we've been working on designing potential shirt, sticker, poster & other cool goodies to try to have ready for the release of Chapter 01. So, just letting you know it's in the works, but no definite details to leak yet.

Speaking of artwork, as I mentioned numerous times I will be doing an expanded PDF for this release that will include some pretty badass images that YOU have created. In fact, the deadline for submissions was August 1st, but now that I know that we have a few more weeks to go, I'll say that if you missed the deadline or now feel inspired, I'll take submissions for art until August 21st. Read all the details HERE. There are at least 15 pieces picked out already that I'll be including in the expanded PDF, so get on it or get on someone you know who wants to be involved.

Ok, only a few more things, but saving the best for last. Here is the breakdown:

Celldweller - Wish Upon a Blackstar (Chapter 01 of 05)
Available Tuesday, August 25th exclusively @ http://fixtstore.com

Standard Edition:
Louder Than Words
So Long Sentiment
PDF Booklet (w lyrics, art and user submitted art)

Deluxe Edition:
Louder Than Words + Custom Instrumental
So Long Sentiment + Instrumental
PDF Booklet (w lyrics, art and user submitted art)
Louder Than Words Bonus Demo Files (Beta Cession Demos)
So Long Sentiment (Beta Cession Demos)

There will be other packages and options bundled with shirts, stickers, posters etc announced when Chapter 01 is live.

AND FINALLY... You've made it pretty clear to me that you want to see the album cover. You've also made it pretty clear to me that you want to HEAR "Louder Than Words" so I'm thinking "Why not do both?" Next Monday, August 10th I will post the full Chapter 01 Album cover and a preview of "Louder Than Words" right here at Celldweller.Com, k? K.

I've typed too much. I've probably missed some things, but I'll be updating during the week. Might even drop some vid to you of more Louder Than Words mixidown madness during the week.

Word to ya momma's -

[Klayton]

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Louder Than Words (Mixing 03 - Verse Pads)

Louder Than Words (Mixing 02)

Louder Than Words (Mixing 01)

Louder Than Words: 30,636 Fades (but a bitch ain't one)

I was planning to start mixing "Louder Than Words" TODAY, but due to scheduling conflicts I will be starting TOMORROW. The goal is to have this song final mixed by Saturday. (Any Saturday still left in 2009, to be more specific.) The Pro Tools session is taking almost 7 minutes to open, which is absolutely preposterous. I did some digging and noticed that I may have broken my own record: 30,636 Fade files for just one little song. Geez Louise (I've wanted to use that phrase for the longest time and this felt like the perfect time to drop it.) Today I'll be consolidating all the crossfaded audio files into nice, clean single regions and all 30,000+ fade files will go bye bye. Thank God.

This song has a completely new intro and now, a completely new ending. It breathes a little bit of fresh air into the track for me. Maybe I'll be able to listen to it for a few weeks more before I never want to hear it again? We'll see.

Still working out details of a possible live video stream from the studio. I'll let you know when I know. Get on your knees and say your prayers that by the end of this week, Chapter 1 of Wish Upon a Blackstar will finally be DONE.

[Klayton]

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Louder Than Words (Prepping For Mix & Screen Shot)

Well unfortunately for me, I never actually went to sleep last night. So it's now 8:30 AM and I'm so tired, I can barely open my fly (which would explain the huge wet spot on my undies.) I am staring at my screens, somewhat blankly and decided to take a screen shot so you can stare at them blankly too. I have a simple text document open with my notes of things that need to be modified or at least looked over with a fine tooth cyber-comb. I also have open some seriously cool plugins from some seriously cool plugin companies (Fabfilter & Ohmforce have been very nice to me and I freakin' LOVE their software.)

I am almost 100% absolutely positive that I'll tentatively start mixing "Louder Than Words" on TUESDAY. This *could* mean It will be FINISHED next week. There is still mastering and artwork etc, but it's almost there...

Also, got the official word that the interview I did for The Libra Rising podcast is ready for you to download. I haven't listened, so I'm just hoping I didn't say anything that will haunt me for the rest of my afternoon.

