DAY 45, and we’re finally mixing down our first tune since beginning this project more than 6 weeks ago. “One For Me” is the first to take the leap, and if I could be so bold, I think it sounds fantastic. After hearing a rough demo mix for so long now, it’s awfully gratifying to hear mixed drums that nicely fill their own little space (and no one else’s) in the mix. A little reverb, some gates, and EQ make all the difference.

It’s kind of like eating ground chuck for a month solid and finally tasting a seasoned, dry-aged filet — it’s still beef, but boy is this one more tender (and way more satisfying to eat). Apoligies to all my vegetarian friends out there, but I just don’t know how to contrast it for you. Maybe it’s akin to an organic orange, ripe off the vine as opposed to the pre-picked, store-bought variety that got gassed on the truck on the way to the market. You know what I’m talking about…

Now comes the tricky part — trying to listen to your own song with an objective ear and make the crucial tweaks to tighten up the mix and get it ready for the world. From everything I’ve learned, it’s part art and part science, and somewhere in-between lies talent and experience. Pick one and pray the other shows up, and you’ll have it.

After the studio, Tim and I cruised over to Hollywood to catch Amy’s third show in four outings at the Hotel Cafe. That girl is talented, man. Every time I hear her play I subconsciously make that John Mayer blues face (you know the one where your face scrunches up and contorts and turns slightly to the left as if to “feel” the music a little better — as if we were playing charades and my phrase to act out was, “Damn, that’s good!”)

Even Tim, the seasoned, working musician who’s just about seen it all in his tenure, commented about how impressed he was at the depth of her musicality.

And she’s just getting started — albeit a few steps ahead of me…

Cut to the coolest part of the day, where I got to chat it up in-between sets with her producers, Peter Barker and Mandi Martin. (You remember Mandi from a couple of weeks ago in Santa Barbara, right?) Anyway, Mandi introduced me to Peter as “her new love,” and without hesitation I blurted out, “Yeah, she’s my sugar mama!”

Less than impressed, Peter gave me a strange “who are you again?” look, and I began to chew on the foot in my mouth for the next hour…

Nice one, Nick. Nice.