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| BackBeat Our First Collaboration |
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Our First Collaboration
January 25 Update: COMING SOON EXLUSIVE INTERVIEW "ICARUS PREVIEW" THE ICARUS PREVIEW ON AIR INTERVIEW IS COMING... Click here for more!
Meanwhile, you can listen to an album sampler on Jac's MySpace page at www.myspace.com/jacdaltonrocks December 2 Update
Australian rocker and American expatriate Jac Dalton returned to Memphis and Ardent Studios to overdub, edit and mix his new album, "Icarus." The project was produced by Grammy-winner Gregg Brown and Darren Mullan, with Grammy-winning engineer John Hampton at the console. Following Dalton's debut "From Both Sides," the new "Icarus" marks a significant advance in Dalton's sound and style. The Southern gentleman from down under has distilled a blend of melodic rock that pays homage to the classics and Australia while expanding on his established musical presence. From the towering vocals, blazing guitars and uplifting vision of the title track "Icarus," to the anthemic "State Of Rock," the groove-laden riffs of "Waterline" and the bone-crunching "Suck, Bang, Blow," (a tribute to a bar in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina) the new album offers up a sound and performance that resonates across borders and generations. More info: www.ardentstudios.com MASTERING: "Icarus is being mastered by Grammy Award Winner, Richard Dodd (www.richarddodd.com) Since the early '70s, when he was recording hits like“Kung Fu Fighting,” Dodd has distinguished himself time and again while working with artists Boz Scaggs, Stephane Grappelli, George Harrison, Clannad, Roy Orbison, Wilco, Green Day, Steve Earle, Delbert McClinton, Robert Plant, the Travelling Wilburys, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Freddie Mercury, Placido Domingo and the Dixie Chicks "Taking the Long Way" (winners of Five Grammy awards in 2007).
September 15 Update The mixing sessions at Ardent Studios have begun, and the guys have been joined by an exciting new member of the mixdown team. The studio (Ardent Studio B) has been booked until the 21st, and we are expecting progress reports via email and video, including (it is hoped) a progress mix or two. Either way, we will have the glass master by the end of the month, and will be swinging into preparing for pre-release promo as well as completing the CD content and artwork. August 2 2009 Update from Graham June 11 2009 Update from 'Your friendly neighbourhood Jac': "Several months ago, NanaMex suggested that Graham and I have a look at each other's websites and MySpace pages. Her insistence was that, though our styles were quite different (mine - classic rock/country vs Graham's - heavy metal, rock, power pop), there was 'something' about them screaming to be 'incorporated'. It took Graham and I awhile to finally get around to listening to each other, but when we did, we recognized instantly commonality in more than just the melodies and styles. For lack of a better term, there was this instant, massive 'kinship' between us. Our first conversation lasted more than an hour-and-a-half, and it was as if we'd known each other before - literally picking up where we'd left off at some point in conversation - though we'd never before met. At the end of the conversation, I asked Graham if he'd be interested in hearing a 'very' rough sketch of one of the songs being developed for the new album to see what he thought. The result of my sending that mp3 is that over the past 10 weeks Graham, Darren Mullan (co-writer/arranger/co-producer) and I have succeeded in completely re-thinking, re-arranging and re-inventing pretty much the entirety of the new album.
My first album 'From Both Sides' attracted the attention of Gregg Brown - one of Nashville's more colourful producers - resident renegade - who produced numerous hits for Travis Tritt, Tanya Tucker and Chris Ledoux. And we were prepared to follow suit with the 2nd album - as we've discovered that the album's progressive crossover style - is where US and UK country markets have been heading anyway. However, with the partnering-up and collaborating of Graham, Darren and I... fate, the music, destiny, the law of attraction in the Universe - whatever it is - the tracks for the next album are waaaaayyy different from what we started out with. Attributes of my first album that we'll be keeping, are the band's intricate, phat harmonies (a la LRB and Eagles) and the mature, upbeat, driving commercial feel of the songs. Outside of an anthem track we've written specifically for drought/hardship relief, you'd be hard-pressed to call any of what we're doing 'country'. In a word, the 'new', new album has elements of Sting, Matchbox 20, The Corrs, Bryan Adams and Jon Bon - all wrapped up nice and neat in a Whitesnake skin.
Over the past 10 weeks Darren and I have worked in Adelaide arranging and developing the tracks - exchanging daily updates with Graham and Donna - who have been doing the same thing over in Perth. This approach, while at times frustrating, has certain merit born of distance - enabling both sets of creators the luxury of unaffected opinion and freshness of perspective - which have added tremendously exciting possibilities to the project. To state the results of this collaboration as honestly and unbiased as I am able - this album is truly an 'ass-ripper ALL KILLER and NO FILLER!' !' Trusted critics close to the project have already said that, 'It's To date, we've packed 8 of 10 demos 'in the bag' ready to send across the big pond. The final 2 tracks are being chiselled and polished from the pure rock of their birth as I write this, and should be added to the diplomatic pouch by week's end.
While arranging and development of tracks has been underway, we've as well been sourcing the best possible drummer we can find to add the 'stomp' to the pumping legs of the album. Final decision as to who the 'driver' will be is scheduled for early next week after we've heard the last of several extremely talented percussionists sharing with us what they can contribute. Recording of actual percussion tracks will take place within two weeks. Once this thundah has been captured, Graham and G-Donna will be flown to Adelaide and spend a week adding all the hail and lightening to our 'hurricane'. During that week, all the lead, rhythm and acoustic guitar tracks will be laid down large and live; bass guitar, background and lead vocals will be belted until they're exactly as they are supposed to be; and all data will be meticulously organized ready for launch. Then, as our producer works his magic (it's possible he will edit and master in Elvis' old studio) the rest of us will busy ourselves with all things media, internet, marketing and publicity - priming as many promotional fires globally as we can kindle.
Everyone involved in and supporting this project expects great things to result. Some projects y'just know - beyond hope - are worth it. I quote another who trusted the murmurings of his soul... 'Grant us the heart to seek the truth (in this case 'success') wherever it may be; the wisdom to recognize it; and the strength to make it endure'. That man began as a humble dreamer too; he later became a King."
Godspeed, Your friendly, neighbourhood JAC
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Two of GTN’s featured artists and favourite sons, 
MEMPHIS, TN. (