Can you believe it? The end of another season. We’ve had a post-punk tape out, got Max involved and we hit 1,000 followers on Instagram. We’ve recorded some amazing bands and artists, done a few hangover sessions and put out our first live shows. Contact Buzz is growing and expanding at a rate I couldn’t have imagined. Every step of the way, you guys give us such good feedback and I’m pretty sure some of you watch every single release, which blows my mind. We’re gonna take a little break away from posting regular demos to plan and improve for season 4. For now though, enjoy The Rayne; because would it even be a Contact Buzz season without a little word from Bryan?

El is in York at this point finishing up her degree, so it’s a lads day of recording in the Rayne’s dining room. We are in direct contrast to the last time we recorded together, as last time it was bloody freezing and I had the bright idea to shepherd us into the garage to record bongos. Last time I also forgot my pre amp power supply and deleted the first verse at the end of recording. This time it was gonna go smooth. I was determined. We stand opposite each other, a tambourine in my hand and Bryan’s Ibanez acoustic in his. Whacking some chorus and reverb on the whole thing to give that big double track sound just saves so much time doesn't it? And it sounds great. I went a little crazy with the tambourine at times, luckily Bryan is very lovely and forgiving.

We were pleased with that, so the Rayne slid onto the piano stool. I’ve been doing the Hangover sessions recently and I've been shoving the Contact Buzz patented Landline Mic TM into the chamber of the piano, like we did for Tiss’s Landline Cover (Although he brought his Shure Harmonica mic, which I need to buy). This gave the track that half lo-fi, half very lo-fi sound, accentuated with Bryan’s later vocals. Sounds class, like he’s playing along with an old lost recording of the track. Then it was all about the voice. Bryan is one of the most disciplined vocalists I record, always doing his warm ups and for a man who is at least 20 years older than my other clients (sorry Bryan), his range and clarity is so impressive. His ability to find a harmony too.

So we did his main vocal with my good AT2020 mic, a little delay, you can’t go wrong can you? Then the low harmonies on the landline mic that slides in with the piano. The bit after the bridge too! I keep thinking it’s a saxophone… and I recorded it! So good. A fairly short one, but so characterful, as Bryan’s music always is. Lots went wrong last time, but lots went very right this time. We shared some of those new KP McCoy Flaming Steak Crisp Nuts and admired the first track of the day. Get ready for the second half of the day, next season.

For fans of: Joni Mitchell, Paul McCartney and Carole King.