Riverside by Zak Schaffer
Even though my last record came out only two years ago, this record feels like it's been a long time in the making. After I Can’t Help Myself was done, I had a crazy idea to write an opera about my family. Unfortunately, although some of the songs were pretty good, the narrative wasn’t really strong enough to justify an entire album. But, I did keep a couple of those songs for this record and I have enjoyed playing them live.
Most of the songs on this record were written since I ended my marriage, pulled up stakes, and moved to Austin. The songs on this record have a lot to do with the last few years of my life. I'm not really one to make songs out of my journal entries, but sometimes you have to just get on with it and write that break-up album.
Actually, this record is more about the ups and downs of family than it is about a break up between two people. Hopefully, you'll listen to the lyrics and notice some pervading themes. Mom and Dad, leaving, trying to protect the ones you love as you watch things fall apart.
Although I did one day at a "real" studio, most of the record was recorded here at home and with some friends in LA sending tracks over the ol' internet. I'm really grateful for everyone involved. Having people play on something is a great motivator to put things out.
I had hoped to send the tracks to one of my gifted mixer friends, but in the end I buckled down, took my time and finished it here at home. I’m glad I did. While I’ve enjoyed the process of trusting people to do excellent work, on this one I was a little more hands on. It felt good. I felt like Prince for a minute. Although, now that I think of it, he usually left the mixing up to Susan Rogers.
Tracklist
| 1. | One of These Days | 4:16 |
| 2. | Save Myself | 2:35 |
| 3. | Walk Away | 4:02 |
| 4. | Both Sides | 3:22 |
| 5. | Elephant | 3:02 |
| 6. | Desperately | 3:12 |
| 7. | Deep Black Water | 3:02 |
Credits
Credits
One of These Days
ZS: Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Percussion
Matt Johnson: Drums
Danny DelaMatyr: Guitar
Jordan Summers: Keyboards
Save Myself
ZS: Vocals, Guitar
Drums: Matt Johnson
Scott Davis: Guitar
Trevor Nealon: Keyboards
Bonnie Whitmore: Bass
Chris Joyner: Accordion
Elephant
ZS: Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Keyboards
Matt Johnson: Drums
Fernando Perdomo: Guitar
Walk Away
ZS: Vocals, Guitar, Bass
Matt Johnson: Drums
Scott Davis: Guitar
Trevor Nealon: Electric Piano
Zachary Ross: Guitar
Chris Joyner: Organ
Both Sides
ZS: Vocal and Guitar
Desperately
ZS: Vocal, Piano, Bass
Matt Johnson: Drums
Deep Black Water
ZS: Vocal, Piano
Basic tracks engineered by Jim Vollentine at Finishing School, Austin TX
Drums on One of These Days and Elephant recorded at Bastrop Audio by Matt Johnson.
Lots of little things were recorded by me at home.
Mixed by ZS
Mastered by Zach Ziskin
License
All rights reserved.Tags
UPDATE:
Zak has moved to Austin!
Zak Schaffer has been a fixture on the Austin music scene for six months. He's been a side guy (Pete Yorn) and Engineer/Producer a singer songwriter. If it has something to do with music, he's probably done it. Zak's currently working on a new release that should drop in the spring.