Avowal Music Publishing

Colin Elmore with the Franz Family

2012-01-14T18:45:00.000-08:00

This week has been crazy fun. Colin Elmore (lead singer from the late great band, Berch) came down from Springfield, MO once more this time with the Franz family and we recorded and mixed 9 tracks in 3 days! The second greatest thing about this is that we did the whole project at world famous Ardent Studios in their newly remolded Studio C (see pic) all onto tape. No computers or digital equipment were used during this process. It was a really fun learning experience. I feel like this is how music is supposed to be made. The album, "This Side of the Sun" will be released next weekend!

Ian McClellan's Worship More EP

2011-12-30T11:18:00.000-08:00

Hey people, I'm very excited about my good friend Ian McClellan's new project that I had the honor of producing, recording, mixing and mastering. Hope you all get a chance to check it out and support him! Here is a link to stream the project http://vimeo.com/29382185 and here is a link to help him raise money with Kickstarter to support it. http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ianmcclellan/worship-more

Let me know what you think!

Selena Gomez's "When the Sun Goes Down"

2011-07-12T09:38:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, I've very excited that my friend Steve Sulikowski co-wrote the title track to Selena Gomez's new album "When the Sun Goes Down". It's at #4 on the U.S. Billboard top 200 right now. Steve sent me Selena's demo to mix a few months back and Selana and her record label loved it. Check it out if you like.

2011-07-03T16:12:00.001-07:00

Hey Folks, This is the project I recorded in Central America back in 2006. All the proceeds go to help the missionaries down there.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/mision-hispana/id205188250

Update and Maurice Mosby's New Single

2011-05-21T19:40:00.000-07:00

Make sure to check out http://themosbybrand.com/ to stream Maurice Mosby's new single! This Memphis worship leader has a heart to see God's Kingdom come on earth! I guess it's an acoustic/pop/gospelish song that I recorded, mixed and mastered. You can buy it on www.cdbaby.com . Let me know what you all think.

Also I'm very excited about Ian McClellan's new ep that I'm mixing this week. Ian and I meet back in 2004 at Visible Music College. He was actually one of the 1st songwriters I've recorded! Now we are putting the final touches on indie/rock worship ep . I'll let you know when you can hear it. The single should be released soon!

Well since I'm talking about worship music news. Make sure you check out Jeremy Horns new cd "Sound of the Broken" http://www.jeremyhornmusic.com/listen - produced by good friend James Joseph.

Also Josh Smith's project Cities Apart http://citiesapartband.blogspot.com/

Their music has been encouraging me the past few weeks worshiping in the car.

Here is a link to learn more about Caleb Sigler's project that I produced last year. It's a project I'm proud of mainly because ALL of the proceeds go towards helping orphans in Swaziland affected by HIV and poverty through an organization called Children’s Hope Chest. http://ilovememphisblog.com/2011/02/meet-memphian-40-musician-caleb-sigler/

Thanks for reading the latest Avowal Music Production news. Now you know Memphis has professional producing, recording, mixing and mastering for anyone who needs to create a good sounding musical project!

Caleb Sigler's new album available on iTunes!

2011-01-31T11:42:00.000-08:00

http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/caleb-sigler/id416646586

Please check out and if you like, help support Caleb Sigler and Children's Hope Chest! Hope you enjoy the new music.

SOTMPromo.mov

2011-01-24T21:18:00.000-08:00

Year end review

2010-12-29T22:57:00.000-08:00

I'm very proud of several projects I had the honor of working on this past year. If you haven't yet, please check them out. I hope you enjoy the new music!

The biggest project was probably producing, engineering, mixing and mastering a Springfield, MO based college, pop, rock band, Berch's, debut full length CD "Before and After the Fall" www.berchofficial.com

I loved working with some old high school buddies from Baltimore, MD, The Meckatones producing, recording, mixing and mastering their "Memphis"www.myspace.com/themeckatones

This past summer I was privileged to co-produce, record and mix a 5 song rocking Worship EP for The Life Church of Memphis. www.myspace.com/thelifechurchworship

Over the course of the year I was also producing, co-recording, mixing and mastering Memphis songwriter, Caleb Sigler's "Straight on 'til Morning" EP. The proceeds from this project go to support Hope Chest and is to be released Early 2011. http://www.myspace.com/wcalebsigler

I also had 2 of my "demo" mixes featured on MTV's hit show "The Hills"

I am extremely thankful for everyone who has given me the opportunity to do what I love. I've been blessed to work with people who are much better musicians then me who help me learn what to listen for. Thanks also to the musicians who put me to work and put up with my quirks. I couldn't do it with out you! I'm looking forward to another great year!

