Preston: Journal

Curious On My New Project?
During the rehearsals for my upcoming live performances it was discussed by my brain trust (close group of friends who have been helping me) that I should do some of the songs in a rock like almost punk manner. It turns out I seem to perform better that way (artist and development is key and harder than it looks). This has inspired new songs and for me to create a follow up album to “Roll the Dice” . The first new creation was “Vertigo 2”. This doesn’t mean “Roll the Dice” will be shelved, it just means I’ll have more of a performing arsenal. Personally, I believe this is a more creative route for me. I haven’t come up with a suitable album name just yet. In the world of music today it is growing more and more difficult to be original. I used to adhere to rules of a specific genre on what I should sound like. My new philosophy is life is short and do what you like. “Roll the Dice” represents one phase of my life and this new album will encompass another phase, as will all my future projects.
I’ve posted 3 new songs, listen and give me feedback.

Follow Up to Bsb concert posting…..

I had a really good time, I went with 2 other friends and we saw the Backstreet Boys perform at The House of Blues in Atlantic City New Jersey. The opening act was Girlicious. If you followed the show, it’s the new girl group formed by a reality show sponsored by the Pussycat Dolls. I and my friends all thought they did a great job, their performance was top notch. The crowd seemed to be mainly hard core Backstreet Boys fans and it seems like that’s all they wanted to see. I like the Backstreet Boys and was anxious to see them perform, but I liked Girlicious too, which I never even really heard of before I went to the show. They performed their hit song “Stupid Sh**#” along with a few others featured on their upcoming album. My only complaint was the lag time between Girlicious and The Backstreet Boys. It was a 40 minute window, which would have been fine, if the event wasn’t standing room only. Needless to say the crowd was getting rowdy.

However, the Boys gave one hell of a show! It was amazing, their dancing and theatrics were on point. They were very interactive with the crowd, especially Brian (who saw me in the crowd, mimicked my actions and also would wave back when waved to). Their singing was phenomenal. It was well worth the wait. The crowd of course adored them.
If you ever have the chance to see them or Girlicious, I recommend!

Hello,
The soundstation music store has been reactivated! (It’s the digital music widgets you’ve seen on my homepage, store page and myspace). I had a few problems with it but I managed to iron it all out and make it the perfection that you deserve!

Also be sure to play with the IndieRhythm radio link’s I’ve put up at the bottom of the homepage and on my myspace! My songs are featured there as well under the genre’s pop rock and electronica/techno.

August has been a rough month, only because it’s the last month of summer and it’s been hard to coordinate schedules. I’m still in the perfecting and rehearsing stage and we are mixing the songs for live versions (you’ll have some surprises).

In other Preston News I haven’t been to the beach in forever and I got to go Brigantine NJ last weekend with my family, I had a blast! Great weather and great shopping. This weekend coming up I’ll be seeing the Backstreet Boys performing at the House of Blues in Atlantic City. Maybe I’ll see you there ;) The weekend after that is my birthday (Aug 22nd), I plan on putting together one hell of a party! Of course in the midst of all this fun comes a lot of hard work, and trust me I brought my A Game!

Much Love,
Preston

Hello,

There have been some exciting new developments. I've hooked up with DJ and producer Catalyst and we are in the midst of a collaboration. We have been rehearsing songs from "Roll The Dice" and have a few new songs in the works. Come hear your favorite songs from the album performed with a dance club twist.

In other news I've added a new links/friends page. This is your one stop shop for
all things Preston. It also includes links for DJ Catalyst and other interesting
sites.

Stay tuned for upcoming performances!

THANK YOU’S
I would like to thank my family for all their unconditional love and support.
Especially my Mom who listens to all my musical changes and different cuts more than anyone! Thank you for helping me be my ears you are amazing and I love you!
Michelle/MILBY I couldn’t ask for a better sister thanks for everything, love you!
Lauren your strength and talents are truly inspirational, thank you for always having my back and devoting your awesome skills in helping me!
Megan I’m still not sure if we were separated at birth or what but MEGANISM 4EVER baby thanks for all your help!
Tavy Day, you are beautiful, there is nothing you can’t do, thank you for your help!
Matt (Matt The Great) I am really glad I met you ;)
Anita thank you for your advice and support!
Thank you to Derek and everyone at CD Baby/Hostbaby for doing what you do, and doing it with a smile!
Chelsei, you are a beautiful dancer, thank you for your help with my video.
Big thanks to everyone at Sonik Soundworks Mastering, you all really saved my butt!
To Country Press, thanks for your extra help.
Thank you to my YMCA DE family!
Thanks to all the musicians and artists I’ve come into contact with that have helped and advised me
I’d like to especially thank my fans for supporting me and coming out to see me perform you guy’s rock!
Alan Michael, thank you, you are awesome!
Thank you to Jonathon at Illumina Records, hope we can work together soon.
To anyone I may have forgotten I am sorry, and ya know I love ya!

