Ashtonzyer's Blog

The Golden Spatula returns…

Ashton Zyer — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 22:16:35 +0000

I’m home for the holidays and man are we fat and happy at the house. To add to our happiness, we hosted the second anual family cookie bake-off. I mean, these Zyer’s mean biznaz…the winner of the Golden Spatula award (which I made out of regular old spatula, spray painted gold and blinged out with jewels) “Dave” took his cookie on a test run twice before delivering the goods at the bake-off. He was not going down without a fight. The thing that probably cracked me up the most was listening to his wife rationalize whether she would enter a cookie because she was afraid of beating her husband, and the drama it would ensue when she paraded her award all year. Dave had been talking so much smack, I secretly wanted her to win…just to witness the throw down! Here are a couple pictures of the caloric suicide we participated in:

The second award we give out is called the “Golden Grape” award (which are amber glass grapes displayed in a football display case) for the best looking cookie. My sister-in-law took the price with this German star cookie. She wasn’t even going to enter, so go figure she took home the prize. All in all it was a good time. We gave away “fail” prizes for all the other fabulous entries. My entry was bamboozled again…and you know what, I know I should have won…the lemon streusal bar with white chocolate and pecans is devils food! At least it won the “Bam Sucka” vote…and that’s good enough for me!

I’ve started pulling all the music for our February show, when I get home I am slammed with rehearsals. Bart Doerfler has built a show that is kicking my butt so I’m going to have to lock myself in the studio and just practice, practice, practice! That and work off all of this holiday goodness. I’m back in my stretchy pants, and that’s not good! I threw out all my pants that were my old size…bahaa…serves me right. Oh well, I sure do love my holiday goodness! Just a reminder if you haven’t checked it out yet, you can hear Eden’s Angel @ www.indiegogo.com/edens-angel-project hope you enjoy the tune and the cause.

Happy New Year y’all!

Eden’s Angel Official Release

Ashton Zyer — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 08:49:19 +0000

Hey everyone…I’m happy to say that Eden’s Angel is ready for you to sample. I want to thank everyone who has been involved in helping to get this ready for our campaign. I hope we are able to make a difference in some way with this song. It all depends on you the listener, and your willingness to share it with friends, and those you care about.

I’ve created a special slide show with the song that you can watch by clicking onto this link www.indiegogo.com/edens-angel-project Thank you in advance for all of your support. I hope you like this song. This was one of the first songs I officially wrote and recorded way back in the day. At the time it was just a simple piano and guitar piece that Dave Rosa produced. Since then I’ve gone back and lowered the song, added strings, lots of backgrounds, bass…and whatever else I could do to give it the feel and vibe the song deserves. I’m so happy to have the song used for such a great cause….though a small ordeal to some, it means a lot to me.

I am wrapping up the two songs I’ve been working on for the last little bit. I just need to finalize my bridge ideas. I get a little ADD while I’m working on both and I end up not really getting to the end because once one song gets tough I hop to the other one. I should probably just stick to the one until I am done with it. Creative avoidance….this is what’s really going on!

Well…gotta run thanks again for checking this out, and being willing to consider sending it to your family and friends!

Much love,

“Your hands down”… a tribute

Ashton Zyer — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 08:26:20 +0000

