Reaching for the Stars

     The more I think about the title of my new recordings, "Astronomy", the more I feel it's a very fitting theme for these tracks. 

    When I was younger, (BG-Before Guitar), science was my favorite subject in school. In the 5th grade we learned about the planets and stars and I got a telescope. It was magical to be outside on a Summer night looking up at the sky and seeing the craters on the Moon and feeling the wonder of how a pinpoint of light would become a globe with rings around it, the planet Saturn so many millions of miles away. Later I moved on to cars, guitars and girls, but I never outgrew my love of science, and I feel like I passed some of that to my daughter, who chose a career in biology.

    Art and Science are often seen as being similar. You might say that the both have as a core principle the idea of exploration, of learning more about oneself and this Universe we inhabit. Philosophers have suggested the meaning of life is to seek this knowledge, and I like that idea, as well as the idea that music is one way we connect with the fundamental frequencies that are constantly vibrating around us.

Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA

    The six tracks each are meant to evoke a particular sense related to the natural world. The titles are: 

     "Waking to Rain"

     "Earthbound"

     "Andromeda Run"

     "Stratosphere"

     "Mediterraine"

     "Terra Aeterna"

    

    "Waking to Rain" starts off the playlist and was the first song I recorded, though it's not the newest song. I had a couple of songs that were from earlier records that had minor seventh chords, not jazz in the strict sense, but leaning that way, and by updating them and adding some elements they fit into this concept. "Waking to Rain" is about that feeling when you start a morning looking out to a gray sky and everything dripping wet. For me, that usually means a laid back day, where you stay inside and maybe put off some chores. The song features Jen Ambrose on flute. Also, Paul Sandberg contributed sax solos on "Andromeda Run" and "Terra Aeterna".

        I really enjoyed making these recordings. I had no preconceptions other than wanting to make clean, crisp tracks with close attention to capturing the instruments as naturally as I could. "Waking" set the standards. I experimented with amplifier and guitar settings with the idea of using a consistent sound throughout the project and for the most part I achieved that. One exception was "Stratosphere", where I played a Fender Stratocaster and took advantage of this instrument's distinctive sound to give the idea of flying at 40 thousand feet.

    All the tracks are basically done. At this point I'm reviewing some of my improvisations and having fun seeing if I can top myself. That's right at the core of "Astronomy"; I'm exploring to see how far I can go.

Singer/Songwriter Rick Millward lived and worked on the West Coast until moving to Nashville in 2000. He was part of the Music City songwriter community, collaborating with other artists and producing over 30 projects in his boutique studio, including two EMMY nominated soundtracks. Now in Southern Oregon, Rick has discovered a vibrant local music scene centered around the many tasting rooms. 

His latest record “Loveland” is available on Spotify and other streaming platforms.

LOVELAND ON SPOTIFY