A Protest Anthem and a Ballad

[nzausrec]

There are two for perusal.
'Sick World' is a piece about kids after a village is left starving.
'Springtime' recorded once thru. About ... I don't know really.

I'm very interested in finding out what direction my vocals should take. I really want to improve in vox.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=929542

Once again, thanks you guys for lis'ning and commenting.

 

[gecko zzed]

I listened to both songs.

You said you were interested in finding out what directions your vocals should take.

I like the quality of your voice. I particularly liked it in the ballad "Springtime". There is a whimsical lightness coupled with a bit of croakiness that I found appealing. This is an area you could explore, because there is a lot of character in your voice here that I think is worth developing. You sang 'Sick World' okay, but vocally it wasn't as interesting (for me) as Springtime.

Here is the question you ask yourself: "What is it about my singing that will set me apart from the thousands of singers out there, and make people wnat to keep listening?"

I expect you are aware of some of the production aspects that need attention. For example, the overall sound of Springtime (particularly the guitar) is dull, and the reverb is too bathroomy. There is also a lot of popping on the plosives, so you need to develop your mike technique, specially when you go for that close-mike intimate approach. I didn't notice any popping on Sick World.

I thought Sick World had a slightly better sonic treatment, but it too had some areas needing attention. The single biggest area is the instrumentation. It is seriously busy. That particular piano sound is very percussive, and this combines with the inherent percussiveness of the kit and lead guitar to make a very cluttered sound. It wouldn't take much to make this a stronger, more flowing song . . . simplify drastically the keys and kit, and keep the guitar playing minimal . . . use it for the odd spaces in the song, like puncuation marks . . . rather than playing the whole way through.

The single greatest temptation is that once you have an instrument in hand you keep playing. The best thing to do is to not play . . . allow the song to have time to breathe.

I didn't pay too much attention to the lyrics, which means they are probably okay . . . nothing made me sit up and take notice, in either a good or bad way, so they suited the music pretty well . . .but . . . I did squirm a bit at 'Sweetie' in Sprintime.

I acutally prefer Springtime . . I think it is structurally and melodically interesting, and you could do a lot with this song.

Anyway . . . keep on with it . . . there's no small measure of talent there worth developing.

 

[nzausrec]

Thanks Gekko. Thanks very much for those comments.

 

[Walter Tore]

I listened to both songs. I liked them. I am always amazed how I can imagine with the right production, so many of us normal joes could be hit material. So what do I have to say about your voice? I say it is a personal journey. For me, it has be decades of letting my true voice come out. Learning where it likes to go, and where it doesn't has been a big part as well as not trying to emulate others. Recording everyday has helped big time with this. Hearing my voice on playback, has been a great learning tool. The main thing is to have fun with the process. Walter

 

[Whatmysay]

Just listen to all your material on SC, there is certainly a great diversity ranging from the 'jazz odessey' of Dream - think 2nd best vox; to the Everly Brosesque 'Future', to the experimentation on Homeless Man (I really loved the music)!

I know I should be better then this but I find it very hard to get past the mix on a lot of these tracks - not just that, but as Gecko has already mentioned the instrumentation and arrangement really needs to be considered more.

It is clear that you are a handy guitarist and have a great ear for melody and that much that you have posted is an exploration of styles and music genres - which in it self is at times brilliant. If that is your purpose then you are doing very well - but if you are after crafting your material then you might want to think a bit more.

What struck me on 'Take your lips Away' was the sonic richness that is not as apparent in the other tracks - to me it sounded a lot like Morrissey . If you want a direction for your voice then this is what I would pursue if I was you.

Most of your material is really melodic and could stand on its own with an acoustic guitar or piano.Record or rerecord a couple of songs like Springtime unplugged - then listen to them and let them settle with you - then find the space in the melody to create riffs, counter and complimentary melodies with other instruments. You do this well already in Tear and Turn Away with the xylophone.

Let your voice capitalise on the melodic lines you are writing and what ever you did in Take those lips Away do it again and again.

BTW are you in Taiwan, Japan or Vladivostok?

Burt

 

[nzausrec]

Thanks Burt.
I see that there are a few people who live in HK, or are set on HK time. I went there when I was a kid. It was alright.
I learned some Cantonese from a workmate once. He taught me, "The boss is coming." Something like "Labaan lay la." I used it once while we were having a talk while supposed to be laboring hard.
I'm in Korea. So close to neighbors I guess just like HK. I wonder what they all think of our singing?

Thanks for the advice Burt. Between you and Gecko and listening to Jeff Maher I am realising that a composition needs space to not drown in a blur.
I found out from this site too that the basic voice doesn't scare people away or have them covering their ears. So that's a big hurdle over.
So, a sit down, cut back to basics and will, hopefully, re-appear with some better arranged tunes. I'm really looking forward to working on that. I think it is going to be hard. But, much more rewarding to have a goal in sight.

Thanks heaps for the advice.
Shea Shea ..?

Andy.

 

[icystorm]

Once again, thanks you guys for lis'ning and commenting.

Hi Andy,

I listened to both tracks and found them both to be good tunes. I liked "Sick World" the best of the two. I will listen to some of your other material on Soundclick when I have more time, hopefully tomorrow.

Cheers,
Joseph

 

[rayc]

nzausrec,
Sickworld - there's a competition in the mix between the keyboard, noodling guitar and your vocal. The lyrics only become clear after you repeat save the world.
Would you post the lyrics? I'd like to get to them more accurately.
Sringtime - Pretty guitars - they need some EQing though. The melody works well for the most part - it bogged down a couple of times when you talked rather sang.
It's pretty OLD SCHOOL (early Beatles 1st stereo mixes) or radically modern to throw the vox over to the side.
Nice - needs a little work but it'll come together.

 

[up-fiddler]

Sick World

I liked your use of pans especially in the early going. This recording is much wider than most we hear and that is meant to be taken in a good way. Your use of many simple instrumental parts to create a bigger picture is well crafted.

As far as your vox is concerned.......you are you. I find nothing wrong with your vox. Your are on pitch where you are supposed to be and your timing is good. Sing with what you have and think of people like Steve Earle, Bob Dylan, Chris Kristofferson, and John Prine. They had pretty terrible voices and yet were able to build great singer/songwriter careers with what they had. Certainly your voice is far better than any of those gentlemen! If I could make any recommendation to changing your vox it would be to sing with more emotion and less concern over the quality of your voice. Quality takes care of itself when raw emotion is the overarching backbone of the performance. Don't believe me? Just ask Springsteen. Seriously, just let it hang out there a bit more. Here is a 'trick' that I often use to help me. (And Lord knows I need it!) Once I have an acceptable vox take 'on tape' I will arm a free track and then do two or three takes that are just wacky and out there but as expressive as I can make them. Then I go back and listen for what I like best. Sometimes I just keep the first good take. Other times I like one of the wackjob takes better. More often than not though I go back and rerecord singing it using the parts from each that I liked best and work with that take in the final mix. Hope this helps. Dave aka up-fiddler