This week a dear friend lost her daughter in a dating violence dispute. I was devastated to hear about the beating she took, and then the shot to the face that ended her life. She was 22 years old. I’ve worked with victims of domestic and dating violence for years, as well as those who abuse in the prison systems. There’s nothing I loathe more than people who use violence to control. This comes in all sorts of ways. Most people see partner violence as being manifested physically. It’s the emotional battering that is so cunning and sly, that leaves wounds far worse than what physical wounds can do, and I have zero patience for it. If only she had been taught how to recognize people who would manipulate, charm, or try to control her, things could have been different. Unfortunately so many women and men out there don’t know how to recognize destructive patterns in someone they are seeing, and even worse…in themselves…or what it really means to be healthy in a relationship, in addition to understanding what healthy conflict resolution should look like. Most people react in relationships based on the reality they have experienced, or from people who have influenced them that they give sanction to. The problem is, if those people don’t really know what healthy should look like either, then you have a classic tale of the blind leading the blind. I’ve spent years studying, and attending conferences, giving conferences on abuse, and am surprised how many people know very little about how to truly be healthy in a relationship. If you haven’t invested time in studying what healthy looks like, there’s no time like the present. There are some great reads out there about healthy conflict resolution, as this is the most important skill one can posses in a relationship. Learning how to resolve conflict without using manipulation whether it’s physical, verbal, or emotional is huge! It’s also important to learn how to be vulnerable while expressing pain and frustration, which sometimes happens in relationships, trusting that your partner will hear your heart and not make the conflict about them, while they defend themselves or manipulate to avoid the pain that shame brings. If you are saying to yourself…”What makes you the expert?”, I applaud you for being skeptical. I mean, what makes me right? I may not be… but just maybe, I know quite a bit about this after working with over 20,000 teens and adults regarding relationship violence, training them, and hearing their stories. It is because of this work I am cautious, slow to move, and hyper observant. If I don’t share the same sentiments with others on how conflict should be resolved I have learned to walk away. So for my friend I wanted to post this song I wrote for those who suffer from abuse. If everyone could rest for one day, without fear of being hurt, or killed…that truly would be something to celebrate this season….hope you enjoy!

P.S. I know I promised the release of the song Eden’s Angel sooner than later, but I’ve gotten a bit delayed after getting feedback from a few people, including Ajay the producer I work with that the track is a bit too wet, or in other words, has too much reverb on it. Once we started to take the reverb off of the track, we noticed some problems with the track…mainly the guitars, and strings with the new mix we wanted to create. It looks like it needs to be re-tracked for that new mix, and bass added. Oh well…you win some you lose some. It should be pretty simple to re-create the track and then work a new mix. No disrespect to Talbot, he did a nice job. I just think the track needs a different mix at this point, which happens often in the production world. So back to the drawing board. Maybe we will release it next week!

Happy Holidays,

Director Bart Doerfler and “Speed”

Ashton Zyer — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 09:56:59 +0000

This weekend I plan on meeting with Bart Doerfler for our upcoming shows “Love and Other Obsessions”. Bart has been away directing the show “SPEED”, which is the Holiday on Ice show for Europe, which will run for the next three years. This project for him has been a few years in the making from pitching the show, to being hired, and then spending the last few months in Europe having it all come together. I remember looking at some of the blue print ideas one evening as we gabbed about life, and dreams, and shows…etc. Amazing…he always amazes me! There is not a day that goes by that I don’t thank the good Lord for putting Bart into my life. I’m so excited to dream about our next show together, and our benefit in September at the Smith Center. So I hope you don’t mind allowing me to indulge you in some video of Bart’s work, as anything he does is important to me!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Hope your day is filled with whatever goodness you desire! For me, I’m thinking a Vegas buffet, and a movie marathon. =)

Love and Other Obsessions

Ashton Zyer — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 00:16:02 +0000

This year I’m really excited about our show “Love and Other Obsessions!” I picked this theme for our Vegas show because it was going to be the weekend before Valentine’s Day, and wanted to do a little something about that holiday. We have quite the line up planned as far as musicians go. I’m excited to say that Joel Hales and his fine cello skills will be flying in from SLC, and Ron Suffredini (Bass and Upright Bass) from LA to join Kirk Rustman (Drums/percussion), Johnny J. Rivera (Guitarist/Jazz Guitar), Kasey Carmondy (Guest Classic Guitarist), and Marie Leatham (Back Ground Vocals). Bart Doerfler will be directing the show, and is away wrapping up his show “Speed” in Europe. I’m excited to have him back in the states, and feeling his creative juices on this great show we have planned for everyone. We start rehearsals in a few weeks, and will be heavy into rehearsals after the holidays. Tickets are on sale now at www.ashtonzyer.com, but seating is limited, so hopefully you all jump on it, and purchase tickets early. The worst is when I get calls from people who want to come and I don’t have any seats left.

