Wow, it’s already December. Where did the year go? Well, lots of music has been recorded and some great things have happened. Here are the highlights.

I am now supplying original music for comedian Greg Fitzsimmon’s podcast! You can hear my stuff on regular bits like “Talk your way out of it (featuring the vocals of Kevin Meaney)” and “Male Bag”. So far these podcasts have been downloaded by millions of listeners! I’m proud to be a part of the new media revolution and am a true fan of Greg’s and the show.



Richard Burr’s latest music CD entitled “Avenue 256” just hit #1 on the Roots Music Report! This is our 3rd CD together of great alternative country style music. He sings and plays drums and I do most everything else (guitars, bass, keys, backing vocals, etc). It’s great fun as we really experiment with production ideas and sounds and try to break new ground with every CD we do.


The infamous Browne Sisters & George Cavanaugh have released a new CD. It’s been a long time since we did the last one (Ready for the Storm) and their fans have been very patient. I’m happy to report that the new album sounds fantastic! It’s called “Miles Through the Night” and features 16 tracks of mostly cover songs. Laura Browne has a beautiful original on there as well called “The Hanging Gale”. They came into the studio in July for 2 weeks to record their vocals along with one guitar track per song. Then it was up to me to supply the rest of the instrumentation and mix with the deadline being the first week of August. It was a lot of work but well worth it as the CD sounds fantastic. You can pick up a copy at Amazon.com just in time for the holidays!
Check out this fun behind the scenes video as well.


I’d like to welcome some very talented new clients to the studio. Elinor Benhamo is a very talented singer/songwriter who has an amazing bluesy soulful voice. She does a one take scratch vocal and it sounds like a million bucks!






Former actor Clark Brolly was in doing some demos and sounded great. We breezed through 3 songs in about 4 hours. Clark has a cool edgy “Nivrannay” sound.



Destiny from the Christian group “Colorz of Heaven” (I recorded their first CD) was in working on some solo material. Destiny is a supper talented artist with a spectacular voice. She started working with me at the age of 5 and is now a veteran at 15!


Long time client Dave Wheeler is working on his very first solo EP with me. Dave is a drummer turned singer/songwriter. He has cuts features on a few Indy artist’s CDs and is now doing his own. I’m playing all the instruments and Dave is singing. He’s also enlisted the vocal talents of Rachel Lynn (pictured) and the monster percussion chops of Ronnie Gutierrez.

New Gear

In my (never ending) quest for sonic nirvanna I’ve added the cool UAD plugin which emulates a classic Ampex mixdown tape machine. I didn’t want to like it but I made the mistake of trying the demo and heard a nice improvement. This means that my mixes are continuing to improve. Now, I don’t want to give my gear all the credit as I think most of it is me just getting better but it’s nice to have tools that help the process. I’m also playing square neck dobro. This gives my country/folk productions a nice authenticity but I plan on using it everywhere (Chris Blake are you listening?). Last year I added harmonica and had also resurrected my clarinet skills. Finally, I’m playing more and more hand percussion and have worked hard at recording myself in my live room with help using my ipad as remote control for my computer. I’m getting great tambourine and shaker sounds as well some killer djembe (hand drum) sounds. I love it!

New Singles

In addition to my clients new releases I also have been putting out some singles available on Itunes. Some of the new songs include the guitar instrumentals: “Viva Renee“ and “Desert Wind”. I’m working on a full length CD worth of songs entitled “Pieces of Me” which I plan on releasing early next year. In the meantime, be sure to check out some of my current tunes.

I hope everyone has a great holiday season. I look forward to working with you guys more next year!

I can’t believe it’s already March! I’m happy to report that I continue to be busy with both old and new clients. I welcome Andrew Kuhlman to DBW. Andrew did a self-produced rap song here and since then has shot an outstanding music video that should be out shortly on YouTube.

Speaking of YouTube, here’s a video I made of Paul McCallum and Paul Weitz as they were recording tracks for their new Jazz Duo CD. This was done completely live as I was recording them in Logic. “The 2 Pauls” will be coming in shortly to finish tracking for the CD and we should have something out within the next 2 months.


