I am currently working on another album. It is tentatively titled 'BEFORE LIKE NEVER AGAIN'.
I'm doing this project completely solo. I am aiming for a 2020 release.
I'm doing this project completely solo. I am aiming for a 2020 release.
Completed works ...
I recently completed a 3 track EP titled 'BL@H'. I asked my good buddy Evan Spence to play lead guitar for me.
I took care of everything else. It's a rocking little EP, that was a lot of fun to record!
* All songs written, arranged, recorded, mixed and mastered by Rod Willner
Release date ~ 17th April 2019. "Available on iTunes, Amazon etc"
I took care of everything else. It's a rocking little EP, that was a lot of fun to record!
* All songs written, arranged, recorded, mixed and mastered by Rod Willner
Release date ~ 17th April 2019. "Available on iTunes, Amazon etc"
'The Space in Between'
Release date = 14th Feb 2016
The last year or so has been one of the most happiest times of my life. It has also been one of the most challenging times, for many reasons. To say that is has been bittersweet, would be an understatement. But the good thing is that I have learned from the many lessons, and for that, I am grateful.
The songs I've written for this album tell the story of things that happened during that time, things that I thought about, and also opinions that I hold and feel strongly about.
I've made no attempt to hide the meaning behind the songs on this album with metaphor, lyrical trickery, or any other method for that matter; this is a first for me! Everything is real, everything is the truth and everything is written straight from the heart ... my heart. That said, you will not find any fabricated pop songs on the album!
I played the drums, keys / piano, some acoustic and electric guitar. I sang the lead vocals, as well as a lot of backing vocals. I enlisted the help of some of my musician friends here in Chiang Mai (and Australia) to help me with the rest. I am truly honoured that they took time out from their busy lives to help me make this little album of mine. I offer my heartfelt thanks to each and every one of them. They are not only beautiful people.., they are extremely talented musicians!
They are ...
Joe Sansaicisco ~ Electric bass
Boy (Thirasak Konchanthet) ~ Electric lead and rhythm guitars
Oliver Benjamin ~ Electric lead and rhythm guitars
Roddy Lorimer ~ All Horns
Lindsay Stevenson ~ String arrangement on 'The song I wrote this morning'
Ronald Crookes ~ Acoustic guitar
Joyce Phillips ~ Backing and harmony vocals
Simon Mesker ~ Violin
John Doerfler ~ Slide guitar
Duke Sharp ~ Mandolin
I would also like to thank the following people ...
Wayne Edington for shooting the cover photo for me
Jesi Kah for designing the cover
THomas van Ness, for letting me take over his studio to record my drums.
I would also like to acknowledge a couple of people who, knowingly or unknowingly, inspired a song or 2.
'Gotta give' was written for, and is dedicated to Luciano Pozzi, Chiang Mai's famous 'Free hugs' guy!
'A fine mess' was inspired by Red!
'Closet' was written about the memory of a conversation (and a letter given) to my good friend Billerwell Daye.
'Joe's Vespa or The lead and the motorbike' was written as a bet with Peter Barry, and is loosely based on Joe Sansai's (bassist for album) old Vespa.
'Bike girl' was written about the unknown girl who jumped on the back of my motorbike, and offered me nothing more than a hug between 2 sets of traffic lights, before jumping off again!
'What did I find' was written about another unknown girl. This one, a uni student, who sat next to me in a park and asked me to tell her my problems. We did this via google translate on her iPad. After an hour she got up to leave, and as she did she showed me one last message… "You deserve to be happy". Thank you, whoever you are … you were right!
I think the rest of the songs are pretty self explanatory.
I produced the album myself, and spent more than 1000 hours putting it all together..., recording, editing, mixing and mastering.
I hope that you enjoy listening to the album as much as I enjoyed making it.
Thank you :)
Rod
* All songs written, arranged, recorded, mixed and mastered by Rod Willner in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
The last year or so has been one of the most happiest times of my life. It has also been one of the most challenging times, for many reasons. To say that is has been bittersweet, would be an understatement. But the good thing is that I have learned from the many lessons, and for that, I am grateful.
The songs I've written for this album tell the story of things that happened during that time, things that I thought about, and also opinions that I hold and feel strongly about.
I've made no attempt to hide the meaning behind the songs on this album with metaphor, lyrical trickery, or any other method for that matter; this is a first for me! Everything is real, everything is the truth and everything is written straight from the heart ... my heart. That said, you will not find any fabricated pop songs on the album!
I played the drums, keys / piano, some acoustic and electric guitar. I sang the lead vocals, as well as a lot of backing vocals. I enlisted the help of some of my musician friends here in Chiang Mai (and Australia) to help me with the rest. I am truly honoured that they took time out from their busy lives to help me make this little album of mine. I offer my heartfelt thanks to each and every one of them. They are not only beautiful people.., they are extremely talented musicians!
They are ...
Joe Sansaicisco ~ Electric bass
Boy (Thirasak Konchanthet) ~ Electric lead and rhythm guitars
Oliver Benjamin ~ Electric lead and rhythm guitars
Roddy Lorimer ~ All Horns
Lindsay Stevenson ~ String arrangement on 'The song I wrote this morning'
Ronald Crookes ~ Acoustic guitar
Joyce Phillips ~ Backing and harmony vocals
Simon Mesker ~ Violin
John Doerfler ~ Slide guitar
Duke Sharp ~ Mandolin
I would also like to thank the following people ...
Wayne Edington for shooting the cover photo for me
Jesi Kah for designing the cover
THomas van Ness, for letting me take over his studio to record my drums.
I would also like to acknowledge a couple of people who, knowingly or unknowingly, inspired a song or 2.
'Gotta give' was written for, and is dedicated to Luciano Pozzi, Chiang Mai's famous 'Free hugs' guy!
