The official CHPTRS podcast. An inside look at songwriting and recording. Stories behind the songs, hidden production tricks, and the friends that helped make the music.
The story of “At Dawn” - the last song on Chapter Six. This episode describes the lyrical impetus, musical easter eggs, and collaborations that made the song take its final form.
LESSONS LEARNED: songs are hard to finish, singing low notes is even harder, remembering the names of your favorite artists is impossible. Distraction can not only prevent you from completing a podcast episode recorded a year earlier, but can also lead to metal versions of the song you're working on.
Photos and show notes: wearechptrs.com
Stems and additional mixes: musicbed.com
00:00 Peppa Pig
00:45 How it started
01:29 What is it about?
03:05 BGVs
03:44 Strings
04:32 Drums
05:08 The “saxophone”
05:48 Watery eyes
07:03 Nick Drake?
08:29 Slow build like a sunrise
09:10 The intern
10:36 Layers
11:32 Finally done
12:02 Stupid metal drums
12:30 At Dawn
25 Oct 2021
Chapter Six - Close To Me
The story of “Close To Me”. Its origin, lyrics, and the long uneasy path to realization. Two drummers, starting over, and sacrificing what’s good for what’s right. Also… dad jokes.
Photos and show notes: wearechptrs.com
Stems and additional mixes: musicbed.com
2 Aug 2021
Chapter Six - Wouldn't Miss It for the World
So, 2020 was weird, right? Let's talk about California, singing way too high, Nashville strings, Pirates of the Carribean, recording birds...oh yeah, and how this song got made.
Change, the pandemic, and music inspired this new piece of music that helped us get through the pandemic and change.
"It's about deciding that the time is right to do something extravagant. You have to jump right then or you never will. If it fails, it fails...but let's go out magnificently...Let's just go."
Cancel out the noise, let's talk, let's dream. What do we want to do? Who do we want to be? A lot is changing but we still actually have control over that.
Photos and show notes: wearechptrs.com
Stems and additional mixes: musicbed.com
10 Feb 2021
Chapter Six - When You Came Along
Inspired by a move to Nashville and featuring some new friends, Josh and Jerad go inside the writing and recording of When You Came Along to unpack the inspiration, stories, and hidden production tips therein.
Some songs take a long time to develop, this one did not. Contrasting the other more epic songs on Chapter Six, this one was influenced by artists like Bright Eyes, Elliott Smith, Tony Berg, Jenny Lewis, Jon Brion, Pheobe Bridgers, and Aimee Mann.
Photos and show notes: wearechptrs.com
Stems and additional mixes: musicbed.com
4 Jan 2021
Chapter Six - Photograph
Starting to feel like myself again. "Looking back at the last couple years: raising a child that’s not our own, going through court battles to make sure she stays safe… my daughter going into heart failure. There was a lot of turmoil... I don’t know who I’ve been the last couple years. I don’t recognize that person, but it feels like things are a little slower- a little safer now. I feel like I can be creative in a different sense now. Overall, the song is about healing and change."
Josh & Jerad breakdown the production of the 1st single from Chapter Six and talk about how a still image can tell a story.
Photos and show notes: wearechptrs.com
Stems and additional mixes: musicbed.com
25 Sept 2020
Reset, Vol. 01
Background and breakdown of the Reset, Vol. 01. Why it was made, what the inspiration was, and how it was done. CHPTRS discuss the ground rules that defined the sound concept by digging through the original sessions.
For photos, show notes, links, and extras: wearechptrs.com/podcast
23 Jun 2020
Chapter Five - Q&A
Downton Abbey, the quarantine creativity challenge, political songwriting, CH5 artwork, streaming services, guitar solos, studio snacks, and rollercoasters. The Radiohead disagreement, creative filmmakers, and spandex music videos on windy hilltops with eagles soaring above.
Josh and Jerad answer your questions and ramble way too much into very unnecessary territory no-one cares about. Enjoy.
Photos and show notes: WEARECHPTRS.com/chapterfive
Stems and additional mixes: Musicbed.com
8 Jun 2020
Chapter Five - Let The New Begin
After being in the hospital for months and losing almost everything, a song was written "Don't give up. Don't give in. Take everything we have and let the new begin."