Why the huge graphic for the new smash hit, “Pizza Night?” Well, for one thing I wrote the song and for another I think it’s pretty funny looking! That’s my good friend, Walt Whitney on the cover. Walt’s also saying “Pizza Night” on the recording. Never had a lesson. I wrote the song at his house on his lap top and then rewrote it a year later in my studio with the inspired direction of his nephew, Connor. Then, Walt and I were talking a few days ago and he said, “why don’t you put Pizza Night on Itunes?” So....I did! It’s a dance/electronic/heavy rock/searing guitar solo song. Go to Itunes now and get a piece!









Long distance and long time client, Elisa Lynee, released another single (the 2nd in 4 months). Elisa lives in New Hampshire and sends me the rough song idea via email. I then flush out an arrangement that she records her vocals to back east. Through the wonders of the internet we wind up with a finished product! Like her first single, this song’s profits go towards bringing awareness to the Lupus foundation so make sure you buy it today and help out a good cause! It’s available on Itunes now.




Henri Valle is back in DBW for the 2nd time and just finished a second single called “Come Closer to Me” now available on Itunes proving once again DBW is one versatile music production house! This song is in the power pop/dance vein. I did much of the arranging and instrumentation on the track as well as mixing and mastering. We plan on doing an EP this year which should be a blast to do!





Cindy Lora-Renard and husband, Gary Renard’s new CD, “In The Beginning” is now out available via cindylora.com. The CD is a mixture of covers and originals and features some behind the scenes production work by yours truly. Gary plays guitar and sings and Cindy sings and plays keyboards. I mixed and mastered the CD here. On a side note, I’ve been recording Cindy for close to 20 years now!




I just saw an old friend/client this weekend who did a wonderful folk CD with me a few years ago and has since moved to a very small town in Scotland called Alberfiny (population 1900), Linda Dewar. We talked about doing some possible collaboration via the web on her upcoming project. Linda does authentic Celtic music and now lives in a place where many of her heros reside. I miss her but am happy she’s found her home and continues to thrive.

Long time client, Vince Raceanu, is back in the studio collaborating with Dave on a reggae song. Vince typically comes up with the melody and lyrics, emails me the idea after he records it on his iphone and then has me go to town creating a track around it. It’s a process I now have down to a T. The key is that Vince records with a drum loop and sings pretty well in pitch. This is harder to do if one sings it entirely a cappella  (but is still possible, just takes longer).

And yes, I have new gear (what else is new...)! I got a cool lap steel guitar for Christmas that I love and just picked up a killer little guitar amp made by Blackstar called the HT5. This amp is only 5 watts but it sounds BIG. It does a decent clean sound but really shines on the slightly broken up to nice crunchy Marshall and Vox sounds and is a nice addition to my collection. I also have been using a device called an “Ebow”. It allows me to sustain a note infinitely via it’s magnetic interaction with the guitar string and pickup. These are not new by any means and can be heard on many famous recordings (U2’s, “With or Without You” for example). I’ve also incorporated my Ipad into my studio setup. I mostly use it as a controller for Logic but am experimenting with it for the actual sounds it can produce with some of the instrument apps out there. It’s a very cool device and I highly recommend them.

Tags: Vince Raceanu, Henri Valle, Linda Dewar,

Big news this month in the “new gear” department. I just got.....a new hip! That’s right, apparently I had the hip of an 80 year old so I decided to get it replaced. Ouch...I’m laid up at the moment but plan to be back in action very soon so as to finish up a few CD projects.

Fresh for the holidays is the hot new single, “Heavy Santa”, featuring the debut of “D Wax”....OK, it’s actually me Ever wonder what would happen if Weird Al, The Beastie Boys, Jack Black and Warrant wrote a song together?? Well, wonder no more and go to Itunes to download your copy today! All profits go towards Toys for Tots. BTW, that’s me doing EVERYTHING on this track. Enjoy!




Playing on the Porch” is now available on Itunes. This CD features myself and my parents (mostly my Dad) singing some classic folk songs. I’ve been recording my Dad (who is now 75) for the past few years during his visits from Ohio and gave this to him last year as a surprise gift. Now you too can enjoy some great songs done extremely well by one of Ohio’s best kept secrets!





In November I did a long distance collaboration with Elisa Lynee. I did the music track for her new single “Fly Free Butterfly Fly Free” here in Los Angeles and Elisa did her vocals back home, in Boston, Mass. I then added her completed vocals into the music, mixed and mastered it and now it’s on Itunes! This song was written to help raise money and awareness for Lupus. All profits go to the Lupus foundation so please download a copy today and help support a worthy cause.




