Best known as long time guitarist, vocalist and collaborator in the Greg Johnson Band, Ted releases his third album Solstice Canyon Loop. Tracked at Plyrz Studio in Santa Clarita CA June 27-28 2020, the songs tell stories of Teds journey from his hometown of Auckland NZ to his current home of Los Angeles CA where he’s lived since 2002.

“Those months, the pandemic, had me reminiscing and transported back in time like I think it did for so many people and the songs I wrote are mostly a product of that period. Moments from the past came back to me in vivid but fleeting pieces, and I found that I’d mix up things that happened in the U.S. with experiences from my hometown! In the end, the songs take place in either the NZ of my youth, or the 21st Century in SoCal!”

Calling on members of his 70’s Country cover band, The Electric Fields, Ted assembled some of his favorite L.A. guys to play on the record. Notably, Dusty Wakeman on Bass (Dwight Yoakam, Lucinda Williams, Buck Owens), Mark Hart on Keys (Crowded House, Supertramp), Joel Martin on Guitar (Grateful to the Core, Pearl), Tim Walker on Pedal Steel (Glen Campbell, Jimmy Webb, The White Buffalo) and CalArts Alum and musician extraordinaire Rob Anderson on Drums. Ben King, Teds Greg Johnson bandmate added sweet harmonies from his studio in NZ.

“I was fortunate to have NZ Recording Engineer Neil Baldock living and working in L.A. at the time and based at Jim Scotts Plyrz studio. I knew he was planning to return home so I really wanted to get the songs down. Fortunately, Plyrz is a huge space (ideal for social distancing) and basically a playground of instruments and gear where we were able to track the tunes live, including vocals. We did it the old fashioned way with everyone playing together in the room.”

“We tracked seven and I recorded the last song, Lauraly, at my home studio in West L.A. The names have, in some cases, been changed or abbreviated but never to protect the innocent, mostly ‘cos they ‘sang’ better. Post production was a trans-pacific process but I’m stoked that we got there in the end (thanks Neil!). 

I’m really proud of this record and everyone who was involved. Hope you enjoy it!