Leap Of Faith?

Could it be considered a leap of faith or just simply foolish for Geoff Laforet and I to take a big step in this musical endeavour to start something brand new and very fresh?
Today we walked into Oak Recording studio equipped with strong coffee (fair trade) some pads of paper and my laptop, sat down with long time friend and killer producer/engineer Gord Richards and started preproduction for a 5 song EP.
At this point we don't know what we are calling it, we don't know where the money is going to come from and we don't really know what is going to happen with this record when it is finished.  But we had already recorded one of the tracks with Gord and have heard what he is capable of and felt that it is worth the leap of faith.
There are only a few people who have heard the new track and so far the reaction has been a dropped jaw and a stunned look.  I have heard comments like "wow, this sounds like the radio" "I can't believe how big this sounds" and one of the little girls from the family we live with said "are you going to be famous?"  I laughed at that one.
If you know me, you know that I am not one to brag about my music, but I am absolutely amazed at how Gord has already been able to take our songs and help us build them with a really big sound that blows Geoff and I away every time we hear the track.
We are both very excited to make this record together and Gord is equally as excited to produce it.
We are going to work very hard to make a great record as quickly as possible and get it out to you.  Please keep checking in to this blog, follow us on twitter and facebook and help us spread the word that the Darin Martin Band is coming soon to a music player near you.
Peace, Darin

The Gap

There seems to be a big gap between starving artists who want a "pro" sounding record and a professional studio who needs to make its money somehow.
I have some close friends who have managed to build up their own studio gear and produce their own records without spending tons of money and they've been releasing great records.  Check out Scott Orr Music http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/scott-orr/id136035051and Deni Gauthier http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/worlds-apart-single/id429011531.  But for those of us who don't have the gear or sick skills required to produce our own records, the gap remains as wide as the Grand Canyon.
I have spent a ton of time this year thinking about how to bridge that gap but it is very difficult.  If only every musician had a close friend with a ton of money and a big heart to see us succeed.  It seem as though if you don't have a major record label fronting the money for you to put out great sounding stuff, you're screwed.
But what if there was a way?  What if a great producer working at a great studio (who still needed to get paid) but decided to not charge you an arm and a leg to make a great sounding record would get behind the project.  And what if there was a company or group of people who believed in a musician got behind that musician and helped him/her get to the next level?
Well, I think we have found a way.  After months of wracking my brain and almost giving up, I have been introduced to something that could help me and many other musicians in my position.
As soon as this comes together I will write the rest of the story.
Thanks so much for your support.
Darin

New in 2012 - The Darin Martin Band

While I am trying to keep my blog posts focused on personal stuff that relates to my life as a musician, I wanted to take this chance to introduce the guys who have been making up the "Darin Martin Band."

As many of you know Geoff Laforet formerly of (Thousand Foot Krutch) and I met a year and half ago and started a friendship that has become very strong.  We joke that we have played so many shows together but have never even gone to watch a movie or spent much time just hanging out.  Geoff is an amazing guy and I have a whole lot of love and a ton of respect for this man.  We are working very hard at this music thing and our hope is that we can find more time to just hang together.



Gord Richards
(Aka G-Rock) has been in my life since I started being a youth pastor.
Gord is an incredibly talented musician and performer but what many people don't know yet, is that G-Rock is an amazing engineer and producer and is producing my new album set to release in the Spring of 2012.
G-Rock was a student in my youth ministry but quickly became a very close friend of mine and someone that I love very much.  As far as playing with me goes, because he is very busy with his own budding career, he will come and go based on his availability and for that I am grateful.
It should be said (incase G-Rock read this) that Gord has been one of the biggest reasons why I have decided to go after this dream to play music.  He has always encouraged me as a song writer and has always done everything he can to help make this happen for me.

Graham Richards (kid brother to Gord) was about 12 when I met him.  He has a brilliant mind and is quite possibly the easiest guy in the world to work with.  He is organized and disciplined which works very well.  I often give him chord charts for songs I have been working on.  After he trys to get through a song using my charts, he laughs and re-writes them with the actual chords I am playing.
Graham is an amazing musician and compliments my style, personality and struggle with administration beautifully.
He too is incredibly supportive and a huge encourager for Darin Martin Music and I am trilled to have him playing with me.









So there you have a little glimpse into who these guys in our new pictures are and how the come to play with me.
As the DMB develops and schedules allow for it, these guys will be joining Geoff and I for gigs that allow it.
We may also be looking to fill in some different pieces from time to time.
Please keep following us as this develops and I will keep you posted.

Playing for a great cause

Today as I was thinking about our upcoming show on Saturday I was encouraged to watch a few videos that explained what "Light Patrol" is and what they do for at risk youth in Toronto.
After watching the videos I quickly realized that our concert on Saturday is about something much bigger than I would have imagined.  I suddenly felt a strong sense of privilege and responsibility to do everything we can as a band to help support this organization/ministry that is doing amazing things for young people.
Please take a few mins and watch these videos.

If you have watched these videos and want to respond in some way, please come out to the concert on Saturday and hear first hand as a few students who have been impacted by Light Patrol share their stories.
There is no charge for the concert and it is going to be a powerful night.
7pm at Westmount Park Church.
1483 Royal York Rd
Toronto
Ontario M9P 3B3

Writing a Song

I mentioned this on Twitter the other day but wanted to share a bit more about my last writing experience.  I think it is very common for songwriters to run out of things to say in a song or different creative ways to say it.  I haven't had that problem before, but with the move to Mississauga, learning a ton of covers and focusing on promoting my "Every Time You Smile" EP, I haven't even tried writing a song.
A few days after Christmas I sat down to have a coffee with my wife (Sarah) and my mother who had put her back out and was chair-ridden for several days.  Figuring that I had a captive audience, I share with her all that has been going on with regard to our time in Mississauga and what the future holds.  In talking about places where we have been and lived and people that we have been blessed enough to have in our lives, I started getting a feeling like I wanted to go be alone for a while with my guitar.  It's like something comes over me.  A feeling, or sensation that it is time to write another song.
I have found in the past when this happens, that the lyrics and the melody come together simultaneously and the whole shebang is done in a matter of minutes.
I was feeling kind of folky so it's pretty "finger picky" and pretty reflective.  I was also listening to Josh Ritter at the time so it probably has some of his influence in it too.
It's called "Trying to Find a Home"and it is auto biographical as we look at what and where we move to next.
Shortly after I had finished the song, I returned to my mother who had managed to move herself from her chair to the couch and sang her the brand new song.
She got teary eyed and said, "You just wrote that now?" followed by "Darin, It's absolutely beautiful" followed by, "but it needs to be longer."  "I want to hear more about this journey and it's just not long enough".  So it's back to the drawing board to add in a bridge and a bit more to the chorus.
The whole experience was pretty sweet though and I'm pretty excited to add this song into the mix of my live shows.
More on this song and hopefully a recording to follow soon.
Happy New Year to you and yours.