Our guest for this episode is composer and drummer Bret Figura.
Bret currently drums in the surf/rockabilly instrumental group, The Real Gone, and with Dan Dougherty. During the pandemic Bret started composing his own music. He’s just released his third compilation Shut In Sounds III: The Righteousness of Spring. We chat with Bret about putting this amazing compilation with 16 different vocalists together.
Featured Tracks & Vocalists
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Lure feat. Melissa Powers
I saw Sissor live at Third City Sound in Joliet, they brought the rawk! I really was excited to try to get Melissa on board for one of these tracks from see how Sissor really brought it to their shows.
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Life Without A Home feat. Scott Tipping
Scott amazed me in the 90s when I saw him & sat in with Bad Cat – our paths have crossed a few times with the various Americana projects he’s been in. He’s an amazing all around great musician. This instrumental was dear to me, so when searching for a vocalist to add to it, I was stoked he agreed!
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Keep Walking feat. Candice Latimer
I vaguely knew Candice’s work through Dramaglider, her bandmate Neil Klemz is a friend … she showed interest in the project from an online connection. I couldn’t be happier with how this track came out… a gentle, soft, chill change of pace.
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Better Off Without You feat. Gabrielle Sutton
I was thrilled when Gabrielle said she was interested.
Gab was kind enough to book my surf rock band, The Real Gone as host band for the old Big C Jamboree a couple times and introduce us to the greater Chicago rockabilly scene. I just love this torch song vibe. She also was kind enough to patch me through to Alex
Hall who mastered this recording. -
Getcha Prize feat. Kevin Krauss
Kevin and I go back to high school. He did a fantastic job embracing the strange electro-percussive nature of this track and creating a catchy hook everyone in my house was singing.
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Influencer feat. Clarissa Worley
Mutual friend/musician/engineer Bill Aldridge introduced me to Clarissa
years ago and I also got to sit in & play with their band a few times. Typically playing keys and singing, I remember Clarissa always bringing a wonderfully controlled dramatic impact to her music. I was so happy to hear that come through on this track she
delivered. -
You Left Your Mark feat. Dan Dougherty
I play in Dan’s solo project and kinda let him
know this was one of my top favorite instrumentals of the bunch. He jumped at the chance to take on its epic nature to which I couldn’t be happier with the approach … it’s on point with something I was kinda hoping someone would do with it.