(Sarah) Well, what can I say? A year of steady, consistent steps forward and probably the first year I've ever felt like a grown-up ;-) It's been INTENSELY creative. I have missed people, and I have found people. Oooooh...the nostalgia of Christmas (tears and tinsel). I don't think even I realised how creative I was, until 2008! Here are some of my highlights, in no particular order: Being cooked for, alot My new pad Xerotic Horses noses Mama Mia! Going MAD with Andy Gilbert on my birthday Surfing MGMT Performing at the EY bash Seeing aliens San Diego Retrofest Singing with Tara again Randomfest PTM The kebab place on the way home Rain, Las Vegas The service station on the way home (!) Our dinner party, cooking for six Norfolk OM Devon The Curve Halloween ...and there's still a bit of the year left, yeah!! I will look into my crystal ball and make some predictions for 2009. night x |
Friday, 19 December 2008
REVIEW OF 2008
Monday, 15 December 2008
TWO FOR ONE
We have been struggling with one of the songs for the album, "Where to from here" was one of the first tracks we recorded earlier in the year. I now have around 5 different versions of this none of which I'm completely happy with, if you remember listening to the Podcast we did earlier in the year we previewed this song.
The original vocal was good but I felt the whole track lacked energy, normally I would re-write the track around the recorded vocal however I really like the original backing idea that I wrote. So this was shelved for a while. Sarah thought that coming back to it would perhaps give us some new direction but alas we still feel it lacks something. So after a few hours on Saturday of not really progressing with this song we decided stop and do something else.
Sarah had a melody for another song in her head so we decided to have a go at that instead. This is not normally the way we work but I gave Sarah a click track and she quickly sang a few lines, she also had an idea for a keyboard melody that she played for me. Within a few minutes we had the basic structure for one of the strongest tracks for the album. It's working title is "Who are you". I thought after the ditched session for "Where to from here" I would have been a bit fed-up but the new track has made me positively chipper.
I went to see Stereophonics on Saturday, not really my cup of tea but the tickets were a present for my wife. It did make me think that I do have to see more live bands next year. I suppose DM at the O2 is a good start.
Matt
The original vocal was good but I felt the whole track lacked energy, normally I would re-write the track around the recorded vocal however I really like the original backing idea that I wrote. So this was shelved for a while. Sarah thought that coming back to it would perhaps give us some new direction but alas we still feel it lacks something. So after a few hours on Saturday of not really progressing with this song we decided stop and do something else.
Sarah had a melody for another song in her head so we decided to have a go at that instead. This is not normally the way we work but I gave Sarah a click track and she quickly sang a few lines, she also had an idea for a keyboard melody that she played for me. Within a few minutes we had the basic structure for one of the strongest tracks for the album. It's working title is "Who are you". I thought after the ditched session for "Where to from here" I would have been a bit fed-up but the new track has made me positively chipper.
I went to see Stereophonics on Saturday, not really my cup of tea but the tickets were a present for my wife. It did make me think that I do have to see more live bands next year. I suppose DM at the O2 is a good start.
Matt
Thursday, 11 December 2008
OK...
We really are recording the very last lot of vocals at the weekend, so fingers crossed if I'm not too drunk over the Christmas period the album will be finished by New Years eve.
Phew
Phew
Monday, 1 December 2008
T+T DOWNLOAD
As a pre Christmas treat you can download Tears & Tinsel from our website, click here to download the album version here.
Wednesday, 12 November 2008
ALBUM OVERVIEW
We got together last night to review the album so far, in general we are really happy with everything however we have decided to re-record vocals on three tracks. These songs were written and recorded fairly early on and I think the overall quality and attention to detail has improved so we therefore felt it was best to redo these vocals, this final session will take place next weekend.
In no particular order the final tracks are...
