Well, life has changed considerably. Sarah and I are in Nashville...well, Franklin...and enjoying life. We love our new house. We love our new neighborhood. We love our new life. It's awesome.
We have a 3 bedroom/2.5 bathroom house in a Franklin neighborhood called Fieldstone Farms. My next door neighbor is the head of Warner Brothers Christian publishing. We have a Publix and Blockbuster down the street from our house and just last night, I was stopped by a songwriter who has been a part of records that have sold 200 million records who stopped me in Publix wanting to write with me; then in the parking lot, I was stopped by the producer who co-produced the MuteMath albums just saying hey and thanks for doing MuteMath all summer. Only in Nashville.
Next week, I'm writing with a guy named Chris Eaton who has written number 1 hits on both the CCM side of things and the mainstream side of things. Wednesday I'm writing with Kevin Max. Over the next coupla weeks, I get to write with songwriting heroes like Tony Wood, Chris Rodriguez and many many more. It looks like we are going to be starting the album around November 1.
I'm also excited because over the last week or so, we've kind of moved the direction of the record from a straight up Christian record to making a crossover-type record, which is exciting for me from an artistic standpoint. On Tuesday, the producer who is producing most of the record (Brown Bannister) and I are getting together to choose the 5-6 songs that are definites for the album and then choosing 7-8 more that are possibles. Then as I write between now and November 1, we'll figure out what songs are the best 12-13 to make the record.
Last week was a frustrating time for various reasons. It's nice to be back to being excited again. I think hopeful suits me better than frustrated.
Life is good. I can't wait for music to start pouring forth and for label news to be out.
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58 comments:
Glad you're no longer stressed. That kinda helps make things easier!
Now you have to change the Location thing in your "About Me" section!!
Chris, it's great to hear you sounding more relaxed and happy...Congrats on a successful and safe move...you've chosen a wonderful area to live in...happy exploring!
And that is so cool a producer chatted with you in the grocery....I can't wait to hear what you have in store for us...Crossover sounds like a good idea, Chris...I know whatever you do, you'll make it work for many kinds of listeners....
Have fun with your songwriting....so happy for you that another phase of your dream is coming true...write your heart out...
Good luck with the shape up program...and yes--life is good! Love ya, Chris!
Deb in TN
Sounds like the perfect place to be - physically and mentally. Enjoy.
I am so excited for you and Sarah. Can't wait for the new CD.
Nashville sounds really cool. Can't wait to come & see it.
Chris,
Glad you are moved and settled. Don't you just love Publix?? That is my favorite grocery store.
I am glad that your album is going to be crossover. Can't wait for the new CD.
One of my students has really gotten into listening to TACOSB. Whenever he earns free time he asks to listen to your CD with his headphones. He sits there and reads the lyrics while he listens to the CD. It is fun to listen to him sing the songs. (quite loudly) Yesterday he played Tunnel Vision & Waiting again & again. I finally gave him the CD. He was so excited to get it. He kept telling me over & over "Do I really get to keep it for my very own Mrs. Metcalfe?". I wish you could have seen the joy on his face.
Carmen
Hey Chris,
Man we missed you around here! Glad to hear you're connected again.
All the new music news sounds really exciting, glad you are feeling hopeful again.
Love from DJ
Chris,
Thank you for sharing your excitement and experiences with us. It's fun to live vicariously through you!
I love Nashville...it seems like a great place to raise a family and there's so much to do. And of course, the perfect background for your music. Sounds like networking there will be a breeze!
Publix is great (don't have them here, but often shopped there when my baby sis was in Atlanta). It seems like finding a familiar store, or just a great new store helps make a new place feel like home.
Love that you're starting a getting healthy blog. My diet has gone to you know where in a handbag since my birthday. I need some inspiration!
OK, got to get a 16 yr. old boy moving to get ready for homecoming. Our shopping excursion for the outfit is a whole 'nother story that I won't make you read....but I have a feeling moms of teen boys out there can sympathize without even knowing the details.
Later! Risa
Your new beginning in Nashville area sounds exciting! How cool for you, to get to network at the grocery store! LOL. Excellent! You are off to a great start!
The neighborhood sounds perfect, the location of things divine. They built a Publix in Goodlettesville which is nice, because Spouse can sometimes stop there for goodies. They offer deli and Italian food items and breads that are NOT in everyday groceries, down here. (He's like a kid in a candy store, when he goes to that place!)
Your songwriting plans sound really awesome. I can't wait to hear how you like it, and how it all goes. Sending love-- and enjoy the pretty weather this weekend!
It's good to see you happy & upbeat again. Hang in there, Chris. Good things are to come for you, I believe in you!
