Who We Are, What We Do - Part 2

Hey Nashville,

Want to know who does what here at Launch Pad? Check out our promotional videos below!! 

Daniel Drake

CEO / Engineering / Producing 

Daniel Eltzroth

Photography / Videography

Ambroise "Frenchy" Catherine

Graphic Design

Rachel Drake

Operations Management / Copyright Consultant

Julia Grimoldi 

Artist Services

Andrew Thomas

Artist Development

For questions regarding pricing, please visit our website or call us at 615-878-2796. Let us launch you to your full potential! 

Sincerely,

Launch Pad Production

Cara Being Blue

Hey Nashville,

Lately, we've been feeling a little blue, but not the sad kind of blue....the 12 bar walking bassline kind of blues. We've been working with a band named Cara Being Blue and are so proud of what they've recorded in the studio.  They've got some new tracks coming out along with the launch of their new website we helped them create! Want to know more about our new favorite blues band? We thought so...

After 30+ years of fine-tuning, Cara's smooth and edgy vocals entertain and energize. A native Bostonian, she's hustling the Blues scene in Nashville, and recently put together the band Cara Being Blue, featuring Cara accompanied by some of the greatest local musicians in the city of Nashville. Vivacious, honest, and true, her personality arrives ten minutes before she does! Buckle your seat belts.

Where did you grow up? Hopkinton, Mass. (where the Boston Marathon begins.)

What is your first musical memory? My grandmother tells me I plunked out the Blue Danube on a toy piano when I was two - my own first memory is giving my first concert to my stuffed animals when I was four.

What was your first song about? Written in middle school, wanting love to return. "Baby, oh baby, come to me/I love ya dahlin'/Baby, oh baby." I only remember the chorus. It was pretty bad. Haha!

Where did you perform your first concert? The stuffed animal concert was really a dress rehearsal for the real thing with my kindergarten class at Center School.

What first inspired you to write music? I wrote poetry and short stories in middle and high school. I figured I'd be a great songwriter too. Took about 20 more years for THAT to happen!

Does anyone else in your family play music?  Did they inspire you? My immediate family is largely non-musical - although my dad plays the bongos and my mother played piano when she was young. I still have never heard her play! They raised me on crooners from the 40s and 50s though, so yes, in a way they did kick things off for me. My birthmother Michelle is who I get my pipes from though. A lifetime memory was made when I met her several years ago and we sang Time After Time as a duet together at her favorite karaoke bar.

What was the first instrument you learned to play? Aside from messing around on toy pianos and my mother's real Steinway, I learned the recorder in grade school.

What instruments do you play? None well, I'm afraid, but I can plunk out a few simple things on piano and guitar. I failed music theory in college. Only class I've ever failed too. I have one and a half strumming patterns on guitar. Yay!

Who are some of your favorite performers? I am inspired greatly by Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Etta James, Koko Taylor, Irma Thomas, Whitney Houston, Karen Carpenter, Rumer, Johnny Mathis, Muddy Waters, etc. Locally I adore Markey Blue, Eight O' Five Jive and the Brian James Band

What is your musical background? I sang in all the school, college, church choirs and choruses, performing as a soloist, background singer, and worship leader. I participated in many musical theatre shows and won both the National School Choral Award and Best Thespian Award my senior year of high school. I co-founded an a cappella group in high school called the SoundAffects and participated in gospel choir at the University of New Hampshire. I joined my first Blues band in 2003 in Boston called Otis Street Rhythm & Blues and upon arrival in Nashville joined two good friends in their band, The Red Wine Effect prior to forming Cara Being Blue. 

Where/what did you first record in a studio? I recorded a demo with Otis Street Rhythm and Blues at the Boston Art Institute in Cambridge as an even trade for their engineering students to learn how to record Blues music as a project.

What themes do you find yourself writing about the most? Love, of course.

Describe your writing process for me. Usually begins with talking to people. I love to write on my porch by candlelight and a glass of wine with a friend. Sometimes I will come up with a very simple tune and send it to a co-writer to develop it.

