In the Studio with Davin McCoy (With Special Guest Dan Hannon)
Behind the Music: Recording with Dan Hannon and Davin McCoy at Ivy Manor
In this episode of Curious Goldfish, host Jason English delves into the recording process of Davin McCoy's first album in a decade at the Ivy Manor Group in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. The conversation begins with legendary producer Dan Hannon, known for his meticulous attention to detail and ability to elevate an artist's vision. Hannon discusses his career and personal challenges, including overcoming throat cancer, and how he collaborates with artists to realize their musical goals. The episode then shifts to a detailed account of the recording sessions, exploring the emotional and technical intricacies involved. Davin McCoy shares his experiences, from initial nervousness and finding comfort in the studio to the process of tracking and adding layers to the songs. The recording environment, camaraderie among the team, and the significance of Muscle Shoals' musical heritage are highlighted. The episode concludes with light-hearted anecdotes and an update on the project's progress, hinting at the excitement for the album's release.
01:07 Introducing Curious Goldfish: A Music Podcast
02:47 Spotlight on Dan Hannon: A Music Production Maestro
04:39 Dan Hannon's Personal Journey and Studio Dynamics
05:14 The Making of Davin McCoy's Album: An Insider's View
35:06 The Creative Process and Song Selection
35:41 Production Challenges and Surprising Outcomes
36:37 Anticipation for the Album's Completion
39:54 The Mystique of Muscle Shoals Explored
48:31 Final Thoughts and Looking Ahead
53:18 The Social Side of Recording: Ping Pong and Camaraderie
Transcript
you know, my goal is to help the artist realize their vision.
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:Not to make my record and not to
put Dan Annen's signature on it.
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:And so, the best thing that could
happen is that, When recounting this
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:experience, Davin thinks, man, that's the
record that I've always wanted to make.
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:Davin McCoy: And then we just I think
day three was when it really started
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:just kind of lift it off and we just
we figured out kind of the things we
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:needed to do and adjust in order to get
me sort of comfortable and And for Dan,
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:I think to figure out what I needed
from him in terms of The producer's
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:job is to manipulate you, you know?
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:So that takes a minute for a good
producer to figure out, like, what's
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:the way in which to motivate you to do
what he wants you to do without telling
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:you to do what he wants you to do.
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:Jason English (Host): Welcome to
curious goldfish, a podcast community
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:where music and curiosity come together
through interesting conversations
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:with the music makers of our world.
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:I'm your host, Jason English.
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:You can find curious goldfish and all the
major podcast and social media platforms.
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:And of course, we have all of
our content on our website.
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:Curious goldfish.
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:com.
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:Dan Hannon is a name that resonates
with authenticity and excellence
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:in the music production world.
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:Known for his knack for creating polished,
yet emotionally resonant records.
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:Hanen has carved out a significant
niche for himself over the years.
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:Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, but
now living in Muscle Shoals, Alabama,
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:he's a veteran in the industry with a
career that spans well over two decades.
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:Hanen first made waves with his work
on Manchester Orchestra's critically
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:acclaimed albums, particularly Mean
Everything to Nothing and Simple Math.
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:These projects showcase his ability
to blend raw indie rock energy with
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:refined, nuanced production techniques.
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:His meticulous attention to detail
and collaborative approach have
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:earned him a reputation as a
producer who truly understands
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:how to elevate an artist's vision.
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:Beyond Manchester Orchestra, Hannon has
worked with a diverse array of artists
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:including Aaron Schust, The shadow boxers,
Paris Jackson, the daughter of Michael
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:Jackson, and they rocket to the moon,
demonstrating his versatility across
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:genres from rock to pop to worship music.
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:Collectively, the artists he has produced
post over 1 billion streams and he has
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:produced co produced co written and, or
performed on albums that have sold over 4.
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:5 million copies.
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:His current billboard chart success
includes two number one albums, three
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:number one songs, 13 top 10 albums, 15
top 20 albums, three top 10 rock albums,
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:and four top 10 alternative albums.
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:His projects often achieve
a balance between mainstream
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:appeal and artistic integrity,
making impactful, lasting music.
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:His enduring success lies in his
passion for music and his unwavering
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:commitment to producing records that
resonate on a deep and emotional level.
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:Hannon has also endured some personal
challenges in the last few years.
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:Throat cancer came on fast and strong a
few years ago, affecting his vocal chords
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:and speech and requiring him to press a
button at the base of his neck to speak.
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:Hannon is now part of the Ivy Manor Group
in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, boasting
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:an all inclusive recording studio,
just a stone's throw away from the
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:Tennessee River, and in the same zip
code, where artists like Aretha Franklin
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:and the Rolling Stones laid down all
time great tracks, alongside Grammy
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:winner Gary Nichols, industry anchor
Michael Shane Wright, award winning
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:songwriter Clint Ingersoll, and more.
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:And this
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:is where I picked up the conversation with
Atlanta singer songwriter, Davin McCoy
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:earlier this year, I sat down with
Davin in Atlanta, ahead of his long
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:planned trip to Ivy manor to record
his first album in a decade, I had
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:the incredible opportunity to see much
of the recording process take place.
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:A first for me with Nichols Grammy
shimmering on the living room
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:fireplace mantle, Davin and the
entire Ivy Manor team were tenacious
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:and getting every note in harmony.
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:Just right over and over and over again.
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:What struck me most was how tedious the
process is me not being a musician in
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:any form or fashion, just kind of assumed
an artist like Davin would come in.
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:Take a couple of takes, and Hannon
and the fellows would tweak a
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:little here and there, and then
just move on to the next one.
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:How was I wrong in the best possible way?
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:Like a mad scientist experimenting
with potions and chemicals, Hannon
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:would work his magic sitting behind a
45 year old soundboard built for Bob
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:Marley's son, and in front of a screen
that looks like Tetris on steroids.
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:It was completely fascinating
and inspiring at the same time.
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:It's incredible the amount of work that
goes into a three and a half minute
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:song, but that's what happens when you
bring together a team of professionals
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:and perfectionists with an artist
like Davin, who knows what he wants.
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:in this part two of the series
in the studio with Davin McCoy,
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:I talked with both Davin McCoy
and Dan Hannon about the process.
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:I hope you find this peek behind the
curtains as interesting as I did at the
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:end of the episode, I'm including a track
off Davin's new album that was originally
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:recorded 18 months ago, part of a live
album from Eddie's attic in Atlanta
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:available today on Spotify, but beyond
the music, you also get an update on ping
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:pong from the courts outside of Ivy manor.
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:It's a good thing Davin can make
incredible music as I was happy
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:to put him in his place despite
his outrageous trash talking Hey
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:Davin, just stick to your music.
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:Okay.
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:So again, here's Davin McCoy.
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:But we first begin with
legendary producer, Dan Hannon
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:from Muscle Shoals, Alabama.
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:Let's dive in.
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:Pleasure
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:Dan Hannon: you.
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:Jason English (Host): mine, Jason.
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:An album recording, uh, so this, this
I'm a virgin no more after the last 36
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:hours, but the, what you guys have put
together here at Ivy Manor, and the
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:team and just witnessing everything
is, it's just been really eyeopening.
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:And, uh, I appreciate
you putting up with me.
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:Dan Hannon: the witness
and everything, it's just
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:over
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:the past 30 years.
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:And this is quite literally
my favorite place to be.
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:And it's, you know, I moved here
to be in this, in this studio.
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:So you picked a great
place to get started, man.
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:Jason English (Host): It's
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:Dan Hannon: having you
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:Jason English (Host): been
pleasure having you here.
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:Well for that
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:Dan Hannon: Oh, wow.
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:Jason English (Host): It's
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:Dan Hannon: Well thank you for that man.
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:It's funny, it's
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:literally just a product of me toiling
over it for years and spend so many hours.
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:And you know, I had buddies, um, who were
kind of my mentors and the whole thing.
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:And I would, there were in the early
days, many times where I was calling
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:my friend, Rick, Beato, actually, who's
a, who's a big podcaster now, actually.
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:Um, but I'd run into an issue and,
hey, man, what's the shortcut for this?
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:Or why am I getting this error message?
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:Jason English (Host): Right.
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:Dan Hannon: uh, I don't know.
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:And the only reason I ever learned it
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:was to make music.
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:So that was just the barrier to get in
and start recording my songs, you know, so
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:the quicker I can learn it and just, you
know, get it out of the way, the better.
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:So, but it's nice to be, you know, that
that skill set is acknowledged because
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:I don't even think about it really.
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:It's just a
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:Jason English (Host): No, it's
crazy to watch you, uh, to watch
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:you do everything, to be honest.
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:So yeah, no, I appreciate,
I appreciate that.
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:Um, so you've, uh, you've
survived throat cancer.
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:Is that fair to say so far?
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:How are you, like, how are you doing?
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:When, when, when, when did
that all happen for you?
