Night shifts black

Friday.

 

 

Casey actually sets an alarm Thursday night, and we all agree to meet in the lobby at 8:30 the next morning to head to the studio as early as possible. Apparently, the Label is shelling out a decent sum to book it, although I suspect the band is so excited at the prospect of recording again that they wouldn’t have needed any additional encouragement.

I have butterflies in my own stomach as I get ready, and all I’ll be doing is watching. Their equipment had been loaded and transported to the studio last night after they finished their final rehearsal, so this morning it’s just a matter of getting the artists to their canvas. TJ arranged for a vehicle to pick us up, and we all pile into a large SUV.

“You ready?” Casey asks, once we’re comfortable in the car.

“Me? Are you ready?” I ask with a smile.

He shrugs, but I can see his excitement mounting.

“Hard to believe this is happening,” he replies, and Eli and Sweeny nod in agreement.

We all instinctively cast a glance at Luke, but he’s staring out the window. I can’t tell if he’s paying attention to us or not, and can only imagine what’s going through his head at the moment. I reach over and squeeze his hand, drawing a startled look. He returns my smile, and I let go. Casey puts his arm around me, and I lean against him, completely content for one of the first times in my life.

Sweeny and Eli chatter most of the way to the studio, but Casey and Luke are lost in their own heads. I can see it in the way they stare off, vacant, but only because they’re focused on something no one else can see. They seem content too, however, and I let myself relax for once.

We arrive at the studio, and I’m surprised by the underwhelming exterior of the building. I’ve passed this storefront before, many times actually, but I had no idea what magic it contained. We pile out of the car and move inside.

A middle-aged man stops his conversation with a woman behind a reception desk, and his face ignites. He rushes toward us with a huge smile, hand out-stretched.

“Hey, guys! Glad you could make it!”

“Julian,” Casey greets, taking his hand first.

“Julian” then moves to the rest of them, but hesitates when he reaches Luke.

“Luke, good to see you, man,” he says, and I can tell his emotion is genuine.

“Good to be back,” Luke replies, but I’m not as sure about his.

“Julian, this is Callie,” Casey introduces, and Julian smiles a greeting and takes my hand.

“Callie, nice to meet you.”

“She’s one of the writers,” Casey explains, and Julian’s expression changes, clearly impressed.

“Really? Well, glad you could make it,” he says, and I’m sure I’m glowing. I can’t even begin to believe this is happening. Julian turns and starts heading toward a hallway behind the reception desk. “Ok, well, Jon is ready for you. I’ve got the lounge stocked, but let me know if there’s anything else you need. Michel is overseas and couldn’t make it today, but Jon will take good care of you.”

“We worked with Jon on ‘Collide,’ didn’t we?” Sweeny asks.

Casey nods. “Yeah, that was it. Cool guy.”

I try to listen to their conversation as we shuffle through the building, but I’m more interested in everything else around me. It’s nothing like I’ve ever seen before. Definitely not the type of environment I’m accustomed to, and I’m not sure how to describe this place except “vibe-y.” There’s mood everywhere, art, color, lighting, and I can feel the “coolness” seeping into me the further we venture into the building and absorb the artistic aura.

I notice a few frames containing gold records on the walls in the hallway, and am surprised by some of the well-known artists I see listed. I’m sure there must be one or more of these for Night Shifts Black somewhere, and wonder which studio gets to display those.

“That’s the lounge,” Casey explains as we pass a room of couches. There’s even a couple pool tables and very inviting wet bar. “It’s going to be a long day, so feel free to hang out here whenever you want.”

 I nod, loving the lounge’s calming and modern décor. The room appears to be encased by a short wall of pebbles, and I realize there’s a trickle of water moving over the rocks. It looks like a place where an artist would want to relax and be artistic.

We continue on to what they call the control room, and this one looks more like the “command central” I expected. I feel like I’m entering a spaceship cockpit as we suddenly face a giant console with countless knobs, faders, and buttons. I glance at the walls and ceiling, which are covered with the foamy-looking geometric art I’d seen in other places throughout the building.

“Those are diffusers,” Casey explains, following my gaze. “For controlling sound.”

I nod and stare past the console through a window into another room. It’s a gorgeous space made up of shiny wood and glass, and I can see a line of doors leading to smaller rooms beyond.

“And that’s the tracking room,” he says.

“That’s where you actually play?” I ask, and he nods.

“Yup.”

“Why are there other rooms?”

Casey grins as though he’s giving me a tour of his childhood home. “Well, that’s the main tracking room there, and then those are iso booths.”

“Iso booths?”

“Yeah, so people like Sweeny can lock themselves in with their cabs and blow their eardrums out without killing anyone.”

“I heard that!” Sweeny grunts.

“Am I wrong?” Casey returns, and Sweeny makes a face.

“And what are those little walls? They look portable.”

“Those are baffles. They’re on wheels and help absorb the sound,” another man interjects. He must be Jon. “Hey, guys. Good to see you again.”

They all shake hands and conduct their greetings.

“This is Carl. He’ll be assisting me today. So what’s the plan?” Jon asks, and I’m not surprised when he addresses Casey before anyone else.

“Well, we want to track the entire song, if possible, so we’d like to get started right away.”

Jon nods. “Great. Your stuff is already in there and ready for you. Get setup and we can start laying down the scratch. Who’s up?”

“Casey’s going to play keys with my vocal,” Luke says.

“No acoustic?”

“Nah, just keys,” Casey confirms.

Jon seems satisfied and moves toward the console. “Ok, great. You guys can get setup in the main room and the rest of you can hang out.”

“I’m grabbing some coffee,” Eli a

“What about you, Callie?”

I shake my head. “I want to watch,” I respond, to no one’s surprise.

“First time in a studio?” Jon asks after we’re alone.

“Pretty obvious, huh,” I answer, and he glances at me before turning back to his work. His smile isn’t condescending, however, and I decide I like him.

“Yeah, but it’s ok. I’ll take genuine interest over whiny arm candy any day.”

I laugh. “Well, I can promise you, there will be no whining from this arm candy.”

“Casey said you’re one of the writers.”

I nod. “Yeah, it’s kind of a long story.”

“Well, it’s definitely got to be a good one to get your name in the credits with Casey Barrett and Luke Craven.”

I shrug. I hadn’t even thought of that. “Yeah, no kidding. They’re pretty much the most talented people I’ve ever met.”

It’s his turn to laugh. “I could probably say that, too, and I’ve met a lot of talented people, believe me. It was a sad day for all of us when Luke Craven walked away from music. Seeing him back in a studio…man, you have no idea.”