Album Review: Before and After the Fall, by Berch

2010-09-15T10:31:00.000-07:00

Here's a review of the latest release I produced. Check it out! Album Review: Before and After the Fall, by Berch

Wes's Playlist

2010-09-02T07:10:00.000-07:00

Wes's Playlist

Berch "Before and After the Fall" music

2010-08-28T08:48:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone, I'm really excited about Berch's upcoming release and you can get a download of their new single "Aurora Skies" by going to their website www.berchofficial.com and clicking on the free download! This is one of the many songs I produced, recorded, mixed and mastered for the project. Hope you enjoy it.

By the way... if you are anywhere close to Springfield, MO you should definitely go to the cd release show Sept. 17th at the Outland Ballroom.

Another mix on MTV's "The Hills"

2010-07-10T08:34:00.000-07:00

I went to Meghan Kabir's myspace page and found out that a mix I did for her a couple years ago was played on MTV's "The Hills" this past May. They played a big part of the song, "Goodbye, Goodbye" at the very end of the show right before all the credits roll so that was really cool. Here is the link if you are brave enough and think you can stand it.

New Worship music soon.

2010-06-30T19:35:00.000-07:00

I've recently finished tracking The Life Church of Memphis worship band and I'm about halfway done mixing the 6 song project. Be on the lookout for the release the end of this summer! We recorded the bulk of the project at The beautiful Grove Recording Studios in Hope Presbyterian Church. We traveled to the Life Church's new building to record B3 and did some vocals at my place. These original songs came for the several worship leaders in the church. We have 6 or 7 distinct voices that can be heard on the 6 songs. We had a ton of fun in the studio and I really think some of that fun and excited energy is apparent in the music.

Also... word is in that the band, Berch, from Springfield, MO is coming back to Memphis to complete their debut coming out in August!

If you haven't yet checked out The Meckatones "Memphis" project, make sure you do it www.myspace.com/themeckatones - these guys are nuts and they are letting you download their songs for free!

Wes's Mixes

2010-05-21T15:58:00.000-07:00

Wes's Mixes

Click on the link to hear some new music from Avowal Music Production.

Berch travels to Memphis to finish recording debut

2010-03-10T06:36:00.000-08:00

It's been an honor to work with these guys

Berch travels to Memphis to finish recording debut

Sunday Traffic Brass

2010-03-05T09:05:00.001-08:00

This past Wednesday Avowal welcomed The Sunday Traffic Brass Quintet to the studio. We were able to record 9 classic tunes in 4 hours The Grove . The songs were mixed latter that day and the next. They have a show this Saturday night, March 6, at 7pm at St. Luke Lutheran Church (2000 N. germantown Prkwy, Cordova, TN) Check 'em out.

Mixing on spec

2010-02-02T19:19:00.000-08:00

Hey - if you've never hired me to mix for you, check this out...

If you are unhappy with the way your recorded music sounds, a bad mix could easily be the problem. In some cases maybe the song has never been mixed in the first place. If you are curious to see how your song could sound properly mixed, let me take a stab at it for you - before you hire me. If you like what you hear, then you pay me for the mix, if not - no harm done. You loose nothing. You may have a great recording and not even realize it. Don't let your music suffer any longer! Send me a message or call me so we can figure out the best way to get me your recorded session files.

Thanks so much,

-Wes

(901) 214-5649

wes@avowalmusic.com

Caleb Sigler starts project for Children's HopeChest

2010-01-29T10:22:00.000-08:00

Singer/songwriter Caleb Sigler came by the studio last Wednesday night to start his new project. We are all excited about this project - not only because Caleb is a very talented musician but also because the profits from this project will go to help support Children's HopeChest. HopeChest is an incredible organization that helps to feed and raise awareness of thousands of needy orphans throughout the world. Please check out their website, www.hopechest.org

The Commercial Appeal Story

2009-09-23T07:34:00.000-07:00

Wes Leyshon sees a musical revival in Memphis' future.

"I think Memphis music will make a professional comeback," said Leyshon, owner of Avowal Music Production. "Right now it's all underground. A lot of people do music as a hobby here, but very few people are doing it full-time compared to Nashville or Los Angeles. I want to be a part of bringing it back like it was in the '60s and '70s."

PHOTO BY DAVE DARNELL
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Wes Leyshon at the mixing board in his production studio, Avowal Music Production.

In 2006 Leyshon invested several thousand dollars in equipment and renovations to his backyard garage, turning it into an all-digital recording studio, where he records, mixes and produces music of all genres.

Now his engineering skills have seeped into the repertoires of reality-TV icons and a popular MTV series.