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:Is it pretty recent or?
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:Dan Hannon: Well, I was
originally diagnosed in:
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:So eight years ago now.
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:And uh, I just had a pretty big
milestone actually for, since I was
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:diagnosed in 2016, I had never gone
two years without a recurrence.
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:And if you're going to have a
recurrence, it's typically in the
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:first two years that it comes back.
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:Well, this past January,
:
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:ever
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:since 2016 that I've gone two years
without something else popping back up.
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:So the very grateful for that.
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:And, uh, you know, I don't, I don't,
uh, take anything for granted.
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:You know, I, I'm, my outcome is
way better than a lot of people.
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:So I'm super grateful for that.
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:And, uh, It's a, it's a great reminder
to stay present and not, not, you know,
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:I'm not counting days that I have.
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:I'm just living this one.
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:And, um, so yeah, I mean,
I've survived so far.
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:Yeah, that's how I like to look at it.
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:And yeah, I mean, just the
fact that I have a voice.
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:Um, and
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:so many people, I don't know if, did you
ever see the Val Kilmer documentary on
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:Jason English (Host): So you
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:Dan Hannon: So, you know,
he has the same thing.
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:And if you watch that documentary,
you can't really understand him.
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:He has the same sort of thing where
he has to push his button to talk.
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:And, but as the quality of his voice
is so bad and you know, I watched
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:that and just thought, wow, you know,
how lucky am I to be able to, most
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:people can understand what I'm saying.
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:And, and that sound.
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:Very much like I did in the past,
according to my friends, so.
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:Jason English (Host): Well, and how
lucky you are to be working with Just
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:such a diverse, uh group of people
that all brings what I what i've
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:noticed is they all bring something
different to the table You know
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:Dan Hannon: it's
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:funny because so many of us are so
capable at all of the things, so figuring
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:out who's gonna handle what and, you
know, it's like, It's kind of, it's
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:part of the fun around here because
you got Gary Nichols, who is the best
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:singer I've ever heard in my life,
you know, and is a Grammy winner and
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:can play any instrument and slay it.
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:And he'll just, you know, pop
in, Hey, you need any vocals?
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:You need any guitar?
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:Uh, yeah, we're going to
find a reason to need that.
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:And, uh, you know, Jared,
who is a fantastic mixer and
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:producer in his own right.
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:And, uh, I've been working
with him since:
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:He interned with me
straight out of high school.
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:Jason English (Host): She's
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:Dan Hannon: And now he's just a beast.
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:Um, Clint Ingersoll, who is I don't
know if you got to speak much with
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:him, but, um, multi platinum songwriter
and, uh, killer musician and one of
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:my favorite people on the planet.
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:And, uh, Michael Wright, who you sitting
in this room, you can see, I mean, we're
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:all sort of, uh, work here because of
Michael and the amazing studio he built.
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:there's so many people around here
that make it great, but, um, yeah, man,
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:and it's, it's all really fresh too.
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:It's like I moved here in July,
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:Jason English (Host): Right.
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:Dan Hannon: so there's still that
new, vibrant sort of fresh energy.
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:Yeah,
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:Jason English (Host): No, that's neat.
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:Um, and for you, uh, you know, the,
the, the stats and stuff for, for your
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:producing career is kind of insane.
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:Uh, and I know the metrics have
probably changed through the years
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:with the streaming and stuff, but
I mean, your, uh, your career is,
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:is, it's, it's pretty ridiculous.
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:Um,
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:Dan Hannon: Well, Uh, Thank you.
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:Jason English (Host): No, seriously.
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:it's again an honor to be, to be here.
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:And I know in talking to Dav in the,
the, in the months preceding, uh,
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:his time here, you know, he was, he
was totally stoked to, to be here.
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:And I just talked to him.
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:I'm like, well, would you come back?
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:And he's like a hundred percent,
you know, so that, you know, I think
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:the, the experience has been great.
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:Dan Hannon: I'm trying to
convince him to move here.
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:That's what I'm trying.
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:I'm trying to get everybody to
move here, man, because there's
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:such a great energy and to have.
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:I mean, obviously, Davin
came up and immediately was
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:just one of the crew and, um,
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:and
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:I need him to be here so I
can overtake him in ping pong
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:beat
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:I can't stand being beat down so badly.
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:Jason English (Host): stand being
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:beaten so badly.
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:this project with him.
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:Um, that's my first question.
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:And then, you know, I have a couple more
and I'll let you get back to the work.
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:Dan Hannon: honestly, it was
an honor to even be asked.
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:And, um, it, it was kind of an
odd coincidence because, uh,
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:Robby's partner, uh, Davin's partner in
crime, Robby, um, who plays percussion.
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:I've known Robby.
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:I met him 25 years ago or
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:Jason English (Host): wow.
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:Dan Hannon: in Atlanta.
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:He played in a band and I
was in a band back then.
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:And, um, you know, and
we knew of each other.
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:We're never super tight, but I ran into
him at Eddie's attic at a, uh, Uh, sort
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:of a weird event that they had there.
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:Jeff Buckley's old tour manager was doing
a book signing and doing an interview.
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:And I'm a huge Buckley fan, as
is, as everyone is, but, uh, and
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:bumped into Robbie and his wife.
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:And, uh, that was the first time I
had seen him in at least a decade.
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:And, uh, we ended up connecting over,
uh, Come to see Davin at Eddie's
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:Attic live And I didn't realize that
that was gonna be the first time he
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:played and recorded something in years
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:Jason English (Host): Yeah
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:Dan Hannon: And I had never met him.
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:I'd heard about Davin You
know for years and years.
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:I mean It was probably early 2000s,
and I might be missing that mark, but
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:I definitely remember people coming
up to me Saying man this kid Davin
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:this kid incredible singer and for
whatever reason, I mean, there's,
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:there's a huge contingent of great, um,
producers and music people in Atlanta.
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:Jason English (Host): Right.
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:Dan Hannon: you know, we're also
spread out that it's not really unusual
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:that I didn't meet him, but, um, I'm
so glad that we crossed paths now
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:and that, you know, um, I'm really
getting to know him and his music.
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:And I can't believe it's been 20 years,
you know, since without working together.
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:Cause I feel like.
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:That's something that I wish we could
have been doing for two decades, you
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:Jason English (Host): the last few weeks
when he's, when he's been here, when
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:you think about the three weeks, the
four weeks, whatever it is, uh, when
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:it ends up a year from now, two years
from now, what, what will be the memory?
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:You know, what will this be?
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:Uh,
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:what
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:will be imprinted on your, on your
heart and your brain, you know, uh,
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:about the time with, with Davin?
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:Dan Hannon: Well that, that thought is
typically informed by the role I play in
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:the project where, you know, my goal is
to help the artist realize their vision.
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:Not to make my record and not to
put Dan Annen's signature on it.
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:And so, the best thing that could
happen is that, When recounting this
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:experience, Davin thinks, man, that's the
record that I've always wanted to make.
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:And I don't want to ever
work with anybody else.
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:I don't want to ever work in any other
environment because this is the spot
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:and this is, you know, the time that
I was totally understood as an artist
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:and, and, uh, got to really create the
vision that, you know, and it's, believe
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:it or not, it's kind of a, There's so
many experiences where artists go into
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:the studio and, you know, they work
with an acclaimed producer or in the
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:fantastic studio or, you know, they,
uh, Spend a lot of money or whatever in
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:the you know, and they just never end
up with that project that they imagine
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:and And having been an artist before
I'm sort of sensitive to that I guess
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:and and also having learned that I've
I've gotten to Early on in my career.
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:I was trying to make my record
not the artist's record.
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:So
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:That's that's my hope is that the
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:the Davin just thinks man, this is This
is the record I've always wanted to
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:Jason English (Host): is the
record I've always wanted to make.
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:Excuse me?
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:You good?
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:Dan Hannon: Each time we open the session
for Nothing Lasts Forever, every time
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:that song starts and he starts singing,
it's like, you know, chill bumps.
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:So I feel like that one's
a standout for sure.
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:And I, you know, you never know.
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:Jason English (Host): never know.
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:Yeah
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:Dan Hannon: um, you got
your gut instincts, Cosmos
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:is turning out phenomenal.
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:And I love the way that track is feeling.
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:Um,
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:this new song on working title.
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:I don't even think he has a title
yet, but that's a special tune
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:Jason English (Host): tune.
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:It's tonight.
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:Right.
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:Yeah, it just came back from break.
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:Yeah, that's, that's
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:Dan Hannon: Yeah.
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:It just came back from
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:Jason English (Host): of
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:Dan Hannon: Yeah.
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:Then that's, that's been the
story of this project too.
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:Or it's like you start out aiming
for a schedule and then we're going
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:to start at 11 and probably Yeah.
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:Quit at 11.
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:And so you go that first
day and you work until one.
