In the studio

While living in Colorado after college, I played in an Americana folk band called Pearl & Wood for about four years. It was the first time I was in a consistent band; it taught me so much about bringing the cello into contemporary folk music. There aren't a ton of us doing it, so I didn't have many examples to look to. As someone who had mainly played classical music up until this point, I stumbled through the learning process. Just trying things:

Should I use the bow or pizzicato here? Should I mimic a guitar or a fiddle here? How the heck do you set up a PA system? How do you EQ the cello? What pickup should I use? How do I remember lyrics and play my instrument at the same time?

Some things worked, some didn't.

Classical music is so different from popular music. In the former, you read music already written, and in the latter, you're often improvising as you read charts. In the former, you're responding in the moment, in the latter, you're creating in the moment. They each have their challenges, but playing in Pearl & Wood helped me bridge from one to the other. It was not easy! But it was fun.

This drawing is a quick sketch I made during a recording session for Pearl & Wood's first studio EP. The man drawn is our sound engineer - a cantankerous but lovable man full of sarcasm. We released the EP right before the band parted ways, but I'm so glad we put in the time and resources to make it. Our first real deal recording! A snapshot of time, of learning, of growth.