kelaniz

I recorded my debut instrumental CD between January 1995 and Sept 1996 (after nearly dying from a botched appendectomy when the doctor missed it). This CD called “Firesprung” was recorded on Halloween 1996, and became what’s considered by many as the first collaborative CD composed and recorded entirely over the Internet.

If you decide to do this, you need your own studio, or find a studio you trust to master it. Either way is expensive, so unless you have limitless funds, preparation is key.

As for material, it helps if you have WAY too much for one CD, as you can then pick out your best stuff. If you only have one song, get to work. You’ll often find as you progress in songwriting, that your earlier work seems incredibly amateurish, if not BAD by comparison, and for most people, it probably is. Therefore, it helps to have been writing and practicing your craft for a long time before you actually record it. DO NOT RUSH IT. Otherwise, when you look back on your CD, you will not enjoy it, since you’ll be thinking of all the things you’d do differently.

DO keep a notebook for ideas and changes, so you can write them down when you think of them.

DO take LOTS of breaks. Condensing the sum of your material into a small 74 minute package is VERY stressful and draining. The decision you make when you’re burned out WILL compromise the quality of the finished product. Take time off regularly. Also, when you think you have your finished product, put it away for two weeks and forget about it. Then come back refreshed and listen to it again. You will find a ton of things you want to change. Fix them, then repeat this step. The more times you do this, the better the end result will be.

Above all, try to keep it fun. While some artists can record a CD in a weekend, some of the best take years of hard work. On mine, just to clean up 13 instrumental songs on 2 instruments (keyboards), I worked 12-18 hours a day, 7 days a week for 21 months, and I was still disappointed at the finished result, even though everyone who bought a copy told me they loved it.

On copyrights, even though your works are technically copyrighted when you create them, DO register all the works on your CD as a collection with a performing artist’s organization like BMI, ASCAP or SESAC. At $20-50 for a collection, it’s cheaper than the $20-50 PER SONG if you do them independently.)

If you expect to be putting your CD out in public for sale or airplay, DO consult an entertainment lawyer. It may be expensive, but they will help make sure you don’t get ripped off by other artists, places selling your CD, or anyone else that tries to steal your work. Never underestimate the resourcefulness of a thief.

If you decide to get your CD duplicated professionally, expect to spend around $1000 for 4-color (CMYK) art that you provide, and around 250 copies. I was able to get 1000 copies, with full color on the booklet and CD for $3200 by having it duplicated in Canada, and taking advantage of the favorable US/CA exchange rate at the time. The same deal from a US duplicator would have cost me over $5500. If you don’t do graphic design or understand the requirements for making a booklet (the graphics and layouts have to be HUGE to reproduce correctly) get someone who does know graphic design to help you. The duplication houses overcharge for this service, and have very exacting requirements for what can and cannot be used in the design.

One last note, I have been working on my follow-up CD “To The East” for 11 YEARS now, and am nowhere close to finishing. That’s partly due to the fact that CD #2 requires 18+ instruments (I play 8 of them) and the studio gear I need just to create the sound I want will cost me around $65,000. Plus, I’ve also been sick for a few years, and am still looking for a female (and possibly male) singer to play the parts. This is definitely not once of those 29,000 things I want to do over a long weekend. For me, it’s a calling, and is the one thing I MUST do before I die. If this sounds like you, and you’re ready for a lot of hard work, then definitely create your own CD.

Best of luck!

Kelani Z.