“How do you come up with the ideas for your songs?” People often enjoy hearing the origination of a song idea. What are the lyrics about? How did you write the melody? Which came first? Here’s the story behind the muse that bought me of one of my favorites. Of the five songs on Keeping the Dream Alive, Lotto Dust has received the most praise, and I’m really happy with the way it turned out. But it never would have happened without a passing but captivating comment one morning from “Coop”. This month will mark one year since the sudden[…]
The First Review of KDA is in – “Excellent Production” and 5 Stars!
Much thanks to “Dignity01” for a great review of Keeping the Dream Alive on Amazon.com (click here and scroll down to check it out). Here’s a few highlights: “The first thing you’re likely to notice about this long-awaited collection of songs from K Walsh is just how good it sounds.” “Lotto Dust: a straight blues line with lyrics about the power of dreams gone wrong. Highlights the strong production values with the artist’s lead vocal augmented by warm backup vocals. “Keeping the Dream Alive: a terrific upbeat instrumental, with elements of classic and progressive rock.” “Aloft: a truly ascendent instrumental.[…]
Keeping the Dream Alive is now Available on iTunes, Amazon, and CD Baby
My new EP is Officially Launched Everywhere! After years of work, my CD is finally for sale on major outlets like iTunes and Amazon. For us old schoolers who still like physical CDs, the CD can be purchased from CD Baby. All of these outlets provide previews, so be sure to click over and give the different songs a listen. There’s something for everyone here, with roots rockers and blues rock, the funk rock instrumental title cut and a jazzy guitar and flute instrumental. And remember, all 2014 sales are going to the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation to support good[…]
2014 KDA Sales to be Donated to Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation!
Help me Keep the Dream Alive for Thousands of Kids in Dozens of Schools Across the U.S. This Year. Check it out – I received the physical copies of my CD this week! Here I am with a copy in my delighted, sweaty little paws in this “teaser” video I made! So here’s the deal. I’ve been looking for the right music-focused charity to donate the income from sales of the record to, and I’ve settled on the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation. “Every year, an average of 10,000 young people across the country benefit from The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation[…]
Keeping the Dream Alive – The Art Work
A collection of songs is all well and good, but you can’t make a good old fashioned CD without artwork! Even today’s digital downloads come with cover imagery. Don’t you just love a good album cover? Mine may not be Roger Dean but you know what, it’s mine! I think the logo in particular is pretty cool. I love what my son Dylan did with the back cover, bringing the ‘organic’ feel of the stone wall imagery to my collection of mostly “roots rock” songs. The cover of Keeping the Dream Alive was created by Glenn Cotler, using an image[…]
Reaching New Heights With ALOFT
After completing Hurtin’ Up My Heart, I knew I was on my way … Having managed to produce a professional sounding track with Hurtin’ Up My Heart, I was ready to push forward and finish more record-quality songs. It wasn’t a conscious move, but in the end I was glad that the next song I finished showcased a very different side of my writing and playing. Aloft is based on one of the first chord progressions I ever wrote, way back in the 80’s. What really moved me to finally record it was when I learned how to program the[…]
Bringing in the Pros and Hurtin’ Up My Heart
Hurtin’ Up My Heart was a watershed moment for me. With the backing of LA studio professionals on drums and bass, and a strong chorus that featured Christine joining me on backing vocals again I had, after years of learning and upping my game, produced a professional sounding rock song! Cranking this baby up in my car, when that break comes in the middle with the trade off between voice and guitar and the drums and bass pounding underneath slightly reminiscent of a Van Halen tune (to my ears at least) … wow, I just get a tear in my[…]
My Blue Eyed Girl (and Continuous Improvement)
So, the years rolled by, and our third child was born – a daughter! My little girl Jordan was the inspiration for the song I am sharing here. In 2007 we were in the fortunate position of being able to build an extension on our house, and in the process I built a studio in what used to be our garage. After a decade on hiatus from recording, I was back in action! I bought a Korg D3200 recording console and got busy. The key to getting to the point where the recordings I was making would become professional quality[…]
And Then There Were Three (Kids, That is!)
No sooner had I taken a stab at (what was then) the brave new world of computer based recording and self-production when along came our second child, and the battle for free time to play and record was more or less lost, at least for a while. Time Flies I often tell the story of how I had purchased a dual deck tape recorder in the mid 90’s, and how I had an almost Rip Van Winkle-esque moment years later, realizing how much I had gotten totally sidetracked by life. One day in 2004 or so I found myself staring[…]
Introducing … The Sizzling Mice Kwartet and “Pass It On”
Way back in 1986 – 1987, I was a student at SUNY New Paltz, where I met guitarist Peter Forsythe, artist Christopher Walker, and bassist Warren ___? (I can’t remember his last name). We jammed a bit, goofing around and never getting too serious, but it was fun. I nicknamed the pseudo-band “The Sizzling Mice Quartet” (or ‘Kwartet’ when we felt like it), as a fun twist on one of my favorite home town local bands, Rat Race Choir. Chris made an album-sized drawing to go along with imagined band. I wish I still had the original artwork, but I[…]