I’ve been working on a new song recently, that I’m calling “Near You” for now. It’s got a real sense of longing, but it’s also really dreamy/dewy like. The whole song is a bit unconventional, but that’s what I love about it as well. I can hear production already, now I just need to finish it. Sometimes I get to a place where I pretty much have said all I think I want to say, but still have about 2/3rd’s of the song to write. I also started writing for an online music magazine. Here is the site of the article I posted about mastering a four-hour lead vocal session in the studio www.roqzine.com Hopefully it is helpful to someone out there looking to brush up on some skills before getting into the studio.

Last but not least, I have not forgotten about the Eden’s Angel release. I have been working on some video editing, and some other details that need to happen before we release it, so I have pushed back the release to December. It should be a perfect song for the holidays! Looking forward to sharing that all with you soon.

For all of you loosing weight so you can gain weight in the next few weeks, I salute you! Everyone else with perfect metabolism…well aren’t you special! =)

Cheers my friends,

Eden’s Angel Completed….

Ashton Zyer — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 21:58:21 +0000

Last Friday we put the finishing touches on the song Eden’s Angel! Hard to believe the song came and went so fast. I’m working on a launch video before I release it so I’ve been watching hours of pointless crap to find a couple of clips that say it all. This was the first time I worked with Engineer Talbot Snow at Sound Masters in Las Vegas. It’s always awesome working with engineers that are quick, and chilled out. No demand was too big, as I can get pretty thorough with the final edits. I always appreciate that because it’s hard for me to ask. I often feel like I may be asking for too much. All and all, I’m proud of the product we have…..I’m sure there are things I’ll look back on and think…”Man, why did I use that reverb?”…or “We should have put something here.” My virgin production ears are just learning…but that’s just part of the deal. It’s a deep-sea and I’m taking the plunge!

November 1st will be the official launch, so be on the look out for that number…and maybe I’ll have some video ready as well.

Thursday I will take off to Nashville for some meetings with Nephi Oliva (songwriter)…I think I’ll start calling him N.O. I love traveling in the fall because I hate the fall…it’s like my worst season ever. I have days where I just don’t feel right about the world…and it’s usually just around fall… so going to other parts of the world makes it tolerable. As far as music projects go, I’m ready to start cutting the vocal for “Fabulous”…and am wrapped up with the details of our upcoming shows in Vegas, SLC, and hopefully LA. I’m calling the show “Love and other obsessions”….so stay tuned for that.

Until then my friends…cheers!

Jail spread with Chef Lemundo and Pop that zit.com

Ashton Zyer — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 08:14:52 +0000

Today I threw up in my mouth twice….once when a guy was explaining to me what spread was…..and the second when I received a link to www.popthatzit.com where a man loaded a 13 minute video of himself pinching a cyst full of puss. Now you might be wondering why I’m talking to someone who “be lovin’ his spread, like he loves his mamma”……well, I guess that’s for another day, but just know when he got to the part where the mayo was added to his spread of ramen, beef jerky, and Cheetos the mouth saliva got a little out of control, and the stomach started to churn. Just to get clear about what Jail spread is, I’m posting a link to get you up to speed with Chef Lemundo. Please forgive the profanity from Chef Lemundo…he seems to be a little rough around the edges seeing that he probably just get out of jail….or who knows…maybe he was shooting the show from jail.

After I was fed the Spread on “Spread”, I came home to a lovely ditty in my email box from my brother on http://www.popthatzit.com/2011/05/multi-angle-abscess-cyst-pop/. I was eating dinner at the time, so you could only imagine I was a gonner when I opened up this link, and again proceeded to throw up in my mouth. What a special day of bile and stomach churning I had….hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Tomorrow I will head out to see a show one of my friends is hosting, and will probably work to catch up on some songwriting I’m a little behind on, and I’m looking forward to making some headway. This coming Tuesday I will be back in the studio with Matt Trygg, and we will finish the background vocals for “Eden’s Angel”. It will be awesome hanging with Matt again. It’s been a few months since we’ve seen each other, and we always have a ridiculously cool time together. Maybe I’ll post another video of his session. Stay tuned for that. Until then my friends…”Spread, and Zit pop it out”….yummm! Muuuuah.

