goodbye 2023, hello 2024
end of another chapter: Concluding ‘Just Drive’, a ‘blood salt sacrifice’ and the unique journey of “Sultry Eyes” + more…
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Concluding ‘Just Drive’, a ‘Blood Salt Sacrifice’ and the unique journey of “Sultry Eyes” …the song with two separate lives.
Back in Oct 2019, myself and members of Mama Doom were working on a “secret” music project called Dark Lolli. The idea was to write all sorts of music and eventually create cool, elaborate visuals and costumes, without creative limitations. However, by Jan/Feb 2020, Dark Lolli had run its course. I moved on to the ‘Through Soundwaves Vol. 1’ e.p. and Mama Doom had dropped a new album, ‘Ash, Bone, Skin ‘N’ Stone’ showcasing their newer sound.
The one gem 💎 in the collection of Dark Lolli demo sessions I always came back to was “I See The Devil”. After some time passed of the track sitting (not being used by either project) and after relocating to Los Angeles, I decided (Dec 2021/Jan 2022) to fully produce that co-written track into a fully-formed song for my upcoming album ‘Just Drive’. Strolling down Bourbon Street (New Orleans, LA) really reignited my desire to work on new music, even exploring styles I’ve only ever jammed out in private.
Initially, the idea was to take portions of the demo I wrote and create a new song from there… though whatever I did come up with just didn’t “feel” right. After chatting with long-time collaborator / vocalist D. Lolli, getting the “ok” to go forward with the full song, I began to reshape the composition (making changes to their contributions, which they had come up with in July 2019).
First thing first.
Building off the drums, bass guitar, B3 organ, chorus and arrangements I previously established in the demo version, I knew I had to alter the main guitar riff and really make it my own. Decided going the bluesy Hendrix route would be more in-line with the characteristics and vibe I was aiming for. Digging through my archives, a dope riff I wrote in 2011 “Smudge Rock” presented itself.
By February 2022, Some significant alterations and rewrites to the song had also been achieved.
At this point, the title had also evolved to “Her Sultry Eyes” while composing a lyrical first-draft. Lyrics inspired by the conflicts of lust and unrequited love, cemented by the atmospheres of autumn evenings in upstate New York.
By April 2022, Mama Doom had gone into Nada Recording to track what would become ‘Blood Salt Sacrifice’ and included their own reinterpretation of the “I See The Devil” demo. Also rewritten and exploring more of their occult doom sound, it now goes by the name “Devil In The Sky”.
During the February 2023 production and mixing stages of ‘Just Drive’, I also began working with Mama Doom on their rebrand (new logo), initial concepts, designs and layout options for their upcoming album ‘Blood Salt Sacrifice’. There was a bit of uncertainty during this time, though I knew they had a great album on their hands… it just needed to get released.
May 2023, I had relocated to Hollywood and after getting settled, I completed album art, last-minute mixes and mastering for ‘Just Drive’. A month later, I completed designs and assets for Mama Doom.
As things have come to pass and both albums released…. in reflection, I felt it was an interesting exercise with creative composition …to see how vastly different and unique our interpretations of a once conjoined idea, in the end, could be so far apart from one other.
In conclusion, a playlist of both songs is available for your listening pleasure down below…
The final single to ‘Just Drive’ drops January 26th, 2024
What’s up to in 2024?
There are many things in the works, most of which I’m not ready to disclose. What I can talk about are the catalog re-releases dropping throughout 2024.
The ‘Final Cut’ re-releases are much more than “re-releasing”. I will actually be remixing and remastering the entire JoeyDiabolic catalog. In addition, these albums and e.p.’s will be expanded, including additional material that never made it to it’s original drop date (and that have been hanging out on my hard drives).
There is so much more happening, though it’s way too soon to share.
Until next time… Slash ya later 😈