Groovin' like black chicks
Finally I got my girls in!
I dropped Shel and Dee off at around 11:00 in the morning. I stuck around to hear them do the first track, and from what I heard they were smokin'. The two of them were placed into a different room from where I recorded (affectionately known as the 'vocal booth'), and shared a microphone between the two of them. Relative volume was taken care of by positioning the two of them closer or further away from the mic. I sat in the production room with the Foster boys from Napier Park. Here's Shel's, then Dee's impressions of the day:
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so what happens when two black chicks of varying heights get into a recording studio?? one of them has to stand on wooden blocks... that's what. After we were all fixed up height wise, we started singing something fierce... which for me means in a volume that's actually audible. That was probably the hardest part... having to find out what i ACTUALLY sound like. I'll let you know if that was a good thing or a bad thing once i hear the final mix. Anyways being in the studio itself was ridiculously cool... i totally felt my inner diva come alive while i had the head phones on...however, i was quickly brought back to reality as i stumbled off my make shift step ladder. that's right... my reality is that of a vertically challenged individual. but its ok. good things come in small pacakages.... i think. anyway it was all good in the hood... i could totally make a living off of this one day.... anyone looking for a jazz singer?????
p.s - kris bought us flowers to start the day. he's the greatest !!! ladies, definatley grab him before i decide i want him back !!
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Studio Session virginity is an interesting concept. We were both virgins to this experience, but it went fairly smoothly considering, I'm not gonna lie I was a litte nervous. The session started with some warm ups, Shelly with her extensive choir knowledge warmed up on scales, and myself with extensive sister act knowledge, a warm up based on la's. Next up, Riley the dog humped my leg, just to soften the mood, and before we knew it, iit was time to step into the vocal space. At first take it became apparently clear that Shelly is a midget, so they brought her some blocks to stand on...AHAHAHAHA. So when she was finally brought up to "my level" we balanced fairly well on the one mic. It was also unfortunatly apparent that I have way too BIG of a MOUTH, and so I stepped back to balance the vocals a little more for recording. Once all these logistics came together the real recording began.
As we did take after take I grew to realize how sereal the experience was. There we were, true divas, singing into the mic, while holding on to headphones; one ear on, and one ear off to maximize the quality and sound of your own voice. We also took advantage of getting into the groove by crazy dancing just to lighten the mood, good times! It was really great to hear what we were doing, and feel out differences that we could make to the songs. It also made me a lot more aware of things that I tend to mess up, or change on each take on myself, I certainly don't work like clockwork, but I'm sure there are worse things. In the end, Shelly and I were proud of a 3 hour run at 6 songs, about 3 takes on each, and a new knowledge that will help for future recordings...cuz you know this is just the beginning for WATC, lol, neways, the experience was wicked, can't wait to do it again...Peace out.
I dropped Shel and Dee off at around 11:00 in the morning. I stuck around to hear them do the first track, and from what I heard they were smokin'. The two of them were placed into a different room from where I recorded (affectionately known as the 'vocal booth'), and shared a microphone between the two of them. Relative volume was taken care of by positioning the two of them closer or further away from the mic. I sat in the production room with the Foster boys from Napier Park. Here's Shel's, then Dee's impressions of the day:
-------------------------
so what happens when two black chicks of varying heights get into a recording studio?? one of them has to stand on wooden blocks... that's what. After we were all fixed up height wise, we started singing something fierce... which for me means in a volume that's actually audible. That was probably the hardest part... having to find out what i ACTUALLY sound like. I'll let you know if that was a good thing or a bad thing once i hear the final mix. Anyways being in the studio itself was ridiculously cool... i totally felt my inner diva come alive while i had the head phones on...however, i was quickly brought back to reality as i stumbled off my make shift step ladder. that's right... my reality is that of a vertically challenged individual. but its ok. good things come in small pacakages.... i think. anyway it was all good in the hood... i could totally make a living off of this one day.... anyone looking for a jazz singer?????
p.s - kris bought us flowers to start the day. he's the greatest !!! ladies, definatley grab him before i decide i want him back !!
----------------------------
Studio Session virginity is an interesting concept. We were both virgins to this experience, but it went fairly smoothly considering, I'm not gonna lie I was a litte nervous. The session started with some warm ups, Shelly with her extensive choir knowledge warmed up on scales, and myself with extensive sister act knowledge, a warm up based on la's. Next up, Riley the dog humped my leg, just to soften the mood, and before we knew it, iit was time to step into the vocal space. At first take it became apparently clear that Shelly is a midget, so they brought her some blocks to stand on...AHAHAHAHA. So when she was finally brought up to "my level" we balanced fairly well on the one mic. It was also unfortunatly apparent that I have way too BIG of a MOUTH, and so I stepped back to balance the vocals a little more for recording. Once all these logistics came together the real recording began.
As we did take after take I grew to realize how sereal the experience was. There we were, true divas, singing into the mic, while holding on to headphones; one ear on, and one ear off to maximize the quality and sound of your own voice. We also took advantage of getting into the groove by crazy dancing just to lighten the mood, good times! It was really great to hear what we were doing, and feel out differences that we could make to the songs. It also made me a lot more aware of things that I tend to mess up, or change on each take on myself, I certainly don't work like clockwork, but I'm sure there are worse things. In the end, Shelly and I were proud of a 3 hour run at 6 songs, about 3 takes on each, and a new knowledge that will help for future recordings...cuz you know this is just the beginning for WATC, lol, neways, the experience was wicked, can't wait to do it again...Peace out.
posted by Kris at 4:46 AM
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