What does this need?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Llarion
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Llarion

Llarion

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Hi gang... So here's a cool story. I go to this guitar camp every year, and the gang I go with funds a youth scholarship. This past summer, our winner was a 16 year old from the Asheville area named Indigo DeSouza. During the week, she wrote an amazing song called Numb, and we played it at the student showcase. The video is here so you can hear the song the way it was born:



Anyway, I want to surprise her with a full track to record her vocals over. I've got the full rhythm section done, but I want to get some thoughts as to what else I should add to it. I want to do at least a cello, but should I do full strings, or what?

Here's the track I put together so far. Would love to hear your input! It's bass, drums, acoustic guitar, and a 2nd high-string acoustic part, a Rhodes from Pianoteq, and a shaker...

[MP3]http://www.llarion.com/NumbTest6.mp3[/MP3]

Thanks in advance!
 
Definitely not a full string section, a cello I could see. Maybe a distant electric for soft fills and counter-melodies. Any plans for a soloing instrument?

Nice bass work. I have never really noticed the bass in your songs before. This one stands out nicely.
 
Chili said:
Definitely not a full string section, a cello I could see. Maybe a distant electric for soft fills and counter-melodies. Any plans for a soloing instrument?

Nice bass work. I have never really noticed the bass in your songs before. This one stands out nicely.
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thanks!! There are some keyboard solos between two of the verses, I didn't have then in this mix because I just had them put in recently. Forgot to run another mix down...
 
That's just awesome, she should be thrilled! The drums have just the right feel on this to me. I like the guitars too, though the lower part felt like it needed a little more body when you were hitting it harder in the later parts. I think a cello would sound good in there, but so would a sax or even a clarinet, but only one. Don't think I would do any more than that, the air in this song suits it. Really beautiful, I hope you will post again after she adds her vocal.
 
rpm61 said:
That's just awesome, she should be thrilled! The drums have just the right feel on this to me. I like the guitars too, though the lower part felt like it needed a little more body when you were hitting it harder in the later parts. I think a cello would sound good in there, but so would a sax or even a clarinet, but only one. Don't think I would do any more than that, the air in this song suits it. Really beautiful, I hope you will post again after she adds her vocal.
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Thanks much! Yeah, I think the sparseness and organic openness is something she definitely favors... I tend towards density in my own arrangements; so it's a little against my grain to leave a lot of air; we'll see how disciplined I can be. :) I'll definitely post the finished product!
 
Chili said:
Yeah, I meant to say the same thing. :o Please post when completed.
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Yeah, I have to walk her through recording 101, she JUST got an input device and recording software. I hope it will be soon!
 
Hard to say what it might need until I hear her on top of this, but my gut feel is absolutely nothing for the first couple of cycles....the break with the bell trees seems to be a natural demarcation point for some added beds...I don't think a soft string bed or some Enya type vocal Oooo's (the Fantom G series has some very nice samples) wouldn't be out of place here. The tune backing tracks are flat out gorgeous. Well done. It almost has a Christopher Cross "Sailing" vibe to it.

Nice dude...memorably sweet.
 
TeyshaBlue said:
Hard to say what it might need until I hear her on top of this, but my gut feel is absolutely nothing for the first couple of cycles....the break with the bell trees seems to be a natural demarcation point for some added beds...I don't think a soft string bed or some Enya type vocal Oooo's (the Fantom G series has some very nice samples) wouldn't be out of place here. The tune backing tracks are flat out gorgeous. Well done. It almost has a Christopher Cross "Sailing" vibe to it.

Nice dude...memorably sweet.
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Thanks man! Was experimenting with some cello lines today, some interesting stuff but nothing earth shattering yet... :)
 
Hey llarion, that's a really cool thing to do, I hope she likes it.

Everything sounds very smooth and well played throughout. For me what it needs is a bit more guts to give it a bit more body and a slightly more organic feel. All the elements like the percussion and acoustic guitar that would normally give that have plenty of air, but seem like they could do with a touch more in the lower midrange. I dunno, maybe that's what her vocals will fill out when you add them in, or maybe it's me imposing personal preferences on the mix. Hope you post up when they're recorded :)
 
Chili said:
Nice bass work. I have never really noticed the bass in your songs before. This one stands out nicely.
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I always notice the bass in his stuff. It never draws attention to itself, but it always sounds good. That's why I'm thinking he might drop the bass a dB on this one during its loudest passages - it's pretty out front.

The backing's perfect. All she needs to do is sing her ass off. No, she might actually read that and follow that advice. She needs to balance restrained feeling with moments of singing her ass off. There. Producer material.

Oh...that, and you're standing too close to her on stage. :D
 
dobro said:
I always notice the bass in his stuff. It never draws attention to itself, but it always sounds good. That's why I'm thinking he might drop the bass a dB on this one during its loudest passages - it's pretty out front.

The backing's perfect. All she needs to do is sing her ass off. No, she might actually read that and follow that advice. She needs to balance restrained feeling with moments of singing her ass off. There. Producer material.

Oh...that, and you're standing too close to her on stage. :D
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Hahahah! She was terrified, she wanted me right there.... :) your advice is spot on. :) and thanks about the bass work that's exactly what I shoot for... :) :)
 
robgreen said:
Hey llarion, that's a really cool thing to do, I hope she likes it.

Everything sounds very smooth and well played throughout. For me what it needs is a bit more guts to give it a bit more body and a slightly more organic feel. All the elements like the percussion and acoustic guitar that would normally give that have plenty of air, but seem like they could do with a touch more in the lower midrange. I dunno, maybe that's what her vocals will fill out when you add them in, or maybe it's me imposing personal preferences on the mix. Hope you post up when they're recorded :)
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Yes, I'm waiting till I have the vocal track to make those decisions... It may not need anything.. If her voice is right on... :)
 
Some simple cello would be nice but the bass would have to accommodate it.
You mentioned keboard fills but it sounds like those may be surplus to requirements based on some cello added to what you presented.
Lovely stuff thus far.
 
nice voice and great song .. enjoyed that she got talent :)


wish you well with your project :)
 
rayc said:
Some simple cello would be nice but the bass would have to accommodate it.
You mentioned keboard fills but it sounds like those may be surplus to requirements based on some cello added to what you presented.
Lovely stuff thus far.
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Yeah, I'd make the two dance together, that is what I was envisioning, because the bass line moves so much... :)
 
Not sure if anyone suggested it....but I'm hearing sparse, single note piano lines during the verses, that would pepper the vocals, and maybe even provide a short piano lead break at some point, to give the vocals more drama when they come back in....and then yeah, bring a cello in on top of that during the chorus sections.
 
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