Do you have a specific audience in mind when you write your music? I write for me, the "older single gal."

How would you describe your live performance? Full throttle. Fasten your seat belts. We try to bring the fun to crowds who are looking for a little entertainment escape. 

What emotions are you trying to make listeners feel when they heard your music? I don't necessarily intend to make people feel things, unless the song is for/about a specific person. Those are usually when I want them to pay attention and hear how I feel for them. Generally I like to make people laugh if I can. I prefer live performance to studio as there is a great catharsis between performer and audience. I get back what I give out. It's really very special to me and why I do it in the first place and continue to do it.

What’s the greatest compliment you have received about your music? There have been so many genuinely lovely things said to me over the years by listeners. I really do cherish them. One that stands out to me is when I sang for a friend's memorial and an older gentleman hugged me tightly and thanked me saying, "You make everyone feel beautiful when you sing." That made me tear up, for sure, and I will never forget him.

To hear more of Cara Being Blue's music and keep up with their shows:

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Until Next Time,

Launch Pad Production

www.launchpadproduction.com 

Cami Ross

Hey Nashville,

Want to meet your new favorite country singer? Cami Ross has been recording some new songs with us and we could not be more proud to introduce her to you today! She is playing at Puckett's Grocery and Restaurant on Sunday, April 12 at 7 PM.  We're so excited to watch this country girl sing, and we thought you'd might want to meet her before you drive downtown to see her!

  

A native of Tennessee, Cami Ross has been singing since she was a little girl, and honed her skills in church and in singing contests around the state.  Following a detour to Texas to get her Music Marketing degree from Baylor University, Cami returned to Nashville and made her living singing at Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge and other country music venues on Broadway.  She recently won the Nissan Talent Contest sponsored by NBC’s The Voice, in which more than 10,000 people voted.  She continues to write and record her own songs and perform almost weekly around hot spots in Nashville giving a fresh interpretation to old and new favorites.  Whether singing a Patsy Cline classic, a contemporary hit or one of her own original songs, Cami’s strong, pitch-perfect alto voice and her distinctive style epitomize the joy and pure entertainment of the Nashville country-music experience.  

"Clean" (Taylor Swift Cover)

YouTube

·  Where did you grow up?  Signal Mountain, TN right outside of Chattanooga – it’s a small precious town with one stoplight.

·  What is your first musical memory? Oh wow…I’ve been singing since I could talk. My parents tell this story about me singing the ABC’s at a restaurant in front of everyone when I was 2 years old. So my passion for music has come naturally for me pretty much since I was born.

·  What was your first song about? My first song was called “Leave Some Boys for the Rest of Us”. It was about my friend Sofi, who stole all the boys!! 

·  Where did you perform your first concert?  I don’t exactly remember my very first concert, but I can tell you that I used to play all around the greater Chattanooga area, anywhere I could. One time I played in front of a WalMart to an audience of 3, including my parents.

·  What first inspired you to write music?  I started writing music in middle school, to let out my frustrations and insecurities.

·  Does anyone else in your family play music?  Did they inspire you?  I remember when I was young, my uncles played a little guitar and sang just for fun when they were in college Other than that, the whole family is pretty confused about where I got my singing abilities. It’s random, but I’m super grateful for it!

·  Who are some of your favorite performers?  I like an array – Ed Sheeran is fabulous live. The Punch Brothers are unstoppable. And if you remember Hanson, they’re still one of my favorite bands.

·  What is your musical background?  I’ve been singing and writing songs since I was about 13. I have been performing since I probably 10, if not earlier. I participated in the musicals in high school, and performed a little bit in college. However, after I graduated is when I really started to dive into my music professionally. It’s been a whirlwind ever since (but a good one)!

·  What themes do you find yourself writing about the most?  Lost love and heartbreak seem to be recurring themes in my songs, since that’s what I’m most familiar with. I really enjoy doing fun ones too, where I can show a little attitude and release my inner Miranda.

