About

 I started this journey with cassette tape after finding out that one of my favorite albums The Headphone Masterpiece from Cody Chesnutt had been recorded with a 4-track cassette recorder. At a time when boy bands, rap, and commerical pop dominated the airwaves an old school rock-and-roll revival was starting to creep it's way back into the fold, Cody was the first to catch my attention. I had no idea why his album sounded the way it did until I heard him speak about the album in a interview. After that I thought, maybe i can get a machine and make an album in my bedroom. Funny — I thought it was that easy... and I learned that wasn't the case, but at least I was ambitious!

At the time, machines were still relatively cheap. After a trip to a local music shop I scored a used TASCAM Porta02 MKII for under 100 bucks.

Even though digital recording was the norm, it was something about the little machine that made me feel creative. I was unaware of ping-pong recording or track bouncing (combining multiple track stems into one, allowing more room for overdubbing when using tape recorders with a limited set of tracks). 

I comfortably settled into the notion of having only 4 tracks to make a song. That alone made me think more creatively and decide what my song really needed. I didn't have to fire up a computer or learn how to use a software program which was daunting to me as newbie. It was so easy to use — get a tape, arm a track, plug in a mic or instrument, and that was it. I couldn't believe that I could start being creative so quickly. 

There was something also about the look and sound of a cassette tape that took me back to being a kid and driving in the car with my Dad listening to a cream colored cassette tape of Sam and Dave's Greatest Hits. Now I could actually make my own recording with that same medium. The nostalgia of going back in time while everything else from a recording standpoint was heading in a different direction really intrigued me and made me feel unique.

It taught me to focus on the core elements of my songs. All I had was 4 tracks and I didn't need more than that. I had my drum machine, my guitar and synth for bass, and one more track for a solo if I wanted. Next thing you know I had a song. That relationship with tape helped give me the confidence I needed to write more songs and eventually start working with others musicians and form a successful band. 

As time passed and inspiration to create new music came and went, I would sometimes reminisce of what made me fall in love with songwriting and recording. Should I try to go back to cassette to feel that way again? Why the heck not? After searching online I came across the Fostex X-28. This little machine didn't look as bare bones as my Tascam from years ago. It had a fancy screen and more buttons, which at first glance seemed more intimidating. But I was wrong! Once I quickly discovered how to arm a track and record, I immediately felt as if I had been transformed back in time to when I plugged my guitar right into my Tascam and attempted to play Cody's riff from Upstarts in a Blow Out. 

The happiness and love for just writing music overcame me and from that moment I knew I wasn't going to say goodbye to cassette again. When I built my first recording studio, I decided to attempt to recreate that happiness and magic with other musicians, and thus Elderberry was born.