I'm going to presume that all of the tracks were your voice. I've tried to do that before, and it's an incredible bitch - even with a song that's got a set meter. To do a freestyling piece like this? Beyond the pale.
I live for vocal harmonies - performing a capella is something I miss every day that I am not able to do so. Now, to hear a voice harmonizing with itself can be eerie and beautiful all at the same time, and you gave me chills on some of those chords.
Based on the "main" track, you have a very old voice, and I mean that in the best way. Old-soul, is what I'm getting at. The voice of someone who has seen things, in this world and others, that the rest of us cannot possibly understand, but you give us glimpses when we hear you.
I realize that I'm gushing (bear with me), but I was literally just thinking on the way home from work about how much I miss singing in a quartet, and how dreadful it is that there's not nearly enough harmony in today's music.
"Just a bit of fun," she says. Sheesh.
Anytime you have something like this to share, I'll be happy to listen.
Oh, I love good feedback like this, totally makes my day!
Oh, hell yeah! Now that's what I like to hear :-D
I'm going to presume that all of the tracks were your voice. They were.
I've tried to do that before, and it's an incredible bitch - even with a song that's got a set meter. To do a freestyling piece like this? Beyond the pale.
It's a very tricky song, actually. It's got a 3/4 beat, but there are skips and swoops in it to keep you on your toes. Fuck knows how I wrote it. Anyway, I didn't do it completely freestyle. I played piano in the background, and I was going to have piano and synth-strings accompanying. It ended up that the metre was too unpredictable to play it well, and the synths are too hamfisted and not gentle enough for it. So I played piano in the background (Which ended up sucking anyway), sang along to it to keep in key, and then ditched the instruments and kept it a capella.
I live for vocal harmonies - performing a capella is something I miss every day that I am not able to do so. Oh, I live for harmonies myself. It's why I adore Beatles, BeeGees, Beach Boys, Mamas and the Papas. I listened intently to all of those. The only band I've heard come close to that brilliance lately? Believe it or not - SheDaisy. They did a song called "Lucky 4 U". The harmonies in that are so incredible, it blew my mind. I really don't like country-pop, but that song is very fucking clever.
Now, to hear a voice harmonizing with itself can be eerie and beautiful all at the same time, and you gave me chills on some of those chords. Some people don't like it. All the chords are traditional celtic/gaelic triads and harmonies which I've gleaned from years and years listening to bagpipe music and old folk songs that my family would sing. Having a Scottish background really helps. I tried to put some of the harmonies that bagpipes make into my voice. Dunno if I really managed that.
Based on the "main" track, you have a very old voice, and I mean that in the best way. Old-soul, is what I'm getting at. The voice of someone who has seen things, in this world and others, that the rest of us cannot possibly understand, but you give us glimpses when we hear you. I am so thrilled that you picked up on the weariness of the song. It was totally intended, and I don't know if any of my stuff has ever brought that across. I've basically come out of the other end of a six-year depression. If that doesn't give you some emotional battle-scars, nothing will. Actually - this'll sound weird, but the song is to me. It's the song I'd wish some fella would sing to me. I got sick of waiting for a guy to write me a song, so I wrote one for myself. :) It's very odd.
I realize that I'm gushing (bear with me) Gush away. I am most certainly not complaining!
but I was literally just thinking on the way home from work about how much I miss singing in a quartet, and how dreadful it is that there's not nearly enough harmony in today's music. Word. Destiny's Child did some interesting stuff, but they never kept with it. It's just sadly lacking.
"Just a bit of fun," she says. Sheesh. *blush*
Anytime you have something like this to share, I'll be happy to listen.
I have a mermaid song that I have to finish recording. See, I just sometimes get the urge to write these folklore kinda songs, and it's weird cause it's not my primary genre. I'm more of a pop girl, you know? (I like harmonies in that stuff too). Sometimes I think it's my dead relatives encouraging me to write something they can get funky to. LOL.
Anyway, thanks so much for leaving such an in-depth response. I adore this sort of feedback, I really do! *hugs*
Heh, skips and swoops. I was reminded of a song we did in a ten-voice jazz choir in college: Bobby McFerrin's rendition of Psalm 49. It was in a nice standard meter (damned if I remember which), but there were pauses and skips and changes in tempo on the fly, and we all watched the lead soprano to take our cues. Very tight.