Good Morning -

[Klayton]

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Updates Galore

CHAPTER 01 ARTWORK SUBMISSION DEADLINE EXTENSION

Wow, that's a mouthful. (That's what she said...) I AM extending the submission deadline for artwork to be considered for Chapter 01 of "Wish Upon a Blackstar." The deadline was yesterday, but I'm going to extend submissions til August 1st. Read details at the link above.

Also, just to clarify, I am not asking you guys for the album cover, so you won't want to include "Wish Upon a Blackstar" or "Chapter 01" or "Celldweller" in your art piece. I just want you guys to create something you feel is cool and submit it. Speaking of album art, Sam at Dose Productions has been slaving away on the art for Chapter 01 and I FREAKIN' LOVE IT. Can't wait to get this Chapter wrapped up and off my back and into your eardrums and eyeballs - mine need a break.


INTERVIEW FOR LIBRA RISING PODCAST GOES LIVE TONIGHT

I did an interview for my boy J. Scott G and his partner in crime John Beaver for their "Libra Rising" podcast. Past and future podcasts feature Shiny Toy Guns, Dave Dresden, Far Too Loud etc. Mine will be dropping tonight right HERE. I remember being a sarcastic prick as usual, so hopefully they cut it together so I don't sound as mean as I really am. ( I pretend to be nice sometimes to see if I can land some free food or a movie ticket or something. Usually doesn't pan out...)

Again, go HERE to get the Podcast


LIVE VIDEO STREAM OF "LOUDER THAN WORDS" MIXDOWN?

I almost uploaded some video today of the building progress of my future studio, but I think I'll wait til after Chapter 01 drops to do that. I DO have a video question though: Anyone interested in seeing video streaming live from the studio in the next week or 2 during mixdown of "Louder Than Words?"

Anyone?

Bueller?

Well, you can post in the comments but Google Blogger has been a bugger lately and many of you have tweeted that you can't leave comments. So until Google solves this problem and world hunger and finds a cure for cancer, I'll repost at Myspace and you can comment there if you REALLY want to. I guess if nobody is interested, it makes my life easier anyway - I won't have to shower of fix my hair that day. Sweet.


FiXT REMIX COMPS LIVE @ THE FiXT STORE


The last 2 Remix comps went live today = "Under My Feet" and "I Believe You" remixes wrap up the 6 song remix stint at fixtremix.com. Go get them at the FiXT Store.


Bye For Now -

[Klayton]

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Louder Than Words (iPhone Vid Preview 03)

Louder Than Words (iPhone Vid Preview)

Got an app today that allows me to shot vid and upload directly to TwitVid. Decided to test it with a clip of "Louder Than Words." If you want my TwitVid posts more immediately, follow me on Twitter.

Wish Upon a Blackstar (07-13-2009)

I've decided to break away from the mundane and mindless act of editing a song I've been listening to for the last few years. Yep, I'm talking about "Louder Than Words" and I quite frankly can't wait to get this monkey off my back. Getting lots of requests for updates on Chapter 1, so this is all the excuse I need to stop working on this song for a few minutes.

Here's the update: Chapter 1 will never be done. Ok, I'm just kidding (but in a loathsome and reviling sort of way.) Chapter 1 is actually almost done in fact. For the first time in the life of my new album I can see a light at the end of the tunnel. Pretty damned sure it's just a train heading straight for me, but I can still see light none the less. Over this weekend I scrapped the intro to the song that has existed since i first wrote it. It's taking a little getting used to but i think the track will be much cooler for it. I kinda had a distorted electro-house swing beat, all by itself but wasn't convinced that was the best possible start for the track. Had a production meeting with Grant (Co-producer) and he suggested throwing a bassline in the intro. So, I went to the bass tracks at the beginning of the song and found that I had bass already pasted in there, but had muted all the regions. So i killed the beat and unmuted the bassline to see what the hell it even was and I got an instant Danzig/The Cult thing happening. Now I'm pretty sure by the time I'm done with it, it's not going to sound like Danzig/The Cult but that's the best I can describe it for you atm.

I think the reality here is that we're only weeks away from Chapter 1 of Wish Upon a Blackstar. It's about (very long string of expletives go here) time. Artwork for the cover is almost done and we're working on some release details, but we're close. Speaking of artwork, the user submitted artwork deadline is in 2 days. I'm pretty sure I'm going to extend that by a week or 2, but i'll post details right here when I figure out what I'm doing.