'A fine mess' was inspired by Red!
'Closet' was written about the memory of a conversation (and a letter given) to my good friend Billerwell Daye.
'Joe's Vespa or The lead and the motorbike' was written as a bet with Peter Barry, and is loosely based on Joe Sansai's (bassist for album) old Vespa.
'Bike girl' was written about the unknown girl who jumped on the back of my motorbike, and offered me nothing more than a hug between 2 sets of traffic lights, before jumping off again!
'What did I find' was written about another unknown girl. This one, a uni student, who sat next to me in a park and asked me to tell her my problems. We did this via google translate on her iPad. After an hour she got up to leave, and as she did she showed me one last message… "You deserve to be happy". Thank you, whoever you are … you were right!
I think the rest of the songs are pretty self explanatory.
I produced the album myself, and spent more than 1000 hours putting it all together..., recording, editing, mixing and mastering.
I hope that you enjoy listening to the album as much as I enjoyed making it.
Thank you :)
Rod
* All songs written, arranged, recorded, mixed and mastered by Rod Willner in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
'Project Bodhi'
Recorded in a small studio in Katoomba, NSW, Australia 2012
Release date ~ 31st December 2012. "Available on iTunes, Amazon etc"
* All proceeds from sales go to various children's charities!
For more information go to http://projectbodhi.com.au
Even though this whole concept was mine and I completed the music portion of the project without help, there were many people that helped me in various other areas along the way. I wish to acknowledge them, because without their help, this crazy idea of mine would not have made it’s way out the door of my little back yard recording studio!
My heartfelt thanks goes to the to following people
My son Bodhi
My extended family
Simon Bayliss - Initial website and online presence
Anthony Warry - Photography
Jesika Carey - Artwork and design concepts
Gavin Rawlings - Promo vid, camera operator / editor
Peter Waller (AKA Deafboyone)
Rod willner ~ Drums, bass, acoustic and electric guitars, piano and all vocals
* All songs written, arranged, recorded, mixed and mastered by Rod Willner
Release date ~ 31st December 2012. "Available on iTunes, Amazon etc"
* All proceeds from sales go to various children's charities!
For more information go to http://projectbodhi.com.au
Even though this whole concept was mine and I completed the music portion of the project without help, there were many people that helped me in various other areas along the way. I wish to acknowledge them, because without their help, this crazy idea of mine would not have made it’s way out the door of my little back yard recording studio!
My heartfelt thanks goes to the to following people
My son Bodhi
My extended family
Simon Bayliss - Initial website and online presence
Anthony Warry - Photography
Jesika Carey - Artwork and design concepts
Gavin Rawlings - Promo vid, camera operator / editor
Peter Waller (AKA Deafboyone)
Rod willner ~ Drums, bass, acoustic and electric guitars, piano and all vocals
* All songs written, arranged, recorded, mixed and mastered by Rod Willner
'the southpaw sessions @ seventeen'
The southpaw sessions @ seventeen was originally recorded mid 2003 in Dee Why, NSW, Australia but was never officially released. I decided to remix it and release it.
Release date ~ 17th September 2013. "Available on iTunes, Amazon etc"
This CD began as a project of mine back in 2002. I’d been recording home demos on various equipment for years but wanted to challenge my self to see if I could record a solo album, one that I could complete at least 90% myself. It was a fun journey and a huge learning curve!
I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed recording it.
My heartfelt thanks goes to the to following people
My son Bodhi
Much love to all my family
Justin Sayers, for your effortless vocals and life long friendship
Terry my abandoned brother
Phil Morello for your friendship and magic with the piano
BRAND, Big Al & Claude Morello
My Demont buddies
My Cage buddies
All at Group Therapy
Alex Mesker, for your wonderful guitar solo’s
Simon Mesker, for introducing me to the beautiful sound of the violin
iOTA, it was an absolute pleasure, I want it again
Don and Dave at Sleishman drums, the best sounding drums on the planet!
My neighbours at Dee Why, thanks for putting up with the noise during recording
Jesika Carey, artwork and design concepts.
Rod Willner ~ Drums, bass, acoustic and electric guitars, piano and lead vocals
Alex Mesker ~ Lead Guitar (except on Today)
Simon Mesker ~ Violin's
Justin Sayers ~ Backing vocals
Phil Morello ~ Piano (except on I’ll never find), Hammond solo
* All songs written, arranged, recorded, mixed and mastered by Rod Willner
Release date ~ 17th September 2013. "Available on iTunes, Amazon etc"
This CD began as a project of mine back in 2002. I’d been recording home demos on various equipment for years but wanted to challenge my self to see if I could record a solo album, one that I could complete at least 90% myself. It was a fun journey and a huge learning curve!
I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed recording it.
My heartfelt thanks goes to the to following people
My son Bodhi
Much love to all my family
Justin Sayers, for your effortless vocals and life long friendship
Terry my abandoned brother
Phil Morello for your friendship and magic with the piano
BRAND, Big Al & Claude Morello
My Demont buddies
My Cage buddies
All at Group Therapy
Alex Mesker, for your wonderful guitar solo’s
Simon Mesker, for introducing me to the beautiful sound of the violin
iOTA, it was an absolute pleasure, I want it again
Don and Dave at Sleishman drums, the best sounding drums on the planet!
My neighbours at Dee Why, thanks for putting up with the noise during recording
Jesika Carey, artwork and design concepts.
Rod Willner ~ Drums, bass, acoustic and electric guitars, piano and lead vocals
Alex Mesker ~ Lead Guitar (except on Today)
Simon Mesker ~ Violin's
Justin Sayers ~ Backing vocals
Phil Morello ~ Piano (except on I’ll never find), Hammond solo
* All songs written, arranged, recorded, mixed and mastered by Rod Willner