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:You think, okay, well we'll still
try to start at 11 tomorrow, and
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:it turns into 1130 and then the,
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:Jason English (Host): Yeah.
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:Dan Hannon: circadian rhythm
just gets all outta whack.
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:Jason English (Host): No,
bless you and bless your wife
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:and all the, all the family.
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:So yeah, uh,
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:Dan Hannon: they signed up for, I guess.
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:Uh,
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:Jason English (Host): but, uh,
well on that note, it's late.
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:I'll, I'll let you get back to it, but
really appreciate, uh, your thoughts.
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:great job.
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:It's been fascinating to watch.
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:I really appreciate you having me
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:and good luck the rest of the way.
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:Dan Hannon: that, man.
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:I think it's an honor to be uh
participating on your podcast.
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:I've I love it.
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:Jason English (Host): thanks man.
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:Yeah.
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:Thanks, Dan.
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:Take care, man.
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:What's up, Davin?
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:Davin McCoy: What's up, man?
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:Jason English (Host): We're here in
Muscle Shoals, like we talked about.
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:So, this is part 2 of our conversation.
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:It's 11 o'clock at night on a Friday.
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:Uh, are you hanging in there?
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:Yeah.
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:Davin McCoy: Yeah, I'm pretty good, man.
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:Although, as soon as these
podcasts start, I freeze up.
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:I feel like I've never
spoken to anyone before.
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:Jason English (Host): Yeah,
I think you're right though.
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:You always have something to say.
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:Um, so when we talked in January,
you were, planning to come to Muscle
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:Shoals for the, for the studio and
the recording of the album that you've
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:been thinking about for, for a bit
that I know the timing of the start
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:got delayed, but, uh, you've been
here most of March, is that right?
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:And it's, it's basically
the last Friday of March.
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:Was it what you expected?
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:Davin McCoy: somewhat, but, uh, it's been
a harder process than I probably thought
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:it would be, a little bit more taxing
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:Jason English (Host): Taxing in what way?
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:Just the
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:Davin McCoy: Uh, just the kind
of the way we approach this one
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:we were trying to avoid using
click tracks or any of that stuff.
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:And there's never like a
band that just comes in.
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:So everything is kind of centered around
me having to perform the song live,
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:basically in the, in the live room.
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:And, and I, you know, got to kind of
do it four or five times and try to
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:get to that head space that I need
to be in with no crowd in front of
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:me with no energy coming back at me.
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:so it's kind of weird to
get that kind of, yeah.
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:Emotional without, which is you in a room.
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:It's like, you're trying to have to, you
kind of have to try to get back to the,
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:where you were when you first wrote the
song, which is not always easy to do
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:without a little help from your friends.
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:Oh, we got trains.
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:Jason English (Host): a
train in Muscle Shoals.
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:It's good.
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:Um, yeah, I mean, it's, it's hard work
and I, you know, you don't realize it, you
376
:know, you just, when you, when you're just
a listener of music, you don't realize
377
:the, uh, the process that, that you go
through and for you, you play, you know,
378
:you play guitar and, uh, and you sing and
you don't just sing, you sing, sing, sing.
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:Right.
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:So it's.
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:Davin McCoy: If it goes right.
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:Jason English (Host): Yeah, it's,
uh, there's a lot of work there.
383
:can you just walk us through, not,
you know, day by day or anything,
384
:but like the first week, two weeks,
kind of what that looked like.
385
:And then, and then I think you returned
to Atlanta briefly and then you came back.
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:Uh, can you just kind walk us through
387
:Davin McCoy: I
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:Jason English (Host): what the flow was?
389
:Davin McCoy: I got, so I came out
and um, We didn't do any, we didn't,
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:we had to kind of do pre production.
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:Uh, on the song.
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:I mean, some of them
were really ready to go.
393
:I knew exactly what they were.
394
:I didn't, uh, wasn't really
interested in, um, a lot of input,
395
:but others needed pre production.
396
:And we, because we had to change the
schedule around, um, we got, some of
397
:them we would have to do kind of pre
production in the studio, which feels
398
:like it bogs it down, even though normally
you would have just already done it.
399
:You would have spent the time on it.
400
:So the first couple of days, I
was a little frustrated at that.
401
:sort of the pace, not with the team, with
me and, you know, kind of just everything.
402
:And then I sort of settled into like,
Oh, well, you know, we didn't have
403
:time to suss some of this stuff out.
404
:So why wouldn't it take, you know,
why wouldn't it be kind of sluggish
405
:getting some of these, uh, started?
406
:bit And also it takes a couple days to,
you're in front of people, especially
407
:here with Dan Hannan and Gary Nichols
and, uh, Clint and everybody here
408
:is, everybody here's, their pedigree
is really, really strong and they're
409
:all ridiculously, uh, good musicians.
410
:and I don't know, I've written, I've been
out here and hung with them and written
411
:with some of them and all that, but, It
also kind of takes a, you know, a little
412
:bit to kind of, to get comfortable,
to be vulnerable, to, you know, I felt
413
:kind of tight the first couple days.
414
:So that was sort of the, the
start was, was I was going, Oh
415
:fuck, how, how is this gonna work?
416
:Jason English (Host): Well,
that's natural though, right?
417
:Any new teams, you know,
coming together, you gotta, you
418
:know, feel each other out and
419
:Davin McCoy: Yeah, and you gotta just,
you know, It's, there's just definitely
420
:a vulnerability that is required of you.
421
:And when you're in front of people
that you're simultaneously empowering.
422
:Having to be vulnerable in
front of and impressed by
423
:Jason English (Host): Hmm.
424
:Davin McCoy: them, it's, it's, uh,
it's a little harder to, cause you
425
:just want to be good the whole time
and you're like, Oh my gosh, if I
426
:fuck this take, if I fuck this, you
know, this part up, they're going to
427
:think I suck, you know, or something.
428
:and of course that's all in
your head, I got out here.
429
:We, we figured out how we were going to
kind of go about this process doing it.
430
:And, um, Not your traditional kind of
way how you normally record a record
431
:these days And then we just I think
day three was when it really started
432
:just kind of lift it off and we just
we figured out kind of the things we
433
:needed to do and adjust in order to get
me sort of comfortable and And for Dan,
434
:I think to figure out what I needed
from him in terms of The producer's
435
:job is to manipulate you, you know?
436
:So that takes a minute for a good
producer to figure out, like, what's
437
:the way in which to motivate you to do
what he wants you to do without telling
438
:you to do what he wants you to do.
439
:Jason English (Host): So the first
week or two you were recording, I
440
:guess, is the, is the industry term
tracking is that, am I picking that
441
:Davin McCoy: Tracking, yeah, you're
442
:Jason English (Host): All right.
443
:I'm learning, I'm learning
tracking there's punching, right?
444
:Punch
445
:Davin McCoy: Punching,
yeah, punches, yeah.
446
:Yeah, it's like when you go and make
an edit, basically, like a live edit.
447
:Jason English (Host): it's, you
know, this whole thing has its own
448
:nomenclature, which is really cool.
449
:But no, so you're laid down tracks
the first week or two, right?
450
:Yeah.
451
:Davin McCoy: and the vocals on each song
which took surprisingly longer than you
452
:would think to get, their performances
right because there's just not a lot of,
453
:we don't have a lot of ability to comp
anything, we're not using a click, so I
454
:kind of have to get it right and, um, and
that can be kind of stressful, you know.
455
:Jason English (Host): Yeah.
456
:And then you had other people
help with percussion and piano
457
:and things like that, right?
458
:So like Robbie and, and
then Dan's son, right?
459
:Davin McCoy: Dan's
460
:Jason English (Host): helped out
461
:Davin McCoy: yeah, Eli Hannon, uh, he
helped with a lot of the production
462
:and, uh, him and I got together on a
lot of the, uh, kind of some of the pads
463
:we wanted in the keys parts and stuff
and, um, so I would sort of, you know,
464
:clumsily play something that I had in
mind and then Eli would, would be able
465
:to sort of turn it into an actual part
rather than sort of the unsophisticated
466
:way in which I approach that stuff.
467
:Jason English (Host): he's 19.
468
:Davin McCoy: He's 19.
469
:He's a freak of nature.
470
:He's an alien.
471
:He's a Martian.
472
:He'll be, uh, he's probably the next,
like Jacob Collier, something like that.
473
:Uh, he'll be in the world.
474
:He'll be, he'll be known.
475
:Jason English (Host): that's awesome
so so then you came back to Atlanta
476
:after I guess, you know tracking And
then you came back this week, right
477
:or have you been here a full week?
478
:Davin McCoy: I came back.
479
:Let's see.
480
:I came, I came back on Sunday morning.