James Oscar Lloyd has a new CD entitled “9” which features 5 songs produced by DBW. I’m playing guitars, bass and keyboards and Steven Chamberlin is playing live drums. The songs are on the heavier/grungier side and I got to tear it up on guitar on a few of them which was a total blast! The other 4 songs on the CD were produced by another producer in San Diego. James is stationed up near Seattle so did all his vocals up there in his home studio and then did the mixing himself (with the exception of the drum mixing, which I did prior). You can get the CD at Itunes right now!



Guitar legend, Charlie Brown, has a new CD out and features himself on guitars, bass, harmonica and vocals and me on drums, backing vocals, keyboards and percussion. Charlie was at one time a very busy New York City session musician and has recorded with everybody from Barbara Streisand to James Brown! I feel very honored to be able to work with such a musical luminary. This CD features some very cool blues/country covers as well as some nice originals. Charlie’s guitar playing, singing and harmonica playing are all top notch. We’re even starting on a new solo CD this week so look for yet another CD by Charlie in 2011.




Jon Wittenberg has a new single, “How Does a Cowboy Retire” available at Itunes and CD Baby. He tracked it up in his studio in San Francisco and I mixed and mastered it. Jon and I did a full CD last year here before he moved to the bay area.

Cindy and Gary Renard’s new CD: I’m finished mixing and mastering this 9 song CD by loooonnnngggg time client (and friend) Cindy Lora-Renard and husband Gary Renard.

Richard Burr has 2 new CDs! I just got these yesterday (New Years Eve). Richard has one new music CD called “Avenue 256” which I produced in the alternative country vein. This marks our 3rd full length CD together! He also has a new meditation CD (his 2nd recorded at DBW) out now called “In This Moment” available at www.richardburr.com. Congrats Richard.

Carmine Palmieri CD: I’m currently finishing 11 songs with Carmine. With this project I’m adding guitars and additional programming along with tons of backing vocals. On one song I think I have around 15 tracks of just Dave singing. I think this will be all mixed and mastered (by me) within the first part of January.

OK, I did get some new music gear(as we all know that’s more of a priority for me). I now have the new Pro Tools 9. That means more tracks and other “pro” features that have been missing in the LE version of pro tools. I’ll spare you the geeky details but if you’re interested you can read about it at avid.com. I also got this cool new plugin made by Slate Digital called “virtual console collection” or “VCC”. This plugin emulates some classic mixing consoles such as SSL, API, Trident and Neve and makes my tracks sound like they’re going through one of these boards. This is kind of subtle but is definitely doing something very nice to my mixes. I think the low end is tighter and the imaging and clarity is a little better. I like it a lot! My 2nd new virtual plug in is called the Studer A800 by Universal Audio. This models and actual 24 track Studer tape machine and imparts a certain analog warmth to my tracks. Also very cool and “magical” sounding.

I hope everyone has a great holiday season and i look forward to making some great music with YOU in 2011!

Long time clients, “The Browne Sisters and George Cavanaugh” are finally back in the studio recording their much anticipated follow up CD to the very successful “Ready for the Storm” album which came out around 6 years ago. I hope to have this sucker out and available by St. Patties day! So far we have around 9 songs started so that’s great.

We just did drums to 3 songs with new client Paul Caroul. Paul has an amazing voice and the songs are very cool “classic/contemporary” rock tunes. One song has a very Queen vibe to it. I’m looking forward to producing these suckers, should be fun.

Finally, Cindy and Gary Renard are putting the wraps on a 9 song CD. Cindy did 2 CDs with my last year. This CD features mostly cover songs with Cindy and Gary both singing, and Gary playing acoustic guitar. I’m filling in on various other guitars and bass and drum and keyboard stuff and Cindy is playing keyboards as well. You should be able to buy this by the first quarter of 2011.

That’s it! I hope everyone has a great holiday season and I look forward to meeting some of you soon. Let’s Rock!