·  Describe your writing process for me.  It looks different for each co-write. A lot of times I’ll come in and bounce ideas off of the other person, and we just pick one and go with it. Sometimes we start from scratch too.

·  Do you have a specific audience in mind when you write your music?  I would ideally love for everybody to enjoy my music!! I try to write songs that are very relatable, no matter who they are.

·  How would you describe your live performance?  I definitely get down onstage – my mom says I’m a ham! I like to dance and just have fun!

·  What emotions are you trying to make listeners feel when they heard your music?  I want my audience to feel what I’m feeling – if it’s a fun song, I want them to be able to turn the music up and roll their windows down. If it’s a ballad, I want them to hear the emotion in my voice and feel it with me.

·  What’s the greatest compliment you’ve received about your music?  The other day someone told me I’m a good songwriter – that meant so much to me, because my songs are so close to my heart, and I’m so glad that others can enjoy that along with me. 

We've been recording with Cami Ross this past month and can't wait to release her new songs! Let us know what you think about her in the comment section below! 

For more information about upcoming shows and Cami Ross's new music:

Twitter / Facebook / Instagram / Website

Until Next Time,

Launch Pad Production 

www.launchpadproduction.com

Jacob Reynolds

Hey Nashville,

We have a new artist to introduce you to, Jacob Reynolds. This soulful pop singer / songwriter is currently recording his album "Victim Of A Small Town" with us, and we thought you'd like to meet him!  But first, hear his story: 

Jacob Reynolds story begins at the end of a dirt road in the deep south, on the Tennessee Alabama border. Early on, he was a one of those kids that just couldn’t put down his instrument. Although growing up that instrument was actually a baseball. Jacob was a standout All-State baseball player who skipped fully paid college scholarships to enter the Major League Baseball Draft. Immediately after graduating from Giles County High School, Jacob was drafted by The Cleveland Indians and, in a whirlwind, he was a professional getting paid spending his days playing baseball. It was during this extra free time, while all his friends were at work or off to college, that Jacob decided to borrow the guitar of a childhood friend who wouldn’t be needing it since he had recently joined the military.

During the offseason and while recovering from injury, Jacob would practice for hours a day refining his guitar playing skills. Eventually he began spending his days making up songs that were in the form of narrating every mundane daily activity. It was while discovering his love of the guitar that Jacob also began to notice the range in his unique voice. His voice has drawn comparisons to some legendary singers. Familiar names such as Stevie Wonder and Vince Gill among others.

His baseball career was disrupted due to multiple unavoidable injuries. Eventually he came to the realization that his career as a baseball player was over and it was now time to begin searching for a new passion to pour his heart into. After taking just one year of college courses at the University of Tennessee, Jacob decided college wasn’t for him. Instead he would take a chance and chase his dreams of getting paid to sing in Music City, Nashville Tennessee. Since 2005, Jacob has become increasingly immersed in the music culture of Nashville. He has spent the last decade traveling the country as the lead singer for successful bands such as Goodchild, Jacob and the Bear, and most recently, The Jacob Reynolds Band.

Now officially a solo act, Jacob Reynolds is showcasing a unique sound that blends his early influences of R&B and hip hop through his older brother’s musical preferences, with his exposure to poverty through his deep south upbringing. Idolizing southern rock gods The Allman Brothers Band, Jacob has created a sound that is best described as southern soul music. It has jazz, rock, folk, as well as popular music influences. Jacob will soon be releasing his first solo album “Victim of a Small Town”, a collection of 10 original songs. Demo versions of each song can be found on his official Youtube page.

Last week, we sat down with him during a recording session and picked his brain a bit to give you some insight to him as an artist and his creative process. 

Where did you grow up?  Ardmore, TN

What is your first musical memory?  Pretending to play piano to Vince Gill's "When I Call Your Name" when I was 4. 

What was your first song about?  Love

Where did you perform your first concert?  Tin Roof

What first inspired you to write music?  In 1998, my good friend Andy Abernathy loaned me his guitar when he joined the army, and I haven't looked back. 