481
:Jason English (Host): right, so
you've been here almost a week
482
:Davin McCoy: yeah, I was home
for, I think like eight days or
483
:Jason English (Host): Yeah so here
you're going back through each song and
484
:Uh Yeah, we're doing a lot of the dubs,
485
:Davin McCoy: Uh, yeah, pretty,
we're doing a lot of the dubs.
486
:So just adding, you know, atmosphere and,
um, or if it needs percussion or if it
487
:needs, you know, guitars or whatever.
488
:and some of them we came back and I
just said like, we got to redo this.
489
:so there was some
backtracking involved too.
490
:Uh, we, we've been a little
bit cavalier with, with, but
491
:you, you want to get it right.
492
:I mean, you got to live with it.
493
:And, um, so this week has been.
494
:Much more exhausting than the first two.
495
:The first two, you're thinking,
man, we've got a lot of time.
496
:First two and a half, you're
like, we've got a lot of time.
497
:And then you get back here and
you go like, we are staring at
498
:the, you know, at the end of this.
499
:And, uh, there's a lot to do.
500
:Jason English (Host): So in January,
you were excited for this for a lot of
501
:reasons, but I think you were talking
about the, your past experience,
502
:you know, with other, you know, with
other recording sessions and, um, and
503
:the need and your desire to get back
to like what Dava McCoy sounds like
504
:mostly, you know, live and sort of,
you know, you're in your soul and, and
505
:how people would see you, performing.
506
:Do you think you achieve that
with what you've heard so far?
507
:Right
508
:Davin McCoy: stuff around some of
the vocals in the guitar that than I
509
:initially kind of imagined there would be.
510
:Um, but you get in there and you
kinda have to, you, you sort of
511
:have to ask the song like, what?
512
:You know, what does it need
here and what does it want?
513
:And, um, so we've been trying to find
a, I think we have managed to find,
514
:kind of, we were able to walk that
razor's edge of, um, of serving the
515
:song to the best of our ability and
not, forgetting that, that we, we want
516
:everything in there to be necessary,
but we also don't want people to miss it
517
:so much when it's not there, you know?
518
:So I think we kind of found that spot.
519
:Jason English (Host): Yeah, so I you
know, you know, I love you, you know
520
:with just a guitar Wherever you're
singing But what I what i've enjoyed just
521
:being here kind of witnessing things is
uh, the piano and the strings You And
522
:all these kind of surrounding sounds.
523
:Usually I'm not a huge fan of that,
but what I've heard so far, it's
524
:like, it completely amplifies you.
525
:Davin McCoy: I, I hope God, that fucking
526
:Jason English (Host): The train,
527
:Davin McCoy: That thing
528
:Jason English (Host): the train, it's
like the longest train ride in Alabama
529
:Davin McCoy: fucking mad at
somebody, uh, that the engineer, the
530
:conductor of that train, his ex-wife
certain has to live in this town.
531
:He, because he is blown the
horn the entire way through
532
:Jason English (Host): it's
11 at night on a Friday.
533
:Davin McCoy: you get, so you get into
doing it and, and you, you lose, you
534
:naturally lose a little perspective.
535
:If you don't, you know, then
you're probably, you know, you're
536
:probably missing something else.
537
:I hope that, you know, that, that what
we've got on it is, is in service of
538
:sort of the, the lyric and the vocal.
539
:Um, You know, what were you?
540
:You got out here
541
:Jason English (Host): well, no, like
I, well, so like I, you know, I came to
542
:know you just playing around Atlanta.
543
:With you and your guitar, right?
544
:And, um, and that's what I love.
545
:And then I would listen to
your older albums, you know, on
546
:Spotify, and I'm like, it just,
it just doesn't sound like Davin.
547
:This stuff that I'm
hearing sounds like you.
548
:That's my, that's my point, right?
549
:Like that, even with, with all
the things surrounding it, and
550
:it's, it's not a lot, right?
551
:It's, but it's, uh, yeah,
so I'm, I'm excited.
552
:Davin McCoy: that's good.
553
:That's good to hear that.
554
:yeah, I think it doesn't have any kind
of like it doesn't have a lot of the
555
:sparkly and shiny stuff that it's still,
I think, appropriately dark, you know,
556
:everything that's kind of going on.
557
:And, um, And so those little, you
know, what we've tried to look for with
558
:most of the stuff we've added is those
little moments where we can either
559
:kind of punctuate the darkness or the,
you know, the, the mood, if it's a
560
:dark mood or if it's a, you know, or,
561
:isolated or, but like
562
:uh, kind of, you know, provide like
these subtle kind of breaths and lifts
563
:and, you know, just little things that,
that make you feel like there's, you
564
:know, You know, things aren't always
great, or you might be missing somebody,
565
:or you might be lonely, or you might,
um, be searching for something, or
566
:you might be feeling isolated, or
uncomfortable, or whatever it is.
567
:Jason English (Host): in our first
conversation you were talking about, you
568
:know, it's been a few years and you've
got, you know, a decent backlog of songs.
569
:And I think the number that you were
kind of contemplating was potentially
570
:not having 15 songs on the album,
but probably 15 songs to work with.
571
:And you've settled on what?
572
:10, 11.
573
:I guess my point is it's
fewer than the 15, right?
574
:So like, I guess, talk us through
what, why did some make it and
575
:some not, you know, and it was
that kind of part of this process.
576
:Davin McCoy: it's funny is that
so the ones that were definitely
577
:going on, um, we kind of, of
course, approached those first.
578
:All right, that's what I
kind of presented first.
579
:And then I would, um, I would get
with Clint and with Dan and, um,
580
:Clint Ingersoll, by the way, he's
a great songwriter from Nashville.
581
:He's part of the team here, but he, uh, I
would get with them and, when they would
582
:say, what are we going to track next?
583
:What should we put on the board next?
584
:Um, I would go, well, let me think
for a little bit and then I'd get a
585
:guitar and I would kind of go through
a few things and then I would present
586
:those few things kind of to them.
587
:This one's finished.
588
:This one is almost finished.
589
:This one's finished.
590
:And I just sort of play them
and it didn't take me very long.
591
:They would go first, they
would go, Oh, that one.
592
:Let's do that's great, blah,
blah, blah, play the other
593
:one, play, play that, that one.
594
:That's great.
595
:And I go, okay, good.
596
:That's what I thought.
597
:And then it didn't take me very long
when I would do that to watch their face.
598
:And I could, I'd be like,
Oh, you hate this one.
599
:You hate, you despise this one.
600
:No, we're just listening.
601
:Um, so it became kind of easy
to, To kind of suss them out.
602
:and the other ones just might not
have been, you know, there's one that
603
:is, um, was kind of written about.
604
:It just didn't, you know, there's
one that I think is, is a pretty good
605
:song, and I, and I really do like it.
606
:It means a lot to me.
607
:I have not played it a whole ton
because it doesn't, um, it sort of
608
:doesn't always fit into what I'm doing.
609
:And, uh, so, you know.
610
:That happens a decent amount.
611
:Um, so, you know, that might
be one for another project.
612
:Um, there's another one that, uh, it
felt like it was gonna, it felt like
613
:we already had kind of the anchor.
614
:Um, like we'd already found
the depth, like, of where the
615
:anchor on this record would be.
616
:Um, song wise, the kind of
the two that would be it.
617
:And this one, sort of, it felt
like an anchor that didn't, like
618
:it wanted to be an anchor, but
it wouldn't reach the bottom.
619
:You know what I mean?
620
:So it was just sort of It, it didn't
feel, it felt like it was, um,
621
:Jason English (Host): And that didn't
make the, that's not gonna make the
622
:Davin McCoy: It's not
gonna make the record.
623
:Yeah.
624
:That, that, so that one
of them was that way.
625
:And, and these are still songs that
I'll probably, 'cause the ones that
626
:I brought thinking they might make it
are, are songs that I really do love.
627
:It just was when we were kind of wrapping
our head around the whole project.
628
:I mean, even one of them, the river,
which I wrote a long time ago,
629
:I didn't when we recorded that.
630
:And I thought there's no way
that's going on the record.
631
:And, um.
632
:And it's, and it's, along with a couple
of others, it's one that I wrote,
633
:just doesn't
634
:it just doesn't really always go with the
theme, that's what we were thinking, but
635
:were thinking.
636
:the river though does, it just was written
in a different sort of time period for me
637
:than, and um, And so, but then we started
production around it, and in fact I'll
638
:give you a good quote from Dan Hannan.
639
:Jason English (Host): Hannan.
640
:Oh boy.
641
:Davin McCoy: I said, you know, I don't
like the, I don't necessarily love the
642
:dynamic range of the song, and I, I, you
know, maybe it's, maybe we can find a
643
:way to kind of get the lifts that I want
644
:Jason English (Host): want
645
:Davin McCoy: out of it with, uh,
with maybe a harmony and with some,
646
:um, Some, some pads and some other
instruments and, and uh, and he looked
647
:at me deadpan and goes, you mean
you want me to fucking produce it?
