In case you were wondering…

1. Help Me
2. Interlude
3. Something Better
4. Beautiful Rescue
5. Hallelujah, I am Free
6. God is Good
7. In a little while
8. You Are
9. No one like You
10. Everything

Video blogs containing the stories behind the songs and possible live acoustic previews are coming soon!

-Matt

Well…it seems my studio time is coming to an end, and recording is wrapping up in just a few days. I want to focus this post specifically on my family. Being here in GA and working on my music project would NEVER have happened without my family. Financially, they’ve paid EVERY cent of money that has gone into this project. No kidding. I didn’t save up for this…I’ve got nothing to save. My loving parents unselfishly provided me with ALL of my travels, from Rhode Island to Georgia, and back. Even my stop in California that I will be making in September. And the duplication of the CD’s for my album…that was a fortune, and my parents are the one’s doing it for me. I cannot thank them enough or repay them for their support and providence (no pun intended).

None this would also be possible without my brother, KB. I can barely list off everything he’s done for me these past few months. I’ve been using his studio for everything. Nothing on the album would sound the way it does (or is going to) if it wasn’t for KB. He gave me freedom of musical creativity, while advising me with his knowledge and experience. He’s given me food and shelter. I’ve been like another child in the house for them to have to provide for. I’m grateful and humbled.

I deserve nothing I’ve been given and blessed with. I owe everything to my family, and to my God for their love, kindness, giving hearts, patience, and for their hope and trust in someone like me. I love you guys!

-Matt

It’s been a while since I posted any real updates. Sorry about that, if anyone is reading..haha.

I’m wrapping up vocals for the entire album this week. Vocals has been the most challenging and time consuming part of recording.

I was also taking an online class, but that it’s over and done with, I can get to work more now without having to worry about HW assignments.

Still need to lay down drums for the entire record. Will work on that all next week.

After drums and vocals are done, it’ll be on to get mixed and all.

After final mixing, on to the company to get duplicated.

2 weeks later…

The CD’s arrive and ready for sale.

While the CDs are being duplicated…I’ll be in Portland, OR for a retreat. Should be pretty awesome!

After that, I’m flying down to Cali and working my way down to Fresno for a concert with my brother KB.

The CD’s arrive and ready for sale.

And that’s my summer.

Today I had my photoshoot in Atlanta. It was a lot of fun, and pretty hot outside. I don’t want to release any official pictures yet, but here is a sneak peak:

Stay tuned for more news!

-Matt

Yes…New look…New features…etc!

Check back for updates and for MORE new stuff.

So I’ve decided to extend my stay here in Georgia to complete an album instead of an EP. As of now, I have about 11 songs that I want on the album. I just wrote a new one last night that I’m pretty excited about. It comes straight from Psalm 102. I needed a new song, and I’m sure David wouldn’t mind sharing some with me.  I also dug up a few old songs I’ve written in the past, some of which some of you may have already heard, and some which you may have not. Either way, this will be the first compilation of songs that I’ve written.

Well…I’m about to hit the studio again after a short break over the weekend. I’m excited to get started on the second half of my album. I’ve yet to record vocals or drums, but now that I have more time, those will come in time. So at this point, no one song is really done yet, but I’m far along the way with 5 songs. No song will really be “done” until I send them in for duplication and production. I’m excited!

Week 2, here we go!

-Matt Xiong

Hello readers!

I’ve been having a lot of progress. So far, I’ve done about 5 songs, none of which I would consider “finished” though. They’re unmixed, no drums recorded yet, and no vocals recorded yet. A bulk of the guitars and bass work are done though. I can honestly say that I’m better bass player than I was when I first got here. Spending hours trying to nail down parts really serves as good practice! This goes for guitar too. 

I have to admit, I am more of a live musician than a studio musician. There’s a big difference. A lot of my musical approach is influenced how much I play live on a weekly basis. A challenge I’ve faced is getting passed that and producing songs that don’t sound like they’re being played live. That means less improvising and more structure. 

I’m also faced with another kind of decision. I have the choice of extending my stay here in GA, and completing a full length album instead of a 5 song EP. An album would be everything to my benefit. It cost the same for me to make the CD duplication orders no matter how many songs. If only had an EP, I’d have to sell it for a lot cheaper than if I had an album. So it’d only be wise and logical to have more songs and sell the CD for more and pay the same price to make the copies as I’d have to with an EP. 

On another note, God has been so faithful. Doors have been opening. First, I got a phone call a few weeks ago, inviting me to lead worship at an event in Portland, OR. I’ve never been to Portland, and had been thinking about visiting. My passion and desire is to serve and do ministry onto in my local church and beyond. Rarely do I get to do things beyond. It will be on the weekend of August 28th. 

Just the other day, a good friend of mine told me that a church in Denver, CO would like to have me lead worship for an event they’re doing in early August. My friend is going to be the main speaker for that event, I think, so he referred them to me, and they accepted. And to think, I thought a trip to Denver, CO would be quite unlikely this summer. Throughout the Spring, a few friends had been hinting me to visit CO too. Doors are opening, indeed. 

Even with my financial situation (the lack of finances), God is providing. The expenses for me to be apart of these ministries may be minimal. I also have faith that the production of my CD will provide me with income, along with a ministry of my own. Well…those are the updates for now. I’m supposed to be tracking vocals today and tomorrow, then drums on Sunday and Monday. Then I gotta begin thinking about more songs to make a full album. I’d say, I have 6 solid songs right now. I have a few more written from the past, but we’ll see what I can do. I’m excited!

I hope to have more to update for everyone later! Take care, God bless, and have an awesome summer!

-Matt Xiong

Last night we started recording the first song. We’ve got everything down except for drums and vocals. I’m not looking forward to recording vocals, because I suck. I know there’s going to be a lot of do-it-agains. I learned something from the first day though. I suck at playing bass guitar! I’m trying to play everything myself on the EP. I’ll be getting help on drums from Matt Lo (my brother’s bro-in-law), but I still want to be able to lay down some of my own drumming too. But yes…my fingers are not used to playing bass. My timing is off, and I have absolutely no technique for it. ahah…I’ll be a better musician after this project is done though!

Alright folks! More recording later on today! Stay tuned!

-Matt