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Hey everyone!
This has been such an exciting time for Dave and me! If you’ve been watching our video journals, you know that we went back into the studio to track one more song called “Grow.” It’s now the first track on “The Pretty & The Plain,” and we feel like it adds a lot to the record. AND it’s light-hearted and fun, which balances out all our deep, heavy songs.
We’re now waiting from a call from our printer (it's so hard to be patient!) to let us know that our CD’s are done being manufactured. We’re SO excited to actually hold the finished product in our hands. Most of what we do in our music career is intangible, so it’s really great to physically see the fruits of our labor. I can honestly say that the artwork for The Pretty & The Plain is the most beautiful and unique that I’ve ever seen on CD packaging. We’re glad we decided to pay the money to have someone else design our projects this time. Wake Up The World looks really great too. It conveys the idea of Christmas without being to cliché in the imagery. We love it.
We’re booked up for the fall, and we’re looking forward to playing our new songs for all of you wonderful listeners. We’ll see you on the road!
*jj
p.s. October is my birthday month... I'm turning the big 2-7!
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Today was our last day in the studio. We finished our work on “The Pretty & The Plain,” and “Wake Up The World.” I don’t think the weight of it all has settled in yet. It still feels like we’re just taking a break for the weekend, and we’ll head back to Sputnik on Monday… But in reality we’re done recording, and we’ll be in California on Monday.
So far everyone who has heard our new music (a bunch of our musician friends) says that we’ve grown a lot since “Only Love Remains,” and that they really love the new songs. This new collection is a bit different than our last release, but we’ve come to believe that if our art is not growing, it’s dying. Dave and I have become really attached to these new songs, and we can’t wait for all of you to hear them!
We’re still waiting on the designs for both projects, so when we get the final artwork, we’ll be ready to start printing. As of now, we’re hoping for an October release date for both CD’s, but we’ll be sure to keep you posted.
Now begins the waiting game…
*jj
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As I write, there are only 12 days until we start recording our two projects with Mitch Dane at Sputnik Sound. I’ve been writing more in this past month than I’ve ever written in my life. It’s been a really productive time, though. In the last 4 weeks, I’ve written seven songs that we’re pretty sure are going to end up on our albums (either the Christmas one or the full-length). I think I’ve been feeling the pressure a little bit, but the good news is that I’ve been feeling really creative as well.
I have mixed emotions about recording so soon. Part of me really wants to have more time to write so that we can make this an amazing record, but the other part of me is excited to finally track these songs that have become really special to me.
We’re still really proud of Only Love Remains, so it will be interesting to see how we feel about these new records. I didn’t intend for it to happen, but most of the songs have taken on a somewhat nostalgic, old-timey feel. Now we have to figure out if we’re going to play that up or tone it down. We also have the daunting task of deciding which songs make it, and which ones get cut.
Thanks so much for being a part of all this!
Love & Peace,
*jjh
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I don’t really know why, but for some reason we’ve been writing up a storm these past few days. I’m really excited about a song I wrote for the Christmas EP called Emmanuel. I also decided to revisit a song I wrote about a year ago called September (inspired by a lovely woman named September). The original version wasn’t anything special, but Dave and I are both really into the new version. We’re hoping to get a woman with a really soulful voice to sing some background vocals at the end. We have someone specific in mind, so we’ll let you know if our wish comes true!
I’m starting to feel a lot more confident about recording these two projects (the full-length record and the Christmas EP). The songs have taken us in a little bit of a different direction than Only Love Remains, but I guess that’s what keeps things interesting. Someone once said that if your art is not growing and changing, it’s dead. It’s a bit scary to go out in uncharted waters, but ultimately I know that I just need to write the songs that God puts on my heart and leave the results up to Him.
*jj
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I think I’ve officially entered that stage of life where I’m surrounded by babies. Two of my closest friends have babies, and a few days ago I met my cousin’s two month-old. I’ve never been one to jump at the chance to hold a little one, but recently I’ve found myself really enjoying being around them.
Life is so simple at that age. When you’re tired you sleep, when you’re hungry you eat, when you’re happy you laugh, and when you’re sad, you cry. You don’t have to worry about offending anyone or making a good impression or even if the bills are going to get paid… you just live. You live in the moment. No looking back with regret, no worrying about the future.
Sometimes I wish that I could be more childlike in the way I view the world. Recently I’ve been really struggling with anxiety.
One thing that has helped me through these fears is simply the knowledge that God has a big dream for my life. I can’t describe the comfort that comes with trusting Him. He will give me what I need to realize His dream for me, and He will not rest until it comes to pass. He is good.
Grace&Peace,
*jj
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I’m happy to report that I feel the writing slump slowly melting away. I’ve written several songs in the last month or so that I actually like. I even wrote a Christmas song! I’ve been trying to write one for at least six months, and I finally did it:)
I still have about five more months to write before we head back into the studio for the new record. The plan is to come up with as many good songs as possible, and then we’ll pick the best ones to go on the record. We have about eight songs that we really like right now, and I’m curious to see what other songs will come into being in the near future.
We’re gearing up to hit the road on Friday. We’re going to be in lovely California for about a week and a half. On the 15th we’ll celebrate four years of marriage… I can’t believe we’ve been married for that long already! Time has completely flown by. Anyway, I’m REALLY excited because we’re going to see Patty Griffin play in Santa Cruz on our anniversary. She’s my absolute favorite songwriter/artist, and I’ve never seen her play live. This just might be my favorite anniversary gift to date.
Thanks for reading!
*jj
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I’m in an airplane right now somewhere between Nashville and Houston. Tonight we’re going to play our first ever gig in Texas, and I’m really looking forward to it. This year we’re hoping to play in a lot of new states, and start branching out from the familiar west-coast. I’m excited to see what this next year holds for Dave and me.
We met with our producer, Mitch Dane, a few days ago to discuss our next record. The tentative plan is to spend three weeks in September recording a full-length record and a 5-6 song Christmas EP. We were thinking that it would be great to kill two birds with one stone, and Mitch thought it was a good idea.
I feel like I’ve been in a bit of a slump as far as songwriting goes, but I’m slowly starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. There are a couple of factors that I’ve been wrestling with. First, since we released “Only Love Remains,” I’ve really raised the standard for my writing, and therefore haven’t written too many songs that I’m terribly excited about. Second, I’ve recently been guilty of comparing myself to all of the amazing talent that now surrounds us in Nashville.
Our friend Jeremy is making a new record right now and he told us last night that he’s come to realize that it doesn’t make sense to try to write like anyone else... even if they’re amazing songwriters. The truth is that each songwriter’s unique perspective is what makes a song meaningful. I’m really trying to hold onto that as I continue to come up with new material. Comparison kills joy.
I’ll leave you with some lyrics to a song I’m working on right now. I hope you enjoy it :)
Life came at me hard from the corners, and I never saw it rise
You joined the ranks of the mourners, and you stayed through the night
Prince of Peace bring your treasure to the poverty of my soul
I cannot live in the darkness. Jesus, you are my home.
*jj
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