Straw On the Making Of “Apartment 3513”
What was the creative process like for this particular single?
The creative process was very unique. This song took around 5 years to be recorded into its final version. Me and a dear friend and songwriting partner Grant Van Dijk, started writing together back in 2014. We immediately connected. Told him my story and what I was going through at that time. He was struck by it and proposed me to write about it. In the beginning, I was hesitant and very self-conscious but eventually I thought it was a great idea. Songwriting sessions were definitely very intense and extreme, I'd say we met 1-3 times a week and sometimes even more for the past 10 years. This was not definitely your average songwriting session or how you write an ordinary song. This took years and years, a lot of building, destroying, doing it again and again, making it better and better and going over again and so on. Every breath, every line, every guitar lick, every vocal phrase, the intensity, the precision of the execution of all the parts with all the premeditation with which we had planned, every detail was meticulously crafted. I'd say that the biggest challenge for me, was the 1000's of hours I had to spend to get the interpretation of the song to the quality we were looking for, so it could be brought to life. It was an insane process to be honest and it all happened while it was being kept a secret. There were no live gigs or exposure of any kind whatsoever. It was like elaborating a secret formula. It wasn't till a few months ago that everything was ready to start the process of exposing the project.
Were there any memorable or standout moments during the recording sessions for "Apartment 3513?"
Absolutely. From the studio, to each one of the individuals present in the recording. The whole atmosphere was absolutely great, it vibed with a certain kind of electricity. I felt I had arrived for the first time in my life to the place I truly belonged. Playing alongside legends like Kip Winger(Alice Cooper, Winger) and Troy Luccketta(Tesla) was incredible. And even more incredible, was how welcomed they made me feel. I felt recognized by them as one of their own, it was absolutely surreal. It's definitely one of the most important moments I've had in my life. Mainly because it confirmed to me that I am on the right path. We recorded at Soultrain Sound Studios with Justin Cortelyou(Paul McCartney, KISS) on the mixing desk. It was 2 days of sessions, around 12 - 14 hours a session. It was phenomenal.
What impact do you hope this song will have on your audience?
I hope they love it, I hope they resonate with my story. I feel there are many people who suffer in silence, music is really powerful and you don't what difference you can make just by being out there. In a world that overflows with superficiality, I certainly think that rock fans will be pleasantly surprised. This song it's a personal statement that rock music is back.
How has studying at Musicians Institute made an impact on your music career?
To be honest, It wasn't for me. Mainly because I wasn't in the right mindset at that particular time, to absorb the knowledge and get the most out of it. When you go through the stuff I went through, your cognitive functions are impaired, meaning your capacity to retain information, as well as to adapt to stress, and to rest which is vital, is non existent and as result your grades and everything in your life suffers. Thankfully that is something that is part of the past.
I think Musician's Institute is a great school overall, the vibe, the campus, the people, what they offer it's great if you truly want to do it. I would definitely recommend it if you want to be a session player or session musician. The connections you can make there are invaluable.
For me, the way that I approach music has more to do with the taste that I've collected over the years, as well as how intuitive is the process of making music. With the years you get to develop your own "theory" on how to approach it.
Can you share a memorable experience from a collaboration that enriched your music?
Definitely going to the studio with my dad, who is a retired songwriter/producer and wrote one of Salsa's greatest hits. He taught me all the fundamentals and made me put them to test, I can tell you he did not go easy on me lol. It's by far one of the most enriching experiences. The most valuable lesson I learned from him it's the detachment you have to approach music to make it great.