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San Miguel de Allende
I embarked on a journey to manifest my dream,
and the beginning of that journey took me to
Mexico to record the first album. I brought
my guitar and packed only what I needed and
put the rest of my belongings in storage. I
flew into the biggest city in the world (Mexico
City) and that same day got on a crowded bus
that took me to a 17th century little town called
San Miguel de Allende. This town is filled with
cobble stone roads and Spanish architecture.
There are street dogs running the blocks like
a family, donkeys walking the streets carrying
wood, the smells of tequila and fresh food,
little Indian ladies selling bracelets, church
bells ringing and the sounds of fireworks as
Mariachi bands lean against the walls waiting
for work. The descriptions are endless! "What
a place to record an album," I thought!
I would leave behind all that the outside American
life has to offer create my mark on the music
world.
My flat/studio was at the top of the Old Hotel
Taboada, which happened to be one of the tallest
buildings in town. The view was incredible!
I had all the equipment and instruments I could
possibly need thanks to my sister Marta Wiley
and friend Casey Wade. As people checked in
and out of the hotel below me, I would be recording
day and night. To take a break I would walk
to the center square to write and watch the
transient town evolve right before my eyes.
I soon made great friends with English traveler
Rodney Evans who was an English teacher and
street-performing guitarist. We drank Cawamas
(32ís of Corona) and Rodney laid down lead guitar
on the first take like a sick machine. It was
the perfect creative endeavor for both of us!
Now the electrical system in a 17th century
hotel in Mexico isnít exactly the greatest.
The only LIGHTNING tower in the city happened
to be above my roof, so any time a storm was
brewing I would have to turn off and unplug
all the equipment or it would get fried and
perhaps take me with it. Death by Guitar! A
good way to go, but not yet! It was during these
times that I would write, create, photograph
and frequent Old Mexican desperado Saloons for
some good tequila, talk music, politics and
philosophy with fellow artists and musicians
in town. Recording vocals was also a challenge.
If you listen closely to the album, in the background
you can here cops whistles, church bells, dogs
barking and cars honking. I eventually decided
to keep these live city sounds in the vocal
tracks because they simply added to the overall
experience and positive flow of the album. Soon
enough "The WILEY One" was born and
thatís how the debut album "No. 7 Kid"
was created. Recording this album is an experience
I will never forget.
On the album I play rhythm guitar, bass guitar,
keyboards, Lead Vocals and Drums. Rodney Evans
plays lead guitar and bass guitar. Casey Wade
busts out a wicked Bass Clarinet on "Simple
Song" and Marta Wiley provides back up
vocals on "Push On" and "Eye
for White Light". After introducing the
album, we added long time friend and crazy slap
acoustic bassist "Jay of the Funk",
whoís skills are reminiscent of Flee, Sting
and Les Claypool. Soon after we completed our
trio with the arrival of hip-hop jazzy drum
master ìCTXî. In 2007, The WILEY One signed
with Arizonaís top independent record label,
Sundawg Records. Weíve played everywhere from
California to New York and recently played the
main stage at the 2008 Winter X Games in Aspen.
We are currently recording the 2nd album with
multi-platinum producer Gardener Cole, entitled
"Kill it with Love". A west coast
tour is also currently in the making as we make
our way to the 2008 Summer X Games in Los Angeles.
"No7Kid" by
The Wiley One
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