PEPPER PROUD
It’s pretty much impossible to not like Pepper Proud, that’s all I have to say.
All of her songs are amazing, but the first one here is one of my favorite Ballard Sessions ever. She sat down at the piano as we were about to leave, and started singing this song. I ran and got some candles, turned down the lights, and this happened.
KEVIN LONG
Kevin was in the very first Ballard Session almost a year ago, so it was super cool to have him back for #20. This was the first time I’d tried to shoot a Ballard Session in the rain, and I almost didn’t post it because of the wind noise but Kevin was ok with it. We more than made up for the audio issues by shooting the next four in B50 Studio, where Kevin is recording his next album.
SHELDON BOTLER
I met Sheldon at a show with another Ballard Sessions artist, Susy Sundborg. I heard this beautiful song and immediately saw a bedroom with rustled sheets and alarm clock flashing, maybe even with the girl who the song is about being serenaded as she woke. So maybe not all those elements happened, but still very happy with the result. :)
And be sure to watch the outtake of Sheldon singing this song as Elmo, it deserves to go viral so please share! :)
JONATHAN RUSSELL
Jon played some solo tunes at the Fremont Abbey’s Leap Day show, and the rest of The Head and the Heart came onstage for the finale. Good times!
BE HONEST, RUTH BRYAN!
The downside of working with raw talent is that they pay you for one song and you end up shooting four just because you want to hear more! Seriously, these kids are talented. I’m starting to wonder how many of these Ballard Sessions artists I’ll be talking about 30 years from now on VH1 Behind The Music! :)
I went to grad school with these three beautiful women and am huge fans of them, as artists and as human beings. I’ve been nagging them for more than 4 years to play together, play shows, complete their albums, etc. You can see why:
HOLLY GRIGSBY
TALITHA BULLOCK
NAOMI WACHIRA
KRIS ORLOWSKI & DAWN MITSCHELE
I had tried to shoot a Ballard Session with Kris and Dawn at Doe Bay Fest last summer, but logistics and festival noise were not in our favor. So I was super happy to get another chance with them at Doe Bay last weekend (minus the festival). These two are so adorable together and the song is so pretty, I literally wiped a tear when they were done. (Kris allegedly commented afterward, “That was a little too cute, I think I just threw up in my mouth a little bit.”) :)