Josh and Jerad reveal the songwriting and recording process: learning to play cello, Phil Collins, The Goonies, Trent Reznor, and guest appearances of their friends Tony Terusa and Taylor Johnson.
Photos and show notes: WEARECHPTRS.com/chapterfive
Stems and additional mixes: Musicbed.com
25 May 2020
Chapter Five - Started With You
Booty shakers, vocal fails, and Mary Poppins. The guys discuss the influence of The Pixies, Jon Hopkins, and Jerad finds a way to record his family into the track. What does the song mean? And how does one use a paint brush and cardboard box to make music?
Photos and show notes: WEARECHPTRS.com/chapterfive
Stems and additional mixes: Musicbed.com
15 May 2020
Chapter Five - Hold It All Together
How to write a song in a Chic-fil-A drive-thru. Josh’s unusual photo of his wife, a shipwreck, and rolling waves inspire a new song- a prayer of doubt, fear, and hope.
Photos and show notes: WEARECHPTRS.com/chapterfive
Stems and additional mixes: Musicbed.com
4 May 2020
Chapter Five - The Light
Singing like a 4yo, light switches, couch drumming, and iPhone pianos. Sometimes exciting sounds come from strange sources. This episode includes secret production tricks and a conversation about unconditional love.
Seeded in a spontaneous session, dreamed of in Nashville, and completed months later with an entirely new perspective- The Light tells the story of a conversation between a dad and daughter.
Stems and additional mixes: Musicbed.com
Photos and show notes: WEARECHPTRS.com/chapterfive
27 Apr 2020
Chapter Five - My Whole Life For This
Days of a brand new start. New record. New theme. New songs. Totally different stage of life. That defines the tone for Chapter Five (RELEASE MAY 15). Josh and Jerad discuss the stories and intent behind the opening song.
Stems and additional mixes: Musicbed.com
Photos and show notes: WEARECHPTRS.com/podcast
9 Mar 2020
Chapter Four - Q&A
Touring, writer’s block, MxPx, the future. Josh and Jerad answer your questions. How they met. What does CHPTRS mean? Why the podcast? Josh gives an update on his daughter.
WEARECHPTRS.com/podcast
20 Feb 2020
Chapter Four - A Way Back Home
"It's a letter to my wife, promising that we will get through this." Josh tells the story of his family leaving their home and never returning. The final song on the album was the first song recorded after the hospital, and while it came at a time of new beginning for Josh's displaced family, it was also a fresh start for CHPTRS.
The guys discuss "the sound of thinking", children's choirs, Radiohead, recording layers of prayers into the track, and how a simple Elliott Smith style acoustic guitar arrangement gave way to an epic song with a full story arc.
Photos and Shownotes: WEARECHPTRS.com/podcast
17 Feb 2020
Chapter Four - If I Could
Josh talks about hearing his daughter’s heart beat for the first time. Speechless, he later wrote the song with all the things he couldn’t say.
The guys share their process of composition featuring cello performed by LA composer/artist, Chris Coleman, Jerad’s sideways early demo, and a glimpse into other hidden elements that make the track.
WEARECHPTRS.com/podcast
6 Feb 2020
Chapter Four - Better Than This
Every song has a story. This one involves a homeless friend, an inspiring guitar, and a brave blanket. The guys show the inner workings of the arrangement- revealing abused microphones, lullaby vocals, interlocking melodies, and a collaboration with Dan Bailey.
For photos, show notes, links, and extras: wearechptrs.com/podcast
6 Feb 2020
Chapter Four - Shadows
Josh & Jerad discuss the meaning of the song. Can we handle this? It's an open-ended question that might bring more of a conversation than one conclusive answer. The full conversation includes felt pianos, girly vocals, Jimmy Eat World, and massive drums.
For photos, show notes, links, and extras: wearechptrs.com/podcast
6 Feb 2020
Chapter Four - Stay With Me
Josh & Jerad discuss the making of the energetic opening track. Written from the hospital, the lyrics describe some of the scariest nights of Josh's life while the music reflects the bipolar nature of living in the ICU.
Full of music production easter eggs, this episode is for any curious creative.
For photos, show notes, links, and extras: wearechptrs.com/podcast
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
32 ratings
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