Trash Cans...

So today we didn't feel like taking out the trash (mainly because we don't know where the dumpster for this area is) and so we went and splurged $3.46 at Wal-Mart to get another big trash can...yes, we were that lazy today...haha...

I had a revelation today...I would be in studio nearly everyday of the week for the next three months and it's taking me 30-40 minutes plus lots of the school's unstable and very public hard drive space to back up the recordings of this album and the work of my practicum. So the revelation was to go to Best Buy and purchase a hard drive of my own to store studio work on. (I actually own half a dozen other hard drives, but the studio computers require some specifications.) To my great surprise and joy, 80gigs at Best Buy was $39.99! To all you techies out there that know what I'm talking about know that's stinking $0.50 a gigabyte! What a deal! I still need to purchase an Oxford 911 IEEE 1394 enclosure, but I found one on the net for less than $30. So the point of the story is, I have my own storage for all the work I'm doing this summer...

Anyway, it's way late...g'night and happy Memorial Day!
-Rod

Don't go out in the rain...

So it's Memorial Day weekend and I'm still in studio with the "Urban Derivatives" guys...we're up to 9 tunes now. Last night we worked on a tune that sounds like it was based on the old Mortal Kombat soundtrack with Tripp and it just sounds awesome. The night before that we worked on an old gangsta rap tune with Poe, it incorperates a large string section (the strings were coming somewhere in the project if I had anything to do with it) and that track is stinkin' tight! This next "Urban Derivatives" album is going to go leap years ahead of the first!

I went to see "The Day After Tomorrow" last night and all I have to say is HOLY COW GO SEE IT NOW! Although after watching it, you'll be running around looking for a nuclear fallout shelter everytime it rains a little...I'm not going to give too much away, but...FATAL FREEZING AIR?!! Yikes! Anyway, definately must see...plus, the chick that gets her leg cut is pretty cute...so go see it! Anyway, off to run some errands and then back to the studio.

-Rod

Leave a note...

So, I just got up from another night in the studio, it's weird to finally find a profession that works in the hours ideal for me. I went in to the studio to track some new "Urban Derivatives" tunes around 9pm and walked out with some good material at around 3am. Funny thing about yesterday was I went with a friend to Fairview (approx. 1 hour from Greenville) to look for furniture and ended up in a restaurant eating and dodging a tornado. Speaking of bad weather, I'm heading to the local theatre tonight to see "The Day After Tomorrow" which looks awesome, but I'll let everyone know...anyway, after that, it's back to studio to work with Josh (guitar player for Urban Derivatives) in creating some more tracks...never thought you'd see Rod producing a rap album did ya? Heh...anyway, it's going to be a blast as usual, working with Josh is incredible, he's a genius in there...in a matter of 5 days, we've written and tracked 7 songs! Granted they're not mixed yet, but this means if all goes well, we'll be seeing a new "Urban Derivatives" album out before next semester starts! Anyway, I'm still getting emails from everyone which is incredibly encouraging, thanks guys...God bless...
-Rod

If it helps to know that someone cares...I've got the best friends in the world...

I heard from a couple of you today and it has been incredibly encouraging. Thanks everyone for all of the incredible support.

Today I spent working for the music department here at the college. Anyway, it's time for bed, but thanks everyone...I'm so blessed to have friends like you...
G'night,
-Rod

Who's Running?

So for those of you who asked what the lyrics to "She's Running" are, I'm posting them below. Some of you have asked who this song is about, so here it is...this song is about Amy, but not for Amy. That part of my life has long past and isn't an issue anymore because of all the time it took to get between writing the song, arranging it, recording, and mixing it. Nevertheless, it was an issue at one point in time and writing a song about my experience was how I coped with it. The bulk of the song was written over the summer in my time in Nashville, but the last parts were written directly to my good friend Tim, who I hope pulls out of this mess...but separate from my siutation, I think everyone (guys especially) can relate. We all know that insecure girl that causes herself problems and can't let anyone love her because she can't love herself and is willing to do anything to get attention, "She doesn't want the love that you give, she wants your pity...you'll be sorry...it's too late..." Even though this song seems hopeless, I'm long past the place I was in when those words came out and have moved on to other things in life...my current work is producing and engineering (and possibly writing) with new artists "Urban Derivatives." The other vocals on "She's Running" are Jesse Pennington of the new emo sensation "Pennington" and Cathryn Krause, a friend here at school. The synth was a joint work of myself and my former roomie, Ryan Love, and the drums and guitars are courtesy of rock genius Dan Wright. Everything else (piano, programming, noise, etc...) is by me...Anyway, here are the lyrics:

She's Running
by Rod Kim

She runs into herself everynight,
Walking down dim empty streets.
She's finding more of herself everytime,
Always fighting with what she sees.

And she's crying,
And she's hurting,
Somewhere she's dying inside...

She's running,
She can't get away.
She's needing,
More than the words you say...
She's running...away...

She grips her demons every night,
shares a bed with her enemies.
She's killing more of herself everytime,
Dying in her own arms.

And she's falling,
And she's drowning,
She's suffocating inside...

She's running,
She can't get away.
She's needing,
More than the words you say...
She's running...

She can't let go of yesterday,
She wants to live it over and over again.
She doesn't want the love that you give,
She wants your pity...you'll be sorry...

It's too late...

She's running...away.

=====================
Well, that's it for now...
Later,
-Rod

Change of plans...

So, for any of you that doubt my life is a series of evening sitcoms, here's one for you...plans have changed for the summer. As I stated earlier, I was set to intern at Emerald Recording Studios in Nashville, TN. My car died two days ago and has been running in a very unstable fashion (a.k.a. not working.) Reliable transportation is a requirement when living in Nashville, working part-time at a photo lab, and interning at a recording studio. So I opted to search my options at school (in Greenville) and see what jobs and course work was available. Before I could ask Prof. Stampfli if there was summer work available he asked me if I could stay and work for him over the summer. Thanks to the-next-big-thing Urban Derivatives, I will have lots of studio work and will be able to engineer/produce their next project and use that as practicum for my major. With all those things happening between Saturday night and Monday morning, I've learned better than to ignore the voice of God telling me that staying here is what I need to do. I'll keep everyone posted on what evolves...thanks for your support.
-Rod

Things Rod is REQUIRING you to check out today:

Urban Derivatives - This fresh blend of jazz, rap, and hip-hop is on its way to the top, check out their website www.urbanderivatives.com and their PureVolume site www.purevolume.com/urbanderivatives to hear full-length streams of their debut album! Tell all your friends!

Welcome to Sunny Florida : Tori Amos - Tori's first live DVD is finally out and it is AWESOME! With over two hours of concert, there is plenty of piano and keyboard magic to keep you in a daze for a while...

It has begun...

I'm keeping this online journal so all you good people that support me and what I do can keep up with me. This summer I'm heading to Nashville, TN to work at Emerald Recording Studios and rooming with an old buddy, Kevin Reeves. Between those two things and my life already being a living sitcom, this place should be pretty happening...anyway, thanks for your support and check back when I have more updated!
-Rod