Production Articles
Christian Howes Strings Adds Disney to Credit List
Earlier this summer, Christian Howes Strings collaborated with friend and brilliant composer Judson [...]
Recording strings on Above & Beyond's "Group Therapy"
Recording strings for all clients is what we like to do, but earlier this year, we were incredibly f[...]
Producer Jesse Astin does everything
26-yr old engineer, multi-instrumentalist, writer, arranger, and producer Jesse Astin writes son[...]
Christopher Marion- master of strings-based soundscapes
This track, produced, tracked and arranged by members of our production team (and featuring Christop[...]
Family Matters - adding string arrangements to a Michael Behm Project
The production team had the opportunity to add original strings to Michael Behm's latest project, Fa[...]
Rock/Fusion VIolin Solo
Here's an excerpt from a great piece of writing, production and playing by the amazing multi-instrum[...]
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Production Articles

Christian Howes Strings Adds Disney to Credit List

Posted September 14, 2011 in Production

Earlier this summer, Christian Howes Strings collaborated with friend and brilliant composer Judson Crane (of Butter Music) on a track recently released by Disney. The song is entitled “The Glow” and will be featured on their Fairy Tale Songs album to be released on September 20th. It was sung by Shannon Saunders. Judson arranged the piece and worked closely with our own Christopher Marion on finalizing the string tracks. “The Glow” is currently featured with an accompanying video on the Disney homepage! Check it out: http://disney.go.com/

Posted July 13, 2011 in General Blog, Production

Recording strings for all clients is what we like to do, but earlier this year, we were incredibly fortunate to collaborate with the renowned UK-based electronic group Above & Beyond. We were already fans of their lush trance-based music, so it was exciting to get the call when they needed string recordings on their sophomore record entitled “Group Therapy.”

In this videos Christian is hanging with Jono and company during dinner prior to the A&B show in Columbus, Ohio:

Before beginning the recording process, our string arranger and violinist Christopher Marion conferenced with group member Jono Grant and collaborator Andrew Bayer to generate 6 unique arrangements. After a couple of Skype sessions and a few rough drafts, we were agreed on the voicings, dynamics, articulations, etc. We then employed the full might of our string tracking team from New York to LA to record the 60 piece scores.

After 2 weeks of recording and compiling the material, our remote production system proved to be well oiled (tying up a few file transfer servers notwithstanding). The assets were received in London and mixed beautifully with the rest of their material. The result is a cohesive blend of our overdubs and Above & Beyond’s incredible anthemic compositions. We haven’t stopped listening to the record since its release last week!

Below are two song previews on which our strings are featured. Enjoy!

To purchase, visit: http://www.aboveandbeyond.nu/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGkX8gsMT7c (Filmic)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUmFApLplXc (Every Little Beat)

Producer Jesse Astin does everything

Posted March 9, 2011 in Production

26-yr old engineer, multi-instrumentalist, writer, arranger, and producer Jesse Astin writes songs every day in L.A. with various collaborators, looking to find the hits of tomorrow. His own songs, on the other hand, have haunting and experimental qualities, stretching and abandoning conventional form while always maintaining pop sensibility. Christian Howes Strings had the pleasure of recording string ensembles on 5 songs on Jesse’s new project “Like Clockwork”. Jesse is releasing a tune a week for free over the course of two months after which the album will be available for sale. Did I mention he plays almost all of the instruments, sings, writes, programs, mixes, engineers, arranges, etc… For the most part, even the string arrangements were already prepared by him-all we had to do was the string tracking. I played the album over and over recently while driving around in l.a. for a few days- it’s very thematic and passionate. This guy gives me hope for American pop music.

Like Clockwork – These Are All Things by likeclockwork

…

Below is an interview I did with Jesse about his multi-faceted writing process, advice for other producers, and thoughts on his future.

CH: What do you think producers in your genre should do to get their music out?

JA: I’ve always been one to advocate the idea of “GO FOR IT!” – If you truly feel that what you are creating is great, then chances are there are a lot of other people that will think the same. Confidence inspires people. Send your music to as many people as you possibly can, whether they be heads of a record label, publishing company, or even just a listener. The more you put your music out there, the more response you will get. Again, I think it’s super important that you always keep your priorities straight and your ego in line. You can be confident without being cocky, and you can be humble without being shy. Find the balance and know that you will get results if what you make is always your best.

CH: You learned to do EVERYTHING yourself (except play orchestral string parts!!!) You’re a brilliant engineer, multi-instrumentalist, writer, arranger, everything…. How did you get to this point in terms of having so many skills that all go into producing incredible pop music?

JA: I believe that I was fortunate enough to have jumped into a DAW (digital audio workstation) pretty early on. I remember going up the street and buying my first microphone and my first recording software program that had all these loops of drums and bass so you could make music pretty fast. .