Does anyone else in your family play music? Did they inspire you?  My brother plays guitar, and my dad is a good singer. They've inspired me everyday. 

What was the first instrument you learned to play? Guitar

What instruments do you play? Guitar, piano, bass

Who are some of your favorite performers?  John Mayer,Gavin DeGraw,James Brown,Brian McKnight, Jason Isbell, Maroon 5 to mention a few. 

What is your musical background?  Started playing out in 2006. I picked up cover gigs to supplement income. 

Where/what did you first record in a studio?  A rock album with a band called Goodchild. 

What themes do you find yourself writing about the most?  Love

Describe your writing process for me.  I rely on feeling. I hear a melody or a guitar lick or a certain sound and it sparks an idea, at least that's my process now. 

Do you have a specific audience in mind when you write your music?  Everyone. 

How would you describe your live performance?  Intimate,raw,entertaining, positive

What emotions are you trying to make listeners feel when they heard your music?Happiness. 

What’s the greatest compliment you have received about your music?  The greatest compliment I get is when people tell me they love my music.

We're so excited that Jacob Reynolds has been recording with us in the past few weeks and can't wait to share his music with you! To keep up with him, follow him on Twitter, like him on Facebook, or follow him on Instagram.  For some of his previously recorded music check out his artist website as well. 

Until Next Time,

Launch Pad Production

www.launchpadproduction.com 

Daniel Drake - Audio Engineer/Producer

Hey World,

Today we're introducing you to our sound engineer/producer, Daniel Drake. He's the Captain Kirk of the studio you toured last week! 

1. What are you currently listening to on your iPod/Spotify list?

Ben Rector, James Morrison, and One Republic were the last three. I am a fan of any music that has a soulful sound.

2.  What is the single best concert you've been to?

The best concert I have ever been to was a TobyMac concert. It was actually at a big festival but that is what made it so awesome. It was the musical icing on the cake of an epic music weekend, and he brought down the house.

3. What is your favorite part of (your specific role in this company)?

It is all about the music. Music is a part of human nature. Being able to work in music and help people craft something so personal to them is like nothing else. I get to take the expression of their heart and soul and turn it in to something to share with the world. There is nothing better than that.

4. What got you in to (your specific role in this company)?

Like most people, I loved music growing up. I had a gift for things of a more technical nature, and once I realized I could combined those to things for a career, I was sold.

5. Who would you like to emulate in your role? / Who is your favorite at what you do?

At the moment Ryan Tedder is a huge influence. He is the lead singer for the band One Republic but has worked on records of everyone from Adele to Beyonce. He brings a soulfulness to his producing, and I really love his drum sounds he gets on tracks.

6. Where are you from?

That’s a tough question because it can have so many meanings. If I travel outside of Nashville and someone asks me that I say Nashville. If I am in Nashville, I say the Seattle area, but I also grew up overseas. It really just depends on the time and place and what the person is really trying to find out.

7. Where did you graduate college? Do you have a degree in (your specific role in this company)?

I graduated from Middle Tennessee State University. (In my opinion the best college for recording industry study of any kind) with a degree in Audio Production.

8. The great debate - Dogs? or Cats? 

Dogs. I am allergic to cats.

9. If you could be any super hero, who would you want to be and why? 

I would be The Flash. He is the fastest man alive. I would never have to pay for gas again. Imagine all the places you could go for the weekend? You would never “run” out of things to do.

Hope you enjoyed getting to know Daniel. Check out our website for prices on recording! 

Launch Pad Production

www.launchpadproduction.com

Launch Pad Production Studio Tour

Hello World,

Today, we want to take you on a tour of our incredible recording studio with a list of all of our equipment and gear. Enjoy! 


 Control Room:  

 

 

    What we love about it - It's a great size for recording guitar, bass, and keys all at the same time, without be feeling like your sitting in our engineer's lap.