Funny you should mention country-pop, because (I'm going to show my age here) some of my favorite vocal acts have been groups like the Oak Ridge Boys, the Gatlin Brothers Band and the Eagles when they were still country-rock. I'm not huge into C&W, but anyone who can sing like that is fine by me. As for rock/pop, there seemed to be a lot more of the vocalizing back in the 60s/70s, with groups like Three Dog Night, the Doobie Brothers, Yes, the aforementioned Mamas and Papas, the Beatles, even early Who. I am saddened by the fact that a capella groups like the Nylons and Rockapella remain fringe while boy bands fill stadiums... But I rant needlessly.
I love it that you have that kind of folk music in your background. American folk music is fine and dandy, but I love the music from the British isles. I may want to pick your brain before writing my next chapter, if you'd be amenable to this. There's only so much you can learn from study...
Mmm, bagpipes. There's not enough bagpipe appreciation in this world.
There's nothing at all wrong with your song being To You. Who knows you better? Who is more deserving of all that work and inspiration than yourself? Perhaps part of coming out of that depression was realization that you deserve good things like this? =)
I'll check into your other works when I'm not at the job. Music always ends up getting blocked here. C'est la vie.
Folk may not be your primary genre, but I, for one, am glad that you dabble in it if you can get results like that.
And you're welcome. I've learned, over 15 years of amateur writing, to really appreciate detailed commentary, so I try to give it whenever possible as well. But only when it's deserved: I have a hard time giving a lot of wordage on something that sucks. Which this most definitely did not. =)
Heh, skips and swoops. I was reminded of a song we did in a ten-voice jazz choir in college: Bobby McFerrin's rendition of Psalm 49. It was in a nice standard meter (damned if I remember which), but there were pauses and skips and changes in tempo on the fly, and we all watched the lead soprano to take our cues. Very tight.
Sounds like fun. Nothing better than being in a good choir and making a beautiful sound with them. :)
Funny you should mention country-pop, because (I'm going to show my age here) some of my favorite vocal acts have been groups like the Oak Ridge Boys, the Gatlin Brothers Band and the Eagles when they were still country-rock. I'm not huge into C&W, but anyone who can sing like that is fine by me. As for rock/pop, there seemed to be a lot more of the vocalizing back in the 60s/70s, with groups like Three Dog Night, the Doobie Brothers, Yes, the aforementioned Mamas and Papas, the Beatles, even early Who. I am saddened by the fact that a capella groups like the Nylons and Rockapella remain fringe while boy bands fill stadiums... But I rant needlessly.
I know where you're coming from. And I'm not a huge C&W fan either, but I do like me a bit of Willie Nelson. The Eagles are nice to listen to when kicking back, and I adore the Doobie Brothers. Not really heard much of the others, but I'm sure I will eventually.
I love it that you have that kind of folk music in your background. American folk music is fine and dandy, but I love the music from the British isles. There's a magical fey quality to it. Like the fey left something behind before they naffed off because the local uggs started getting too pushy.
I may want to pick your brain before writing my next chapter, if you'd be amenable to this. There's only so much you can learn from study... Oh, go for it! I don't know how much help I'd be, but go for it. :)
Mmm, bagpipes. There's not enough bagpipe appreciation in this world.
Tell me about it. My back bristles when I hear people complain about how awful bagpipes sound. I start gritting my teeth and muttering 'ignorant'. These are people that have never heard them as they're supposed to be heard - echoing over a distance, mournfully calling through steep hillsides. Of course playing in the middle of a city centre is just as fine, and the echoey sad effect of hearing distant pipes through that is enough to make you cry right where you're standing.
There's nothing at all wrong with your song being To You. Who knows you better? Who is more deserving of all that work and inspiration than yourself? Perhaps part of coming out of that depression was realization that you deserve good things like this? =)
I think so. Strangely, before I was coming out of the depression, I never really had the heart to finish a recording of it.
I'll check into your other works when I'm not at the job. Music always ends up getting blocked here. C'est la vie.
At your leisure, dude! :) Enjoy.
Folk may not be your primary genre, but I, for one, am glad that you dabble in it if you can get results like that.
Thanks! :) It's a little pleasure of mine, though I don't really think myself worthy to try to write folk when I'm only a quarter scottish (genetically). It's a part of my roots though, and something I like to hark on.
