STRAY BULLETS: Complete Credits & Stories

Hi all! As your EPs begin to roll into your snail mailboxes I thought I should post some background info on the release for your reading plaisir.

THE IDEA

With the duets record coming out, and my duet with Joe Elliott getting some airplay in Southwestern Ontario, I thought it'd be a good idea to put out an EP. Something for you to hear since Goddess came out over a year ago now. I wanted to put "Almighty Love" feat. Joe on it, plus some of my other favourite songs that you haven't heard.

THE ARTWORK

Ilia Horsburgh, the great photographer, and I did a photo shoot near New Hamburg. She always has great ideas for locations. We shot a bunch at a friend of her's place in the sticks. The cover features me in a skinny sequined dress that I bought in Dublin, and in the background, an old silver Airstream camper nestled in the grass.

Ryan Isojima of the band The Framework is also a talented designer. He took care of the sleeve design and SWO helped a little too. But it was Ryan's idea to incorporate this peacock feather into the artwork, which sort of mimics the idea of stray bullets, with the feathers creating "motion" on paper.

THE TUNES

Almighty Love

This song just has legs I guess! I wrote it in a hotel room somewhere in Canada and I remember when I wrote it I wanted to emulate the simplicity of a song like "Insensitive". Not that the songs turned out anything alike, but I find the best songs are just a few simple chords. Luckily, my knowledge of guitar agrees with this concept which is why I probably have not Liona Boyded myself into writing anything more complicated.

Joe who I met when touring with Bowie has always loved this song since he heard it on The Summer of High Hopes. So in actual fact, the whole duets record began as a seed when he offered to take the song in its new version - produced by Greg Wells - and add a little something to it. I was sure he was going to add more guitars but with the help of his engineer Ronan McHugh, he added that legendary voice with which I grew up. I can't believe how transformed so many of my songs are by these amazing guests. So I guess I can't wait for you to hear all the other duets, but wanted you to hear one!

Rico

I wrote Rico in October. Tuned the ol' guitar to D-A-D-G-A-D and threw a capo on the 3rd fret. It's one of my favourite songs. It was written in under half an hour. For this tune, I sought out Darryl Lahteenmaa to help me produce it. I had a pretty terrible wurlitzer on there at one point and Darryl replaced it with some sweet vintage keys and a guitar solo at his studio in London. We had also just recorded Lyle for Dylan's project so the drums were still at Darryl's house and he rocked a real hi-hat through the whole song which really added so much more than I could ever do at home with my drum machines and shakers. Must upgrade.

Lucky Girl

I wrote this song with Nathan Larson who produced and co-wrote The Summer of High Hopes with me. I love the way this one sounds. The song is really wistful, but full of weight and heartache. Nathan always knows how to record a vocal, having recorded Nina P many times. Nathan is also featured on my duets record, AND he recorded Sara Quin for her appearance on my upcoming record. I love the end descending chords of "Lucky Girl". We joked that it sounds like a Rush song.

Breaking News

A few of you have heard this song live. I wrote it after Hurricane Juan hit the east coast of Canada. It's one of my favourite vocal performances. It's always so much easier to be emotive in the slow songs. Hands up, you got me, I'm a ballad machine.

Holiday

I recorded this one at home with the exception of drums which Lyle Molzan recorded in his basement. This song was inspired by a terrible incident that happened to a friend of mine where he was attacked and gay-bashed on the street in New York. Things turned out okay in the end, but it was terribly shocking. Musically however this is one of the more upbeat songs on the EP. Go figure!

Stray Bullet

Slow jam central!! Another bedroom recording. I recorded everything on the track, another tune where I insist on comparing love and heartache to weaponry.

CREDITS

ALMIGHTY LOVE

Produced by Greg Wells
Recorded by Drew Pearson
Additional recording by Ronan McHugh
Strings arranged and conducted by Paul Buckmaster
Mixed by Frank Gryner
Recorded at Rocket Carousel Studio, LA and Joe’s Garage, Dublin
Vocals, piano: Emm Gryner
Vocals: Joe Elliott
Guitars, drums: Greg Wells
Bass: Dan Rothchild

RICO

Produced and recorded by Emm Gryner and Darryl Lahteenmaa
Mixed by Darryl Lahteenmaa
Recorded at Perth Palace and Blackmaple Studios
Vocals, guitar, handclaps: Emm
Guitar, keyboards: Darryl Lahteenmaa

LUCKY GIRL & BREAKING NEWS

Produced by Nathan Larson
Recorded by Nathan Larson and Herman Söderström
Mixed by Nathan Larson
Recorded at Tambourine Studios and Gula, Malmö
Vocals, keyboards: Emm Gryner
Guitar, bass: Nathan Larson
Drums: Jens Janssen

HOLIDAY & STRAY BULLET

Bedroom recordings produced and recorded by Emm
Drums on “Holiday” recorded in Lyle’s basement
Mixed by Emm
Vocals, guitars, keyboards, bass, claps: Emm
Drums on “Holiday”: Lyle Molzan

All songs mastered by Frank Gryner