Sunday, December 30th, 2012

Running Creek 2012. I seriously can't put into words how amazing of a time I had out in the wilderness. 

The Nichols brothers, the Oakley brother, Ben, and myself all had a fantastic time getting back to our roots. Garrett filmed material for the music video for the first single and we shot quite a bit of extra material that will come out as support for the record as well. 

One more week until I make the drive down south to start tracking for the record. Pre-production has been great, and I can't wait to see what Ben and I can come up with to make this release a true reflection of who we are and what we've always wanted to do.

Thank you for all of your support and I look forward to sharing all of this goodness soon,

Matthew

Thursday, December 27th, 2012

Shooting a couple of live videos this weekend as well as a music video for one of the record's singles!

-Matthew

Tuesday, December 18th, 2012

Things have been picking up quite a bit this winter season. I'm working on setting up a live video session to film this winter, setting the dates for starting actual record production with Ben down in the Houston area, and helping Connor Oakley with his upcoming EP featuring a very special guest vocalist that I'm excited to hear. 

Purchased a new Special 20 harmonica for the record, so that's where all of my free time has been going over the past few days. Very excited to see how much I can master this ol' thing by the time the record is released.

Looking forward to all of the good new things coming up.

Matthew

Monday, December 3rd, 2012

So I think hesitantly, writing the blueprint for the entire record is finished. I have 13 songs written and completed, all there is to do now is tweak them and mold them to make all of the songs have meaning, substance, and continuity. 

I know without a doubt that I'll continue to write for the record, and substitute other songs into the record as I write, then release the ones that didn't make it as a B-sides after the album is released.

It gets pretty surreal when you see it on paper that you've got 13 songs waiting on you for a full length.

Can't wait to share the new songs with y'all!

Matthew

Sunday, November 25th, 2012

Had a great time at The Adelaide last night with the guys! Pretty certain that the song we wrote will definitely be played every time we get together. Very happy to have Garrett, Connor, and Andre as my brothers.

Working on two more songs for the record. Ben is doing well, I'm doing well, and life is good.

Thank you all for keeping up with all of this throughout the twists and turns, it'll be well worth it!
-Matthew

Monday, November 12th, 2012

Another studio update:

Yesterday Ben and I worked on a few of the songs that we had conjured up over the weekend that had evolved from the songs I brought down to Houston with me. Two of which didn't end up getting completed, but will be worked on constantly over the next month of so via back and forth file sharing.

This trip down to record really got me thinking about quite a lot. I didn't turn on the radio once on my drive back, and despite some time on the phone, all I really did was simply think. Sounds odd, but this record has really gotten me into a new place in my life. I feel like I'm maturing, and I'm making decisions and putting in effort and it's making me who I am. After working on a song I wrote for my grandmother that passed away almost two years ago, I feel like I can finally open up to show the heavier, deeper content of who I am through the record.

Thanks,
Matthew

Sunday, November 11th, 2012

Studio Update:
After the drive down here to record, Ben and I spent all of yeasterday rehearsing/writing the songs we're tracking all day today.

Things are looking and sounding really good so far. We both feel like these songs will really even out the record and provide a bunch of dynamics.

More updates soon!
Matthew

Tuesday, November 6th, 2012

I'm free!

I was admitted from the hospital the day after my last post, and I've been slowly getting back into the swing of things day by day. Everything is falling into place and I'm doing much better now.

On a more musical note, I will be making the drive to work on the record with Ben this weekend! We're looking into putting out the last handful of pre-production tracks before we begin full-scale recording at the first of the year.

Things are looking up!
Matthew

Sunday, October 28th, 2012

I have been trying to update the site all weekend, but none of my posts have gone through unfortunately.

Well, bad news ahead:
A few hours after my last post, I had to return to the ER and I was soon admitted to the hospital. I've been here 4 or 5 days and it's definitely been an experience. I ended up having to call of and reschedule my trip down to record with Ben, so that was a bit of a bummer, but it will all work out like it always does. I just wanted to take the time to let anyone/everyone who keeps up with this know what is going on. Things seem to be getting better and I'm hoping to be discharged tomorrow and be back to my ol' productive self!