And you're welcome. I've learned, over 15 years of amateur writing, to really appreciate detailed commentary, so I try to give it whenever possible as well. But only when it's deserved: I have a hard time giving a lot of wordage on something that sucks. Which this most definitely did not. =)
Oh, another thing. If you liked that one, I have a whole bunch of "Lord of the Rings" fan songs that I wrote if you wanted to hear them. A couple should be at http://www.nancylorenz.com/lothlorien
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logansrogue
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(no subject)
Date: 2005-01-25 02:51 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-01-25 02:52 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-01-25 04:43 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-01-29 06:33 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-01-25 07:48 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-01-29 06:32 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-01-25 02:08 pm (UTC)I'm going to presume that all of the tracks were your voice. I've tried to do that before, and it's an incredible bitch - even with a song that's got a set meter. To do a freestyling piece like this? Beyond the pale.
I live for vocal harmonies - performing a capella is something I miss every day that I am not able to do so. Now, to hear a voice harmonizing with itself can be eerie and beautiful all at the same time, and you gave me chills on some of those chords.
Based on the "main" track, you have a very old voice, and I mean that in the best way. Old-soul, is what I'm getting at. The voice of someone who has seen things, in this world and others, that the rest of us cannot possibly understand, but you give us glimpses when we hear you.
I realize that I'm gushing (bear with me), but I was literally just thinking on the way home from work about how much I miss singing in a quartet, and how dreadful it is that there's not nearly enough harmony in today's music.
"Just a bit of fun," she says. Sheesh.
Anytime you have something like this to share, I'll be happy to listen.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-01-25 02:21 pm (UTC)Oh, hell yeah!
Now that's what I like to hear :-D
I'm going to presume that all of the tracks were your voice.
They were.
I've tried to do that before, and it's an incredible bitch - even with a song that's got a set meter. To do a freestyling piece like this? Beyond the pale.
It's a very tricky song, actually. It's got a 3/4 beat, but there are skips and swoops in it to keep you on your toes. Fuck knows how I wrote it. Anyway, I didn't do it completely freestyle. I played piano in the background, and I was going to have piano and synth-strings accompanying. It ended up that the metre was too unpredictable to play it well, and the synths are too hamfisted and not gentle enough for it. So I played piano in the background (Which ended up sucking anyway), sang along to it to keep in key, and then ditched the instruments and kept it a capella.
I live for vocal harmonies - performing a capella is something I miss every day that I am not able to do so.
Oh, I live for harmonies myself. It's why I adore Beatles, BeeGees, Beach Boys, Mamas and the Papas. I listened intently to all of those. The only band I've heard come close to that brilliance lately? Believe it or not - SheDaisy. They did a song called "Lucky 4 U". The harmonies in that are so incredible, it blew my mind. I really don't like country-pop, but that song is very fucking clever.
Now, to hear a voice harmonizing with itself can be eerie and beautiful all at the same time, and you gave me chills on some of those chords.
Some people don't like it. All the chords are traditional celtic/gaelic triads and harmonies which I've gleaned from years and years listening to bagpipe music and old folk songs that my family would sing. Having a Scottish background really helps. I tried to put some of the harmonies that bagpipes make into my voice. Dunno if I really managed that.
Based on the "main" track, you have a very old voice, and I mean that in the best way. Old-soul, is what I'm getting at. The voice of someone who has seen things, in this world and others, that the rest of us cannot possibly understand, but you give us glimpses when we hear you.
I am so thrilled that you picked up on the weariness of the song. It was totally intended, and I don't know if any of my stuff has ever brought that across. I've basically come out of the other end of a six-year depression. If that doesn't give you some emotional battle-scars, nothing will. Actually - this'll sound weird, but the song is to me. It's the song I'd wish some fella would sing to me. I got sick of waiting for a guy to write me a song, so I wrote one for myself. :) It's very odd.
I realize that I'm gushing (bear with me)
Gush away. I am most certainly not complaining!
but I was literally just thinking on the way home from work about how much I miss singing in a quartet, and how dreadful it is that there's not nearly enough harmony in today's music.
Word. Destiny's Child did some interesting stuff, but they never kept with it. It's just sadly lacking.
"Just a bit of fun," she says. Sheesh.
*blush*
Anytime you have something like this to share, I'll be happy to listen.
I have a mermaid song that I have to finish recording. See, I just sometimes get the urge to write these folklore kinda songs, and it's weird cause it's not my primary genre. I'm more of a pop girl, you know? (I like harmonies in that stuff too). Sometimes I think it's my dead relatives encouraging me to write something they can get funky to. LOL.
