Kasim's Journal: March 2006

Studio Work

Not only did I work with the New Cars on this 3 week Los Angeles trip, I also managed to squeeze in 6 days of Background singing for Bat Out Of Hell III.
I thought you might like to see some pictures from the last session I did yesterday.
I'm really not at liberty to get into the details of the songs but I'm sure it's okay if I offer my opinion on a few of them ...
The first song is really good, the second song is better, the third song is really really good, I haven't made my mind up about 4, 5 and 6 ... Oh, 7 & 8 are wonderful ....
All kidding aside, the stuff is wonderful and I'm sure all you Meat Loaf fans will love it.

So ... It's off to Germany for me after a quick stop home for a day. I'm excited to be debuting my new bass guitar at the largest trade show in the world held in Frankfurt. The Music Messe.
I'll make sure to take lots of pictures for you all.

Love, K

The Studio in Los Angeles

The singing room.

This is where it all happens. Background vocals and Meat Loafs vocals too.

Me and Steve Churchill. Engineer Extrodinaire.

Me and Matt. The Pro Tools guru.

Me and Jason Paige. (background singer)

Me and Eric Troyer.

Me and Storm. (he's also a newly published poet.)

Eric and myself discuss what notes we'll be singing.

During these sessions we were joined by a fourth singer. Jason Paige. A totally sweet guy and a great singer. Thats him in the brown shirt.

These days, this is what making a record involves. Pictures of sound on a computer screen. One only hopes the computer cooperates.

The Holy Trinity of Background Vocals. Myself, Eric and Storm.

After a while, things get silly in the studio

Getting ready to sing a part.

Eric and I listen to comments while Storm reads his magazine.

I got a solo Background part before I left for the day. Night Night.

Later Late Show

Couldn't post last night because of a server glitch. So I had to wait till this morning.
So ... it went well. We taped two songs, 'Not Tonight' & 'Just What I Needed'. Now, they "promised" us they would air both songs on separate days but personally I think there was a certain amount of lip service involved. One thing about Los Angeles, there will always be someone telling you what you WANT to hear. Unlike NYC where they tell you what you NEED to hear whether you want to hear it or not.
This trip has been non-stop for me. A veritable whirlwind of activity. In case you were wondering who Michael Cotton is, he used to be the Synth player in The Tubes and has gone on to become an extremely sought after graphic design artist and set designer. He is currently putting together the stage set for the New Cars.

The Shows Logo.

Just before sound check.

Howie Mandel was a guest on the show we taped and was kind enough to take this picture with me.

Me with a couple of the Deal Or No Deal gals.

The set of The Late Late Show.

The CBS Satellite Dish

Greg enters the frey.

This is Tom everyone .... our new Production Manager. Send all complaints to him

Mike Cotton enters the dressing room

Mike Cotton and Prairie after the taping

IT'S ABOUT FREAKIN' TIME!

I'm sorry for all the confusion I've caused during the past six months. It's been crazy for me. Do I talk about what I'm doing? Do I mention it to a friend? Make some innocuous comment referring to it in some veiled attempt to give you all a clue?
Well, I can finally mention it without getting my butt in a sling.
I'M THE BASS PLAYER IN THE NEW CARS ... oop's hold on for a second, phone is ringing ... uh oh, I've just been told I can't mention that Todd Rundgren is also in the band.
OK, so I can't mention that right now. No big deal.

Seriously, that's what all this secrecy, denials and false starts have been about. I can see how the Management Company would want to keep this under wraps as long as possible, preferring to 'let the cat out of the bag' on a pre-arranged date so that they can make the most out of it publicity wise. Unfortunately in this day and age, it's difficult if not impossible to keep the lid on anything for too long. Information is just too easy to procure these days. I wound up in more hot water over this project BEFORE it got off the ground than any other I've ever been involved in. Thank goodness that's all behind me now ... Oops hold on, phone again ... ... OK, It's cool. I can mention that Todd Rundgren is doing it too.
So we had our big huge gigantic press conference today. The only time I've had that many camera flashes go off in front of me was in 1976, I walked out of the elevator at the New Otani Hotel in Japan for a press conference with Utopia and was hit with what seemed like a thousand flash bulbs going off at the same time. I had forgotten how exciting it was to be part of something so interesting to others on that level.
We have a big tour planned with Blondie. We're designing a really cool set and we're all very excited to be doing this ... damnit, the phone is ringing again, please bear with me ... OK, I was just told I can say we're ALL very excited. My every word is being analyzed. I can't be too careful here!
So, PLEASE make sure you get to a show if we're near you. I know you'll smile and sing along to ALL the songs we play.

See you then!

Kasim