This is “100 Woodworking Sound Effects Vol. 1”, a vinyl album I recorded myself featuring the noises of hand tools & machinery meeting various species of wood. Listen to it while you’re falling asleep or throw it on for some soothing ambiance at your next dinner party or, if you’re a filmmaker or musician, sample it in your next project. Featuring explicit content –– parents be advised.

100 Woodworking Sound Effects Vol. 1

Yes! You can find a copy at Inclusion Records in Norwell (pictured), Best Brother Records in Hingham, Armageddon Shop in Cambridge and Music Research Library in Boston, MA, or on the shop page on this here website. More locations across the Northeast to come once the second batch comes in. For now, I’ll take you through a timeline of the entire project, from start to finish, below.

For a full Q&A check out my substack.

“So, did ya actually make it?”

March 2025: Genesis of Idea & Launch

I landed on the idea when brainstorming ideas for a woodshop. In late March, I launched a campaign on Indiegogo.com, sharing with friends and family on social media and other channels. To introduce the idea, I made a video of myself speaking over a Bach recording. It’s public domain, right? The video took me about 5 days of shooting but I finally got it. 

April: Billboards Go Up, Stickers Arrive. 

In April, I ordered the first batch of stickers and shipped them out to a few dedicated supporters of the campaign. To promote the campaign further, I rolled out a few billboard mockups. For a two week period here, I had little to no sales. It was miserable. 

May: The Recording & The End

After brutal 50 days, my campaign came to a close. I didn’t reach my goal of X amount of dollars. But I did make enough to make a small batch. I recorded the full album over a temperate Memorial Day weekend. I made a lot of dust and didn’t make anything in particular. I just made lots of noises and sounds. 

June: Editing & Uploading

Editing turned more difficult than expected. I wanted to get it perfect so it took a few weeks. Finally, I sent it off to the guy in Ohio to get it cut. 

July: Waiting & Waiting

July was a waiting game. I didn’t know what to do with myself. I made a playlist with all the songs I used to promote the album. It slaps. 

I also ordered pencils to include in some of the copies. Woodworkers need pencils. New stickers were designed and ordered as well. 

August: Interception & Initial Listening 

After 11 long weeks, I chased down a mail carrier and intercepted the package. A couple dozen records. Amazing. They are not without flaws, but it’s my work on vinyl and I can’t help but feel proud of it. 

September: a Party &
a New Batch

I designed a poster for the album release party with my friend, Sam Attridge. It’s based off The Velvet Underground’s Loaded album cover. “Keep Honking! I’m listening to…” stickers arrive as well. Sweatshirts too. The party is thrown. And a new batch of 100 is ordered.

Concept & production by James DeMenna
Album release poster designed by Sam Attridge & James DeMenna
Vinyl cut by Rob Courtney in Toledo, Ohio.