Anyway, thanks so much for leaving such an in-depth response. I adore this sort of feedback, I really do! *hugs*
(no subject)
Date: 2005-01-28 11:04 am (UTC)Funny you should mention country-pop, because (I'm going to show my age here) some of my favorite vocal acts have been groups like the Oak Ridge Boys, the Gatlin Brothers Band and the Eagles when they were still country-rock. I'm not huge into C&W, but anyone who can sing like that is fine by me. As for rock/pop, there seemed to be a lot more of the vocalizing back in the 60s/70s, with groups like Three Dog Night, the Doobie Brothers, Yes, the aforementioned Mamas and Papas, the Beatles, even early Who. I am saddened by the fact that a capella groups like the Nylons and Rockapella remain fringe while boy bands fill stadiums... But I rant needlessly.
I love it that you have that kind of folk music in your background. American folk music is fine and dandy, but I love the music from the British isles. I may want to pick your brain before writing my next chapter, if you'd be amenable to this. There's only so much you can learn from study...
Mmm, bagpipes. There's not enough bagpipe appreciation in this world.
There's nothing at all wrong with your song being To You. Who knows you better? Who is more deserving of all that work and inspiration than yourself? Perhaps part of coming out of that depression was realization that you deserve good things like this? =)
I'll check into your other works when I'm not at the job. Music always ends up getting blocked here. C'est la vie.
Folk may not be your primary genre, but I, for one, am glad that you dabble in it if you can get results like that.
And you're welcome. I've learned, over 15 years of amateur writing, to really appreciate detailed commentary, so I try to give it whenever possible as well. But only when it's deserved: I have a hard time giving a lot of wordage on something that sucks. Which this most definitely did not. =)
(no subject)
Date: 2005-01-29 06:30 am (UTC)Sounds like fun. Nothing better than being in a good choir and making a beautiful sound with them. :)
Funny you should mention country-pop, because (I'm going to show my age here) some of my favorite vocal acts have been groups like the Oak Ridge Boys, the Gatlin Brothers Band and the Eagles when they were still country-rock. I'm not huge into C&W, but anyone who can sing like that is fine by me. As for rock/pop, there seemed to be a lot more of the vocalizing back in the 60s/70s, with groups like Three Dog Night, the Doobie Brothers, Yes, the aforementioned Mamas and Papas, the Beatles, even early Who. I am saddened by the fact that a capella groups like the Nylons and Rockapella remain fringe while boy bands fill stadiums... But I rant needlessly.
I know where you're coming from. And I'm not a huge C&W fan either, but I do like me a bit of Willie Nelson. The Eagles are nice to listen to when kicking back, and I adore the Doobie Brothers. Not really heard much of the others, but I'm sure I will eventually.
I love it that you have that kind of folk music in your background. American folk music is fine and dandy, but I love the music from the British isles.
There's a magical fey quality to it. Like the fey left something behind before they naffed off because the local uggs started getting too pushy.
I may want to pick your brain before writing my next chapter, if you'd be amenable to this. There's only so much you can learn from study...
Oh, go for it! I don't know how much help I'd be, but go for it. :)
Mmm, bagpipes. There's not enough bagpipe appreciation in this world.
Tell me about it. My back bristles when I hear people complain about how awful bagpipes sound. I start gritting my teeth and muttering 'ignorant'. These are people that have never heard them as they're supposed to be heard - echoing over a distance, mournfully calling through steep hillsides. Of course playing in the middle of a city centre is just as fine, and the echoey sad effect of hearing distant pipes through that is enough to make you cry right where you're standing.
There's nothing at all wrong with your song being To You. Who knows you better? Who is more deserving of all that work and inspiration than yourself? Perhaps part of coming out of that depression was realization that you deserve good things like this? =)
I think so. Strangely, before I was coming out of the depression, I never really had the heart to finish a recording of it.
I'll check into your other works when I'm not at the job. Music always ends up getting blocked here. C'est la vie.
At your leisure, dude! :) Enjoy.
Folk may not be your primary genre, but I, for one, am glad that you dabble in it if you can get results like that.
Thanks! :) It's a little pleasure of mine, though I don't really think myself worthy to try to write folk when I'm only a quarter scottish (genetically). It's a part of my roots though, and something I like to hark on.
And you're welcome. I've learned, over 15 years of amateur writing, to really appreciate detailed commentary, so I try to give it whenever possible as well. But only when it's deserved: I have a hard time giving a lot of wordage on something that sucks. Which this most definitely did not. =)
(no subject)
Date: 2005-01-25 02:23 pm (UTC):)
(no subject)
Date: 2005-01-25 02:25 pm (UTC)