Howdy and Hello y'all!
This is Cruz Contreras and I couldn't be more excited to share with you Cosmico. The first project I've put my name on the cover of, it's been a long time coming. I wrote this album and recorded this album just before the global pandemic halted the music industry as we knew it. My life turned upside down, and righted itself in beautiful and unexpected ways. I wanted to write and share a bit about the album art you see on the cover...
The album art was created in collaboration with Texas mural artist, Bristen Lee Phillips. I saw his work online and knew that I wanted to design and commission him to produce a work of art for this record. Check him out on Instagram here.
The photography used inside the jacket of the CD and vinyl was taken in the fall of 2020 by good friend and music icon photographer, David McClister.
I'm honored to have Bristen and David involved on this project, thank y'all!
Artwork design was a labor of love between myself, my wife, and good friend, photographer, designer, musician, George Middlebrooks. Thank you George for making this come to life!
The album credits:
Produced by Ethan Ballinger and Megan McCormick
Engineered and Mixed by Grammy-winning engineer Craig Alvin
Recorded at Cider Mountain Recording in Athol, ID & The Portal in Nashville, TN
Mastered by Pete Lyman at Infrasonic Sound
Cruz Contreras: vocals, piano, keys, acoustic guitar
Ethan Ballinger and Megan McCormick: electric and acoustic guitars, banjo, keys, chordion, sounds, vocals
Rich Brinsfield: bass
Matty Alger: drums, percussion, vocals
Christina Harper: vocals
Amanda Fields: vocals
Frank Solivan: vocals
Dave Eggar: strings
-- Phew! What an allstar lineup. Y'all are awesome.
Album Dedication Preview....
“Cosmico” is dedicated to my dad Frederic Abdon Contreras. He always found a way and worked hard to keep me connected to the piano and inspired through musical education. His presence during this project was palpable, even from the other side. Thanks for believing in me dad!
Preorder is availalbe now at https://cosmicorecords.com/collections/all and I'll be shipping out each order from my home to you! Vinyl will be shipping beginning of October and CDs should be out to you the week of September 18.
With gratitude.