The Concept of “BE”
The recording of “Be” took place over the course of 3 weeks…in the daytime. In the evening and night hours, I was out playing at various clubs around Denver, mainly as a session guitarist, bassist, hand percussionist, and the occasional background vocalist. While the sessions were filled with a sense of musical experimentation, I was still searching.
That feeling of always searching musically can really drive someone or make them go insane. I think I did a lot of both. I was craving something new – a new way to live this language. Completely intrigued by the idea of finding the importance of one single note again and the way it interacts harmonically with others, I started recording “Be”, although it wasn’t named yet. The name “BE” along with every track name, came from how the pieces made me feel.
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