Thank you for all of your prayers, love, and support.
Matthew

Wednesday, October 24th, 2012

After a long night of work, the ER, and a couple hours of sleep, I'm proud to say that it's all worth it because I'm headed down to Atascosita this weekend to work on the record some more! Three of the songs I'll be tracking this weekend will really bring that "rootsy" feel to the forefront of the album, and that's exactly what I want. Stay tuned throughout the weekend for pictures and updates and all that.

With all the love that I have to give,
Matthew

Saturday, October 13th, 2012

Spending the early afternoon writing a little bit- couldn't help but to miss my grandmother throughout the day. I've written and scrapped well over ten songs about her over the past 20 months because they just never feel "right". For some reason, what I'm writing this afternoon seems to be much different. This could definitely be one for the record.

Also, I've been looking over pre-production recordings that Ben and I have done so far and jotting down ideas to really make this whole record the best it can be. We're really honing in on what we want the general sound and style to be like, and I'm very pleased with the way things are going. We won't be using every single instrument for every single song, but definitely be on the lookout for:

-Mandolin
-Harmonica
-Fiddle
-Guitjo (6-string banjo)
-A ton of stomps and claps
-Hitting tambourines with hammers

Getting more and more excited every day!
Matthew

Thursday, October 11th, 2012

After a weekend down in Atascocita, TX with Ben, we have so much more pre-production finished. It is great to hear all of these ideas finally mapped out in a recording.  I think this record will be a very pleasant surprise and will definitely open up a lot of people's musical taste, and I really feel like THIS is the music that he and I were made to play.

A lyrical glimpse of the newest song:

"Shine your light and help them all to see

Trade who you are for what you could be

Press on, you can make it

It's yours for the taking,

This life that you lead"

Can't wait to share the record with y'all!
-Matthew

Wednesday, September 12th, 2012

So wild to see that it's been so long since my last post! Two months of non-stop everything since then, but I can happily say that things are going very well. "When You're Down", the song I mentioned in the last post, is completely through with pre-production alongside quite of few others.

My next day in the studio will be September 29-30 due to the fact that all recording will now be done in a town north of Houston, Tx, so goodbye to the cramped ways of our last studio setup (pictured), and hello to a whole new space designated strictly for the recording the record!

Thank you all for bearing with me through this drought of not posting. It's hard to say where we are in terms of completion with pre-pro due to the fact that I have no clue how many songs will end up making the cut, but with the songs I'll be bringing to the table at the end of the month, I would like to be able to say that come October, we will be well over the halfway mark if not much further.

Thanks,
Matthew

Saturday, July 7th, 2012

About a week and half into officially recording for the album! Me and Ben really are getting down to the good stuff and finding out how things should sound. We've started tracking one of the songs "When You're Down" and we're really seeing a lot of potential.

More news to come in the next few days!
Matthew

Monday, June 25th, 2012

My first day of tracking for the record is tomorrow! I'll end the week with about 12 hours of studio time logged. Very excited to see how things start off.


Speaking of studio efforts, I spent my evening at Middle Coast Studios with Connor Oakley, hanging out while he tracked for his upcoming EP release. I even had the pleasure of recording some vocals takes on one of his songs titled "Better Things."


Can't wait to see how tomorrow goes
-Matthew

Tuesday, June 12th, 2012

My life as a whole has really seemed to pick up speed here lately, especially in these past few weeks. I had the opportunity to become reacquainted with some powerful forces in the Dallas music industry, and might have landed a spot at a virtually untapped venue for the record release.

The more I write, the more my true colors are starting to show. My writings are no longer efforts to make all of my friends want to get off of their feet and rush the stage, but rather hit home with them and really write the way I've always wanted to. I don't have to try and sing at a crazily-fast pace and at a wildly demanding octave. I've been able to find my voice, as corny as it sounds.


This is what it feels like to grow up.
God bless my brothers, Mark and Matthew Nichols. Happy Birthday, boys.

-Matthew

Wednesday, May 23rd, 2012

A breath of fresh air has been brought to the record. All of this working and being pulled in ten different directions at the same time has really brought some life back into the record, as strange as that may seem. The guitar just seems to play itself all of a sudden, and the lyrics that have become dull to me are starting to have heat to them again. It's exciting to be excited again!