-Dave

Things have been busy over the summer at DBW Productions recording studio Los Angeles! I’ve just finished recording, mixing AND mastering Charlie Brown’s new CD. Charlie is guitar veteran from the New York studio scene and has played with “everybody” from James Brown to Barbara Streisand! I helped him produce his new CD and added drums, keyboards and backing vocals. It was a lot of fun. The CD is on the bluesy side and features 12 songs from various songwriters. I’ll be helping him finish the product by doing graphics and getting the CD replicated.

I’m proud to announce the completion and availability of Chris Blake’s new EP, “Girl”, which is out now at itunes. This is Chris’s 3rd project here at DBW Productions music recording studio Los Angeles!! Chris is singing and playing acoustic guitar and I’m playing guitars, bass, keys, drums sax and backing vocals. I think Chris has the coolest voice and has some fantastic ideas. Check it out NOW!

Golana’s new CD, “Hymns”, is done and in my hot little hands. This is our 7th CD together!!! Golana is signed to Springhill Records and plays the Native flute along with some traditional flutes. The CD features other musicians such as Cameron Stone on cello and grammy winning violinist, Charlie Bisharat. I’m doing the arranging and am playing piano and keyboards and guitar. I imagine the CD should be available soon via Springhill’s web site and Golan’s site.

Richard Burr has a new CD waiting in the wings that is now mastered and should be out soon for public consumption. This will be our 3rd CD together and features Richard on vocals and drums. He’s even playing guitar on one track! I’m playing guitars, keyboards, backing vocals and am doing my producing thing. Teresa James is also doing some great backing vocal work. The CD is in the alternative country vein and has some very cool stuff on it!

And finally, I just got done doing another demo for Minnesota songwriter, Ott Lukk. This is my 4th demo for Ott and is done long distance. I had the talented Patty Mattson on vocals again for this one. It’s always fun working with Patty as she does a great job and takes direction very well. Ott was pleased with the result and I look forward to doing many more songs for him in the future!

I’d like to welcome a very talented new (and young) singer to DBW by the name of Caprice Seta. We did one track this week and are scheduled to start working on an original project soon. Caprice has a great voice in the vein of Alicia Keys. Great stuff.


New gear keeps coming in even though I swear that I don’t “need” anything I just got 2 new big lcd monitors to help with my recording experience. These babie’s are 27 inches and will take the place of my aging dual 19 inch monitors. I know, who cares (besides me). In the process of installing them I weeded out a ton of unused cables and made my studio a little nicer. I also just upgraded my huge sound library with yet more sounds. I have the latest version of Native Instruments Komplete 7 which has well over 30 gigs of new sounds and improvements. I can’t wait to use them. I’m also now offering harmonica on tracks as I’ve been studying the harp for a few months now and feel fairly confident in adding it into my productions! I even have a cool sounding/looking harp mic that I use to play through one of my many guitar amps with. My final gear/geek note is that I’ve been running Logic 9.1.1 in 64 bit mode successfully now for many months and it’s working fantastically!!! In english please Dave.....OK, that means that I can run a ton of virtual instruments within Logic now and make even cooler productions than ever before!

Not exactly studio news but I thought worth mentioning. My long time client of around 13 years, Dave Newquist, tied the knot last month. He married his long time girlfriend, Tricia, out in Canyon Country at a private secluded (and beautiful) location. I was lucky to be there for the event. In preparation for the wedding Dave recorded 3 songs with me that were used during the ceremony. I felt “instrumental” in the wedding so to speak. Congrats Dave and Tricia and may you have a long and happy life together!

That’s it. I hope everyone is rocking out and making good music. I’d love to meet you and work on your next project. Don’t forget that I’m offering a 20% discount on your first session at DBW. See ya soon.

Long time DBW client and founder of Aid Still Required , Hunter Payne, has released a new CD. This CD is part of his and wife Andrea’s fight to help raise money for Tsunami, Darfur and Hurricane Katrina victims (to name a few). In addition to Hunter’s song (which I co-produced and mixed) the CD also features many big artists including: Paul McCarthy, Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt, Norah Jones, James Taylor, Sarah McLachlan, Maroon 5, John Lennon, Avril Lavigne, Shawn Colvin, Phantom Planet, Ani DiFranco, Beth Nielson Chapman, Ray Charles, and The Blind Boys of Alabama. Please pick up a copy and help these folks that still require your help.

