Recording with John

The studio room was glowing, one light streaming down on a single mic, dust particles floating like honeybees in the sun. I felt lucky and mesmerized. John and his crew stood around looking like wheat billowing in a musical field of sound, readying the moment, strange angels dancing me towards the center. I was overflowing. Naive, new.

Six takes later, we had something, and it was harder than I thought to get. At first I felt like an ant under a microscope, burning through the fear of being seen. John was calm and encouraging which brought me some wind, so I decided to open my wings a little. And because of that I was able to lift up into the sound and remembered once again how wonderful it feels to allow a song to take place instead of trying to control it.

I had originally reached out to John because I was in need of a creating a video and I respect and admire his work. He was very gracious and offered me a slot during one of his recording days at 25th street studios in Oakland. I was thrilled. It turned out to be so much more than a day in the studio for me.

I arrived at 10am. instructions said “Parking available across the street behind the chain link fence.” Getting out of my car and pushing that fence open felt like a rebirth. It’s hard to explain why. It was the almost violent effort, the cold feeling of the metal in my hands, the sound of my boots on the cement and the mission I was now decidedly on.

After much playing, singing and tea drinking, I found myself deliciously exhausted, emptied out and resting in a huge couch cushion conversing with John. I was struck by the satisfaction of a sincere and meaningful exchange in the studio. It was just fun. I felt more myself than I had in a long time. I felt a renewed strength to carry on.

And so it starts, with a song and a friend, how all good things will always be.

Thank you John Cuniberti and crew. This meant the world to me.

Maria Elizabeth Quiles