Yesterday was the most Productive. Day. Ever. I was in the studio and ready to go by just after 9. So began the sessions!
Session 1 – rock
I started with a epic-rock type track (that’ll wake you up). Usually people send across a scratch vocal track that I learn by ear, then I arrange the harmonies by ear, too. But I was provided with sheet music which was cool. I don’t have much cause to read music anymore – felt good to stretch the sight-reading muscles…
Session 2 – dance
Then on to the third of a three song dance project. I’m writing and singing the lyrics and melody for three singles due to be released in 2010. I’m really enjoying this project, actually – getting great feedback from the guy I’m working with. It’s always a pleasure to work with someone with good attention to detail. It usually results in a shiny finished product – bring it on!
Admin 
Half way through the dance session, I knew I needed to warm up my chest voice to do the chorus justice. So I started warming up. And doing some admin.
While I was warming up I did some hunting for some alternate vocal takes that a Bristol-based song-writer emailed me about. We worked on a HUGE track a couple of weeks ago (vocal tracks everywhere! Double tracking! Scat solos! Harmonies! Computers struggle to cope! But it did cope…). He had asked for some alternate takes, so I did some hunting and found them.
Session 2 – resumed
Then back to the mic and back to the chorus. It’s not like the vocals are HUGE, y’know? They needed to be kind of flirty and come-hither. But it was just high enough in my chest voice that it sounded more heavy-lifting than come-hither, so I made sure to warm up to a major-third above the highest chorus note and it sorted it right out. Worked a treat…
Session 3 – pop
Pop-tastic! Session 3 was all about pop vocals and F.A.T. vocal harmonies (one of my true loves in this world). Another freakin’ FUN session because it was all about playing with different vocal textures and adding little riffs. Another wailing chorus, too – always feels good to rip it open.
Double tracking (triple tracking, actually), 6 layers of double-tracked harmony for the chorus, some ‘yeah’s in there somewhere. Good stuff…
Session 4 – charity project
By the end of these three session I felt completely on fire and I didn’t want to stop singing. So I opened up a project for the charity album I’m working on for Kids Uganda. It’s an improvised version of the song ‘Be Thou My Vision’ and it was cool to play around with such a traditional and well-know song.
I only did two takes before I sent it across to get feedback – this is one of those tracks that can’t be hammered or it will SOUND hammered. Au naturale, all the way.
I’m still fired up from yesterday’s insane productivity. I also heard back from two fellow vocalists that I’m outsourcing some work to – both of them are ridiculously talented, so I’m glad things are moving forward.
GOOD day… goodgoodgood.
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WOW! What a great work day! I’m so proud of how hard you work, and that you are putting that college degree to use! You, my darling daughter, rock! Love you, Em!