Quiet please: master at work

Hello again and welcome to the latest d'blog on our journey taking TESS from page to stage.

In this post, lyricist Michael Davies writes from the recording studio as the team meet for the final time to mix the album of the show.

Exciting times. But when will it be finished? Well, read on.

It’s hard to believe but we’re sitting in the studio of producer Sunim Koria discussing the final mix of the Tess concept album.

The journey thus far has taken more than four years. To be this close to a finished product is slightly unreal.

Reverb levels, percussion cut-through, dialogue fades - this is the kind of fine detail we’re into at this late stage. And even allowing for these tiny tweaks, it’s sounding extraordinary, though we say it ourselves. In fact, there’s no reason not to say it ourselves as all the magic is being woven by Sunim and his producer wizardry.

'FINESSING'

​There’s still much to be done, apparently. Finessing the final mix after today’s session will take a little time, while the mastering process alone is a huge enterprise. Then there’s the small matter of delivering the package to the manufacturers, with attendant artwork, for them to turn into shiny, shrink-wrapped parcels of promotional delight.

The lyricist listens in

Composer Michael Blore goes through the notes

DEADLINE

​There is no specific deadline. It’ll be ready when it’s ready (probably around October, since you ask). But it’s important not to cut corners in a headlong rush towards the finish line. We want the concept album to be the best it can possibly be before we put it into the hands of the kind of folk who might be able to give it a future on a stage.

Because that, after all, is what this whole exciting project has been working towards: we went into it with the approach that there was no point writing something that wouldn’t ultimately be performed. The reason for the album is to use as a promotional tool. While it won’t be commercially available for contractual reasons, we will be offering listeners a chance to hear the material online and, hopefully, fall in love with it so much that they start demanding that someone makes a stage show out of it.

And so the next phase begins…

Thank you for reading and following the progress of TESS. Please feel free to leave a comment. We'd love to hear from you.
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Read again

• Siobhan Dillon and Tam Mutu to lead Tess cast recording - whatsonstage
• Tim Rice backs new British musical - carnstheatrepassion
• West End stars join the team for musical Tess - stageylady

​Next time on d'Blog... We bring you news on the first live performance of one of the songs from TESS as the album heads for completion.