QUARTERLY REPORT: Spring 2017
Look for new music this summer. I am working on a project called 1000 TREES. It’s not really a record. It’s more like a series of releases. In addition to good old Pete Droge songs with words and stuff, there will be ambient works, cinematic instrumentals as well as live in-studio versions of oldies from my catalog. For 1000 TREES I’ll be launching a Patreon campaign where you severe Droge Heads will get extra goodies each time I release a track. I am excited to share rarities like early demos, live bootlegs and studio outtakes.
I’ve got a podcast brewing. It’s called Pete Droge is Obsessed. I will interview folks that I admire about the things I obsess over like making records, productivity, work/life balance, the art vs. commerce conundrum and much more. Chris Ballew agreed to be my first guest. He was amazing. Love that man. I’m editing the pilot as we speak. I expect to launch in the next month or two.
Speaking of podcasts, I appeared on The Big Muse podcast with Peter Himmelman a while back. Look for it on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts.
I’m also devoting energy to the recently hatched Cinema Droge. This is my very own film studio. (My dream is to be the Francis Ford Coppola of Vashon Island.) I’ll be releasing an array of videos thru my YOU TUBE CHANNEL as well as on Instagram & Facebook.
Thanks to everyone who came out for our show at VCA last November. It was a dream. More shows to come.
I played a short set last Saturday (4/22) at Vashon Island Music to celebrate Record Store Day. I was joined as always by my partner in crime, Elaine Summers. Also on the bill: JD Hobson, Shelby Earl, Danny Newcomb, Ian Moore and Jon Langford.
This Sunday (4/30) I’ll be speaking at The Recording Academy’s Songwriter’s Summit at MoPop. Ian Moore and I will be discussing how we balance art and commerce in our careers. Our moderator will be Charles Cross. This portion of the Summit is open only to members of The Recording Academy. So if you are a member maybe I’ll see you there and you can hear all about how I juggle creativity and business.
Until next time,
Pete
QUARTERLY REPORT: Fall 2016
Elaine and I have been preparing for our sold-out show at VCA’s Katherine L White Hall on Nov 12. They may release a few tickets. To get on the waiting list, contact VCA HERE.
Can’t tell you how excited I am to announce that our dear friend Peter Stroud will be joining us for the show. He’s flying out from Atlanta with a couple of electric guitars in tow to add dimension to the sound.
I’ve been doing a few interviews leading up to the show. To keep up on that stuff check me out on the old FACEBOOKS.
Elaine and I have donated a house concert—our first ever—to Vashon Island Pet Protectors’ Fur Ball. The auction is tomorrow, Saturday, Oct 29. There are a few tickets left if you’d like to bid in person. Or if you can’t be there and want win the house concert you can set up a proxy bid by emailing furball@vipp.org. You can view details on house concert in the auction catalog HERE.
Peace,
Pete
EXTRA EXTRA: Doc airing on PBS Reel NW
A Lot Like You will air as part of Reel NW on KCTS. Info HERE.
Coincidence Alert: Exactly six years ago today I posted that I had completed the score for A Lot Like You. And what’s more, I looked back at the email trail for the project to discover that my first meeting with the film’s editor, Eric Frith, took place exactly eight years ago on 7/19/08.
And if that’s not enough, the date of the screening tomorrow night would have been my biological mother’s 68th birthday. This is of note since it was my involvement in Eliaichi Kimaro’s film that inspired me to search for my biological family. I’ve copied the soundtrack album bio below that tells the story.
This gig changed my life—not in some surface-level career way (even though by completely giving myself to the documentary feature, A Lot Like You, I earned my first film producer credit). The change I’m talking about is bigger than a resume. It is, to quote the film, one of “real lived life.”
