The music production process can be incredibly complex for independent musical artists.

Now music creators can check out the ShambhuMusic Channel on YouTube for a look into the writing, recording, mixing, mastering, CD design and promotion processes for Shambhu’s debut CD, “Sacred Love.” The videos cover all elements of the production challenges that indie artists face in creating and publishing music.

“Sacred Love,” by acclaimed guitarist and composer Shambhu, features gorgeous songs, profound performances and superior sound production that left me breathlessly satisfied.

This debut by Shambhu features an all-star cast of musicians, including bassist Tony Levin, cellist Eugene Friesen, drummer Celso Alberti, saxist George Brooks, and flutist Ravichandra Kulur. The CD was co-produced by Windham Hill Records founder Will Ackerman and mixed by Corin Nelsen.

Each YouTube video features recording sessions with a different artist. Shambhu recorded acoustic guitar tracks first. Then he layered on cello, percussion, bass, English horn, violin, sax, flute and other instruments onto the tracks.

Once all the recordings were complete, he mixed and mastered the CD. Recording and mixing took place at Imaginary Road Studios in Windham County, Vermont. The CD was mastered by Adam Ayan at Gateway Mastering.

The CD was co-produced by Windham Hill Records Founder Will Ackerman and Shambhu. Corin Nelsen handled engineering and mixing.

All of these artists and production people are featured in “The Making of Sacred Love” on YouTube on the ShambhuMusic channel.

The 8-page booklet included with the CD also references the YouTube channel webisode listings where you can watch the CD being recorded. So you can hear a song and then see it being recorded in various sessions.

“It might be the first CD ever to feature YouTube webisode listings,” said Shambhu. “Being able to watch the CD being made really brings the entire production process to life.”

Rob Howard writes about music and technology. Watch “The Making of Sacred Love” on YouTube. For more information visit Shambhu Music and Reverb Nation.

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We recorded this with sound engineer Stephen Hart at The Mix Room. It’s one of the last session taking place there at Stephen’s studio, which was purchased by Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir. Bob is turning the place into a mega audio, video, digital content production facility.

Thanks to musician, producer, and engineer Todd Tate for helping with my interview.

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This was a productive session with heartfelt performances by all.
Subscribe to my videos at YouTube.com/ShambhuMusic

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It is one of several songs that came through on New Years eve (2009). Instead of partying with friends, I spent New Years eve in my studio in a grateful homage to the powerful flow of music that was pouring through me. I was alone in the studio and from 10 pm to 1 am, music was in tsunami mode..so much that I cried several times listening to it. There was so much inspiration flowing that in a 35 minute piece of music, there emerged 5 or 6 fine songs. I spent about a week exploring them and evolving parts for bass, sitar, marimba, kalimba, pads, percussion, drums, etc. My close friends have heard the entire evening’s music. Inside that 35 minute piece was a tune I broke out into its own life: “Together.”

“Together” is soulfully hopeful, in the zone and confident in the future. An instrumental refrain repeats as a sort of anthem or mantra, and evolves its dimension organically with each repetition. Instruments come in… improvs emerge. From start to finish, the song is a unifying joy ride that aims to resonate a relaxed, shining optimism and willful intention for good.

On the track being recorded now are bassist Tony Levin (has performed with Peter Gabriel and Paul Simon), percussionist Jeff Haynes (toured with Pat Metheny) and myself on guitars. We’ll be announcing the drummer on the track soon.

“Together” is about one family, one community, one world. That’s the spirit in this song. The hope and the dream.

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