resurfacing!

by | Jul 9, 2022 | Uncategorized

It has been a very busy 2022 thus far!

Resurfacing seems like a very appropriate title for this post, because for the last several months I have:

  • signed a distribution contract with Melodic Revolution Records in February
  • released Foucault’s Pendulum CD in March
  • performed a solo show at RoSFest in Sarasota in April
  • May/June have been taken up by my day job plus working on custom guitars for customers and for myself
    • I also rebuilt and modernized my studio workstation – latest and greatest Intel Gen 12 processor, motherboard and updated storage to SSDs
  • July has me revisiting the material that is 75% complete for the next album “To Sleep, Perchance to Dream…”

This evening I opened up two of the three sections of the Dreamscape music suite/cycle – did some additional work specifically on processing on Andy’s drums (or rather reducing/removing processing…). I also brought forward Andy’s and JJ’s performances from the last section of Level 3 into Level 1 and did some creative editing as that (d) section is a reprise of Level 1 to close the suite.

During this time, I made some creative decisions about parts and arrangements, since with each project I find that less is more. Thinning out excessive instrumentation and layers that don’t add but subtract through clutter, changing up rhythm section as I did on Level 1, making the material cleaner overall. This will definitely be a big plus when it comes down to recording vocals and then mixing/mastering.

So far those two pieces are getting into better shape and I’ll revise lyrics shortly to begin tracking vocals. Next step – getting into the remaining tracks and working the magic to make them shine!

Stay connected! Subscribe!!

Keep an eye out on this site, my Facebook page and Twitter feed, Twitch channel, YouTube videos… good stuff will just suddenly appear, such as live stream videos from my studio featuring new material or new instruments, or just news period. I encourage everyone to subscribe – its free!

OMG – its May?!?!

by | May 9, 2022 | Uncategorized

I’m dropping in just to let everyone know I’m still around. And to give a tiny update…

I have a lot of work ahead of me in getting the To Sleep… album completed. Vocals, some guitar and keyboard work and then of course mixing and mastering. Writing lyrics are the hardest part for me as I have been getting way too deep into the mythology and the detail of the individual items I’m writing about. There is this serious pressure to one up myself in every way, so that pressure is affecting my productivity.

You can know about it, but it is another thing to do something about it.

I’m considering trying Eno’s Oblique Strategies at least for one of the songs to break the logjam. Once the words start flowing they usually are a torrent, that that’s the hope right now. I also have wanted to pull in some outside help both vocally and also creatively – doing this had wonderful results with Durga McBroom and the song “8:46” that will be on this album, so it seems like a great idea to foster another vocalist or two on other tracks.

In other news – just received this very nice review of “Foucault’s Pendulum” courtesy Gerald Hawey @ progprofil.com. Its in french, so use your browser’s translation function if you don’t read french as your first or a native language.
https://www.profilprog.com/reviews-2022-2/robert-svilpa

Finally – I thought up a future project that would be somewhat of a joke project. But the reaction to the funny song titles (a response to my annoyance with day to day life and news here in Florida and also California) has encouraged me to potentially look at doing some work on it. I also have to write and produce a song for the Pandora project Nick Katona has asked me to think up and maybe collaborate with other MRR stablemates. I’ll let you know about that when I remember to post here the next time. Ciao!

Appearing at RoSFest in Sarasota FL, Sunday April 17

by | Mar 29, 2022 | Uncategorized

RoSFest presents: “A Minstrel In The Garden” – an all-new event to coincide with the already popular festival. Showcasing musicians that deserve to be seen and heard in doing one-hour solo sets at one of the premier prog festivals in North America.

Come check out my set from 12:30 – 1:30 pm on Sunday April 17. Drop in and enjoy 
a
 cool
 drink, hang 
with 
friends
 while
 listening 
to 
some
 cool
 music
 from
 not just me but all of our
 musical 
minstrel 
friends. Artists Robeone and Marc Nelson are also on the bill, performing 
during intermissions throughout
 the 
festival
 weekend.

There will also be some surprise guests both performing solo and joining our minstrels for duets or trios – don’t miss this most excellent event!