TRANQUIL EYES
AUTOMATIC
INTO THE BLUE
6 SIX VI
POP
Y/N
WHERE TO FROM HERE
DIRTY YOUTH
GOODBYE
PLEASURELY THAT MACHINE
T+T
The album is still has no title although there are a few names floating around. The release will be via iTunes, our own download store and a physical CD. We are also having 500 ltd edition CD's with a 32 page booklet and outer slip case, these will be individually signed.
The album is due to be mastered in the first week of January which will enable us to release it in February
Matt
In no particular order the final tracks are...
TRANQUIL EYES
AUTOMATIC
INTO THE BLUE
6 SIX VI
POP
Y/N
WHERE TO FROM HERE
DIRTY YOUTH
GOODBYE
PLEASURELY THAT MACHINE
T+T
The album is still has no title although there are a few names floating around. The release will be via iTunes, our own download store and a physical CD. We are also having 500 ltd edition CD's with a 32 page booklet and outer slip case, these will be individually signed.
The album is due to be mastered in the first week of January which will enable us to release it in February
Matt
Tuesday, 21 October 2008
PTM 211008
One great thing about technology and in particular software is the power it gives the artist/producer.
We recorded the vocals for Pleasurely That Machine at the weekend, personally I think will be one of the highlights of the new album, anyway as usual the idea given to Sarah was fairly raw although one of the most completed ideas. The process I take once the vocals are recorded is clean the audio files up and composite the various takes together, I also tend to strip silence into the audio files rather than use a gate to cutout any in between the phrases. On this album we have created a dedicated space for vocals and purchased the SE Electronics reflexion filter which deadens the sound around the mic which really helps. A few weeks ago I purchased a piece of software called Melodyne following a couple of recommendations. Not that Sarah's vocals need a great deal of tuning, the main reason for getting this software was the help me fit together the double tracked vocals. Rather than creating a double tracked effect we always record the verses and choruses twice, we find this creates quite a nice vocal sound. The problem with this however is that the phrases sometimes don't always match up. What Melodyne helps me do is fit these takes together perfectly, you can also pitch correct and change the timing of phrases using this software. It's a great tool and I wished I had bought it at the start of recording this album as it would have saved me hours or re-recording Sarah's vocals.
Next week we will be recording the next Podcast, following some of your questions I will be giving you a quick tour of set-up and showing off the tools we use.
Matt
We recorded the vocals for Pleasurely That Machine at the weekend, personally I think will be one of the highlights of the new album, anyway as usual the idea given to Sarah was fairly raw although one of the most completed ideas. The process I take once the vocals are recorded is clean the audio files up and composite the various takes together, I also tend to strip silence into the audio files rather than use a gate to cutout any in between the phrases. On this album we have created a dedicated space for vocals and purchased the SE Electronics reflexion filter which deadens the sound around the mic which really helps. A few weeks ago I purchased a piece of software called Melodyne following a couple of recommendations. Not that Sarah's vocals need a great deal of tuning, the main reason for getting this software was the help me fit together the double tracked vocals. Rather than creating a double tracked effect we always record the verses and choruses twice, we find this creates quite a nice vocal sound. The problem with this however is that the phrases sometimes don't always match up. What Melodyne helps me do is fit these takes together perfectly, you can also pitch correct and change the timing of phrases using this software. It's a great tool and I wished I had bought it at the start of recording this album as it would have saved me hours or re-recording Sarah's vocals.
Next week we will be recording the next Podcast, following some of your questions I will be giving you a quick tour of set-up and showing off the tools we use.
Matt
Monday, 20 October 2008
PTM 181008
PLEASURELY THAT MACHINE Down, Down, Down Round, Round, Round Incomplete Take me down Got to be blown away I need to want to stay I'm crazed, unphased to see What shouldn't ever be Pleasurely that Machine Deeper, Deeper now Pleasurely that Machine Lost and Found There's a place I am found Take me there Take me down Got to be blown away I need to want to stay I'm crazed, amazed to see What's coming over me LOVE this track - very excited! 1 more song to go!!!! And watch this space for news on our Christmas track Tears and Tinsel. (Lyrics copyright Sarah Heeley, Northern Kind Oct 2008) |
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