Wanted to add that the crossover aspect is really exciting. I think the opportunity to reach multiple audiences is phenomenal. It will be good for your career, but will also help you reach people that may be touched by the message in your music who wouldn't hear it if it was straight CCM.
Hey Chris this is alll really exciting knews im so happy for you. Nashvielle is an awesome place. Now im going back to sleep. Love you guys.
Some background to check out
Brown Bannister urls:
Abilene Christian University profile
Reaching the top in Nashville 'by the grace of God'
Alumnus named CCM Producer of Year four of last six years
Paul A. Anthony, Editor in Chief
Issue date: 2/24/04
http://media.www.acuoptimist.com/media/storage/paper891/news/2004/02/24/News/Reaching.The.Top.In.Nashville.by.The.Grace.Of.God-2429195.shtml
& http://www.acu.edu/spotlight/alumni_bannister.html
A professional Resume of sorts ending 2004 - http://www.christianmusicarchive.com/artist.php?id=152
Cross Rhythms profile - http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/artists/Brown_Bannister/8287/
Chris Eaton - The Official Web Site http://www.chriseaton.co.uk/home.php
Glad to see you're settling in nicely - meeting neighbors, finding the most convenient grocery store, and already networking in parking lots! How are the puppies settling in? Are they finding their way around the new house?
Exciting to hear about the direction the album is taking- can't wait can't wait!! Have fun with your continued writing and your fine tuning.
On the subject of grocery stores - we're definitely at a loss going from east coast to mid west. Where are all of the Blooms?? They had just started popping up in Northern VA and we loved them - and now we're stuck with Meijers and Krogers. Luckily our neighborhood Kroger is pretty nice - so we're ok now. But it took awhile to adjust. Never experienced a Publix, unfortunately.
I am very happy for you!! Sounds like you and Sarah are going to be very happy in TN, and that your songwriting and album are going to be great. Congratulations and good luck with everything!
I am so jealous that you live near a Publix. You couldn't swing a dead cat in my old Florida town without hitting a Publix. Now we live near a Piggly Wiggly and it's just not the same. Have fun with your moving in and songwriting and parking lot shmoozing and whatnot. Be sure to bring a pie to the neighbors and introduce yourself. It's the polite, Southern thing to do. Good luck young man.
hey guys my fevers is down so we are good there and only 1 more round of chemo and one more round of atg to go and then its on to radiationl Im going back to sleep now though, sorry if wht i havetyped doesnt make sense,
Now this blog entry I like much better than a few of the recent ones. :) Seeing you in a positive mood and settling into your new life is great. I really like the decision of making a crossover album, I think that'll help you sell much more copies and touch more people.
Amanda, glad to hear you're feeling better and getting close to getting done with chemo! I can't even imagine how much it sucks having to deal with the side effects.
Oh Chris! How fun to rub elbows w/industry people in your everyday walk of life places. Wish I lived in the 'hood.
Was REALLY glad to see you mention Brown Bannister as your producer.
He's one quality dude! Been enjoying his work for over 20 years!
Thanks again for filling us in on SO much, enabling me to live vicariously thru you. Next best thing to being there.
Blessings to ya!
clarissaNaz
I am so thrilled you decided on a cross-over album!! I am sitting in front of my monitor doing my happy dance! \o/ I want everyone to discover what we Fro' Patro'ers have known all along and I was afraid that wouldn't happen if you went into straight CCM. 'Preaching to the choir' as it were. Congrats on the smooth move and I can't wait for the new album. PLEASE let us know if you are going to do any concerts there in Nashville!
Amanda - hang in there! You have almost made it!
Love to all
Keri
Hey Chris.. just wondering, are you going to be hanging out with Phil when he moves to Nashville?(or has he already moved? us philnatics havent heard.. last time we knew, Kendra was packing things up) but yea, I was just wondering!
Love you all!
Kerry
I totally agree, by the way--Yay on the crossover idea! Good content is still good.
I hope you are really happy, and enjoying your new(hot) locale. We are doing some home improvement stuff out there, like painting shutters and washing the house siding. It's bound to cool off and rain eventually, right? :-)
Thinking of you, and sending good wishes.
(you too, Amanda! Have not forgotten about you my girl...)
Hey everyone my potassium is low so im hooked too all these diff. machcines. please pray that the atg wont to hard on me i already have a full body rash forom the atg. And ill get an address toyou as soon as i can
Love Ananda
Please, please, please, put "I'm Ready" on your album. I absolutely love that song. The message in that song is so inspiring! If you don't put it in your album, please let me know how to get a copy of it.(Don't know if the demo can be downloaded, not real technologically savvy). I can't wait for your cd to come out, I know it will be great! Already bought 4 HPF Cds, one you signed for me so that will get framed! Thank you, Chris, for allowing us to watch and listen as your dreams come true.