Live Room:
                                                                             

 

 

What we love about it - Because of its unique layout, this room has windows that can see into the Control Room as well as the Vocal Booth.  This way, your drummer can actually see everyone else!


Vocal Booth

    What we love about it -  This room is great, cozy size for recording vocals and can also be used for recording multiple guitar parts simultaneously.  (Bonus: Makes for great photos to upload to your band's social media pages!)



Gear

Interface: Universal Audio Apollo Duo

Computer: 27" Mac 3.4 GHZ quad-core intel core i7 16GB RAM

Plug-Ins:  
Waves Mercury
Lexicon PCM Reverb
Antares Auto-tune
Melodyne
Native Instruments 

Monitors:
Tannoy Reveal 501a
Big American Venturi V1020 Subwoofer

Microphones: 
Avatone CV-12
AKG C414
Cascade Fat Head
Blue Baby Bottle
Sennheiser e902
Sennheiser MD 412
Sennheiser e604 (2)
Rode NT-5 (2)
Sub Kick

Pre Amps:
Universal Audio LA 610
Chameleon Labs 7602 mkii
Avalon U5
GraceDesign m101 (2)
Focusrite Octopre mkii

Compressors:
Universal Audio LA-2A
Art Pro VLA II   
DBX 160


Instruments:  
(Drums)
Pearl Studio Series 5 Piece Kit
Ziljian A Custom Cymbals
Remo D Series Djembe
Meinl Headliner Series Cajon
Meinl Headliner Series Bongos 

(Keys)
AKAI MPK 88

(Guitars)
Breedlove Atlas D25
Fender Telecaster Special Edition
Fender Straticaster

(Bass)
Fender Jazz Bass

(AMPS)
VOX AC15
Peavey 6505+           
Orange 1x12 Cab



We hope you loved the tour and have a better understanding of what gear and technology we're working with here at Launch Pad Production.  Until next time!


Launch Pad Production
www.launchpadproduction.com

Daniel Eltzroth - Photographer / Videographer

Hello World,

This week, we're introducing our Photographer, Daniel Eltzroth. We have two Daniels here at Launch Pad, so we call this Daniel "Puddles" to help with he confusion.  For more information for photography/videography, head over to www.launchpadproduction.com ! 

1. What are you currently listening to on your iPod/Spotify list?

I'm currently listening to A Day To Remember radio on Pandora, more steered towards pop punk. When I feel like getting frisky I switch it up to my 3OH3 station.

2.  What is the single best concert you've been to?

The single best concert would have to be seeing Taking Back Sunday with Anberlin.

3. What is your favorite part of (your specific role in this company)?

Shooting music videos would have to be my favorite. Taking an artists' song and turning it into a visual thing.

4. What got you in to (your specific role in this company)?

I have always loved media, films, and editing. So, I always knew that I wanted to do something with video. Then, I got the opportunity to tour with a band called State Your Cause, and I found that I loved music and concerts. After that, I had to do something involving video and music.

5. Who would you like to emulate in your role? / Who is your favorite at what you do?

I really don't have anyone I try and emulate. I don't typically study specific videographers or photographers. I like to use styles from movies in both my video work and photography. I don't really have one particular person. I'm more of a fan of certain techniques and styles of videography and photography.

6. Where are you from?

I'm from a tiny town Hillsboro, Ohio. I grew up on 85 acres of wilderness.

7. Where did you graduate college? Do you have a degree in (your specific role in this company)?

I graduated from Cincinnati State in Cincinnati, Ohio. I have an associates degree in audio video production. 

8. The great debate - Dogs? or Cats? 

Dogs. I feel like I don't even have to say anything else. Just Dogs.

9. If you could be any super hero, who would you want to be and why? 

If I could be any hero, I would be Batman. I mean, first he is Bruce Wayne. Who is just awesome in general. Second, Batman has all of his fast cars and gadgets. Batman also has the best super villains of any other hero.

Hope you enjoyed meeting Puddles.  See you next week! 

Launch Pad Production 

www.launchpdproduction.com