The Wheel keeps on turning

Yesterday I saw one of my long time clients, Dave Wheeler. Dave started back with me over 10 years ago, when I was located in Encino. Ah, those were the days. Using ADATs and having limited equipment. At that point Dave was writing songs and having other people sing them. People such as studio legend, Windy Wagner (who is now doing music for the show, Glee). Flash forward to 2010 and Dave has now completed 6 songs for his debut CD featuring himself as the lead vocalist! I’m so happy to see him tearing it up on the mic. He sounds truly amazing! The songs have a modern rock flare with a tip of the hat to Daltry and Maroon 5. I’m producing and doing all the music tracks and Dave is singing most of the vocals (I’m doing a little backup here or there).

7 CDs (so far)

In other news, another long time client of over 10 years, Golana is going into mastering next week after us completing mixes on his 7th CD at DBW! Golana is a native american flutist and is signed to Spring Hill Records. This CD is a compilation of old hymns done as only Golana could do them. The CD features myself on song arrangements, guitar and keyboards. It also features grammy award winning violinist, Charlie Bisharat and the awesome cello playing of Cameron Stone. Look for it out and available by the fall of 2010.

Chris Blake is wrapping up his 3rd project at DBW. It’s another EP. So far he’s done one CD and one other EP. Chris is exceptional and has a very modern sound and very cool voice.

New Clients!

This week I wrapped up a 3 song ep for my new client Glen Guldbeck. Glen came in for 3 hours and layed down the foundation to 3 songs (guitar and vocal) and did my thing by filling in the blanks with drums, bass, guitars, keyboards and backing vocals. They turned out great and Glen is thrilled. I also completed a single release for yet another new client, Henry Valle. It’s a spanish song just in time for father’s day entitled “Donde Estas Papa?”. Henry played guitar and sang and I played additional flurishy nylon guitar, bass, keyboards and directed Henry on his harmonies. I’m excited to be working with both these guys and hope that both of them continue to record and put out some great stuff.

Studio guitar wiz and legend, Charlie Brown, has been back in the studio. He did a CD with Katherin King Segal a few years ago here but is now recording solo (with my help and compiling a bunch of Karaoke tracks for live performance purposes. I think we have 12 songs down and will crank out a few more next week. Charlie will be making his debut as as solo performer May 22 at Casa De Carlos in Woodland Hills. I’m also mixing a few new tracks for Paul McCallum’s jazz project. Paul is an awesome guitarist and, as a bonus, has some beautiful guitars. Paul just won 1rst place at the Topanga Banjo and Fiddle constest in the advanced mandolin category. Dave Wheeler, who’ve I’ve been working with for over 10 years, is finishing some great modern rock tracks ala. Chris Daltry style. Dave sounds simply amazing and his song writing is better than ever! I’d also like to welcome another new client (the 2nd one this month!), Israel Valle who hales from the Long Beach area. Israel has a great voice and does some really great latin guitar/vocal stuff. I’ll be doing my thing with adding some additional production work on guitar and other instruments. I look forward to doing many songs with Israel.

Yesterday was a great day. I started working with a great new client, Glen Guldbeck, on an original project. Glen actually was only planning on doing a short cover song CD for the purposes of getting gigs, but, after recording his first song (which was an original) and hearing me “do my thing” he was inspired to lay 2 other originals down. I’m now going to do a little production work on these gems. Glen is a great guitar player and has an amazing voice. I an truly honored to work with him. Watch the video to see Glen in action.

I’m proud to announce 2 new CDs out this month. The first is Laura Browne Sorenson’s debut CD. Laura is a member of “the Browne Sisters & George Cavanaugh” (that I’ve also produced), and is a very very talented singer/songwriter. She got a song placed on the show “Army Wives” last year. In fact, it was the very first song we recorded together. Now you can get that song plus many other’s on “Marilyn Drive”, available on Amazon.com.

The 2nd CD is jazz group, “The Paul Weitz Trio” with Paul Weitz (guitar), Matt Duffy(drums) and Matt Van Benschoten(upright electric bass). Paul has been playing around for ages but this is his first “real” CD! He’s also currently working on a new CD due out by Christmas of 2010 with vocalist Rachel Sorsa Khoury. You can get Paul’s CD at CD Baby now.

Tags: New CD, Paul Weitz, Jazz recording