Good luck with you move! I really wish I lived that close to a Publix... I'm excited that the record is going on nicely and has many great people working on it.
WOW! Glad to hear things are going so well for you... And I'm really glad that you'll be making your album so soon! :D
But I have a question: What in the world is a "Publix"? lol I feel out of the loop on that one!
Carianne,
Publix is a grocey store that was started here in Florida. They are one of the fastest growing employee owned grocery stores in the US. The Wall Street Journal ranked them number 1 in overall customer satisfaction.
Publix can be found in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama & Tennessee. They are awesome. I have served on several major charity committees and Publix is fantastic about working with the community & major charities. The stores are always clean and have a great variaty of items. I personally love their Meal Solutions Centers. This where they do cooking demos for healthy tasty meals.
They are also ranked as one of the top companies to work for. I know several people who work for Publix and they always talk about how great a company they are.
If you ever get to visit Florida, you will have to check out the local Publix.
Carmen
Publix is a really great grocery store, like we tend to take for granted up North. They have good deli items, fresh (good) breads/bakery, hard to get Italian gourmet items, and excellent quality other stuff. Their variety is the best. *hearts*
I hate Kroger, btw. I try not to even go in there. When I do, I rarely make it past the initial Flowers/Deli/bakery section. The rest has no rhyme or reason, and gives me a headache!
The last time I was in a Kroger, you ask? Why, when I bought the Ky State Fair tix to get in for the AI Tour! I left with a big smile on my face, that day...albeit, hurriedly. *smirk*
This is probably the untrusting city-kid in me, but was the info about the new home a little too specific to go out over the internet?
Just looking out.
And I'm glad I wasn't the first to ask about Publix. I'm the guy who didn't know about "Sonic" until Kellie Pickler and had never seen a Walmart until last March.
Fieldstone Farms is a very large neighborhood. You could wander for days and not see me or Sarah. I actually thought about it before I posted that.
Thanks for your concern, though.
Peace and love,
Chris
Thanks for the answers, guys! I feel enlightened!..And, I don't feel like a complete idiot since they don't have Publix in CA! ^_^ it still seems like a weird name for a grocery store, though...
Bostonian,
glad I'm not the only one in the dark about Publix! And I sort of thought the same thing about the "too specific about the new home", but then I just figured.. in this day and age, if someone wanted to find someone from the internet, they could.. no matter how much (or little) info they put in their blog!
wow! "Wander for days"? That's pretty amazing! Good thing you like the neighborhood - since it's so big! :p
LOVE the franklin area! been in nash myself for quite a stretch. i am one of those who has also followed many of the cccm icons you mentioned in your blog. (brown bannister, chris eaton, chris rodriguez...dude can jam on the guitar!...and of course k-max.) glad God is unfolding even more this the next chapter in the life of the sligh family!!
Sounds awesome! It is great fun to watch and be a part of your "rise to fame" as I am sure that you will be VERY successful!!
Chris~yesterday was such an awesome day. We went to a vintage car race that was held on a military base here in San Diego.
The person that sang the national anthem was a guy from Season 6 AI.
I think he made it to Hollywood week. He is in the Navy & I can't remember his name but he was so good....What a day, vintage cars, military aircraft, tanks, ships, & a American Idol alumi......
ok...i just read your "workout" blog, and i realize this is NOT your blog regarding your workout regiment, but i just have to comment on it...lol so now that you are officially in nashville, we HAVE to convert you from the "dark side" of the colts and manning to the "light" with VY and his titans!! ok, so he didn't have his game on yesterday...as was the case with the whole offense, but you can not live in nash and not love your titans!!
glad you got to see them pull off the game and win! WHEW!! did you stay for the whole game? my friend and i left the "sauna", better known as LP field, at half time. it was TOO hot!
be blessed!
Cathy,
I'm trying to figure out your singer. Was it Phil and you are being funny or was it the guy from Glendale AZ? I think his name was Jared?? Someone I know is related to him. I can't believe I've already forgotten his name!
Anyways, it does sound like a fun time.
Glad you were blessed.
~clarissaNaz
Was just remembering my first exposure to Brown Bannister's mastery. It was 1979 making me only 17 or 18. I was browsing the music section of Christian Book Store. Nothing was cool. I remember Evie Tornquist, Cliff Richards, Oak Ridge Boys (when they were still gospel), Honeytree, etc. Blech!
There was a big display of Amy Grant's "My Father's Eyes". Never hearda her. She *looked* like she'd sound cool. I decided to take a chance. Also bought the Wall Brothers album. They had "the look". Well, at least Amy panned out!
That album is one of just a few old Christian albums that I would still listen to today.
Also, always liked David Meece and the Imperials (after they made the turn from southern gospel sound). Brown was involved w/them too.
