This is my yellow brick road so far, as viewed from a remote coffee shop.
xo
I am from mango and avocado groves in Homestead, Florida, a suburb of Miami.
I have assorted parents and one brother, Bo.
They are all musical, and I have tremendous respect for each of their talents.
I spent a long time in the Boston area, and the beginnings of my music-making life happened there.
Bo and I played in a band together called 33 Slade for several years, with our long-time pal Levi Fuller.
That was the project that got me started as a guitar player and songwriter.
Levi had already played bass for a while, just as Bo had been playing drums for some time, but, I had only sung prior.
They really nurtured my musicianship, and gave me a safe place to practice both writing and performing.
We ultimately made two records together.
The Way To Win was tracked and mixed at Inner Ear in D.C. by J. Robbins in 2001.
Harmonies For One was tracked by Matt Squire and mixed by Paul Kolderie at Camp Street in Cambridge, MA from 2002 to 2003.
The band broke up after the second record was made, but we are all very close today, and still play on one another's projects.
I moved to New York in 2004, and did a bunch of Other Stuff. I found myself working in a few different areas of fashion, which led to me designing for other performers. I did one-of-a-kind garments for some cool people, including Alison Krauss and Joss Stone. It was an interesting career option, but a very consuming one, and I had a hard time making space in my life for my own music.
I have, for the time being, stepped down as a designer for others, but, it afforded me some great memories as well as some very special friendships. I now design exclusively for my own performances.
Music and visuals go hand-in-hand for me, and I'm grateful to be able to create my own and present them in tandem.
In that era, I did make one EP of solo songs, called Rose Ink. It was as solo as it gets, being just me playing an electric guitar and singing. I think I just needed to hear what I sounded like alone.
During the second half of my time in New York, I flew out to San Diego every few months with a couple of new songs and whatever extra money I'd saved up. Through this long process, my album Singer took shape. My childhood friends Mario Quintero and MIke Pereira had moved out there and opened a studio, called Black Box. As I was unsure of what sound I was trying to find after 33 Slade and my solo EP, working with a friend seemed like a good place to start.
Mario and I worked on the record for fifteen months, and I released it in 2008.
Nashville started to call my name shortly after I finished Singer. I loved so many of the records that came from there, and always scoured the liner notes to see "who was who" in that scene. After several extended visits, I decided to take my dog and pony show there. I bought my first home, which is affectionately referred to as "Fort Knockout", and I make 90% of my art there. My most recent accomplishment, Family Album, was created in part there.
Family Album began in December of 2007. I had a crazy idea, and a very small budget... Like, non-existent.
Between three sessions, which took place in Boston (December 2007), Nashville (February 2009) and Miami (March 2009), I tracked as many people as I could in my families of origin and choice. I wanted to make something that all of my loved ones could be present within. In June of 2010, though I hadn't been able to exactly execute my original vision,
I decided to finally edit all of the music I had, and mix it. I mixed it at Eric McConnell's awesome house in East Nashville.
He did a great job, and I really value the education that I got by being a part of the process.
The final product takes my breath away, and I'm so glad we made it.
I own and operate my own record label, Trimming The Shield Records.
I release things as I can afford to, and I put everything I have into it.
I am a foolish believer and dreamer, and I hope that never changes.
Thank you so much for taking your time to visit and chat.
xo, buick audra