Much love,

Eden’s Angel (remix)…coming soon

Ashton Zyer — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 04:14:52 +0000

Years ago on my first three song EP released, I wrote a piece called “Eden’s Angel”. I was so proud of it, because it was the first song I wrote that I actually liked! Yes, we as songwriters, have many moments where we look back and think “What was I thinking?” when we write songs. This particular song I wanted to be wistful and romantic, so when David Rosa produced this piece he added a really beautiful classical guitar that made it just that, in a real minimalist sort of way. Now years later I have thought to myself…it’s so beautiful simple, but I should lower it…I sang it way too high! I should add some strings while I’m at it…and I should do this for a good cause.

Over the last few years people have used this song for weddings, and for funerals…most recently in association with little children..either the death or birth of children. Justin and Trish Christensen, two very special people to me are going to use this song to help raise money for an adoption they are trying to complete before the end of the year for two children who have down syndrome. I am a huge supporter of the amazing and wonderful adventures some dare to take. So stay tuned for the newest edition of this song. We just had Kasey Carmondy in the studio to play some classical guitars.

He’s an amazing talent in Vegas, and his guitar sounds like butta! Next week I will have Matt Trygg in the studio for back ground vocals. I love working with Matt as well…..we have such a good time messin’ around…and he’s sick when it comes to background vocals. Hopefully when all is said and done we will have a fabulous track to help fundraise for this adoption!

Special shout out to Nephi Oliva, and Talbot Snow for working on this project with us @ Sound Masters

Tonight I’m on the road working on shttttuuff! I’ll hit you all back when I have more exciting things to talk about!

Cheers,

Thank you KLAV Vegas radio…

Ashton Zyer — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 08:26:00 +0000

This last Friday I had a great time with our friends Drew and Venessa at KLAV.

Vanessa

Drew

Awww yeah...hangin' during the "Shag me salon" commercial

Download the interview here:

Ashton Zyer interview with KLAV

We talked about my new release “Sweet on You”, and just shot the breeze about how I got my start, some of the nuts and bolts regarding my writing process, and whatever else happen to come up. I love doing these shows with new and incredibly cool people. I can’t wait for the next one…in the mean time…I just sent a message to Ajay tonight to set a date to record our next track “Takin’ over me”. I really love this song….it’s slow, smoky, and sexy. I am really looking forward to sharing the video of this vocal session, and to just release the song already! Hopefully this will happen sometime during October.

Until then my friends…..be cool!

Official Vegas show date….

Ashton Zyer — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 09:50:06 +0000

I’ve always wanted to do a themed show, so this year we decided to book a show the weekend before Valentines Day, and play alllll break up songs! =) Ha, just kidding…but there will for sure be some good times, and good music lovin’ had by all in Vegas that weekend. So if you want to travel to Vegas for the shin dig, the date will be Saturday February 11th @ The Summerlin Performing Arts Center @ 8:00pm. All the details for the show are on the show tab above, as well as the details for our show in the brand new cabaret room at the Smith Center which is going to be absolutely beautiful when it opens! I hope to have another show date on the calendar here in the next couple of weeks for Salt Lake City, since I’ve gotten quite a few requests lately to play there, but nothing is set in stone. I will keep you posted, as those details develop!

We have a new song coming out soon called “Takin’ Over Me”. The only delay is that the computer in the studio totally blew right after we finished “Sweet On You”…I’m supposed to be takin’ the rig in this next week. Hopefully the damage is minimal so we can get back to doin’ what we do. A little shout out to Johnny Rivera for getting our song on Smoothejazznow.com He texted me the other day and said it’s in the que to be played, so we are just waiting for that song to drop. Johnny you rock, and congrats on your new album “Trying To Catch Rain”, which can be purchased on his site www.johnnyjrivera.com

A couple of weeks ago I recorded my cousin on a track I’m redoing for a couple that is trying to adopt two children with Down Syndrome. Joel was amazing, and even more amazing is that fact that I’ll hopefully be finishing the edits for this song in a week or so, so we can start selling it online, and raising some money for their very good cause www.bornintheheart.net

Happy first of September! Hope you are all well, and gearing up for a great fall!

Much love,