The trick to being successful in an entertainment-obsessed market, said Leyshon, is making grassroots connections.

"It's mainly about who you know," said Leyshon.

Originally from rural Maryland, Leyshon got his start in music playing violin, guitar, piano and drums.

"I wanted to be able to record myself," said Leyshon. "A guy told me I needed to buy a four-track, a simple recorder for $600. I thought, 'I'm never going to get that much money.' "

In 2004, he moved to Memphis to attend Visible School, a private school focusing on music production for ministry. He graduated in 2006 with a bachelor's degree in media production ministries with a concentration in audio production.

"I liked what was going on here in Memphis, so I stuck around," said Leyshon.

While in school, Leyshon got to record new bands each week, and the experience has paid off since he started Avowal.

"I had a huge portfolio of music that I had produced and recorded before I went out into the marketplace," said Leyshon.

One school connection got him a gig mixing the song "Avalanche" by songwriter Kevin Griffin of the band Better Than Ezra, for David Cook, winner of the seventh season of "American Idol."

"That was a really cool experience for me because I can compare my work to industry- standard stuff that gets radio play," Leyshon said.

Another connection got Leyshon a similar gig with an "Idol" finalist, Katherine McPhee.

And his mix of "I'll Be Better When You're Gone" by the band 16 Frames was used in the season finale of MTV's "The Hills" in July.

"There are certain frequencies that we hear that can trigger certain emotions," Leyshon said. "For a fast, aggressive song, it needs to have a lot of midrange frequencies that will bring out the attitude. For a slow ballad, you want a lot of high-end frequencies that make it sound softer and more pleasant."

In 2006 Leyshon spent time traveling to Costa Rica and Nicaragua to record the music of poor churches, many of which had never been recorded before. He produced a CD of the music called Mision Hispana.

While he works in all genres of music, the acoustic, unadulterated nature of Mision Hispana

has a special place in his heart.

"'Avowal' means asserting the affirmation of the truth," Leyshon said. "There are so many tricks you can do with modern recording to make an average person sound like a million dollars. I would really like to find the truth of a musician."

Nick Williard Demo

2009-09-14T12:26:00.000-07:00

Check out what I did to Nick Williard's song "A Little Like You" on Live From Memphis's "60 Seconds" program. Nick is a songwriter from Baltimore, Maryland who came down to Memphis for the weekend this past Spring to have me produce 2 songs for him.

New mix on iTunes

2009-07-27T13:58:00.000-07:00

16 Frames just released a new single that I mixed, "I'll be Better When You're Gone" on iTunes today. Make sure you go buy it here. and leave a review! Also check out their full length "Where it Ends". I mixed the song "Daylight" on the album.

Mision Hispana

2009-07-24T09:20:00.000-07:00

Get your copy of Mision Hispana Here!

We are very excited about the new Mision Hispana CD. The CD is composed of 19 original and traditional songs from Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Mision Hispana is available for a suggested minimum donation of $15. All of the proceeds from the project go to missionaries and musicians in Central America.

Thanks to all the people who made this project possible: Ardent Studios, Peak Audio, Disciple Design, Visible School and many others!

My mix on MTV

2009-07-24T09:18:00.000-07:00

I just watched part of the Season Finale of "The Hills". I don't normally watch the show, but my mix of 16 Frame's song "I'll be Better When You're Gone" was played as Heidi's sister walked out of the rehearsal dinner. Check it out here .

I think it's in the middle of the episode.

Spring 09 Music

2009-07-24T09:04:00.000-07:00

I've had a great Spring so far. I've been working on a couple projects for songwriters. Nick Williard came down from Maryland and had me produce a couple songs for him. I am also working on a 5 song EP for songwriter Jerome Sheldon's band Era Borough.
I've been doing a good bit of mixing. I got to mix a song for Katherine McPhee recently and my mix of "Daylight" just got released on 16 Frames' new CD, Where it Ends, a couple weeks ago. Go buy a copy!

Avalanche by Kevin Griffin

2009-07-24T09:03:00.000-07:00

A few months ago, I mixed a song for Kevin Griffin (Better than Ezra) called "Avalanche." That was cool. I didn't realize at the time that I had heard his songs on the radio forever.

I was walking through Target today and picked up David Cook's new self titled release and looked at the song list and saw "Avalanche." You can't listen to CDs at Target, so I went home and checked it out on iTunes and was like "Hey, I mixed that" sort of. They had some guy named Chris Lord Alge mix the cut for the CD after the song was re-recorded. Anyway it was encouraging and exciting for me. The demo I mixed for Kevin was actually David Cook singing. I just realized that.

You can pick up David Cook's latest cd on amazon here