The Human Project
Human Project News and Updates
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Hello my friends. The weather is cooling some into the very low 80's now and very cool at night. This is, the best time of the year here in Central California. I have written a new song and its possible I will work with AC Myles over at his studio to cut this track. I have a good version of it in my home system, but the possibility is there to get an even better version at his place. It will have more of a live organic feel to it doing it this way. The song is called "Raisin Cane." It's a good upbeat rocker straight out of the Human's playbook from a music and lyrical standpoint. Once the track is complete, I will play it for you on my show on Podomatic.  I actually work best very early in the morning. It's quiet, peaceful and I am just very productive at this time. Using my Telecaster some, and I got some new bongo's because I cracked the skin on the last pair whacking it too hard.  My little studio could use some tidying up. But I seem to work best in this type of environment, and I can find things better even those it seems a tad unsettled. :)
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To go into a professional recording studio is very expensive. All of my first 6 CD's were done in this manner. I have worked in 4 different ones. That said, I also have a home studio as well and it consists of a powerful little machine called a Boss BR 1600.  This is what I use to record at home. I have had this one for about 8 years and I had one before this one as well. I have recorded "57 Channels, Life, For What It's Worth, Vicodin Blues 2019, Brutal Train to Ride," and a few more on it and released them. My new one not yet released "Something Big," was also recorded on this. So, it is a powerful machine. It has all kind of features on it and a powerful mastering tool kit.The downside for me is the drum machine. I have never found it user friendly. I have never been able to get the fills and more intricate beats I want. So I don't use it, and I adapt using the condenser mic and things like conga's and other items for a snare sound. Anyone interested in more information on how I use this bad boy, just leave a note or email me. You need a good mic too and this AKG Model C 2000B condenser mic is the bomb. I think my vocals sound better using this than in a big time studio. You need phantom power to use it and the Boss 1600 has it.   When I use my acoustic guitar, I simply loop the microphone over the boom stand as shown and sit in chair close to it and record my acoustic. I can get killer sound with this arrangement.  I like to work in a relaxed environment. :) I am getting ready to get my trusty Stratocaster out, I have had it since 2002.
Things are getting worked out with Apple music and Spotify regarding the confusion with another Human Project from England. The bad news is this could take up to a month to resolve. (Some of their music is on my page confusing potential fans and people thinking about buying it.) Question 1 Why do you call yourself The Human Project? I got the nickname the Human in my 20's. Not sure how, except I loved music. Had it always playing. I knew all the lyrics to songs. If were around me, there was music and probably cold beer. When I decided to start writing and recording, the best name for this would be The Human Project. Question 2 When did you start listening to music? I would say by 6 or 7 years of age, I was starting to listen. I listened to Elvis and Buddy Holly a lot. Dug the rockabilly sound. I had a record player that played 45's. Also my dad's side was very musical. They all played something. Fiddle, mandolin, guitars. I was around that at a young age. Question 3 Who were your influences? Early Elvis. Buddy Holly. Then The Beatles kinda knocked my socks off. The Stones. I liked the Young Rascals with that Hammond Organ sound. The Animals. Really..too many to list. But you hear all my influences come out in my music. Question 4 When did you start playing? I started at about 15 years old. By 16, I was playing in a full blown rock band and actually going out and doing gigs. I played in bands all 4 years of high school. We were one of the better bands in the Central Valley of California, especially for our age. When I graduated from High School, that was it for me for performing with a band live and playing. Flash forward about 40 years and I got me a Fender Stratocaster and bought me a Boss BR 1600 digital recorder. I started writing and recording the tracks. I found it came pretty easy. I met some other musicians. In 2006, we went into the studio and recorded "The Real Stuff." It was well received, so in 2008, I did Human Project II, Humanized. As sales continued to be pretty good, I have keep going with it. Question 5 Do you play live? I played a few live gigs right after The Real Stuff. Stanford University Homecoming gig was the big one. But I never could catch on with the music scene here that is more geared to cover bands playing in bars type thing, so I finally gave up trying to play live. It is really this area's loss because of the kind of band I could put together. Absolutely killer players. What you hear on my CD's are the same guys that I would have taken out live. Now, I am not young anymore and I am content to just write and record. I also enjoy doing my Podcast, Human's Show on Podomatic. It has an international audience and helps me promote my music as well. Question 6 Final Thoughts? I am grateful to all the fans that have discovered my music and support it. I am grateful for my family supporting me as well. I hope to continue to write and record as long as I can.  Loyd Vandergriff, aka The Human of The Human Project
October 2019 CD Baby is responsible for distributing my music to all the various music sites. The two main ones, Apple Music and Spotify, they have it royally messed up. There is another Human Project out of England. Their music is vastly different from mine. But a bunch of their songs are on my Apple Music Page and Spotify page. This sucks. I have been in contact with CD Baby and they are on it to fix it. They tell me it could take up to one month. Yeah that sucks. I know this affects my sales if people don't see my songs, but theirs. But if you search it out enough, you will find my songs. This is all very frustrating. One of my singles, "Not Fade Away," released in July has sold very poorly. I think for the most part it is because people can't find it. I don't even see it on Apple Music. So, I am giving you the Spotify Link so you can at least find it there. It's difficult enough to be a small fish in a big pond competing against big labels and bigger groups with marketing management, but all of this just makes it even worse. Not Fade Away open.spotify.com/album/56n56jZc6TdjkomZxw5eRt  The Human of The Human Project  September was another good month for Human Project Music. People from 30 different countries downloaded my music. The top Countries to download were: USA South Africa Canada Japan Finland France The top downloaded songs were: Life Fadin To Gray 2019 Highway 58 Humanize 2017 57 Channels Fadin To Gray 2019 Norwegian Wood Human's Last Stand 2014 Bad Momma Human Project II, Humanized 2008 For What It's Worth Fadin To Gray 2019 Thanks for your support of my music. I am truly an independent artist that promotes, and manages my own music. I compete against big labels, high powered marketing and bigger artists. The fact that I do as well as I do is much appreciated. I rely on you the fans to spread the word. Grassroots baby. Keep it rockin.  Human Project band in the studio for the Humanize sessions. April 2017.
The best band never to play live. What's Happenin? A few updates are in order. I am back from 8 days on the Big Island of Hawaii. Have been to other ones, but this was the first visit to this one. Absolutely loved it! We stayed in the Kona area. I will just put up a couple of pics.  Lots of Volcanic Rock because the Big Island was formed basically by 5 active volcanoes. The last one to erupt was 2018 in the Hilo area.  This picture was taken on Ali'l Street in Kailua Kona. The Ironman Triathlon starts here. It is in about 2 weeks. The big white hotel in the back is the famous Royal Kona Resort. We ate at the Fish Hopper restaurant across the street. New Single The release of my new single has been postponed until later in October. I am having a problem with CDBaby accepting my cover art. I will get is resolved and then the song will release. I will keep you posted. I put a new Podcast up today, the first one in 10 days. I will get back in a groove with my shows soon. That is about it. I leave you with one more picture from Hawaii.  View from the pool at the Sheraton Resort In Kona, Hawaii.
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The HumanSinger-songwriter from the Central Valley of California, with 6 CD's and a download only one, "Fadin To Gray," just released in January 2019. Archives
October 2019
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