Gather 'round with your juice boxes...it's story time.

LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE
A story about 7k making a record, by Corey Manske

Shortly following the Grand Opening of Spark Lounge and releasing their ‘Signature EP’ the emails started to fly. It seemed more new 7k music had begun to bubble under the surface. Embracing the combined coolness of his Blackberry voice recorder, a Korg digital recorder and the technological wonders of email, Jeff started sending musical snapshots of the ideas that were overflowing, and keeping him awake at night, to David, Corey and Eric. Even with brief glimpses, it was clear that 7k was about to experience an eventful and much-needed growth spurt.

Producer Eric Rathgeber quickly ear-marked three songs and pre-production began. Having never played the songs together, 7k and Eric gathered at Spark Lounge one beautiful Sunday afternoon to see if they could ‘catch lightning in a bottle’. Hopping onstage, the boys were all smiles as it had been months since they’d played together. Traditionally, the band warmed-up by each member picking a song. After cranking through ‘Wrong Girl’, ‘California is the End’ and ‘Make it Up’ they were ready to poke around with the new stuff.

Not unlike a first date, the first couple passes through the new songs were tentative and exploratory. After a dozen passes, suggestive chatting and a dozen more, everyone smiled. A round of celebratory beers cracked open and studio time was booked. Yep, it happened that quickly!

A few weeks later, on a damp Friday evening, Jeff and David arrived at Cement Records to record reference tracks. They plowed through the three tunes, playing to a click track, in about 40 minutes. That Sunday morning, Corey arrived with drums, and a myriad of liquids to keep him rocking, to meet Eric. After setting everything up, mic placement, getting tones and a brief lunch break, he ripped through the tracks one after another. Eric watched from the control room as Corey pounded in his usual focused, deliberate and passionate fashion. Sunday evening came, and the drums were done.

Over the course of the next couple months, Jeff and David both enjoyed their chance to do their thing in the studio. For the first time ever, 7k recorded their parts privately, separately and secluded from one another. With the drum tracks recorded, Jeff arrived with his bass to record bass tracks. He was battling the flu and could barely speak (much less sing) after losing his voice…so a chance to just play bass was a welcomed change! Jeff had crafted punchy, meaty bass parts and Eric enjoyed watching Jeff challenge himself and give amazing bass performances. As for David, he came into the studio with his usual brand of melodic wizardry to add to the mix. As per usual, reading the Wall Street Journal between takes, David had prepared zillions of melodic tidbits while Eric requested a zillion more on acoustic guitar, the two spent a bunch of time together and were like pigs in mud. After kicking the nasty flu bug, Jeff returned to Cement Records to deliver his best vocal performances ever. Adding to his unique style, Jeff effortlessly injected warmth and sincerity into the sweeter, more conversational lyrics.

Entering the mixing process, everyone was ecstatic about the music. Sitting in the control room, Eric and David grinned from ear-to-ear as Jeff and Corey head-nodded infectiously to the beat. Everyone was mouthing the words and whaling away on their air guitars. And there it was- lightning in a bottle.