K, going back to hell now. See ya.

[Klayton]

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Graphic Artists: Be a part of "Wish Upon a Blackstar" (06-16-2009)

I have been reminded to remind you about the opportunity to land some of your art in the "Chapter 1" digital booklet for "Celldweller-Wish Upon a Blackstar."

Read the original post here:
http://www.celldweller.com/2009/06/graphic-artists-be-part-of-wish-upon.html"

Read Official Details here:
http://www.celldweller.com/art

I've seen a few questions come in regarding what types of art are acceptable - digital, painting, photography etc. The answer is very simply "ALL." Be true to whatever your style is. Also, there were some concerns about a square (15" x 15") image. We need the final art with those dimensions, but if what you create is not square, just simply lay it out on a 15" x 15" 'digital canvas.' Who used to watch 16x9 movies on a 4x3 tv? ME!!! I wanted to see the movies the way they were intended, so I had no problem with the black bars above and below the main movie image - same concept applies.

"I'll be back... in CG for Terminator Salvation"

Spread the above links to your fav artists & communities bc "ya never know."

Back to drum edits for me....

[Klayton]

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So Long Sentiment (Preview from Chapter 1 of "Wish Upon a Blackstar")

The day nobody thought would arrive has... uh, arrived. This is the day you guys get to actually hear some of a finished track from the new Celldweller album. "So Long Sentiment" has been done for awhile (although it has not been officially mastered yet.) You guys have been pretty damned patient and I'm glad someone made the obvious suggestion (not obvious to me, apparently) to release a clip of some music with the lyrics for Chapter 1 to help inspire some visual art.

This whole thing was fueled by my earlier post today regarding graphic artists getting involved with the new Celldweller album. This idea is my little experiment and we'll see how it turns out. Read details here and pass the word on to anyone you know who might be interested, capable and willing.

Just for the record too, a big "thank you" for all the concerned posts and tweets about my possible misspelling/misuse of the word "wait" in the lyrics to So Long Sentiment." I'm here to assure you that it is very intentionally "wait" but thanks for having my back on it, just in case...

Hit me on Twitter with comments. It will give me something to read while trying to catch my breath in between drum takes for "Eon" in the studio tomorrow....

Without further ado or disclaimers, "So Long Sentiment"

hit me:


[Klayton]

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Graphic Artists: Be a part of "Wish Upon a Blackstar"

I had a brainstorm a few days ago and have had the FiXT team busy putting together the details so I could tell you about it. So let me back up and explain how I stumbled onto this thought:

Many of you know I'll be releasing the next Celldweller album in chapters. These will initially only be digital releases, with both music & album covers, with a physical CD and artwork etc to be released when all the songs are done. The first 4 chapters will each have 2 songs, and a panel of artwork to coincide. Each cover panel from these digital chapters is actually one piece of what will eventually be a 5 panel layout for the final CD and all the images put together will create one huge image. (One panel per chapter and the 5th chapter will be the final piece to bring the whole image together.)

As I've been thinking of ways to open up some doors for you guys so you can peer into the making of the record (like my Klogs, and photos and video) I thought, "maybe this could be a chance to get some people involved IN the album directly???"

This is an experiment, so we'll see how this first round plays out, but here it is: I want you to create a piece of artwork that is inspired by Celldweller somehow - maybe some visual you see when you hear a certain song or read a certain lyric or maybe just something related to the way the music makes you feel when you're listening to it. Many artists I have dealt with in my career see visuals when they listen to music, and I love that concept. I hear music when I see visuals and the 2 have always been inseparable in my mind. The plan will be to select pieces of your work and include it in the digital PDF that will be released with each chapter of "Wish Upon a Blackstar." You will unquestionably be credited appropriately and if we're thinking your piece is that cool, it could end up becoming a tee shirt, sticker, thong? Who knows.... At the end of the day, I would just love to see some cool visuals come from this, bc I love art and would be honored to have some of yours in each chapter. For me, this is a way of bringing cool art you guys are making to the rest of the people who may not know you're capable of creating such cool art, capeshe?