With love,
Matthew

Tuesday, May 15th, 2012

It's been quite a while, but things have been pretty wild lately.
I'm finally moved in here in Arlington, I've started my job, and things are really falling into place. Recording is sitting at a stand-still at the moment due to everything going on, but within the next two weeks or so, I hope to have a track listing set alongside more pre-production demo takes.

After thinking about it, I'm hesitantly writing under the name "Road." Though I'm not completely sold on the idea of it, I just figured that if calling this blog "Road to a Record" came so naturally, maybe I could just shorten it and run with it. Who knows, feel free to let me know what you think, considering most people reading this are people that I talk to on a daily/weekly basis.

Thanks for stopping by,
Matthew

Saturday, April 28th, 2012

I'm really starting to figure out just how many songs will be included on this record. I originally decided on 6, but I've been writing more here lately and I'm really starting to invest time and lyrics and music in too many different directions. I think I should just pull together, crop and edit the most powerful/honest material I've got, and focus on that original solid 6. I will assure you though, there will be material I will release outside of this main record, considering it B-side material. Whoever reads this will definitely get ahold of all that before anyone else even knows about it. More news soon, Matthew

Thursday, April 19th, 2012

- Still making good progress writing over the pre-production tracks
- In the process of finding a distribution company that will package all of the albums for me
- Ideas are flooding my head like crazy for this record, and everything seems to be falling into place in the midst of everything going on in life
- I'm talking to a great friend of mine, Garrett Oakley, about recording a live session for YouTube later on in the summer

I'm all in at this point. I'll be ordering 1000 hard copies of this album prior to its release. Whether I sell 10 or 100 or however many, it's worth it to me.

Thanks for checking in on all this,
Matthew

Monday, April 16th, 2012

Over the weekend, I made a trip over to Ben's place to get a few things tracked for official pre-production!

After a couple hours of hanging out, laughing, and leaving the room mics armed for recording, we ended up with 3 of the songs tracked with the basic guitar structure. The next step is to record the lyrics over the tracks, find out what really sounds good, and revamp some of the lyrical writing to make sure that every single word contributes to the song. After that, I'll sit down and decide which instruments I want to feature in each of the parts, whether it be banjo, slide guitar, shaker, tambourine, etc.

I'm very excited to have some of this music tracked and documented already. Pre-production is going to be a long/fun/occasionally-tough experience, but it's all a part in making this record the best it can be!

Thanks for all of the support,
Matthew

Wednesday, April 11th, 2012

There is so much going on already:

I've been writing more and more from day to day, really taking the time to make every lyric matter. Putting thought into ever single note and melody is definitely an experience in itself, but I just can't wait to watch all of this music unfold more and more.

On a personal note, I've just simply never been here before. I have spent my fair share of time writing and recording over the years, but never have I really prepared everything like I'm trying to do through all of this. There is just something special and different about this whole process. It's weird to sit back and think "I Can Hold My Own," the very first reputable thing me and the boys in Hey Jersey ever tracked, was done back in 2009, and how the whole idea of local music has seemed to take on a new shape. I have so much heart for the bands still pumping out energetic, upbeat, slammin' music, and I'll always love the fun shows and experiences that I have gained from this life of a musician so far, but it's been long overdue for me to really revitalize my roots. I'm not finished with the pop/punk scene by any means, but I'm on this road to fulfilling my dreams and making the music that I've always wanted to make, whether the world welcomes it with open arms or disapproves of every single song.

I'm maturing and shaping my music, my wide variety of musical tastes, and just who I am as a man. This record will be just that. If it's not genuine, it doesn't matter, and it's about time someone has truly done something that has mattered.

Things are changing and growing for the best,
Matthew

Monday, April 9th, 2012

Things are really beginning to come together even at such an early time in this whole process.
After making a trip back to my hometown over the Easter weekend, I already feel like I have friends and family rallied together that are more than willing to support me to the ends of the earth. This is all making me really open my eyes to how blessed I am, and I'm so thankful already, and this is only the beginning.

Record Updates:
---I have 9 songs at this point, but the album will only consist of 6 tracks most likely.

