Newsletter 29, May 2001
Its been about a year since the last newsletter and of course lots has happened. This is being whipped up very fast as I am juggling a few projects at the moment. If you have linked to this page, you got my email about the name change. I will now be credited as Ronan Chris Murphy on all my credits from this point on (the longer version of R. Chris Murphy)
Things must be going well as just this morning an LA based music magazine called and said they were planning on doing a feature on Phil Ramone (one of the greatest producers of all time, often called the Pope of Pop), but they ran into complications so asked if they could do the feature on me instead. Certainly not bad shoes to attempt to fill.
Since the last Newsletter, I have started a new company called Veneto West and will be phasing out Eschaton, the business name I have been using in one form or another since the mid eighties. Veneto West will continue the production and mixing work of Eschaton Music Works, but will also focus more attention on consulting, management and music placement for film and television.
Lots has been going on as you can imagine and my travel schedule has been as crazy as ever. (6 countries in the last 7 months and a few more getting scheduled).
Since I last wrote the album I engineered and produced with Terry Bozzio, Tony Levin, and Steve Stevens (situation dangerous) has come out on the Magna Carta Label to very good reviews, and also for Magna Carta the record I mixed for Steve Morse (Major Impacts) is out to similarly good response. The ProjeKcts collection I did with King Crimson in 4 CD box and single disc format that is out around the world, and if what I have heard is correct, the re-mixes I did of King Crimsons 1975 release, USA (Virgin Records) is slated for release in the near Future. Also check out www.twoloons.com to check out the Two Loons for Tea disc that I made some production and performing contributions to. The album finally came out earlier this year.
It was a crazy summer/fall/winter for me. Here is a quick listing of a few things, but you can find more info on the news page of the web site.
Around August I went up to Seattle to produce some R&B tracks for Jonathan Day at Paradise Sound, then I was of working in Santa Barbara, CA on a record for the band Ike, with a few of the guys from Dishwalla. Then into the studio with LA based pop band Saint Friday (who I have been helping out a bit with management). Then I mixed a few tracks for a band called, the Space Twins, which features Brian Bell of the band Weezer.
Then I began work with R&B singer Armida Brigante in Los Angeles and finished the tracks up in Toronto Canada. After Canada I went back to Seattle to produce some tracks for artist, Michael J Hedges, followed by a full album for Seattle Extreme rock band Satovan.
After the Satovan record it was off to spend a month in Sweden producing an album for the Stockholm based band Yellow Fever before returning home to LA for a whole week!! I went off to the MIDEM conference in Paris where I was doing a bit of wheeling and dealing and helping promote new projects by songwriter Michael Oniell and the new album by Scott Rockenfield (Queensryche drummer) and Paul Speer.
When I returned home from France I slept for about 10 hours and then hopped in a van to go out on tour with The California Guitar Trio with Tony Levin and Pat Mastelotto (a.k.a. the best pop rhythm section in the world). I did live sound and recorded an official bootleg release. When we finished that tour I headed up to Seattle again to produce an album for the Kerry Lauder Band. The band was between bass players so I asked Tony Levin to come out and play on the record for me, who showed up and played typically awesome. It was a fun record that involved babies, Tony Levin playing diaper bass and lots of people trying to dance like Madona.
When I returned from Seattle I had about 15 hours at home before taking off to speak at the South by Southwest (SXSW) conference which I have been doing for the past 3 years.
Including a few other diversion around the US, Mexico and Iceland, I spent about 7 out of 8 1/2 months away from home. I am enjoying being at home, but currently lining up some projects that are going to get those frequent flyer miles racked up again.
Since Texas I have been at home in LA for almost a month and a half!! I took the time at home to get my new studio up and running and test it out by mixing a record for Seattle based punk band, Not in the Face, and working with some local songwriters including Kelly June, Katherine Sweeney and Alison Sweeney. I just finished mixing some tracks for a new band featuring drummer Jade Devitt, who I have done several albums with and Paul dAmour who was the bass player on the first few Tool records.
I have also begun working on 3 albums of my own material. 2 of the releases will be under the project moniker, Lives of the Saints, and the other album is a collaboration with Seattle based singer/songwriter/violinist Mary Shokes.
I am sure there are some other things I am forgetting, but I need to get back to work. I am doing pre production this week for a couple projects this week before Swedish artist, Vanya, arrives from Stockholm for 10 days of production and then I am off to produce another record in Seattle, back to LA for a record and then I fielding a couple offers to do some more work overseas. Life is not dull, thats for sure.
If you want more detail or vaguely up to date reports keep checking the web site or feel free to write me.
RCM
Contact Ronan Chris Murphy:
Email rcm@venetowest.com