Be Creative and BeIng were recorded at the same time – the same moment. They always felt like brothers. The concept for these tracks was to take the idea of creation, the act of being creation and turning it into a spiraling, chaotic, yet controlled piece – with so much haste to reveal the creation that unraveled itself into this world. BeIng is that very unraveling – the curtain call for Be Creative. Images of a human discovering the body they reside in kept running through my mind while composing and hearing it.
Be Joy is a circular piece – a mantra. The two sections always constantly becoming one another. Composing this, I knew it was right to go to the opposite section when my craving for it could not wait any longer.
Be True formed first among the other pieces and personally, it sounds like it. It’s an infant, playful, peaceful, and full of joy. Yet, some noises may give you a hint at another thought. While the melody if easy to listen to, the rolling and sweeping sonics that appear in the background hint at a different understanding of truth all together.
Be Alive is passion. Full of peaks and valleys. A sonic land scape. By far the hardest piece to manifest for the series of pieces. I only recorded parts for this track when completely in the mindset of intense passion. Those beautiful vocals are front man from Glowing House, Steve Varney.
Be Different and Be Something are minimalistic. These two are miles apart from Be Alive on the sonic landscape, yet polar opposites on one another. Be Different sings to the earth while Be Something chants to the ocean. Ying and Yang but folding into each other.
Be Hope, the cousin of Be Alive. Brimming with life, but with a twist. This is the manifestation of Hope – where none exists.

Instruments and Recording by Dave Preston
Vocals on Be Alive – Steve Varney
Vocals on Be Hope – Michael Amidei and Hannah Gore
Artwork layout and design – Michael Amidei and Dave Preston

To purchase “BE”, click on the album cover and you will be directed to CDBaby

“BE” was released by Dave Preston in 2008
Copyright Dave Preston

Photo by Rob Drabkin

After finishing an ambient show at an art gallery in Denver, Sam Gathman and I had a conversation about what inspiration means and how it relates to music. Understanding that music is a language and that it is greatly affected by the intention of the player (and listener for that matter) is one of the places where the conversation stalled (and continues to) due to the great interest that this statement carries. The idea behind an unspoken connection between two people through music, a series of tonal vibrations,

COME ALIVE, the album and concept was born from meditations of inspiration, emergence, and ultimately spreading light.

As all the songs were written, tempos decided on and album flow where we wanted it, it was time to think of the musicians in the rhythm section that would add to this image. I met bassist Rich Ross couple years back and we bonded instantly. Together we played numbers times in The Samples for some of the greatest crowds. Brian McCrae over the years has established himself brilliantly with not only live drumming with various national acts, but through starting his business DrumOverDubs.com, Brian found himself recording drums for artists and cinema the world over. Sam and I met Jon Powers when playing with Matt Morris and together and along with other great and wonderful musicians, we appeared on national and international media markets. Jon’s leadership quality is outstanding. The finesse he carries with always promotes the very best from each member.

Sam Gathman is an intentional player, always playing what is needed (if anything at all). Watching him with other sessions, he is perfectly fine not playing a note the entire song – the mark of someone who understands the language. For me, it is completely impossible to imagine this album even existing without the addition of Sam. Words can not express how honored and humbled I am.

Here is Sam getting ready to record some strings on the pre-production of “Shine”, the 7th track on COME ALIVE.

All of us we be gathering at Macy Sound Studios in the end of September to work with Jeff Kanan, a incredibibly talented engineer and producer.

There will be plenty of videos and pictures posted very soon. Wish us all luck and send your absolute best.

Video By Dustin Cotter

Music By Dave Preston & Mingo

My friend Dustin put the musical collaboration “Spinning Away From The Earth” off of Soundtrack For Motion to a series of videos and pictures of mankind’s discoveries and adventures into space.  I have a deep fascination with Astronomy and hearing the textures of synth that Mingo created with these visuals is really a pleasure to watch.  Please enjoy and share…

The Rocky Mountians from Joel Stangle on Vimeo.  Colorado and Montana. Beautiful places.

Music by Dave Preston.

Video by Joel Stangle

Currently on tour with Matt Morris’ Trio (Matt on Bass and Vocals, Jon Powers on Drums and yours truly on Guitar), supporting Milow’s Canadian tour.  After countless hours of driving, loading gear, side-splitting humor, and enriching conversations we all get to play to crowds in the Quebec Province and let me tell you…each crowd has been such a pleasure to play for.  Simply amazing!

(click for iTunes link)

After playing to the amazing Trois Rivieres crowd, a show where both Matt & Jon played expectionally well, Jon and myself after walking back to the green room, logged on to the “World Wide Inter-Web” via my laptop to check email and look up hilarious YouTube videos.  As I logged onto the Zone Music Reporter.com to check the Top 100 Chart for Aug, I tried to be patient as I strolled down the page in great anticipation to view this month’s chart.

I’m proud to say ladies and gentlemen, “Soundtrack For Motion” debuts at #64 on the Zone Music Reporter Top 100!

It’s a great day to make music with “musical brothers” for amazing crowds in forgien countries, especially artists like Matt Morris and Jon Powers.  But to have my baby reach it’s goal and beyond is truly an accomplished feeling.  I thank so many of you that helped make this happen

All My Best,

Dave Preston

Hammock

What I absolutely love about being able to travel and play/share and sometimes teach music, is that I get the chance to meet people.  What I believe to be the real side of people simply comes out, or is presented more, or even revealed when they really “get” what your saying musically.  It’s like all barriers of social class cease and a common, unspoken language brings two people, who would have never met or thought the other existed, come together and can appreciate that moment as it happened and as it was heard.

Often times, as the musician, I feel wonderful to speak with fans after the show.  But I never fully feel like I can take credit for the music that happens on stage and the moments it creates.  Sure, musicians spend countless hours (and dollars) perfecting their sound for the chance to perform it in front of a crowd, but it feels that in that time of constant practice, frustration, and experimentation, that the language of music keeps becoming easier to express.  Their have been many shows where I simply can’t remember what was played.  I can not remember the highlights or the moments that struggled or lagged.  I was completely involved and in the moment.  A music translator of it as it was happening.  Therefore, I feel as if I can not completely take credit for what was a “magical performance”.  Especially when the audience, in all their care and wonderment, was the key force in making the moment exist, decided to take the time to be present for the chance to be swept away.

However, this is just a quick blog entry on the classic “performer and audience escape in music” moments.  Through traveling, I have also been very honored and humbled by the power of music and had witnessed it save people.  Not save as if a cliff hanging was present, but save as in a moment.  And in that moment that particular person really needed to simply sing along to a tune.

I have mentioned the word “Moment” a lot in this post.  I always think about it and meditate when I start giving myself to an ambient album or any album for that matter.  To me the idea of musicality and moment making go hand in hand.

]]> http://www.daveprestonmusic.com/a-moment-in-the-making/feed/ 2 http://www.daveprestonmusic.com/news-blog-category/ http://www.daveprestonmusic.com/news-blog-category/#comments Sun, 29 Aug 2010 17:14:03 +0000 Dave http://www.daveprestonmusic.com/?p=312 So happy/excited to join the Magnatune family of artists.  Such a great concept and business model that actually benefits artists as well as listeners.  Plus they are the nicest people!!

Magnatune – Dave Preston – Soundtrack For Motion

At the end of the photo shoot. The acoustics in the studio were unreal – we had the amp blasting and took turns playing and shooting pictures. Thanks Jordan! One of the best photo shoots I’ve ever been on.

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]