23 January 2010
Before we came up to Göteborg we thought we would walk out the studio with a full album after 14 days. That’s how we did it with our debut album after all. But that was then – this is NOW.
Working with producer Kalle Gustaffson we realized we can really raise the bar this time. We decided on a great selection of songs to be recorded for the album and commited ourselves to do everything to get the most out of these tunes. If this takes more time – we will take the time. Garage days are definitely over.
When we’ll leave the studio this Monday we will have 4 songs fully finished. Among them an amazing tune that we plan to release as our 1st single around springtime.
We will return to Svenska Grammofon Studion in April this year to finish the rest of the songs for the album. Oh man, this is gonna be a great journey.
Tags: Göteborg, recording, Single, studio, Svenska Grammofon Studion, sweden, Update
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21 January 2010
A camera with a self-timer and four CHOO CHOOs = some nice pics.
Created with flickr slideshow.
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18 January 2010
Yes, we know, been lazy on the blogging thing. It’s just that we’ve been working really hard in the last couple of days. Average day started at 10:00 and ended at midnight. You can imagine how hard it is to bring up the energy to blog after such a day.
Well anyway as I’m typing away on this, Kalle our producer is mixing a concept song called “Out of Time”. A great little piece that makes you feel as if you’re swimming in music, when listening to it. Never thought we could come up with something like that.
At this stage we now have 2 songs mixed. Actually both of them will surprise a lot of people. It feels as if CHOO CHOO is currently being re-born. Exagerating? Not a bit – you will hear it. Trust me.
For the rest of this day it’s listening to mixes and maybe we’ll even head out to the city for a beer. Tomorrow we will start working on vocals and guitars for what we think will be our 1st single.
Lili putting down some beautiful Vibraphone melodies
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15 January 2010
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13 January 2010
Day 3 has been the most productive day so far.
We started off at 10:00 with rehearsing that one track that we never rehearsed at home but made it on the list for the album based on the demo Dan made at home. The song is called “Why, When & How”. We opened the curtains in Studio and had the beautiful northern morning sun in our faces while rehearsing. And we’re making good progress, the song is coming together really well. We’re actually gonna try to put down the basic tracks to that one tomorrow.
After that early rehearsing session we listened to the last recordings of last night together with Kalle before we then started working on the basic tracks for three more songs.
We did “Chain Reaction” first – this is one of the “older” “new” songs, so this one was pretty quick. After we nailed it, Kalle took us downtown for lunch in a really lovely old marketplace. We had a traditional swedish fish meal with mashed potatoes and lingonberries. It was really great to get out of the studio for a change. Don’t get us wrong, we’re having the time of our lives, working on our upcoming album, but being in the studio for 14 hours three days in a row makes a one hour lunchbreak in the city feel like vacation.
After lunch we recorded the basic tracks to “No Monkey on my Back”, which turned out to be a lot harder to nail than we thought. But in the end we did it. In the evening we worked out a groovy songs called “Falling right Down” – we nailed THE Take at around 22:15.
So, now, we’re all drinking a White Russian and enjoying the last hours of that day. Cheers!
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13 January 2010
It’s 20 Minutes to Midnight and we’re enjoying a well deserved white russian.
Since ten o’clock this morning we’ve recorded the basic tracks to 3 more songs. They’re called:
“Stop”
“Running in Circles” and
“Bits & Pieces”.
Right after breakfast, we also rehearsed that brand new tune we have never rehearsed together but made it on the list for the album. Making good progress. I guess we’ll be ready to record it in 2 days.
Her’s a couple of pics from today. Sorry, but too tired to write more.
Created with flickr slideshow.
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11 January 2010
So we finally made it up north. We arrived at Svenska Grammofon Studio last night at around 7 PM.
As another band was having a session when we arrived – we basically dropped our bags and headed downtown for something hot to eat. Something hot was well needed, as it’s bloody cold up here. As Kalle, our producer told us, the last 14 days have been one of the coldest periods in years. We totally believe. We were all in the mood for traditional swedish food – fish was what we were looking for. But a stroll around downtown made it very clear that there won’t be too much choice. Most of the places were closed. After 20 mins in the cold – we ended up in a Pub with Burger, Fish and Chips. Not really traditional swedish food but just the right food to warm cold bellys.
The studio is pure awesomeness. Three floors full of wonderful toys to play around. On top of it a small appartment, where we’re staying. Thing is, it’s bloody cold up here. Lili was using three blankets and still freezing last night. So we’ll ramp up the heating power for tonight. Kalle told us he has some tricks in the bag. We’ll see how warm we can turn our temporary home.
Today have been listening to all our 21 demos and choosing the songs that we are going to record. 12 songs made it on the list. One of these songs was written right before we headed up north, so we actually have never rehearsed it. So we gotta rehearse it in the early hours every day, before Kalle comes to the studio.
After choosing the songs we were talking arrangements, trying out ideas and changes that Kalle had in mind. It’s really great to work with someone who digs to the core of our songs.
After talking arrangements we started laying down basic tracks for the first song called “in or out”. We had played at around 10 takes and finished the 1st day at around 10:45 PM with a perfect version.
Tags: Album2, Göteborg, recording, studio, svenska, video, youtube
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4 January 2010
Happy new year to all of you!
CHOO CHOO will start the recording for their 2nd Album as of next Monday, January 11th. We are entering Svenska Grammofon Studio together with Producer Kalle Gustafsson (Soundtrack of Our Lives) and 21 new songs in the bag.
Keep an eye on this site as well as our Twitter Stream as we’re going to be reporting directly from the studio.
Tags: 2ndalbum, grammofon, recording, studio, svenska, sweden
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2 December 2009
Subversiv Records, the label that released our debut album in 2008, is celebrating its 15th Anniversay with lots of gigs and parties all over Bern between December 4th and 12th. See the artwork below for more information.
CHOO CHOO will play at Wasserwerk, Bern on Friday, December 11th. Dan (Voice / Guitar) will also spin some LPs after the show. Come and party with us, it’s gonna be a great night!
To make it more fun, we’re giving away 3 tickets for the show. To get on the guestlist either tweet the hashtag #choochooguestlist to @choochootheband or post a comment with #choochooguestlist on our facebook page wall. Lili will pick the lucky winners out of all entries on Wednesday, December 9th.
Tags: 2009, Competition, Gigs, Hashtag, Twitter, Wasserwerk
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1 September 2009
CHOO CHOO is selling the left over stock of CDs and Shirts via their Merchandise Shop over here. Have fun shopping.
Yan sporting the Man’s Tambourine Shirt
Lili sporting the Women’s Tape Shirt
Tags: CD, CHOO CHOO, Fun, Merchandise, Shirts, Shop, T-Shirt
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