Studio Recording sessions done for new album. (02.26)

Albert, Dan Ponich and I have completed studio recording sessions for our new eleven song album coming February 2026. We started in Park Sound Studio on November 15th working 9  to 7 over six days. Though the days were long the studio time was magic.

During those 6 days Albert and I shot short videos, at Park Sound Studio, of each other, Taylor and Dan and Calla laying down instrument and vocal tracks. Please take some time to watch the artistry and get intel on the process of recording.

Day one started with Vancouver based drummer, Taylor Pawsey, who tracked nine drum tracks and two bongo tracks in one day. This in itself was remarkable. Dan strongly suggested the band work with Taylor. Albert and I completely trusted Dan’s recommendation so for the first time, in our recording history, we did not meet our guest artist Taylor until he entered the studio.

We did not give any instructions to Taylor for his drum parts. Except for complete transparency I had asked Taylor to consider bongo on two songs. I wanted the hand percussion vibe of The Doobie Brothers ‘Minute by Minute’album(1978). My wish was realized.

Blue Dirt Girl went in sonically blind and we were blown away by Taylor’s ideas and acumen on drums.

Our philosophy with artists we invite to play with us, for live shows and in studio, is to allow them to bring their own artistry to our songs. Each instrument, along with my vocals, support and work together to realize our sound as a band.

Taylor shared with us other artists songs that informed his drum parts for our songs:  “This one sounds like Velvet Underground’s song ‘Jesus‘, this one has Journey drummer, Stephen Smith’s jazz fusion vibe, the guitar solos on the Beatles, ‘The End’, informed my ‘swampy’  drum part on this song, this song has a very Neil Young vibe.   We look forward to hearing which of our album songs you think Taylor was referring too.

Next up was Albert recording all his bass parts. Albert and I had rehearsed each song extensively. We find that rehearsing prior to studio sessions gives us room to be in the moment and see what ideas may come up for each song.

I was chuff to hear Albert’s bass part, I requested, referencing Steely Dan song ‘Rikki Don’t Lose that Number.” Once the album is released let us know if you can hear this sweet bass part.

Taylor’s drum parts supported all of Albert’s parts. This is key for tight, strong songs live and in studio and shows a respect for each other’s work. In turn, Albert rearranged one of his bass parts to coincide with one of Taylor’s drum riffs.

We are very happy to have Albert’s eerie mandolin slide part on one song. This is not the first time Albert has used his handmade mandolin on Blue Dirt girl studio recordings.

Listen to Albert’s 2023 mandolin parts on both:

‘My Alice Moment’ and ‘STC’ songs on our 2023 album ‘No Street Signs No Straight Lines’  and  our ‘Big Open Sky’ single on our first 2016 album ‘Crazy Beautiful.’

I was up next tracking my guitar parts. I mostly used my blue Reverend electric guitar but Dan recommended his Vancouver made Prestige Troubadour for some tracks. The troubadour has a smaller body which I like and a great sound. I worked through my wah pedal, strum and lead guitar parts with Dan choosing specific amp and mic set ups to get just the right sounds.

Next Dan added his own unique electric guitar, synth, keys, piano parts and pads to each song. Sometimes rhythmic, sometimes percussive.  Albert and I sat back in wonder and enjoyed Dan’s sonic thoughts.

Last but not least I recorded my vocal tracks.

I love the quiet, stark feeling in the vocal booth. I find it easy to drop out of my head and into my body to sing the story of each song. I posted an image of the myriad of mics at Park Sound Studio and a couple of vocal tracking moments. Dan selects specific mics for each song I sing. I need to adjust my volume and placement on the mic as we go along.

Albert added his beautiful harmonies to songs. We also had guest Calla Pickett come in and do harmonies on three songs just as they did on our last album. Calla came into the studio prepared to sing Albert’s challenging, but very rewarding, harmony parts.

A surprise guest vocalist was my brother Kent. He agreed to send his harmony part recording via email. During a curious turn in my life one of Kent’s supportive thoughts stuck ~”Let’s get that smile back again, sister.” I hung on to those words and built a song, ‘Smile’,  using his words as my chorus. It was only fitting that Kent sang a harmony on the song he inspired.

As I mentioned at the start of this blog if you are intrigued by any of my stories here consider going to Blue Dirt Girl Instagram page to watch the artistry and get intel on the process of recording.     (Facebook)

This new album will be Dan, Albert and my third Blue Dirt Girl studio release. Each release has its own unique Blue Dirt Girl sound.  First, was Blue Dirt Girl’s 2021 EP ‘Nothing is as it was’ then our 2023 ‘No Street Signs No Straight Lines’ album. If you are interested in our studio process videos for both these albums go to my blog posts here.

The magic of Albert, Dan and I, both in the recording studio and live on stage, is the trust, respect, listening, and openness along with a dash of laughter and levity.

We are so excited to release our new Blue Dirt Girl album with its range of music genres, stories and moods in early February 2026.

Kathryn will be sharing multiple spring/summer Album Release Events after the album drops.