It began when I checked my email one afternoon in September, 2009. I had already been working as the film’s composer for over a year, creating a catalog of musical sketches that editor Eric Frith was using as a temp score alongside a handful of instrumental mixes from my album, Under The Waves. Eric and director Eliaichi Kimaro had already been cutting the film for four years—on and off—when it took an unexpected turn. In that turn, they discovered the heart of their movie. Next, Eli was faced with a big choice: how much of her own story would she share? She worked through that decision by writing in her journal. And on that day in September, she addressed an email to me, attached a couple of documents and clicked “send.”
Having recently turned 40, I had been examining issues concerning identity and sense of self. And while questions raised in the film about what gets handed down from one generation to the next were especially intriguing to me, I had barely scratched the surface of what any of that really meant in my own life. But reading Eli’s intensely personal, unedited journal entries shook me to my core and inspired me to do some digging of my own. It took time, but after some unbelievable coincidences and a random computer glitch, I unearthed a big piece of the core that I’d been searching for: my adoption.
What followed was incredible. I began to learn how my adoption experience helped shape who I am today. I searched for my birth mother only to find that she had died just months earlier. As I wrestled with the perplexing grief that followed, I also discovered an instant bond with my biological Grandmother and Uncle, which is the stuff of fairy tales. Visiting my new family in the hills of Appalachian Ohio—where my people have lived for generations—I felt a sense of connection to place I never before imagined possible.
Meanwhile, A Lot Like You continued to take shape, giving me the perfect musical outlet for the complicated mix of emotions I was in the thick of. Eli and Eric needed music that could walk a thin line between the bitter and the sweet, and I never had to work at finding that line. I was already there.
There is a lot more to my story, and it’s still unfolding. For now we have Eli’s film, and as a companion piece, this record. But who knows, maybe one day there will be a new film, a sequel called A Lot Like You Too.
QUARTERLY REPORT: Summer 2016
I recently scored Showtime’s Miles to Go Before I Sleep for director Sam Jones. The short documentary is a companion piece to Cameron Crowe’s new series, Roadies. It features Jackson Browne, Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Chris Shiflett (Foo Fighters) and Jim James (My Morning Jacket), who speak candidly about their time on the road and the importance of the crew who work tirelessly to put the show together, as well as capturing a day behind-the-scenes with the crew of Pearl Jam. Miles to Go Before I Sleep will premier Friday, June 24 at 8PM on Showtime.
In my last quarterly report, I was excited to announce that I had put my own music on the front burner. While I did make some progress, I had to bump myself to the back burner for Sam’s Showtime doc. As I type this, I am happy to report that I am back on the front burner—at least for the time being.
The Moody Little Sister record that I produced and mixed was released on May 20. The ten-song record, Wild Places, is available digitally at the usual places like iTunes.
I have signed on to produce singer-songwriter, Jeff Kanzler. Pre-production is set to begin this summer. Stay tuned.
Peace,
Pete
QUARTERLY REPORTS: Fall & Winter 2016
On the front burner lately is an artist near and dear to my heart: Pete Droge. After a movie soundtrack, two Droge & Summers Blend EPs and numerous gigs working for others, I am thrilled to be back in the hot seat. I’m grateful to have Elaine Summers occupying the executive producer’s couch. And of course, I am enlisting her writing and singing talents as well. Stay tuned.
Sam Jones asked me to create new music for the podcast version of his TV show, Off Camera. One of my tracks opens this lively episode featuring William H. Macy. Check it out HERE.
Mike McCready and I created some tracks together a good while back. I dusted them off, finished and mixed them recently for inclusion on a benefit album called Good Shit. For details on Good Shit, visit HERE.
Chris Ballew and I recently collaborated on more ambient music together. Check it out HERE. Our latest track is aptly titled, “160110-1.” Be sure to check out all of his tracks—they’re super cool.
The Moody Little Sister record that I produced and mixed will be released on May 6. The ten-song record, Wild Places, will be available at independent record stores everywhere thru Think Indie.
I played spacey guitars on the b-side of Jaime Wyatt’s new 7”. Pick one up HERE.
Hey studio dorks… studio now boasts a pair of THESE.
