Year In Review – 2013

I cannot BELIEVE 2013 is over and 2014 is upon us. I feel old. I mean, Jurassic Park will be 21 years old next year. How in the HECK??

2013 has been just about the greatest year of my life so far. It was my first full year as a self-employed musician. I cultivated some of the greatest friendships I’ve ever had in my life. I grew closer to God. I made some mistakes and ultimately became wiser for them. I saw some bucket list concerts (notably The Zombies and Paul McCartney. WAH!). I released a new album. I worked with/recorded/played with/met some of the most amazing artists. I embarked on my first ever tour as an artist. I was truly blessed in 2013. I didn’t deserve any of it, but to God be the glory. I’m just along for the ride.

Check out my Facebook Year In Review! 

I’ve been operating Splendid Studios out of my Alamo Heights location for nearly the entirety of 2013. While there have been major issues with the building and its ownership, I’m blessed to finally have had a steady location for longer than three months! In March of 2014 I will likely be moving again. Not sure where yet, but God will open a door. He always has. His past faithfulness is surely a sign of His future faithfulness in my life.

My latest record, “The Sound”, was released August 25th and has been doing very well so far! It’s been getting a great response from both the Christian and secular communities. The album got a kick-butt review in the SA Current magazine and also was selected as a “Top 3 Album of 2013” in their end-of-the-year issue. Such an unexpected surprise!

A bunch of new songs were written over the second half of 2013 and will be released in projects next year, one of which is the “Stages EP”. It will be a free EP concept album about failed relationships. I have also written several worship songs just over the past week and a half. I’m hoping these will be compiled, along with maybe a hymn or two, into an album recorded by the praise team at The Park Community Church. I am truly very pumped for these two projects!

Artists I Recorded This Year:
Andrea Beck
Andrew Reynosa
Armando Martinez
Brandon Shasteen
Chad Chaney
Chad Overman
Colin Leonard
D-Smitty
Eliseo Ballesteros
Freddy Echiverri
JD Martinez
John Anthony
Liz Austin
Renevus
Ryan Proudfoot
Seleste Paige
Summit Music
Ty Dillon
Whitlee Casey

Albums I Played On That Were Released This Year:
Andrea Beck – All Along [Single]
Andrew Reynosa – I Know (It’s Not Working Out) [Single] 
The Boxers (Self-Titled)
Clayton Gardner – Here to Stay [EP]
Clayton Gardner – Lucky Seven [EP]
Colin Leonard – Lay Me Down Slow [Single]
Dave Fenley and the Good Deal – A Minute to Breathe
Eliseo Ballesteros – I Am [Single]
Jackson Parten – Following Signs [EP] 
JD Martinez – Send Me [Single]
John Anthony – Broken Soul [Single]
Lucas Jack – Sun City
Matt Adler – The Sound [EP]
Renevus – We Will Rise [Single]
Ryan Proudfoot – Treasure
Ryan Proudfoot – A Man Named Job [Single]
Seleste Paige – Here I Go [EP]
Ty Dillon (Self-Titled) [EP]
Whitlee Casey – Father, You Are Good [Single]

Notable Artists I Shared The Stage With This Year:
Abandon
Bellarive
Bobby Long
Brandon Heath (w/ Ryan Proudfoot)
The Digital Age
Logan Venderlic
Meiko
Robbie Seay Band
Ryan Stevenson
Seventh Time Down
Trent Monk

I have no idea what 2014 will bring. But I tell you what – I can’t wait to see what happens. I’ll never know what tomorrow holds. I’m just a passenger. I wanna go for a ride.
-M