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NUMBER ONE GUN - "To The Secrets And Knowledge" - Biography 2010

In 2008, Number One Gun entered uncharted territory as the band transitioned into a solo project with leader Jeff Schneeweis. Speculation rose if this would be an end or a fresh beginning. After two years, Number One Gun is ready to continue with the forthcoming release To The Secrets And Knowledge, which gives the listener a creative, talent-filled album.

On the previous project, Schneeweis played around with the typical “band” sound and formulas; however, with To The Secrets And Knowledge, he has expanded further on this experiment with new sounds and formulas. Like The North Pole Project, he has recorded each song from top to bottom before moving on to the next track. In this manner he also did all vocals & instrument parts - yet, one would never know from the fullness of the sound and quality.

“With The North Pole Project, I built on the standard band formula of guitar riffs and choruses,” shares Schneeweis. “Yet, this time around I wanted to really get away from those standard ‘band’ sounds and play around with a different vibe. I ended up using the computer more, adding in electronic blended elements and investigating sounds.”

This experimenting paid off with the opening track “The Victory,” which ended up being Schneeweis’ favorite track on the album. “I remember recording this song and going outside the box. I tried to blend the electronic sounds to create a specific vibe. I have an emotional attachment to this song after it’s all said and done.”

Another sonically unique track, “Noises,” opens with a single beat and echoing voices building in the background resulting in a haunting sound as Schneeweis’ vocals overlap throughout the song. “‘Noises’ was the first and last song I recorded on this album,” he said. “I started with a sound I knew I wanted to capture but then stopped and recorded the rest of the record. Months later, I went back to finish the song after there wasn’t as much pressure.”

As a full-time producer in his hometown of Chico, California, Schneeweis recorded this album in between other projects such as Secret & Whisper, Hawthorne Heights, Esterlyn and indie band Brighten. This spontaneous writing and recording process resulted in a eclectic collection of songs with a running theme of finding hidden treasures in each of us.

The debut radio single, “Forest,” was written with his two-year-old daughter in mind and what she will encounter when she begins school. Excitement, the fear of the unknown, and the bigness of life are feelings one has when starting a new adventure or charting unknown territory. "I’ve gotta figure out why the world is so big / I’ve gone way way out way out of bounds / I’ll do anything, tell me how."

“I did this record for me. I wanted to push myself musically and on the production side of things. Because I feel like I accomplished what I set out to do with this album, I’m open to seeing what the listeners will walk away with. I hope it inspires something within themselves.”

Number One Gun is on Tooth & Nail Records. To The Secrets And Knowledge releases January 26, 2009.