THE SONG: After FALLBORN (my band project) broke up. I kind of put the guitar down for a bit... it seemed to make me feel weird... so I sat down at the piano where I found loads of new inspiration. My piano playing is all self-taught and kinda questionable... I call it Drummer-Piano:)... I grew up with a piano around and I always tinkered on it throughout the years, but I didn't take lessons... drums are what I studied, piano was a little jungle gym... at least back then. These days, it's much more than that. Around the time of Reckless" I was able to get this amazing upright Steinway piano from the year 1900. I fell in love. IT probably helped that I had been listening to lots of Thomas Newman, Rufus Wainwright and a bit of Regina Spector. I was connecting to how Regina and Rufus both brought classical influences into their songs (as does Muse; a band I dig). I've always loved that... Maybe it's because what we call "classical" has such deep roots into history... it touches different nerves and feelings than say, the blues. It's all apples and oranges. I LOVE blues influenced music too, believe me, can't really have rock without the blues. I've realized that on some level when I'm writing, I'm aware of the line between the two and how they play against each: blues and classical. The blues and also folk, feel somehow rooted in the earth... classical in the heavens.
This song was semi-inspired by the book by Cornelia Funke called "Reckless".... I was about to be hired to write a song for the book which was about to come out. But, before the deal was done, I'd written the song (I get antsy). I didn't know much about the book, just a basic synopsis, but I knew I wouldn't (and probably they wouldn't) want a song that's glued to the book. So I wrote something personal that I felt connected to the feel of the book's story yet also felt 100% me. I also went on a week long tour opening for her reading. It was fun and interesting to watch her and this Shakespearian actor dude, read from the book. She wore a crazy costume and he wore an old tux. Kinda cool Nic and Jules came with me for old times (FALLBORN) sake. It was good to reconnect with them and play some music. New York, Seattle, Chicago and one other stop I can't think of... I'll never forget it! haha Gulp. My memory sucks for this kind of stuff.
THE RECORDING: Organic was the word for this album for me. Open and organic... so actually two words:) Oh and timeless and honest... four words. Those words were like a compass. North, South, East and West: I had my little world I was going to be operating in. And I could go any direction.
I was really into this new snare drum I'd Frankensteined together from a 14"x12" floor tom. I wanted a big fat sound.... obese in fact. So I attached a snare strainer to this floor tom and for good measure and raunchiness I attached a tambourine apparatus that drops down onto the top head so it jangles when I hit it. I LOVE THIS SNARE.... Actually, it's all over the MURDER YESTERDAY album... listen for it!
On the vocals, it's my vintage Telefunken U47 through a Neve 1073 mic pre through a Retro 176 compressor (every vocal on the album is this signal chain). I press record and run into the other room to track... this is also my album exercise routine. Cardio baby.
This is me on everything except bass, which is The Great Bass Artist David J Carpenter... a.k.a Dave. He's all over this album (another Bass-Great, Nic Rodriguez, is on "Blink" and "You Say"). He plugs in and plays so emotionally. He cares. He's so melodic. He played his hollow body electric bass. Also through a NEVE 1073 through a sans amp (and direct).
I played a combo of Gretsch toms, the Obese snare and a DW X-Shell 16"x23" kick (this kick is amazing). Also, on many songs, including this one, I used big marching bass drum mallets... in both hands... I wanted that thick dumpling sound on the drums.... I wanted the hi hats to have a softer attack and the cymbals to sort of expand rather than explode... delayed reaction... and juicy attacks on the drums.
Also, right before I mixed this album I got a NEVE summing mixer... right when I plugged this thing in I felt good. The transformers in it just add that attack to everything that you always listen for... and the summing added some space to things as well. It has a mid-side feature which I used on most of the album as well... it makes the stereo spectrum wider and more "3D". This aided me in my search to fulfill one of my three compass words "OPEN"!
:)A
Original Release Date: September 21, 2010
Excerpt of Cornelia Funke's Press Release on her website, which mentions the song "Reckless":
Cornelia Funke—the beloved and bestselling author of The Thief Lord and the Inkworld Trilogy—invites you "behind the mirror" for an once-in-a-lifetime theatrical storytelling event! Join Cornelia and special guests Lionel Wigram and Elliot Hill LIVE Tuesday, September 14th at 1:30 pm EST for the worldwide launch of Reckless, featuring a special musical performance by Adam Watts.
"This event is not to be missed as Cornelia takes the stage to perform a dramatic reading from her anticipated new novel, Reckless, with acclaimed stage actor Elliot Hill. Following the reading, you will witness a rare conversation between Cornelia and Reckless co-creator Lionel Wigram, executive producer of the Harry Potter movies and producer/co-writer of the Sherlock Holmes film. Together they will pull back the curtain on the creative process and give fans an intimate look at how the world of Reckless came into being.
The event will also include an interactive audience Q&A session and a live musical performance by special guest, Adam Watts, who will sing an exclusive song inspired by Reckless. Storytelling, film and music combine in this unprecedented event sure to spark the imaginations of fans young and old!"
http://www.get-reckless.com/events.html