648
:And I was like, yeah, okay,
649
:Jason English (Host): Yeah, there you
650
:Davin McCoy: Yeah, yeah, fair enough.
651
:Um,
652
:the question?
653
:Jason English (Host): No, like
the, you know, the, we're just
654
:talking about the song choices and
whittling them down in the process.
655
:So I hope to talk to you again
when everything is kind of wrapped
656
:up and you've got the album and
the track listing and everything.
657
:Cause I'd like to go through
them a little bit more detail.
658
:So without giving away too much,
which song surprised you the most?
659
:You mentioned the River, but is there
any other song that surprised you?
660
:Without giving away too much?
661
:I really
662
:Davin McCoy: there's one
called nothing lasts forever.
663
:That kind of came in.
664
:Uh,
665
:going to
666
:I, I
667
:Oh wow.
668
:I really thought I was gonna
669
:that.
670
:This one, it
671
:I really thought I was gonna play
that for them and they were gonna go.
672
:What's next?
673
:They were gonna go like, what?
674
:Okay, not that one.
675
:What else?
676
:and I kind of qualified it that way, too.
677
:I said, I don't, you know, This
one, I can hear it in my head.
678
:I know that it can be good.
679
:I don't have it quite where
it probably should be.
680
:But I think if I can have a sounding
board, you know, for it and do
681
:some pre production and bounce some
ideas off of you, I think that you
682
:can probably help me get it from
my head to, um, you know, to tape.
683
:And, uh That one surprised
all of us, actually.
684
:Um, it was about to be dead in the water.
685
:It was real close to
being dead in the water.
686
:And then, I think Clint, he told one of
the interns, go get a baritone guitar.
687
:And so when he brought the baritone
guitar back and he handed it to me and
688
:we, Started kind of fucking around with
it that way and then we all looked at
689
:each other and was like, oh shit this
is good and so that was kind of an odd
690
:one because it sort of the baritone
guitar sort of like it was it was
691
:30 seconds from We were gonna move
692
:Jason English (Host): Oh my gosh.
693
:Well, I mean, just, you
know, spoiler alert.
694
:Well, yeah, I mean, they, I
think, you know, you had shared
695
:that with me, as a preview.
696
:And, uh, I just, you know, the back of
an Uber, I might've gotten emotional.
697
:So, you know, it may have been because
I was exhausted from a work trip.
698
:I don't know, but I think it was
the song and, uh, the moment.
699
:So that, that, that, you know,
that, that's going to be a good one.
700
:Davin McCoy: a video, but you
only sent me like 15 seconds.
701
:Of the, kind of.
702
:So I knew it was
703
:Jason English (Host): yeah.
704
:It was a video, but you only
sent me like, it was like 15
705
:Davin McCoy: looking for.
706
:Jason English (Host): the, uh,
Kind of the, after the big lift.
707
:And so I knew it was like, okay, there's
something there that sounds really cool.
708
:And then when I heard
the whole thing, it was
709
:Davin McCoy: when I heard the whole
thing, it was just like Like a
710
:really positive reaction to just
that 15 seconds of me just recording
711
:the, you know, the, the monitors
playing it and, uh, with my phone.
712
:And so I was like, yeah, this, the, so
the next day I woke up and I was like, I
713
:was real excited to get back to that one.
714
:And I think, I think that
one is, uh, really, really
715
:kind of a standout one on the
716
:Jason English (Host): Yeah, I think
everyone's going to love that.
717
:Um, so you talked about the difficult
process, uh, but you know, we're, you're
718
:sort of at the end, you know, you're
on the whatever the 10 yard line, it
719
:feels like 15 yard line, maybe, um,
going in for the, for the touchdown.
720
:Davin McCoy: Or field goal.
721
:Your
722
:Jason English (Host): Where you're
recording obviously Muscle Shoals, which
723
:we talked about it in January, but Since
being here at Ivy Manor and just you
724
:know, I know it's a difficult process
But the setup is incredible and the team
725
:you have is incredible like has it has
that met or exceeded your expectations?
726
:Davin McCoy: the team
you have is incredible.
727
:Has that met or exceeded
your expectations?
728
:That's helpful.
729
:Jason English (Host):
to me, because they're
730
:Davin McCoy: Yeah, they'll be like,
or they'll tell me like, Hey, there's
731
:this opportunity and it's really
like exciting and blah, blah, blah.
732
:And I'll go like, okay,
well, we'll see, you know,
733
:Jason English (Host): and
734
:Davin McCoy: And, uh, and cause
in this business, you just
735
:kind of learn to be that way.
736
:It's, it's, it's rough.
737
:And if you tell, you know, if you
get really excited about every.
738
:Jason English (Host): um,
739
:Davin McCoy: Every kind of opportunity
that comes up you'll You know they most
740
:you know in this business a lot of them
Just kind of they don't pan out and people
741
:are you know over promise or they're
full shit or and it certainly if you go
742
:Tell your friends you'll just end up look
they'll just roll their eyes every time
743
:you tell them something exciting because
you know half the time Something goes, you
744
:know, there's just so many moving parts
and it's there's so much luck involved
745
:But I, when I was coming out here, I kind
of, for whatever reason, I knew that it
746
:was going to be, I, I, I might not have, I
might've thought it would be, the process
747
:would have been a little bit easier,
748
:a little bit
749
:um,
750
:but I but I kind of knew, and it,
and it exceeded those expectations.
751
:I mean, just the, the, I, I mentioned,
you know, how important the, the
752
:camaraderie and the, you know, the,
the friendships and all that, that
753
:shit is when you're recording a record.
754
:Jason English (Host): Yeah.
755
:Davin McCoy: And, um, Yeah, I mean, I, I
knew we were already buddies, me and most
756
:of these guys, but I, and I knew we would
be friends when we left, but I didn't,
757
:you know, I, I, I wasn't expecting us to
be family, you know, like just straight
758
:up family and, and we, we've become that.
759
:Um, in fact, when I, after the first
two and a half weeks out here, I, I went
760
:home and it was great cause I got to,
um, You know if I if I didn't have kids
761
:I would have been depressed when I got
home for sure But my kids obviously that
762
:elevated me because I was just so excited
to get my hands around them every day.
763
:But um But I but I would wake up and
go like I'm not gonna go have coffee
764
:with Clint and Dan and you know what?
765
:I mean?
766
:It was it was uh, it was kind
of I mean, which I guess speaks
767
:kind of volumes around who they
are and how great it is out here.
768
:And the ping pong's been good.
769
:I haven't really, I think I've crossed
the bridge here, I think I told you
770
:the other day, three times since I,
I've left this, I've left Ivy Manor,
771
:I mean, to go to the gas station.
772
:And I think I've gone and, uh, I've
gone and eaten at a restaurant three
773
:times the whole time I've been here.
774
:I've been just, it's been,
uh, it's been long days,
775
:Jason English (Host): so for, uh,
for those of us that just don't
776
:muscle shoals because of Netflix and
stuff, but as the artist that's here.
777
:Like, do you feel the, like, you
know, after spending, you know,
778
:spending time here, especially at
the studio, is the mystique real, you
779
:know, for you, or is it, is it more
just like legend and lore, you know,
780
:Davin McCoy: you know, I
don't want to upset anybody.
781
:Um, I, you know me, I'm not, I don't get
into the woo woo stuff at all, you know?
782
:So, um, but do I think that
there's an energy here?
783
:Absolutely.
784
:I do.
785
:Um, I think it's probably because,
you know, at some point all the
786
:greats wanted to come here and
record and so many of them did.
787
:And now to this day, people that
really, are in this shit for
788
:the right reasons and stuff.
789
:They come, they, they're drawn to here.
790
:So, there is a, um, you know,
the, the ratio of, of musicians
791
:in this town that are just
792
:know, it's,
793
:like the kind, in my opinion,
kind of the right kind of people.
794
:adult,
795
:That ratio is really, really, really,
really extraordinarily high here.
796
:And, um,
797
:um, You know, it's and I'm not you
know, I'm not gonna dog on Nashville,
798
:but The ratio in Nashville is really
really really really extraordinarily
799
:low so there's a difference with that
800
:And and and if you if you come all the
way out here to do this like You're
801
:you know, whatever is driving you
to do that is is It's fucking real.
802
:I mean, you know, otherwise you don't,
this is in the middle of nowhere.
803
:There's nothing here.
804
:Jason English (Host): it's a weird,
strange, awesome place, you know,
805
:Michael, the, uh, the, the guy that
owns the studio, he was telling
806
:me that yes, there's fame studio.
807
:That's the famous one
that are the original one.
808
:That's the famous one.
809
:There's like muscle show sound the nut
house, but he was saying that there's 10
810
:studios within 10 minutes of this spot.
811
:And he said, they're all booked.
812
:Basically all the time.
