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Almost a year ago, one of my closest friends in music, Monique, messaged me asking about the new studio I had put together, wanting to check it out. She gave me a voice note of a song called "Dream"; written in memory of her Mother. I was over the moon that she was asking me to produce a single for it. I wouldn't have told anyone last October, but once I got started, I was also lost, terrified, anxious, and worried about how long it was taking me to get this thing done. Once it was done we had a meeting so she could give me some feedback. She didn't feel it was quite done, and once I got some extra sounds in there, I'm really glad she challenged me in that way. I use the word "challenge" because I had no idea what to do to fill in lead guitar parts and was on the verge of an anxiety attack. This was clearly before I realized my methods of staying balanced and objective. So I sat in the studio and noodled with my most country sounding guitar. When I listen back, this song is a great example of stepping out of your comfort zone, challenging yourself, and just starting. Most of all, I just wanted to share this song on my blog.
I don't have some deep personal connection to this song. I've just been really loving 13 of Ed Sheeran's hits. I've also been wanting to try playing around with a vocoder, and this song originally uses one. My personal reflection right now is that I'm trying to overcome some silly, insecure perfectionism that developed from years of people giving me advice that has turned me into an Instagram model but with my music. "I hit a flat note, can't post it", "You can tell I'm reading lyrics, nope". It's more important to make content and share it. I'm trying to remind myself that I'm not a major label artist, my studio isn't Jukasa or RCA, and that I've been called to make music. So here is "Afterglow", originally performed by Ed Sheeran, and a warm up session at ChevyCat Music before I start recording new original music of my own. https://linktr.ee/ImChrisStrei
Chris Strei performing "I'll Fly Away", a hymn written by Albert E. Brumley in 1929. Recorded/filmed at ChevyCat Music. Played on a Taylor Grand Auditorium All-Koa guitar. Recorded with Aston Spirit microphones and a Steinberg UR44 Interface Edited using Wondershare Filmora X
One last 2020 live stream for both myself and The Rope Factory. This is just a picture, Facebook wouldn't let me embed the video. So clicking the picture will take you to the Facebook video.
What do you do when someone reminds you that their live stream is featuring Christmas music, and you have no Christmas songs? You say, "Oh, just a minute..........................*an hour later* ok, I wrote one." I don't have any insightful messages behind this one. It's nothing more than a fun and Scroogey piece promoting my idea of a perfect Christmas in 2020. I hope you enjoy my little anti-Christmas song: "Damn Pandemic Christmas" Available on digital platforms and BandCamp!
Today would have been my Grandma's 96th birthday. I called her "Nan". I remember she always had her classic country records playing when I was little. I don't remember much else, but I remember Patsy Cline's voice. At her funeral I sang "Ships In A Bottle" by Butch Walker, and some time after that, I discovered a video of him and Martina McBride performing "She's Got You". It sparked something and I started covering for a while. Tonight I wanted to put this up here because it's better than posting a picture on Facebook.
"Prison Bound Man" performed by Chris Strei near some railroad tracks. from the album "The Moonshine" Get "The Moonshine" Here! 🎥: Natalie Brown
Started singing this in the kitchen so I grabbed my phone and guitar.
*Down here is the part where I say I don't own anything in this video except my clothes and guitar. All right reserved to the songwriters, publishers, label, etc.
A little while ago, I connected with a label called Winding Way Records through my song "Prison Bound Man". They offered me a Master & Synchronization Representative agreement. That means they would be shopping my song to people who are making advertisements, movies, documentaries, television shows. Synchronization is when a song get synced to video. After doing a bit of research on their website to learn a bit more, I set up a Zoom meeting with John and Katie at Winding Way Records, and after the meeting, I patiently and calmly waited to receive their contract while they got things together on their side. By "patiently and calmly" I mean I checked my emails first thing everyday and also as much as I should've been drinking water. (The hold up was because of a pandemic and lockdown, in case you haven't heard that happened). Not very long after, we signed by the x's, I sent them my materials, and here's the press release from windingwayrecords.com. "Winding Way Records is delighted to announce that Chris Strei has joined the label in a sync-rep agreement. Chris Strei is a singer/songwriter whose style has been compared to Chris Stapleton, Tom Petty, Doc Walker, and Tragically Hip. Chris draws on his life experiences for inspiration in his music. With composition influenced by blues, bluegrass, hard rock, and metal, Chris’s songs tell stories with a sense of universal perspective.
Strei has opened for the Juno nominated band The Trews, as well as folk and pop singer Dayna Manning. In addition to a cross Canada tour, Strei performed at Canadian music week, Hugh’s Room Live, and most recently made his radio debut on Niagara’s Country89. Chris has signed a Sync-Rep Contract with Winding Way for his song Prison Bound Man."
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