And finally, we’ve added a new member to the Puzzle Tree team. Recent Berklee College of Music grad, Sean Dwyer is now working with us part time. He’s wearing many hats. And wearing them well. Welcome aboard, Sean!
Peace,
Pete
Ballew Visits the Tree
Chris Ballew basks in the warm light of accomplishment. We spent the afternoon and early evening ambienting. The fruits of our labors can be enjoyed here: www.crhisballew.org
QUARTERLY REPORT: Summer 2015
I’ve slacked off on getting my Quarterly Reports done. I wanted to at least throw a quick post up here to let you know that I have not fallen off the face of the earth. Here is some of what’s happening.
I produced and mixed a full-length record for Moody Little Sister. We master in early July. Stay tuned for release details etc.
I am just beginning a new recording project with a long-time collaborator and friend. More on that as it develops.
Chris Ballew and I have collaborated on ambient music together. Check it out HERE. Our tracks are a ways down the page, but I suggest you check all his tracks out—they’re super cool.
I am writing new music and chipping away at existing tracks with an eye on releasing a sizable batch of work under the banner of Organic Shade-Grown Music—OSGM for short. [EDIT: This project is now called 1000 TREES.]
You can’t win ‘em all: I came close to landing the Main Title Theme for a Netflix show a little while ago. I had a blast demoing for it. Elaine Summers, Jay Bellerose and I ended up with a healthy batch of tracks that I expect will see the light of day as part of the aforementioned OSGM project. Also, I applied and was not accepted for Sundance Institute’s Composers Lab. The application process was a great excuse to shape up new works. Again, some of these are sure to find their way into the OSGM hopper.
Jaime Wyatt’s record is out. She recorded a song I co-wrote called “T-Shirt Song.” I also played some spacey guitars on the title track, “From Outer Space.”
There is more. I’ll try and catch up with a more thorough report later.
Peace,
Pete
QUARTERLY REPORT: Summer 2014
ON SCREEN: “Wonder” from the new Droge & Summers Blend EP will be featured in the pilot for a new TV show airing this fall. Details later.
ON STAGE: I will perform a few songs at The Triple Door in Seattle on 8/2/14. The gig is billed as Ian Moore & Friends. I’m one of the friends. I imagine the gig to have a feel of singing around a campfire, which Ian and I do from time to time. Info HERE.
ON THE AIR: The Droge & Summers Blend will visit the XM Radio studios in D.C. this month to play a handful of songs.
IN THE STUDIO: I spent time in L.A. a while back working with producer Mark Howard on a new Jaime Wyatt record. In addition to co-writing two songs, I lent some guitar touches to the project. In case you don’t know who Mark is, he is best known for having been Daniel Lanois’ right hand man. For more on Jaime click HERE.
I’ll be back in L.A. later this month to cut basic tracks for a new Moody Little Sister album. I am executive producing. MLS are a duo from Portland comprised of Naomi Hooley & Rob Stroup. Check out their website HERE. We’ll be joined in the studio by two members of The Blending Crew*, Jay Bellerose & Jennifer Condos, plus guitarist Bob Dunham.
I am also contributing to new music by a Seattle artist named Holly Grigsby. My friend Scott Weiss is producing. We cut harmonies recently and have plans to track guitars soon.
That’s it for now. There are other fun things incubating… more on those next time.
Peace,
Pete
- The Blending Crew are the musicians who contributed to The Droge & Summers Blend Project.
NEW RECORD RELEASED TODAY!
For a limited time get 33% off of everything, including the new Droge & Summers Blend Volume Two EP, at THE PUZZLE TREE STORE.
Enter the following discount code at checkout: blend
If buying direct from the artist is not your thing, you can also find it on iTunes, Spotify and the like.
Or if you are old school, brick and mortar, find an independent record store near you by visiting www.thinkindie.com. (Be sure to call them first to make sure they have our record in stock.)
Over and out,
Pete