It's interesting because the process a band goes through, when making an album, is not something most people will ever experience. Anyone who works in groups knows that special things happen when people are put together.

Mark Kelley and I set out to put together a band, and get an indie album out there on our Blues Farm Records label. At first it was just he and I and then we got a drummer, Glen. Mark had several songs and some idea of where he wanted them to go.

We were making traditional country music with a slight kick. Our first recording, What UR Lookin' For, shows that very country-style guitar, yet with some background heavy guitar tracks for punch in places.

Mark had a basic version of some songs flushed out, and they needed some arrangement. It's one thing to play a song live, but when you set out to record it, special attention needs to be paid to the arrangement. If not, the song may not turn out as "listenable" in the end.

We started jamming and playing the songs live. That changed the dynamic again. To me, it seemed Glen and I were sort of holding back at first. Our background is really rock, and I can remember recording drum tracks and telling Glen, "let loose on the bass. The more you mess with that pedal, the happier I'll be."

For reasons of what I can only consider personal, Mark began using the Tele more in practices. Yep, then he wanted to lay down his initial rhythm track with it, instead of the acoustic. Well, of course, he next wanted his Tele completely distorted.

Maybe some would call it a downward spiral, but we kicked you know what at some practices. It felt good. And it resulted in things like the semi-live track, While the Gettin's Good.

We were trying to record just Mark and Glen jamming the rhythm out together. We totally got a great live feel on that track. It captured how we were sounding live.

So much for traditional country music with a slight kick.

This was happening at the same time that Glen and I were starting to let go more. We did a few songs where my guitar leads clicked back into my personal style and voice, more like what you hear on the Sansietch "Off The Cuff" CD.

You know, it's a funny moment when you realize things are working. That the styles and influences of everyone have come together to make music. Could it be its own entity? Music, that is. Music is bigger than just one style, no matter what anyone says. All genres of music have things in common with other types of music.

There is obviously blues in a lot of country music, for example. Well, there's blues in rock music, too. Why can't A connect with C?

We found out. It certainly does. We're making slammin' country music, with killer guitar on it that sounds organic. It's New Mexico Country.

One of the best things about being an artist is the learning and growth that take place on so many levels. What have we learned so far in our quest to make an album?

A certain amount of control must be released. Not specifically as a musician who's trying to play music with emotion. Though that's part of it. Control can be released in other ways with the same benefits. Control can be released by members of the group to allow individuals to open up freely.

Control of every little detail such as, just how the guitar parts are recorded. Want to try that old amp out and see if that tone works for the song? If you're controlling that by thinking the guitar tone on the album needs to be the same, then you loose a potentially great, unique combination and you loose some of the ability to make new music.

Freedom is really the name of the game. It's why some people play Vivaldi better than others. The notes are the same, but a listener knows when it's coming from the heart.