From there I got into some other programs like Fruity Loops and Cubase which were focused more on midi-aspects. That’s how i learned a lot about using virtual synths & samplers, programming sequences, etc.

Other the past few years I’ve done quite a bit of tracking and editing on a deeper level, involving tuning of vocals and lining up drums to a grid, which helped me to understand the inner workings of digital on an even deeper level, simultaneously writing songs with other artists which helped me to really develop my craft for pop writing.

Also, I have been very fortunate to have been surrounded by some really nice gear, both outboard EQs and compressors as well as some very beautiful synthesizers. I think that being able to use some of these famous synths (Oscar, MiniMoog, CS-80, etc) it really helped develop my understanding of how synths work both in functionality and sonics as well.

CH: any particular reason for living in l.a. vs NYC???

JA: Too damn cold :)

CH: You’re collaborating with lot’s of songwriters, managing a studio, working with a great publishing company, and putting out a masterpiece of a solo album, and you’re only 26-what’s next for you?

JA: While I have dreams for days and days, the more I go through life, the more I realize how important it is to be flexible and able to go with the flow. I set goals often that are constantly a little out of reach, but I find that in aiming high you ultimately set the course for a nice climb to the top. Life has a funny way of giving you the exact tools you need to do all the things you want to do. All you have to do is believe. So, with that being said, my plan is to dream bigger, set higher goals, GO FOR IT and go with the flow. I’ll see what this life has in store for me :)

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Christopher Marion- master of strings-based soundscapes

Posted March 2, 2011 in General Blog, Production

This track, produced, tracked and arranged by members of our production team (and featuring Christopher Marion’s sister Jenika on vocals) showcases back to back improvised violin solos by Christopher Marion and Christian Howes. “The two Chris’s” collaborate creatively on much of the work done for our production clients seeking string tracking and string arranging. Says Marion, ”Christian often asks me to create a foundational string arrangement over which he can solo or try additional things. Sometimes he starts the ideas and I finish them.”

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Anyone should be able to hear from this track why the two violinists are so comfortable collaborating. Christopher was formerly a star student of Christian’s at the Berklee College of Music, and now, at age 21, he demonstrates a youthful and unique vision all his own, paired with a maturity beyond his years.

Says Christian:

“Christopher is one of the most skilled and versatile improvising violinists among his generation. Combine this with his love of production, arranging, and composition, and you have perhaps one of a handful of people in the world that can do what he can in terms of creating “strings production art”, i.e. highly creative string arrangements or “string soundscapes” that complement and lift up tracks. For years prior to the advent of easy file sharing I had worked at this with various producers, and now in the three years that Christopher has been arranging and tracking remotely for our clients, he’s become a master. While I’m grateful for his acknowledgement of the influence I’ve had on his development, it’s necessary to give him credit. The fact is that Christopher does a lot of our heavy lifting, prepping jobs, arranging, and tracking. We collaborate on projects easily because we have a relationship based on a long history of mutual respect and we’re both self-critical, always aiming to take the music as far as we can. I would hand over a job to him in a heartbeat, and often do, when I think he’s better suited for it, and I know he would do the same. Rather than to serve our own egos, the goal of this company is to serve our clients and make music on the highest possible level, and it’s because of the great people on our team, particularly Christopher, that I feel so confident about our ability to elevate every project we work on.”

For more info on Christopher and his music, check out is Myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/christophermarion

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Family Matters – adding string arrangements to a Michael Behm Project

Posted March 1, 2011 in General Blog, Production

The production team had the opportunity to add original strings to Michael Behm‘s latest project, Family Matters – a song he wrote with Angela Harris and Nat Jay. Listen to the track and how the lush string sections intertwine with Angela Harris’ beautiful voice in this touching song of love and lasting connection.

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Song Credits:

“Family Matters” featuring artist Angela Harris

Written by Michael Behm, Angela Harris and Nat Jay

Produced by Michael Behm and Angela Harris

Strings arranged by Christian Howes and Christopher Marion

Recorded by Delwyn Brooks and Michael Behm at the Warehouse Studios

Premier Studios Vancouver Island, Berklee Boston

Mastered by Hank Williams at Master Mix Nashville TN

Here’s a shorter clip highlighting the live custom string trax arranged by Chris and Christopher Marion to provide string sweetening to the song:

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Christopher’s insight on the great result of this project:

“Listening back to any project we’ve done with Michael is always gratifying. His songs are well-crafted and heartfelt.”

~~~

If you have a project you wish to sweeten with affordable live strings, contact us for a free demo:

production@christianhowes.com

Or check out Our Work to see the sample custom strings we’ve provided for our clients.