My first ever full-length album, 'The Pioneer Spirit', came out recently and since then I've been on a whirlwind of sold out shows, charity performances at hospitals, interviews, and overall just FREAKING OUT. I write myself to-do lists every day now just so I can seize all these amazing new opportunities. Front and center on my to do list is this: Breathe, smile, chill out, eat well, get enough sleep.
Now that I have some time before the second leg of tour starts, I'd like to use this portal as the showcase for all the THANK YOUs to everyone who made 'The Pioneer Spirit' a reality:
First and foremost, much thanks to my mother and father: Christine and Carlos Babini. Mama and Papa, thank you for all your encouragement and support over the years. Also thank you for your collaborative effort in 1986 :D
Next, thanks to everyone I've ever recorded with, shared the stage with, even just jammed out with. I learned from you. If I somehow forgot a name on this list below I am monumentally sorry.
Matt Rafal... Thank you for connecting the dots everyday. Thank you for putting me on tour and thanks for all your advice over the years. Thank you for still working on this project even while you had a baby. Congrats on being a dad and best wishes to baby Ethan and your family :)
Thomas Keery... Thank you for putting up with my neurotic approach to recording music. Thank you for being a great friend. On every release I have on iTunes, you are on the recordings in some capacity. Woah!
Zach Berkman... Thanks for helping to flesh out the songs in a live studio setting. Thank you for rescuing the song 'Invincible' from the trash bin. It was a pleasure visiting the workshop with you.
Drew English... Thanks for coming in and helping the project get to where it needed to be. I'm very impressed by your meticulous approach to your work. I love your cats even though I'm allergic and they made me slightly itchy and sneezy.
Steve Miller... My album's overall sound would not be what it was without your mixing skills! I'm still blown away by the fact that we were able to record all of 'Shut Up and Kiss Me' in a single weekend. Thank you for insisting that I keep the line in the song about the graveyard.
Andy Vandette... Thank you for mastering the project. Really cool to see that you gave your focus to even the smallest nuances like, for example, the count in at the beginning of 'Jackie'. Also thanks for saying hello with your daughter at my show at Webster Hall :D
Phil Cialdella... Thanks for hooking up the digital stuff! So awesome to have your positive encouragement behind my songs.
***Alaina Bendi ***... You deserve a VERY special thanks. You've only been my official publicist for a month but already you've gotten me booked for the radio, TV, and kickass website interviews. Even with a fever, a cold, and a cough you made it all the way through the first ever TEAM BABINI meeting via speaker and contributed a ton. GET WELL SOON!
Jeff Fried, Pete Roessler, and Ruddy Adames... Thanks for capturing the visual aspect of the audio/visual experience! The album art came out great and each photo-shoot was a new adventure.
Kyle McCammon, Mason Ingram, Ryan Bull, Dominic Fallacaro, Raphael Peterson, Stephanie Straface, Kathleen Smith, Adam Tressler, Gerald Menke, Audrey Selph, Elizabeth Lyon, Clara Lyon, Audrey Caliguri.... You are all incredibly talented human beings. I am head over heels in love with the fact that we get to be playing together on an album.
To all the angels and she-devils I've known, my heartbreaks, my graveyard kisses, and my unrequited lovers.... Thank you for every ounce of joy and sorrow. My canvas is blank without a muse.
Lastly, thanks to anyone who has ever listened to my songs recorded, at a show, or in any form whatsoever. Even if you only heard one second and then covered your ears the rest of the time. I'm thankful that, even if just a small moment, you and I got to know each other.
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