Mr. Turtle, or Henry to those who know him, was a step outside my usual idiom as an engineer and producer. I didn't normally do instrumental music, much less solo instrumental music. Much less a percussive, Balinese-inspired acoustic guitar album.
Henry played keys in The Way Home with me for about a couple of years or so, and as I got to know him, I learned that he was an equally talented guitarist with a very unique style. The first time I saw him do it, I chided him for not revealing he could do it sooner. Even after the band ended, we continued to work together as producer and artist. It's something to see, watching him play. He sways a bit back and forth as the rise and fall of his playing seems to sweep him along. HIs instrumental work is almost lyrical in its composition, and he can offer up pensive and sparse moments as well as poly-rhythmic feats of technical skill.
I love working with this guy. Even though he comes to me with fully realized songs, it always feels like a collaboration as we work out how to present these songs to the world together. We've recorded in some really unique spaces and had some real adventures, both musical and real life ones. This fall will see us start to work on his third record with me, and it never feels like routine. We approach each one wanting to make it unique from the previous release. It's rewarding to work with such a talented player who is always willing to try something new.