There is a page set up with all the details. I have included the lyrics to both songs in Chapter One: : "Louder Than Words" and "So Long Sentiment" in a zip file there as well, in the event that inspires you in some other way. The Celldweller/FiXT crew, management etc will all decide on what pieces are chosen and I'm sure we'll announce it long before Chapter One goes live. So if you're a graphic artist or you know someone who is bad ass and looking for some way to get some exposure send them here:

http://www.celldweller.com/art

To the left is a great example of this already at work. French artist Nailz has gotten involved in creating content for Celldweller/FiXT by first submitting the iconic Blue Stahli image at the top of this page. We loved it and he has since gone on to design 3 covers for the Celldweller FiXT Remix albums dropping this week.

Go spread the word. I need to go cut more drums so I can actually get this album done!

[Klayton]

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Louder Than Words (Drums)

Recording Cessions (04-21-09)

I'm totally pretending to play bass so people think I'm actually working on "Wish Upon a Blackstar." This is me pretending to cut bass for "Louder Than Words" from last week. I couldn't find anything terribly exciting to self-photograph today in the studio. I considered taking a pic of myself after I had stuffed as many marshmallows in my mouth as Klaytonly possible, but realized Blue Man Group kind of already did that. So, it's just me and a bass (and Grant's head in the background where it belongs.)

Oh yeah. There's a little graphic in the upper right hand corner for the 3 free tracks I'm giving you guys. They go bye-bye this Friday, so grab 'em if you haven't. I mean c'mon, they're free and you only have to move your mouse like 4 inches to click it. Can't..... reach..... banner..... Must...take...nap --------------->

[Klayton]

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Wish Upon a Blackstar: Release Details

*TIP: go to the bottom of the blog to play some mood music while reading.*

Today is one of those days. Ya know, the ones where you feel like you worked all day but you don't actually know if you accomplished anything? Oh right, that's every day. I can tell you one thing I DID get accomplished: I successfully exported 60 remix stems from "So Long Sentiment" (The only finished song from "Wish Upon a Blackstar" to date.) Why would I prepare remix stems so soon? There are a few reasons, but the most pressing is so I could get them to Toksin so he can get working on a remix. If you haven't heard his stuff, then you need to. He'll be doing the first Official remix for "Remixed Upon a Blackstar."

"Wait, what?!?!"

Oh, right - I haven't told you about that yet. Forget I mentioned it - go check out Toksin.
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I've been promising for awhile to post details regarding the release of "Wish Upon a Blackstar." I only announced the title of the album last month. I finally decided how I'm going to release the album right around the time I announced the name of album to you, and have just been waiting for some spare time that never came to actually type it all out. Well, today is the day. I don't really have spare time, so I decided to bump some Burial and type for awhile - Sesame Street reruns can wait.

I fully embrace the idea of releasing one song at a time. Waiting years for a full album is cool and all, but times have changed. I can wrap a track in my studio and have it blaring out of your speakers literally the next day if so desired. I had some specific reasons i was planning on releasing WUaB as a full body of work, but I abandoned that a long time ago when i embraced just how much work I've created for myself with this album. I just don't totally feel right about releasing 1 song at a time for this album but I have no intentions of waiting til I'm done with the whole thing either. So, I'm releasing the album in Chapters.

Here's how I'm planning on it going down: I will release 5 chapters for this album. 2 songs per chapter x 5 chapters = 10 songs. What's got me more into this idea is I'm bringing Sam Hayles from Dose Productions on board for the album art. (He gave us the artwork for "Soundtrack for the Voices in My Head Vol 01" and FiXT is manufacturing original clothing designs from Dose Prod)

Sam will be creating an original piece of art for each chapter. The fifth and final chapter will be reserved for the CD, so both the artwork and the 2 remaining songs will be released for the first time on the physical CD. I can say more, but I know I'll just get myself in trouble, so I'll pretend I flapped my gums enough for right now. I'll bring you more details as they unfold though - promise.

For now here are the tracks for Chapter 1 of "Wish Upon a Blackstar"

So Long Sentiment
Louder Than Words

I'm all typed out and this Burial album is almost over so I'm calling it a night. I came up with an idea based around all of your comments and suggestions to name my "Q&A" Klogs. We just need to do a little more sifting and I'll make an announcement here later this week regarding a winner etc.

Here I am: Rock me like a hurricane



[Klayton]

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