Chris, can ya tell him when you see him tomorrow that he and Charlie Peacock are about the only record PRODUCERS I follow? When I see them in the credits, I know it's quality. Don't usually pay much attention to producers, but I respect him greatly and am SO excited you can work w/him. Can't wait to hear your collaboration!
~clarissaNaz
Slimpickens~yes it was Jared..
Thanks for knowing his name. It was driving me crazy. If it would of been Phil I would have really gone nuts.....
Jared Cotter :) I'm selectively good with names. But only selectively.
wasn't Jared Cotter the guy who made it to the top 24? The Navy guy was someone else... right? He was the one who said he won "Regean Idol"?
haha that would've been so funn if Cathy had been talking about Phil but just didn't name him :p
Yeah it was Jared Cotter. He's really cute & has a really good voice. Was he in the top 24? I thought I remembered him from Hollywood week, but now that I think about it, he was in the top 24. Anyway it was pretty cool to see a AI alumni...My husband was like "man, we can't go anywhere without AI being there". I had to laugh. Everyone in the audiuence were excited to see him. Just goes to show how big AI really is....
Thanks everyone for helping me remember. I had my sharpie with me for autographs, but he was behind a chain link fence and guard rails... Never go anywhere without my sharpie cause you never know...lol....
Oh that is so true, Cathy! Never go anywhere without a Sharpie! I got to meet Elliott Yamin because of my sharpie! :)
I even gave my grandaughters little sharpies to carry with them. Especially at Disneyland. They have gotten alot of disney characters autographs because they had their sharpies. Hey, there only 6 & 4 so that excites the heck out of them....
My husband laughs at me till we run into some raceing legand & I get his autograph cause I'm the only one with a sharpie.
Now when we are going anywhere, he asks me if I have my sharpie....
Actually Cariane I think I got that bit of useful information from you on an earlier blog....I remember you telling someone to always carry a sharpie cause you never know....
I rode in the back of a police car today. Let's hope that's the first and only time haha.
Rosalee~you could be right. I know his name was Jared. In fact, you are right...I'm such a dork with names & faces. Thanks...
Carrie~I hope that your ride was for fun not because you did something wrong....
Rosalee~just went & checked out the website for Jarrod Fowler & yep thats him.....Thanks
No, no! I'm well-behaved, promise! Haha. basically my downtown is really complex and I couldn't find the photography gallery I was looking for, so I went up to the police station and he gave me a ride which turned out to be like on the same street, two blocks down. It was pretty hard to find so I didn't feel stupid because I'd have NEVER found it. He let me leave my car at the station because two of my uncles are cops, but for different districts. I'm going to send him a thank you card.
I can honestly say though, the backseat of a police car is NOT for joyriding around in. Very awkward and uncomfortable. The seats are really hard plastic. I never knew that!
Carrie~That sounds pretty cool. That was very nice of him to give you a ride...I'm glad it wasn't because you were in trouble. You know us Cyber-moms have to worry about everyone...
Cathy
I completely do not remember posting the tip that you should always carry a Sharpie, but I know it's something I've been saying for a while, so it's probably true :p glad to see you're passing the info on haha!
That's cool that you got to see Jarrod Fowler. I remember liking him, and wishing he would make it on the show.
Carrie
that's cool that you got to experience the backseat of a police car without commiting a crime! I've always wondered what that would be like...
Jumping in here--
I don't really go after the whole autograph thing, but I can say, I'm glad I have the AI pics signed, for the memory. (and I did bring extra sharpies with, just in case)
What was paramount in my mind was getting to talk to different people, say Hi, stuff like that. I was surprised when I got there, how big the signing-thing was. It was interesting to watch, frankly!
:-) People TV.
"Fieldstone Farms is a very large neighborhood. You could wander for days and not see me or Sarah. I actually thought about it before I posted that."
Oh, my mistake. For some reason I took "Fieldstone Farms" to be a gated apartment complexes. Up here, there are a ton of them with names like "Abington Glens" or "Harbor Points" or "Hawthorne Commons", etc.
As for the police car, I can vouch for the uncomfortable seats. The only thing I could compare it to was the yellow plastic booths at the old McDonaldses. It's plastic, but it might as well be granite for all the softness it provides. It's a weird shape, too, if I remember right.
(BTW, I wasn't arrested either, I just had a missings-person report filed on me when I decided to backpack across America!)
We've lived in Franklin for over 7 years and I can't imagine a better place to live. Be sure to spend some time in downtown Franklin. It's "Mayberry" reincarnated!
Hey Chris - did you know that FF is the same subdivision in which Carrie Underwood bought her first home in the Nashville area? I believe she has since moved to a gated community, because pics of her new house and the name of the subdivision were on the internet, and I think some fans may have found her. I'm sure you have lots of well-known neighbors though!
-Stacey
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