813
:Which is wild to think about
here in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.
814
:Davin McCoy: And, and they don't
really compete with each other at all.
815
:Jason English (Host): Yeah,
that's what he was saying,
816
:Davin McCoy: all, it's, it's
817
:Jason English (Host): Mostly friendly,
818
:Davin McCoy: it's symbiotic,
819
:Jason English (Host): they let
each, He was saying that they let
820
:each other, you know, borrow gear
821
:Davin McCoy: All the time.
822
:Jason English (Host): if,
823
:Davin McCoy: Um,
824
:Jason English (Host): if someone needs
something, so that's, that's really cool.
825
:Davin McCoy: you get kind of
run out if you don't come.
826
:Jason English (Host): Yeah.
827
:Davin McCoy: If you don't come
correct in that kind of sense, I
828
:think they just run you out of here.
829
:Um, and it is pretty neat.
830
:It's fascinating because you just don't
831
:Jason English (Host): it's like they're
832
:Davin McCoy: again, it's like they're
all in the trenches here together.
833
:It's like it's because
there's nothing the fuck else
834
:Jason English (Host): so there's
nothing Well, I was talking to Gary
835
:Nichols, you know, earlier and you
know, he's, he's born here, right?
836
:He was born down the
837
:Davin McCoy: which makes perfect sense.
838
:Jason English (Host): No, it's great.
839
:And he, uh, I was like, I asked
him about the mystique too.
840
:Cause it, you know.
841
:It's part of his bloodline.
842
:And, uh, I'm like, listen, there's
other, there's rivers other in other
843
:places of the country, you know, cause
a lot of people talk about the energy
844
:of the river and, you know, uh, and I'm
like, there's other rivers elsewhere.
845
:Like, what is it about, you know, Alabama?
846
:And, um, you know, he, he's like, listen,
it's, it's, it's the dirt, it's the
847
:river, it's the energy, it's the people.
848
:Um, so, you know, there
is something, I think.
849
:I
850
:Davin McCoy: definitely something because
this wouldn't be here if there wasn't.
851
:I mean, for sure, there's
got to be something, um,
852
:Jason English (Host): you,
will you come back here?
853
:Do you think if, uh, if you have
the opportunity to do another album,
854
:Davin McCoy: uh, oh, in a
heartbeat, yeah, in a heartbeat.
855
:And, um, Yeah, and it is interesting.
856
:Gary can too.
857
:He can, he can sell me.
858
:He could, he could almost
make me believe in ghosts.
859
:You know what I mean?
860
:He's, he, it's, uh, you just, he talks and
you just, it's, it's coming from just such
861
:a real place with, with Gary and, and, uh,
862
:Jason English (Host): he, I did ask
him about the origin of muscle shoals.
863
:Cause I thought he would be the authority.
864
:Davin McCoy: say?
865
:Well,
866
:Jason English (Host): for with him, but
he he said it's a combination of the Map
867
:of the river looking like a flexed arm a
868
:Davin McCoy: Oh, that was the other one.
869
:I forgot
870
:Jason English (Host): Yeah that he
thinks it's from that But he actually
871
:said listen the reality is he thinks
it's you know a lot of muscles And
872
:they just misspelled it Cause he's,
he's like, it is Alabama after all.
873
:Davin McCoy: Well, when I first learned
about the fact that nobody really
874
:knows, there's no consensus on why
it's muscle sores, I was sitting with
875
:seven or eight people that are all
from this area, Gary being one of them.
876
:And all of them Disagree.
877
:I mean, they were like there
were three camps and they
878
:were all like, no, no, no, no.
879
:And I was like, Hey, I'm sorry I asked.
880
:I didn't, I didn't mean
to cause any friction.
881
:Um,
882
:Jason English (Host): to
do another album, then I
883
:Davin McCoy: would definitely, um,
I mean, let me hear the finished
884
:product first, you know, but
885
:Jason English (Host): think it's, I
don't think it sounds pretty good.
886
:Um,
887
:Davin McCoy: I'm pretty
excited about it being done.
888
:So this is a great thing
about Muscle Shoals.
889
:Um, the, the Shoals Music Makers
890
:Jason English (Host): Oh nice.
891
:Davin McCoy: is a, uh,
892
:it's a
893
:it's a part of the, I guess the city
council or whatnot, and they, um, in
894
:order to kind of stimulate, uh, and
drive the music economy here, they take
895
:submissions and they'll give you grants.
896
:And so this is a really cool thing.
897
:So we were staring, you know,
at the deadline and I'm looking
898
:at the board going, we haven't
crossed off enough things yet.
899
:And, uh, and it's crunch time.
900
:Uh, Michael, the, the, the guy, Michael
Wright, the guy you mentioned that owns,
901
:uh, Ivy Manor, he had submitted, when we
first did some tapes, he had submitted
902
:that to this, to the, Muscle Shoals Music
Makers and so I found out, I guess two
903
:days, was it two days ago or yesterday?
904
:that, uh, that they had accepted,
they, they'd offered me a grant.
905
:So they're actually, our studio time
is set to be up this Sunday, but Muscle
906
:Shoals Music Makers, they gave me a grant
to, to, to do another seven days here.
907
:So I'll be coming back in
April, which is amazing.
908
:To, uh, so we, we kind of got
a little bit of a break there.
909
:Um, We still treated it as if we're
have to be finished Sunday because, um,
910
:I need that deadline to get me there.
911
:But, uh, but it's good because
we're going to get to listen to.
912
:basically the finished record, but instead
of it being finished, we're going to be
913
:able to listen to it for three, you know,
three weeks or something and then come
914
:back and change whatever we want, which
is a rare, I mean, you just, unless you
915
:have unlimited money, that's, that's,
916
:Jason English (Host): to do that.
917
:Davin McCoy: rarely happens.
918
:So yeah, they, I think they offered
a grand of, you know, I think
919
:like right around 8, 000 bucks.
920
:Um, um, The only thing they ask for is for
me to tag them in, uh, social media stuff,
921
:I'm grateful, very grateful to the, to
them that, that, I appreciate that guys.
922
:Jason English (Host): know, that's great.
923
:Uh, so you'll come back in April, I guess.
924
:What's the timing do you think after
that to have everything kind of
925
:mastered and finalized and the release,
you know, the release timing, but
926
:what's your best guess at this point?
927
:Davin McCoy: well, I'm, it'll be, I'm
guessing it'll, we'll have the masters,
928
:probably within two or three days of that.
929
:So, so end of April Masters will
have, then I'll, I'll be working on
930
:the album art and, liner notes and
all that stuff, between now and then.
931
:So hopefully that'll be kind of
ready to go if we're, we're going to
932
:press vinyl, but that is the backup.
933
:we're still kind of like, we're
still kind of figuring out a strategy
934
:if we're going to waterfall it
or just release it as one unit.
935
:But we're gonna, uh, we're gonna do like
a big marketing push for the Spotify
936
:and for all that to get it Where we
want it to be and everything in place
937
:You know, I'll probably want to do a
release show, um, around, like, maybe
938
:a soft one, maybe Eddie's or something.
939
:Um, I'm gonna guess July.
940
:I'm gonna guess
941
:Jason English (Host): That's good.
942
:That'll be good.
943
:Davin McCoy: So, if you're
a betting man, September.
944
:Don't
945
:Jason English (Host): Don't say that.
946
:Davin McCoy: that.
947
:Um, we, we're more focused on
getting everything in place.
948
:to be able to start next year on
the road and, and, and, and pushing
949
:it and promoting it and playing it.
950
:Uh, that is my, that's
my number one focus.
951
:So, and, and that seems like a long time.
952
:But it's not.
953
:I mean, six months is not a
lot of, you know, I mean that
954
:we're going to have to be.
955
:So, it's not going to delay.
956
:It's definitely the
Atlanta release and stuff.
957
:I mean, we'll have that shit going.
958
:I talked the other day
with Robbie about it.
959
:Um, I think that if we are gonna push
the digital release, or we're gonna
960
:waterfall it, however we decide to go
about it, then, um, if we push that back,
961
:I'll get, we'll do like a limited run of
CDs, cause we weren't planning on doing
962
:CDs, cause who the fuck doesn't get CDs?
963
:Jason English (Host): something
in their hand, though,
964
:Davin McCoy: Yeah, so we'll do a
limited run of those and do a release
965
:party in Atlanta with those, and just,
um, ask that nobody put them online,
966
:you know, before the digital release.
967
:Um, so that's, that's might be the plan.
968
:We'll see.
969
:Jason English (Host): Alright.
970
:Well, we ended the uh, conversation
in January talking about,
971
:Davin McCoy: you better tell me
about how you spanked me at ping
972
:Jason English (Host): I'm just gonna
973
:Davin McCoy: I saw you
look at that fucking table.
974
:Jason English (Host): social media's
blowing up, everybody wants to know.