BEHIND THE SCENES: "Roll The Dice"



My upcoming album is called "Roll The Dice". I choose that title because it reflects my view of life. Life is about choices but the outcomes are never certain, much like rolling a pair of dice lol. This album took a bit of time, I would say a year and a half to make. When I started it I was in school still, and my love life was just one drama after the other and that's hard, especially when you're in school and you haven't figured out who you are yet. That's where the first song comes in, "Single Sexy". I wrote the chorus of that song first, it was me just goofing around. At least that's what I thought, subconsciously it was probably something else haha. I discarded it for a bit, working on other things at the time….like graduating. I came back to it, and then the verses just hit me, and I had all these things to say about wanting to be single, and leading an uncomplicated life. As I continued writing and producing I realized I had all this emotional baggage from my past I had yet to work through. That's where getting to know yourself is key, I learned that I'll bottle things up and deal with them later. Well eventually, if you deal with things like that, emotions start to build up and you get burnt out. Songs like "Not Meant To Be" and "I Wonder" are about me dealing with things, and the title song "Roll The Dice" is about what I've learned over all. "Not Meant To Be" is about the fact I'm a hopeless romantic, who fell "head over heels" a little too soon, and then that blowing up in my face. "I Wonder" was the last song I recorded, and that song is about me falling in love with my best friend in high-school, but never being able to say how I felt.

The overall sound of the album was influenced from listening to a lot of modern reggae, world and reggaeton, and I basically put an electronic pop twist on it. The more reggae-esque songs like "Change It Up" "Bounce" and "Put 'Em Up" were fun to do. I had to learn how to not breath or maybe breath better lol for "Change It Up". "Bounce" evolved from hearing that Medieval Flute loop, I fell in love with it and song was built from that. It's about dancing and letting go of hate . "Put 'Em Up" actually started out as a high tempo pop song called "Get It Right". "Get It Right" didn't work for me, so I dissected, re wrote it and created this Reggaeton Pop hybrid sound. The meaning of it is funny, I'm about to get beat up by some guy who thinks I'm hitting on his girl. This never actually happened with me, but its from things I've observed happening in clubs and movies that I've seen. I thought it would make an interesting song….its definitely an ironic one for me lol. "Roll The Dice" also has some obvious reggae influences, but I didn't want to do it the same way as "Change It Up" or "Put 'Em Up". My inspiration for the title track came from my favorite band, 311. Their sound is more reggae/rock, so I wanted to go a little in that direction I just put a different spin on it by using more synthesizers and made it my own. "What's Your Game?" and "Social Disease" are songs I've done and remade. "Social Disease" is about the internet creating a barrier from people engaging in personal communication. Its written from the point of view of someone who still doesn't have the net, which I can identify with. "What's Your Game?" is about losing control and my fear of losing control and being a victim. "Taste The Sky" is basically a sex fantasy, I feel like a jazz club singer when I sing it. "Feel It" is a mixture of my hip hop influences with some middle eastern world instruments. "Vertigo" was the second last song I wrote, It's actually more about one of my best friends, she just got out of a long term relationship and then found herself infatuated with some guys, basically she realized that they would just be rebound. Myself, being able to relate wrote a song about it.


Some of the songs are fused with others, theres a few songs on here that don't have words, they come after some songs that do. The "instrumentals" are "Thoughtspace", "Afterglow", "Jubilee Parade" and "Waiting2CloseShop". At one point I was going to do a techno album, meaning an album with no vocals, released under a different name, and when I listened to those songs, the mood reflected "Roll The Dice" to me, mainly because I created them at about the same time. Realizing that my album had become more like a therapy session, I decided to mix in the "instrumentals" with other songs. I mean I'm as much a producer as I am a singer, so I wanted to give this album my all. I still may release an album of "instrumentals" but at a later date and with all new material.


The making of this album has been a long soul searching process, it's my heart and soul. I hope you enjoy it and please buy it April 23th!

The photoshoot was a complete success and new pics have been posted.
In fact almost all areas of the website have been updated.

Please check out the pictures and if you haven't listened to my
"tunes", I posted a new song called "Vertigo". It's a little bit of a
different sound for me but I fell in love with it and I hope you do
too.

Choreography for the song "Single Sexy" is almost done, unfortunately
I seem to have gotten my "January Cold", it was a little late this
year (which got my hopes up) but I'm already getting over it (fingers
crossed and I'm knocking on wood).

The album "Roll The Dice" will be out hopefully in February if all
goes well (fingers crossed once again).


Also to all you Myspacers out there, ADD ME lol my myspace is
www.myspace.com/prestoninside

Big thank you's to my two wonderful photographers (and best friends
L. Kartachak and Megan Earhart) without you two I don't know
where I'd be, I love the pics. All the hard work you two do on my
behalf has been and is greatly appreciated!