Tracking a Songwriter (w Connor Pledger)
Follow Connor Pledger on the journey taking his song “Drunk In Paris” into Blackbird Studio where he evolves the song’s original arrangement into a new multitrack recording. Connor had submitted the song to the music publication American Songwriter for consideration as part of their Home Sweet Home song contest. After being selected, Connor traveled to our studio in Nashville for a full-day session with friends Matt Nolan, Kevin Nolan, and Grace Albritton layering instrumentation and vocals under the guidance of John McBride. After laying down foundational tracks and getting through lead vocals Connor quickly assumed a primary role in exploring the sonic possibilities of his music and shaping the rest of the recorded track. Although too pressed for time to do a full vocal comp and edit tracks to perfection, the collaborators decide to do a mix down of what they have; informed by McBride’s storied career as an audio engineer.
Get to know the artist and follow along the full day’s session in the main episode as we see Connor Pledger’s song “Drunk In Paris” come to life.
After taking the session files home and evolving it further, you can find the final version of the song HERE.
1 episode
John McBride
Producer
John McBride, the owner of Blackbird Studio and Institutional Director of The Blackbird Academy, has spent his entire life in the pursuit of quality, professional sound. Getting his start in live sound by launching MD Systems Sound in his hometown of Wichita, he came to Nashville in late 1990. John sold the company to Clair Brothers Audio in 1997.
John fulfilled a lifelong dream by opening Blackbird Studio in 2002 – which quickly became a favorite of artists, musicians, producers, and engineers worldwide. A champion of analog recording, he has amassed one of the largest private collections of vintage and modern recording equipment on the planet, including a microphone collection without equal.
In 2013, John opened The Blackbird Academy, dedicated to advancing the quality of recording education through a hands-on, professional training curriculum. In 2014, John received two Pensado Awards – the Educator Award and the Live/FOH Award.
John is married to country superstar Martina McBride, his partner in life and business; they have three children.
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