Notes From The Studio:

Our Recording Journey, 2025-2026

We’ve been deep in the writing process, and recently had the opportunity to get back into the studio with our longtime collaborator, Monte Vallier (Swell / Half Church), at his studio, Ruminator Audio, in San Francisco, CA.

It’s always such a treat to come back here. The atmosphere is calming, but we still get nervous! Thankfully, having the guidance of someone as experienced as Monte is something we’re always grateful for. We’re still learning how to be better in the studio, and we make mistakes along the way. But here in SF, we feel comfortable being ourselves and trusting that whatever comes out of these sessions will be the start of something we’re excited to build upon.

Working in the studio has always been an interesting experience. We often spend years playing songs live before heading into the studio to record them, and by then, we usually have a pretty good idea of what we expect them to sound like. More often than not, though, the studio has a way of transforming those songs into something completely different. Sometimes, it can be hard not to get a little “demoitis,” as Monte once called it. Regardless of how the songs turn out, the journey of getting to their final versions is always memorable and, sometimes, just as rewarding as the finished recordings themselves.

Before making our way to SF, we spent three days in August 2025 tracking the basics of our new demos at Sacramento’s legendary Pus Cavern studio with Joe Johnston. Joe has worked with countless bands but is known for his work with CAKE and Deftones, both part of a memorable era in Sacramento’s music history. The studio itself is a classic, and working with a seasoned pro like Joe made for a really positive experience as we laid down the foundations for our new songs.

After finishing the basic tracks, we had plenty of time to sit with the recordings and think about what direction we wanted to take them. We also gave a lot of thought to which songs we wanted to move forward with and which ones we might hold off on for another time.

In the meantime, we even wrote a new song inspired by our preparations for playing live as a two-piece. That meant experimenting with a drum machine, which was something new for us. It’s an element that will likely find its way into more songs on this EP, and we’re curious to see how much it shapes the music.

About a year later, in September 2026, we made our way back to San Francisco for two days at Ruminator Audio. This time, we really needed to focus on the smaller details of the songs, including tracking overdubs and recording new vocals. We were also excited to track our brand-new song and revisit an older one that we wanted to rework. Two days fly by fast, and while our time was limited, having Monte’s guidance made it a memorable experience!

So now we’re at the point where we get to critically listen to the tracks and mixes Monte comes up with. It’s always an exciting time, but also a challenge, as we begin to hear what works, what needs to change, and what could use some improvement. Sometimes you take several steps backward before things come together. Sometimes parts need to be re-recorded, and sometimes the process moves slowly. Other times, things just seem to fall into place.

We’ve come a long way, and the journey continues. Recording music can be exciting, intimidating, frustrating, and rewarding all at once. We’re learning to trust the process!

In the meantime, we’re looking forward to playing live shows again soon.

Thanks for reading. Cheers!