---I've made the decision that everyone that will be working on the record needs to be someone that has impacted me and my music and has changed my life. I feel like that is the only way this album will be able to have that genuine, honest feel and be able to hit home with anyone who hears it.

---With that being said, I have recruited a brother of mine, Mark Nichols, to sing harmony with me on a few of the tracks. I should be getting his brother, Matt, to be featured on the record for auxillary stringed instruments and possibly a 3rd harmony at times. Both of these men are family to me, and it's an awesome feeling to know that they believe in me enough to put in time and effort to better this album with me.

---I'm in the process of putting together an equipment list of gear that needs to be available throughout the time in the studio.

---Not quite sure what name I'm going to release this album under. Though that is always a thought, I'm letting that portion of this process work itself out in due time. I want the music to shape the moniker that I write, record, and perform under. I want a similar feel as Iron and Wine in the sense that when Sam Bean performs, he is "Sam Bean AS Iron and Wine" rather than "Same Bean OF Iron and Wine." Other examples being Dallas Green/City and Colour or Kristian Matsson/The Tallest Man on Earth. I want Matthew McNeal to be synonymous with whatever name I end up choosing.


Thanks for checking in,
Matthew

Wednesday, April 4th, 2012

Since this site will be a "current events" type journal for the record, I think it's best to catch everyone up on what has been going on thus far!

Lyrically-
I have most of the lyrics for the album ready for demoing and pre-production. I definitely expect some of the lyrics and melodies to change and take shape as I start recording the final product, but I'm already really excited to demo these songs as is just to see!

Musically-
All of the songs have guitar parts set out and ready! Just like the vocals, I left a lot of room for change and growth and progression, but it's turning out to be a really fun group of songs to play for me personally. Though countless other instruments will be featured on the record as well, I'll most likely just demo the songs with lyrics and vocals.

Studio Preparations-
I'll be recording the album with my best friend and brother Ben Starr at Moose Tracks Audio. Luckily for me, he is the best guitarist I know and we have great musical chemistry, so he'll be featured on the album quite a bit. He has a great ear for music and always has good ideas. If there's anyone in the world that can make this debut record become monumental, it's Ben.


Looking forward to the days/weeks/months to come,
Matthew

The Beginning: Road to a Record

Well, here's the site! Just to give a little run down of what all of this is for, I wanted to cover a few things:

The Mission
After dreaming about it for years and years, I figured that there is no better time than now to do something with all of these songs floating around. I will be spending the next few months recording my own personal music from over the years and releasing it as a legitimate album. It's been a long overdue decision, but I look forward to the months to come!

"What will this site be used for?"
I will use this site as a tool to keep anyone and everyone involved with the whole process of releasing this debut album of mine. There are some perks involved for anyone who goes through this journey:
-I will be posting track listings, lyrics, and song order
-I will be previewing all of the album artwork on this site
-I will be keeping everyone up to date with all demos and pre-production tracking
-I will be posting videos when possible
-I will release certain songs that don't make it onto the album through this site
-I will post information on upcoming gigs, events, etc.
-A whole bunch of other things that will come with time!

The Basics
Luckily, I have been blessed beyond compare with the whole music scene thus far. I have been given the opportunity to have the time of my life writing, recording, and playing shows with my brothers in Hey Jersey. All the while, I had been leading worship for my hometown church for over 5 years, so I have been able to do what I love for quite a time. With this being said, you may wonder if the record will be moving in a pop/punk direction or lean toward the intimate styles of worship. Since the album is in a state of pre-production right now, all I can really say is that it will be a more rootsy, genuine, honest record. There will be times of intimacy and beauty as well as grittiness and power, with a wide variety of influences and styles. The common ground with it all is that it will genuinely be me and the music that really hits home to me, the kind of music I feel like I was born to write and sing and play. That definitely doesn't help you understand the sound of the album, but it looks like we'll have to wait and see. It's going to be a crazy ride, and who knows where I'll end up, but I'm taking all of you with me.


Normally posts won't be this long, but I just wanted to give everyone a little bit of an understanding on what's going on!

Thank you for all of the love and support, even so early in the game,
Matthew