SINGERS WIPE THAT SMILE OUT OF YOUR VOICE.

Posted by Unknown - 2:11 AM -

Whatever the genre, the emotional color of the tone of voice chosen should matches what the heck the lyric is saying. Can you imagine singing "I Can't Make You Love Me" with a big smile on your face and in your voice? Those lyrics contain ANGST - and if the tone of your voice doesn't contain some kind of quiet but powerful angst, the listener would feel betrayed by vocal fraud. Yes, I'll go that far.

That doesn't necessarily mean you need to sound angry. There are many, many emotional colors between "happy" and "angry".

One of the biggest mistakes I hear amateur singers make is that of singing a lyric without the right emotion in the voice - and many times smiling all the way through the song like it's a popularity contest is the mistake.

I have also known professional jingle singers who've made a fortune singing commercials but cannot get arrested as artists. This is because they have made a career out of selling product in 30 or 60 second bursts of song. If you're selling a product, you usually do it with a friendly smile. You also do it with lots of energy... which gets tiring for the listener when 60 seconds turns into a 3 1/2 minute song. The lyric, unless it's punk rock, usually needs varying emotional dynamics to sound like an authentic message to a human being.

Next time you listen to a playback of your voice, ask yourself if the emotional color you're using matches the lyric and the music. And unless the song is something like "I'm A Happy Girl", it might be best to loose that fake smile.

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Matayarisho Ya Kipindi Kipya Cha Luninga Kinachoitwa "BONGE LA SHOW".

Posted by Unknown - 11:25 PM -

Studio ya JC-RECORDS ikishirikiana na Ama the maker (the Makers entertainment), the best Dj in town Dj Amo, Kelvin "the Cam monster" na Diva Pazzy wako katika maandalizi ya kipindi kipya cha luninga kinachoitwa "BONGE LA SHOW". Kipindi kitakuwa na maudhui tofauti na ya kipekee sana, kaa mkao wa kusubiri kwa shauku.

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GETTING THE MAGIC OF LIVE PERFORMANCE IN THE STUDIO.

Posted by Unknown - 10:05 PM -

There is a frustrating disconnect with many people who are great in live performance but can't seem to get that same great vocal in the recording studio. Here are some tips to help you bring your live sound into your recorded sound:

• Create the ambiance you need to "do the scene" as you deliver the song. Ambiance creating suggestions:

1. Make sure the music stand is back far enough under the mic so you can stand in such a way that you don't need to lean forward.

2. Don't read lyric sheets, or if you do, park the music stand way off to the side.

3. Ask the engineer if it's possible not to point you facing directly into the control room.

4. Ask for your vocal booth lighting, and if possible also the control room lighting, to be turned down so you can focus your mind on the story.

5. Some people are helped by "props" , Light a candle, put a picture near, plug in a lava lamp or whatever it takes to get you into the scene.

• Play with your imaginary friend(s). Sing to someone to whom the song is directed. Try to make that person feel something from your communication of the message... just like live.

• Don't sing to anyone in the control room. They are there to judge your performance and edit you. Listen to them, then go right back to sing-talking to the object of your message (lyric).

• Use body language! You won't believe how using eyes, hands, legs, expressive body language can cause the song to take on amazing life. Ditch your inhibition (and possibly your pride) and physically get into your delivery.

• Use "Studio Hands" - This is a technique I use- put your fingertips together and push them into each other to help you with breath control.

• Use a dummy mic! Try holding a dummy mic or similarly weighted object in your hand. Put the dummy mic up to your mouth and sing into it like you would live, but position yourself close enough to the live mic to make sure it picks up your voice.

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PITCH PROBLEMS IN THE RECORDING STUDIO.

Posted by Unknown - 3:50 AM -

I recently received a question about pitch problems while recording vocals that I'd like to share here.

When an artist is really good in live performance, there is quite often a curious thing that happens when that artist goes into the studio. The person ceases to move, ceases to "communicate" with the body, the hands and the face. The weight of the mic is missing, so the singer subcounciously leans forward with the head, causing the chest to cave in a bit. This causes breathing problems, affecting both breath support and breath control. This may very well be the source of your pitch problems.

To fix this, try moving your feet farther in towards the mic, causing you to subconsciously have your head farther back (or you'll hit the mic with your mouth) and your chest will open, stretching the ribcage and diaphragm out, enabling you to get both better inhale and better control of that breath when you sing.

Also, try using your hands, like in live performance. Don't grab the "cans" with your hands, because this tends to put subtle weight on your ribcage, closing it. Another thing I frequently have people do is put fingertips together in front (I call this "studio hands"). When you "go" for a note, you'll press your fingertips into each other, causing your chest to open and your head to go back. Be sure you're not lifting your chin, keep it level and floating and just let your neck be flexible and your spine will take your head back.

Another thing you need to watch is that you need to be very present with the pitch in some kind of acoustic instrument in the track. Don't "listen" for pitch from the bass, because overtones can throw you off. Try taking some of the instruments (especially swimmy instruments or busy instruments) out of your headphone mix.

Also, watch how much reverb you are using in the mix. Too much or not enough, and you won't do as well. Just enough to make you feel "live", but not enough to get lost.

Lastly, I recommend having one headphone half-off one ear. That grounds you in the vocal booth, and gives you more of an accurate sense of the pitch you're using. Not everyone does better this way, but most do (I certainly do).