Maybe So

So, the RPM Challenge is to record an album of original music in the month of February, which had 28 days this year. Robbie texted me on the 27th of those 28 days to let me know he had another song almost finished – it just needed final vocals and maybe a new drum part. I panicked for a couple of seconds, then smiled, shrugged, thought to myself, “Sure, why not?”, and responded that I was looking forward to hearing it.

Robbie and Margaret then met at the studio that evening (the 27th, remember) to finish the vocals while I was methodically tweaking the “final” mixes for some of the other 12 songs for the album. (“Art is never finished, only abandoned.”) Robbie then stayed up late to export and upload the individual stems for me to be able to mix the song the next day.

The afternoon evening of the 28th, I finished off the mixes for the remainder of the other 12 tracks, but ran out of energy and time before being able to do a mix of Maybe So. Thus, I spent the morning and early afternoon of the due date (March 1) mixing this song and giggling through the process of adding MIDI drums via Superior Drummer 3. They’re much busier than the drum loop Robbie had used to build the song, but I think they work with the rest of the track.

I think Robbie and Margaret were tickled by the results, and I was tickled in turn to learn that they laid down the vocal tracks by singing directly into the onboard mic on Robbie’s iPad! I figured they had somehow connected a mic via the Focusrite interface or one of the Zoom R16s that live at the studio, but nope! They just set the iPad on the bar and sang right into it! Love it.

Robbie Robinson - Songwriting, lyrics, vocals, guitars, bass, recording
Margaret Bibb - Vocals
Kevin Craig - MIDI drum arrangement, mixing

Maybe So
Good morning, honey, how are you?
Is there anything you’d like to do?
Maybe have a cup coffee or two.

Remember how it was in our first days,
Before we committed to so much to do?
Man, we ran around like we were crazy,
Feeling wild, free, and cool.

Good afternoon, honey, how are you?
Is there anything you’d like to do?
Maybe take a hike for an hour or two.

We could take a nap, we could lay in bed,
We could watch a show, whatever you said.
I need an idea, I want a suggestion.
What kind of thoughts are brewing in your head?

Good evening, baby, how are you?
Is there anything you’d like to do?
Maybe we can have a drink or two.

We could hang out with some old friends,
Go to a brewpub and see a good band.
Maybe we could stay home together,
And think of something to do instead!