975
:They're like DMing me, they're like,
hey, did you, did you guys actually play
976
:ping pong when you're in Muscle Shoals?
977
:And uh, I mean you got me the first game.
978
:Uh, and you
979
:Davin McCoy: Did I win the first one?
980
:Jason English (Host):
me to, yeah, you won the
981
:Davin McCoy: and then we
didn't play again, right?
982
:Jason English (Host): do you want
to give the people an update or
983
:Davin McCoy: I think, let's see, we
played that first one and I won and then,
984
:uh, and then I, and then we ate lunch
and then, uh, started recording again.
985
:Right?
986
:Is that am I missing anything?
987
:Jason English (Host): all this.
988
:Yeah.
989
:Davin McCoy: Yeah, you see, you
990
:Jason English (Host): point.
991
:It's so late in the, in the process.
992
:Davin McCoy: delirious and delusional.
993
:Uh, yeah.
994
:Yeah, Jason.
995
:You did exactly what I was
afraid you were going to do.
996
:Jason English (Host): Yeah.
997
:Davin McCoy: You spanked me and,
uh, And you found that forehand.
998
:And then I was forced
to try to just play on
999
:Jason English (Host): on
:
00:54:20,483 --> 00:54:22,253
Davin McCoy: the, the, on your left side.
:
00:54:22,253 --> 00:54:24,243
I was trying to just
play to your backside.
:
00:54:24,302 --> 00:54:25,486
to your backside.
:
00:54:25,486 --> 00:54:25,880
Backhand.
:
00:54:26,013 --> 00:54:26,583
Backside.
:
00:54:26,670 --> 00:54:27,064
Jason English (Host): matter.
:
00:54:27,064 --> 00:54:27,459
It
:
00:54:27,643 --> 00:54:28,083
Davin McCoy: backside.
:
00:54:28,113 --> 00:54:30,093
And, uh, then you found that.
:
00:54:30,222 --> 00:54:31,406
Jason English (Host): And we're about
:
00:54:31,493 --> 00:54:32,583
Davin McCoy: And we're
about to play though.
:
00:54:32,763 --> 00:54:33,803
We're about to play now.
:
00:54:34,103 --> 00:54:36,363
When this is, when we're
done with this, this podcast.
:
00:54:36,433 --> 00:54:37,403
Jason English (Host):
This is getting late.
:
00:54:37,403 --> 00:54:37,763
I don't know.
:
00:54:37,833 --> 00:54:38,223
I gotta go.
:
00:54:38,323 --> 00:54:39,133
Davin McCoy: we're gonna play.
:
00:54:39,653 --> 00:54:40,543
You're going to play me again.
:
00:54:41,013 --> 00:54:46,053
Uh, I think that, uh, yeah,
what I was afraid of was real.
:
00:54:46,153 --> 00:54:48,213
You, you came out here and
beat the shit out of me.
:
00:54:48,328 --> 00:54:50,228
Jason English (Host): It's just,
I have experience, that's all.
:
00:54:50,248 --> 00:54:51,958
I'm 12 years old or whatever.
:
00:54:51,958 --> 00:54:54,008
So, that's the, I think that's the trick.
:
00:54:54,033 --> 00:54:54,463
Davin McCoy: Yeah.
:
00:54:54,473 --> 00:54:58,523
Well, people think that because of
the videos that our social media
:
00:54:58,523 --> 00:55:02,403
guy has posted, they, it's always me
cursing when I'm playing people and
:
00:55:02,403 --> 00:55:06,713
they think that I lose and you're the
first person that's come out here.
:
00:55:06,713 --> 00:55:10,193
And I lost the first couple of days when
I got out here, excited to get back in it.
:
00:55:10,893 --> 00:55:14,493
I, the running score of
me and Dan Hannan is.
:
00:55:15,033 --> 00:55:16,633
I promise you I'm not exaggerating.
:
00:55:16,643 --> 00:55:19,683
It's like 35 games to 12 or something.
:
00:55:20,123 --> 00:55:24,993
Me and Gary Nichols, Gary Nichols
and I, it's, I don't, we've, we
:
00:55:24,993 --> 00:55:27,483
haven't been able to play that much
him and I, but I think it's like,
:
00:55:27,883 --> 00:55:30,013
it's nine or 10 to nothing games.
:
00:55:30,773 --> 00:55:31,693
Uh, so,
:
00:55:31,718 --> 00:55:33,608
Jason English (Host): so they're
going to be so excited that you're
:
00:55:33,618 --> 00:55:34,938
announcing this to the world.
:
00:55:34,973 --> 00:55:37,523
Davin McCoy: oh, I'm going to
have Blake put it on social media.
:
00:55:37,963 --> 00:55:39,983
I mean, for sure he was
supposed to be doing that.
:
00:55:39,983 --> 00:55:44,253
I told him like every day, you're going to
give an update on the score of the game.
:
00:55:44,713 --> 00:55:47,113
Cause every, cause the videos
he put up of me playing, it
:
00:55:47,113 --> 00:55:48,153
looks like I'm losing all the
:
00:55:48,208 --> 00:55:50,188
Jason English (Host): like
you're getting your, yeah.
:
00:55:50,533 --> 00:55:51,203
Davin McCoy: Um,
:
00:55:51,418 --> 00:55:52,038
Jason English (Host): Anyway, it's been
:
00:55:52,283 --> 00:55:52,993
Davin McCoy: we're about to play.
:
00:55:53,078 --> 00:55:54,648
Jason English (Host): It's
a, it's been fun, but, uh,
:
00:55:54,763 --> 00:55:55,493
Davin McCoy: Yeah, you're good.
:
00:55:55,503 --> 00:55:56,703
You're good at ping pong, by the way.
:
00:55:56,703 --> 00:55:58,393
So congratulations.
:
00:55:58,458 --> 00:55:59,058
Jason English (Host): Thanks to Evan.
:
00:55:59,188 --> 00:56:01,018
Um, all right, well,
thanks for having me here.
:
00:56:01,038 --> 00:56:03,198
It's been, it's been
awesome to, to witness.
:
00:56:03,688 --> 00:56:05,048
Uh, the album's going to be in.
:
00:56:05,628 --> 00:56:06,338
Incredible.
:
00:56:06,768 --> 00:56:08,068
And I'm really excited about it.
:
00:56:08,068 --> 00:56:08,988
So, yeah, thanks so
:
00:56:09,133 --> 00:56:11,013
Davin McCoy: I'm so glad you
came out and hung out, man.
:
00:56:11,193 --> 00:56:12,833
I'm really, really, really glad you did.
:
00:56:13,073 --> 00:56:13,993
Wait, what do you think?
:
00:56:14,003 --> 00:56:17,573
Let's get your thoughts, by
the way, because all your, your
:
00:56:17,853 --> 00:56:18,733
friends all listen to this.
:
00:56:18,733 --> 00:56:19,863
They want to know what Jason thinks.
:
00:56:20,093 --> 00:56:23,173
What's your, what's your thoughts
on kind of watching the process
:
00:56:23,173 --> 00:56:24,343
of how this shit unfolds?
:
00:56:25,278 --> 00:56:26,958
Jason English (Host): incredibly tedious.
:
00:56:27,568 --> 00:56:29,088
It is so tedious.
:
00:56:29,648 --> 00:56:31,028
I mean, and maybe it's just
:
00:56:31,271 --> 00:56:31,784
Davin McCoy: just
:
00:56:32,248 --> 00:56:34,978
Jason English (Host): how, you
know, The team has collectively
:
00:56:34,988 --> 00:56:36,538
chosen how to do it this time.
:
00:56:36,568 --> 00:56:39,828
I don't know if this is normal, but
one, it's, it's very impressive.
:
00:56:39,848 --> 00:56:41,208
Cause each of the guys,
:
00:56:41,530 --> 00:56:42,043
Davin McCoy: me
:
00:56:42,298 --> 00:56:44,558
Jason English (Host): some of these
guys are very soft spoken, you know,
:
00:56:44,558 --> 00:56:46,658
they'll say three words the whole day.
:
00:56:46,728 --> 00:56:47,028
Right.
:
00:56:47,028 --> 00:56:49,128
But when they say
something, it's meaningful.
:
00:56:49,698 --> 00:56:52,798
Um, but like my point on that
is like, everybody brings
:
00:56:52,798 --> 00:56:54,068
something different to the table.
:
00:56:54,438 --> 00:57:02,338
Um, Dan, I can't wait for his
masterclass on producing with a minor in.
:
00:57:02,773 --> 00:57:07,193
Using that software program that
uses I mean, he, he reminds me of
:
00:57:07,193 --> 00:57:10,203
my kids playing fortnight, you know,
it's just like I can't keep up.
:
00:57:10,323 --> 00:57:13,673
Uh, but like, yeah, I
mean, it's It's tedious.
