The Ins And Outs Of Recording A Record Without A Label

Have dreams to release an indie record?

Do you have what it takes to get it done?

Today we have the privilege of hearing from a new friend of mine, Matthew Reed. Matt has recently released an indie worship record on his own.

I thought it would be beneficial to hear how he did it.

1. What was the defining moment or moment(s) that inspired you to create this album?

Really, I started recording some demos with a buddy of mine, Ryan Alexander. Out of this time we wrote the song “Come and Drink.” It was once we had that song down with some scratch drums and guitar that I showed it to some close friends of mine. I was actually taken back from their response, and they helped encourage me to keep writing and following my heart.

Without a local church body behind me and supporting me, I probably wouldn’t have even been able to record this EP. They challenged me to step outside my comfort zone and go for it.

2. What was your process in finding a producer? Did you ever consider self-producing?

Great question. I had self-produced 3 songs myself that I was trying to make into “releasable” masterpieces. lol. I actually even went to school for production at SAE (School of Audio Enginerring), so I definitely had the credentials on paper. At the end of the day, when the three songs came back from mixing, I knew the production wasn’t at a strong enough level to support the songs.

So I actually sat on the demos for a while and asked the Lord what he wanted me to do with them. I ended up connecting with an old friend, Michael Rossback, on Facebook and told him I was working on some songs and asked if I could send them to him. He graciously agreed. Suffice it to say, he fell in love with them, offering me an opportunity for me to work with him. He was able to see through the mediocre production and really connected with the songs themselves.

A producer is so much more than a creative genius, but a support, guiding you through the process. If you are truly pouring all you have into a record before the Lord, you will be living through some of the most trying and exciting days ahead of you. Having a producer and artist relationship comes down to trust and that’s what I found in Michael.

3. Who designed your artwork? How did you decide?

I used a guy name Joey Seales from Mojoe Creative. I used him because he is the best designer I have found. He really actually listens to the music and comes up with an idea that fits with the sonic qualities of the record. Joey made my record a custom piece of artwork just like he does with the rest of his clients. I heard about Joey from my friends Andrew Ehrenzellor, Matt Jackson, HarbourLive, and Daniel Bashta, who all used Joey in the past.

4. What are your dreams for this record?

The goal for this record was not only to create something unique and fresh, but to create songs for the local church to sing. There is no greater honor for me to think that my music is inviting someone to join in the eternal, heavenly song of “holy, holy, holy.”

5. You seem to be a pretty accomplished drummer and worship leader. Which do you do more? Talk about your journey into both.

Well, I got my first drumset at the age of 4. I started playing drums in church at age 11. When I was 15, a worship leader by the name of Daniel Bashta came to lead the youth group I attended, “Switch,” at Church of the Highlands. I remember thinking, “wow there is a special anointing on this guy, and he is doing something that I want to do someday” He ended up living with us at my parent’s house for a season, and when I graduated high school we ended up getting a place together. Daniel really mentored me in music and taught me things about worship, songwriting, and music that I learned by just being around him.

If you want to get better, surround yourself with people who are better than you. That’s how you’ll develop into your fullest potential. The Lord not only gifts us as individuals, but we also have a duty to work hard and develop that gift.

I started writing and singing about 4 years ago. The worship leader or singer-songwriter thing just started happening naturally as I developed a passion to start singing and writing. It all started in my quiet time before the Lord. Obviously, playing for great worship leaders like Daniel, Chris Hodges, John Larson, and Justin Jarvis all played a huge role in my songwriting. I spent 15 years behind a plexy glass shield, learning and observing some great worship leaders, so it kinda came naturally after I became accustom to hearing myself sing. HA!

6. Do you do music full time? If not, how do you balance working your job and pursuing your dreams?

Yes, I am actually self-employed and do “creative media” work like video production, website design, and graphic design. The Lord actually provided around 60-70% of the finances for my record through this means.

“Balance” — well, I am still learning what this means. Right now since the record has released, I have been working long and hard hours. It’s all about setting boundaries for yourself and family before you even start an endeavor of recording, writing, or becoming an artist. It’s about learning through the process, and asking the Lord to help guide you through it.

I raised some support through close family and friends. The Lord ended up providing most of the finances through opportunities to put my “hands to the plow” and work hard to earn the money. The Lord provided the work, and I worked.

7. What single piece of advice would you have for artists wanting to record without a label?

If you feel the Lord is calling you to make a record, He will provide the finances for it. You may even hit obstacles but push on through (without putting your family at risk!). Making a record is not cheap and should be something really thought through, but once you make that step forward and feel the Lord’s blessing, don’t let anything stop you from pursuing your dreams!

If you haven’t yet, do yourself a favor and pick up Matthew’s new EP on iTunes. It costs a tad more than a venti drink at Starbucks, and you’ll be supporting fantastic, independent worship music in the process.

Question: Have you released an independant record before? Tell us about your experience. If not, is this something you plan to do in the future? You can leave a comment by clicking here.