Collaborations

Although I am playing most of the groundwork instrumentation on this album being acoustic guitar, electric bass, electric guitar, Vocals, drums, and percussion I have received aid from some fabulously talented musicians throughout the process. 

Firstly, Paul, who also recorded and produced this project is an incredibly gifted musician who's sonic essence is spread throughout the album. He plays the bulk of the shredding guitar solo in the song All The Way, while accompanying vocal harmonies in the last verse as well. He plays the sax solo in Gardener of the Universe, as well as keys, here, and in every other track where there is piano or organ for that matter. He also played the banjo wherever it is heard on the CD. (See the section on Paul and I in OP2 for more info) 

My sweet sister (from another mister) Mallika helped me greatly with this process, encouraging me with love and support the whole way through. She sings her sweet soul melodies, as an accompanying vocalist, in the tracks 'Gentle Arms of Eden', 'Honey', 'Change Has Come', and 'Ancient Union'. And wow, What texture, tone, and absolute beauty she has contributed to this album! Mallika was also a wonderful motivating factor which helped to push me towards this project, she insisted quite strongly that I had to complete an album to share with the world, and for this I am eternally grateful. Thank you so much Mallika! We did it!

Another amazingly beneficial addition to the album was the stunningly beautiful violin playing of a brother named Douglas Miller. A Laguna Beach local since the 70's, Douglas is renewed in the area for being one of the best violinists around, accompanying bands, church services, weddings, and recording artists and he is a very well accomplished painter. He was kind of an enigma for me actually as he owns a small art studio here in Laguna on PCH (pacific coast highway) where for the past eight years or so I would walk past his studio, gazing into the large glass window to see Douglas, literally surrounded with hundreds of paintings, working on another piece for the collection. I asked friends if they knew anyone that could play violin that may be interested in helping me in my recording efforts and my friend Katy informed me that Doug was an exceptional violinist. Though I had observed him from a distance for all these years I had never formally met him until this summer, when asking him if he would be interested in playing on a couple tracks. He gladly agreed and after an initial meet up to show him the songs, two weeks later he was in the studio at the Ark. Douglas is one of the most eccentric people I have ever met, which made it a fun as well as bizarre experience to work with him. He was happy to play the songs fully through many times which gave us a lot of recorded material to work with. His sounds appear in the songs 'Star Temple' and 'Always Be'. I am so delighted with how the violin turned out in the tracks. They add a flavor that really isn't found anywhere else in SunDog. Thank you brother Douglas!

Another musical wizard, my dear friend JP Allen aka Japa (who happens to be just across the room from me in this moment) plays harmonica on the song 'Gentle Arms of Eden. He is a renewed harmonica player who has toured with the grammy nominated, Abra Moore, and now runs an online harmonica lesson website. This was a remote recording process as Japa lives on the island of Kauai (I am currently staying at his home as I write this). The tracks were not recorded until the very last minute, meaning we didn't receive them until Paul was working on the final master of the record. Even though we felt a bit crunched for time we surrendered to the process and all flowed with ease and grace. Inputting the harmonica was the last sonic task to which I gave full authority to Paul. I was in northern California when the songs were sent to Paul so I entrusted him to review the tracks and pick the best lines for the mix. I am so happy with the end result in 'Gentle Arms of Eden'. The harmonica adds texture and color while totally resonating and maintaining consistency with the song. I am so grateful to have Japa as a friend and sonic comrade in this life.