:
00:57:13,783 --> 00:57:19,093
Uh in a good way, you know, because
it's like And what's crazy is the, the,
:
00:57:19,163 --> 00:57:22,753
everyone's collective ears are so precise.
:
00:57:23,383 --> 00:57:28,003
You guys all pick up on the
smallest things and, uh, I
:
00:57:28,003 --> 00:57:29,043
mean, even tonight, right?
:
00:57:29,063 --> 00:57:33,273
You're doing these overdubs or
whatever, and you're in two rooms,
:
00:57:33,623 --> 00:57:36,883
two rooms away and you're like, wait,
you guys aren't going to use that.
:
00:57:36,883 --> 00:57:37,193
Are you?
:
00:57:37,223 --> 00:57:38,923
And it's the one thing we changed.
:
00:57:39,063 --> 00:57:42,873
Or I say we, I was, I was just
watching, but it was, they spent 10
:
00:57:42,873 --> 00:57:46,593
minutes fixing this one bit and you
picked up on the fact that it was
:
00:57:46,593 --> 00:57:47,943
different than what you had remembered.
:
00:57:48,448 --> 00:57:52,038
I'm like, and when you left, I was
like, how did he, how did he hear that?
:
00:57:52,098 --> 00:57:53,288
You know, it, but you heard
:
00:57:53,478 --> 00:57:54,568
Davin McCoy: It's, yeah, well, you,
:
00:57:54,708 --> 00:57:55,158
Jason English (Host): you know,
:
00:57:55,416 --> 00:57:55,784
Davin McCoy: crazy.
:
00:57:55,784 --> 00:57:56,152
My
:
00:57:56,198 --> 00:57:56,748
Jason English (Host): it's crazy.
:
00:57:56,748 --> 00:57:59,668
So anyway, so my point is very tedious.
:
00:57:59,758 --> 00:58:02,378
You know, when you listen to a
three and a half minute song,
:
00:58:03,218 --> 00:58:04,438
I don't know how many hours
:
00:58:04,583 --> 00:58:04,803
Davin McCoy: gonna
:
00:58:05,038 --> 00:58:07,738
Jason English (Host): man hours there
are and putting that together, but it's,
:
00:58:08,238 --> 00:58:10,028
it's way more than I would have thought.
:
00:58:10,134 --> 00:58:12,884
Davin McCoy: like you sit in there
while we comp and stuff and it's like,
:
00:58:12,924 --> 00:58:16,644
I can't, I can't, I have to leave, you
know, and I, I might have mentioned
:
00:58:16,644 --> 00:58:20,219
that on the last podcast, but I have to
leave cause I, it'll take, three times
:
00:58:20,219 --> 00:58:23,759
as long if I sit in there for some of it
because I'll nitpick every single thing.
:
00:58:24,159 --> 00:58:26,229
And that's not the point
of what we're doing here.
:
00:58:26,229 --> 00:58:29,259
It's like, it's not about, you're
not trying to polish anything.
:
00:58:29,259 --> 00:58:31,979
It's just, we're just trying to,
you know, to be raw and emotional.
:
00:58:32,249 --> 00:58:35,719
But yeah, you, you leave hating the
songs because you've heard them so
:
00:58:35,719 --> 00:58:38,459
many times or you've heard the same
line over and over again while we,
:
00:58:38,734 --> 00:58:39,244
Jason English (Host): Um,
:
00:58:39,299 --> 00:58:43,049
Davin McCoy: uh, adjust the, like a
drum, a drum hit, you know, or whatever.
:
00:58:43,104 --> 00:58:44,434
Jason English (Host): no, it's, uh, yeah.
:
00:58:44,434 --> 00:58:47,624
And then the instrumentation,
you know, the, the gear and the
:
00:58:47,624 --> 00:58:50,974
equipment that, I mean, I'm sure, uh,
:
00:58:51,103 --> 00:58:51,589
Davin McCoy: He made
:
00:58:52,314 --> 00:58:53,994
Jason English (Host): you
know, a lot of studios have it.
:
00:58:54,164 --> 00:58:57,704
And actually, Michael, I was talking to
Michael briefly, He made a great point.
:
00:58:57,704 --> 00:59:01,084
He's like, listen, all these studios
have the gear, they have the instruments.
:
00:59:02,044 --> 00:59:03,624
Uh, but it's really the people.
:
00:59:03,674 --> 00:59:04,994
And then sort of the.
:
00:59:05,844 --> 00:59:10,094
The secret sauce is the, the experience,
you know, so the fact that you can
:
00:59:10,094 --> 00:59:15,034
stay here on the site, uh, wake up,
grab coffee and, you know, start
:
00:59:15,034 --> 00:59:16,744
working or whatever, that's different.
:
00:59:17,114 --> 00:59:21,164
Um, and just the whole, the whole setting,
there's like an English garden here,
:
00:59:21,164 --> 00:59:23,154
the ping pong tables, the whole thing.
:
00:59:23,154 --> 00:59:27,354
So it's like, um, yeah, the experience
and the people kind of make it.
:
00:59:27,404 --> 00:59:29,514
And, uh, it's, it's just been fascinating.
:
00:59:29,514 --> 00:59:31,834
Cause this is the first time I've
ever sat in a recording studio.
:
00:59:32,194 --> 00:59:33,750
Davin McCoy: it's just
:
00:59:33,974 --> 00:59:34,564
Jason English (Host): it's wild.
:
00:59:34,564 --> 00:59:34,914
Yeah.
:
00:59:35,307 --> 00:59:43,089
Davin McCoy: It's like this is
the first time I've done it.
:
00:59:43,109 --> 00:59:43,849
Jason English (Host): it's, uh,
:
00:59:44,429 --> 00:59:46,549
Davin McCoy: It's incredible
because that is the thing you go.
:
00:59:46,579 --> 00:59:50,869
I finish and I can sit on the porch
and kind of stare into the darkness
:
00:59:50,869 --> 00:59:54,909
and decompress after the, you know, the
day and then just walk up the stairs,
:
00:59:55,058 --> 00:59:55,590
Jason English (Host): to bed,
:
00:59:55,839 --> 00:59:58,279
Davin McCoy: go to bed,
wake up, shower, come home.
:
00:59:58,279 --> 01:00:00,469
The interns have breakfast
for you and coffee.
:
01:00:00,469 --> 01:00:03,849
And it's like, it's just
a, it's, it's really great.
:
01:00:04,109 --> 01:00:06,939
Jason English (Host): And the soundboard,
you know, I don't know what model it
:
01:00:06,939 --> 01:00:12,189
is, but Michael was telling me it's, you
know, from::
01:00:12,199 --> 01:00:14,589
said it was built for Bob Marley's son.
:
01:00:14,704 --> 01:00:14,884
Davin McCoy: Yeah.
:
01:00:14,944 --> 01:00:16,564
I think it was built
for Ziggy or somebody.
:
01:00:16,869 --> 01:00:17,619
Jason English (Host): So, um,
:
01:00:17,944 --> 01:00:19,324
Davin McCoy: And then,
and then Zach Brown.
:
01:00:19,329 --> 01:00:20,854
Zach Brown had it at his place.
:
01:00:20,854 --> 01:00:23,434
He bought it, I think from,
uh, the Marley Estate maybe.
:
01:00:23,434 --> 01:00:28,174
And uh, he had it in, uh, Nashville,
his place before he closed it down.
:
01:00:28,174 --> 01:00:30,214
And then Michael, I think
brought, bought it from him.
:
01:00:30,224 --> 01:00:30,634
Jason English (Host): Yeah.
:
01:00:30,714 --> 01:00:36,424
So it's just the, uh, yeah,
just the setting, the sound.
:
01:00:36,504 --> 01:00:38,064
I mean, it's, uh, it's all there.
:
01:00:38,064 --> 01:00:40,234
So, and it's, it's coming across for sure.
:
01:00:40,424 --> 01:00:42,664
Thanks to having good luck
with the rest of the process.
:
01:00:42,834 --> 01:00:45,234
Davin McCoy: you Jason
English and Curious Goldfish.
:
01:00:45,764 --> 01:00:46,554
Thanks for having me.
:
01:00:46,684 --> 01:00:47,034
Jason English (Host): All right.
:
01:00:47,114 --> 01:00:47,614
Good luck, man.
:
01:00:47,774 --> 01:00:48,414
Davin McCoy: Thanks for coming out.
:
01:04:02,380 --> 01:04:03,940
Jason English (Host): Thanks so
much for joining us for another
:
01:04:03,940 --> 01:04:05,730
episode of Curious Goldfish.
:
01:04:06,170 --> 01:04:09,450
Please follow and subscribe to
the podcast and on social media.
:
01:04:10,030 --> 01:04:12,650
Also tell your music loving
friends about us too.
:
01:04:13,400 --> 01:04:15,500
Until next time, stay curious.
