michael edwards [music]

Over the past 6-7 weeks I’ve been practicing with four guys here in Denver. It’s been going well and we’re getting pretty close to the point of playing shows!

As this live show has been growing, I’ve been thinking more and more that I need a name for this music.

There are several reasons I didn’t want to just keep calling it “Michael Edwards”…

1. There are many Michael Edwards’s out there, making it tougher to find in Google.
2. Having a band name makes it more compelling / interesting. Just a person’s name gives off a “singer-songwriter” vibe that I hope to avoid (not that singer-songwriters are bad).
3. Going forward this music will be more collaborative, and less of a solo project. I’d enjoy the freedom to have this project stand on its own, and not have to somehow represent just me.

I was anticipating this process to be really painful. I hate naming bands. It’s somehow simultaneously really important and also extremely trivial and meaningless. I don’t want to have to explain it all the time, but it really does become a brand or point of recognition for the music.

In the end, it just worked out that everyone was happy with using the album name, Genetic Engines.

I’ve already created the usual slew of web and social media accounts for the band under this name:

• Twitter: http://twitter.com/geneticengines (@geneticengines)
• Blog: http://geneticengines.tumblr.com
• Email: geneticengines@gmail.com

I can’t wait to start playing out as a band and eventually writing new music. Stay tuned!

http://denver.craigslist.org/muc/2201924132.html

Another great piece by Brian Yuhnke for my album, Genetic Engines.

Another great piece by Brian Yuhnke for my album.

The kind folks at Quenched Music have reviewed Genetic Engines.

The way the album drifts in and out of genres while keeping with the style of the artist is one of the best parts of the album

…

‘A Grief Obscured,’ has great lyrics and wonderful touch of piano, which really subtly adds to the overall make-up of the track

Read the full review over at Quenched Music.

My new full-length album, Genetic Engines, is available for purchase on BandCamp. Name your own price (including free)!

What are you waiting for? Download it now!

About the album:

A man on the run, a society in collapse, a haunted library, a secretive politician, a forged pseudonymous autobiography, a widow in mourning. Michael Edwards’ newest full length album takes you on a storytelling journey across and through the genres of folk, electronic, and rock music. Why don’t you come along for the ride?

All songs written, performed, and recorded by Michael Edwards. Trumpets on “Rotation Is A Man On The Run” by Jonathan Torrence. Flutes on “Feels Like Death Might Win” by Sharon Kent. Ukelele on “A Car Crash” by Kevin Cray. All other instruments performed by Michael Edwards. Additional lyrical contributions by Jimmy Green. Artwork by Brian Yuhnke.

Check out some additional artwork by Brian Yuhnke:

More to come soon!

I just have to finish up the last few songs and my album will be done!

I have accepted a job at the University of Colorado Denver. My wife and I will be moving there in the next month!

Well this month flew by! I currently have approximately 7 songs reaching a mature shape. As soon as I hit 10-11 I am going to trigger a bullhorn “Pencil’s down!” command and begin the final mixing and preparation.

So far, you can look forward to songs that include scenes such as:

• A family wronged in tragic violence in the city escapes to map out their bitter revenge.
• A man on the run weighs the pros and cons of re-inventing himself to escape the past.
• An avid reader has a strange dream about a haunted library.
• An examination of the curious accusation that one author would fake his recovery from grief in a pseudonymous publication.
• Incredulity at the fact of death and its intolerability (Hear hear!)
• Nature, nurture, freedom, and genetics in the life of a man ashamed of his secrets.
• A husband unable to forget his last arguments with his wife before a tragic car accident
• And more…!

Sounds exciting! Sounds bright and pretty and cheerful!

For the curious:
I have been interviewed by none other than my wife on her blog. A novelty and a treat for anyone who stumbles upon this site.

Just got back from a lovely weekend in Fairfax, Virginia visiting my good friend and former bandmate Ben Lucas. Amidst a relaxing weekend of pipes, pubs, and cookouts, I had him record some saxophone parts for the record.

We also played around with Reaper, an up and coming DAW for the nice price of $60 (It has a full-featured, uncrippled 30-day trial, so check it out). I’m still quite happy with Logic, especially because it comes with an enviable helping of included software instruments, modeled synthesizers, and a great UI (once you get used to it). However, Reaper is quickly establishing itself as a solid, stable, lean and speedy DAW.

It’s rough around the edges, and some of the menus and settings are overwhelming to the newcomer. However, it packs a lot of power and I plan to learn it to ensure I don’t become a one-trick pony, software-wise. It’ll also help me in collaborating with other artists cross-platform, as Reaper works in Windows, OSX, and Linux.

The album is still coming along. This month I will be working hard on it, hoping to be completely done recording so that mixing can begin.