Well, I’m kidding, of course. I think. 
Can’t believe it’s been almost two months since I’ve had the time or the inclination to post anything to this blog. I’ve been so focused on recording, mixing, mastering, doing the graphics, getting the liner notes, manufacturing, making mistakes, fixing those mistakes, spending way more money than I planned, marketing, promoting, obsessing, worrying and planning…oh, I’m sorry…did I go off on a tangent? Uh..yeah! Hello, Elaine? Your Life is on the phone…could you please answer now?
Meanwhile, I’m running my own business (Girl Friday Virtual Marketing), raising a daughter (well, she’s grown up by now…how did that happen so fast?), and trying to just maintain a sense of sanity and stability during this amazing time of change and growth in my personal life, and in my family, my community, and the country and the world….my head is spinning as I type this!!
You know that Paul Simon song: “Maybe I think too much, maybe I think too much oh ooooh, maybe I think too much, maybe I think too much oh ooh…”
well, he just sings that line over and over…geez…ya think??
Maybe I think too much!!!!
The CD, “Let’s Live Again,” has been mailed to media, and Monday it gets mailed to over 250 jazz radio stations across the country. It’s so exciting, and so gratifying that people seem to really like it. I had doubts, because I never think it’s EVER good enough, no matter what. But with this project the big lesson was learning to LET. GO….just LET. IT. GO. For a control freak perfectionist that is a tall order. The process is just so much darn fun, though. I LOVE to record! So much hard work, and time, invested; I can only believe that it’s “worth it,” but really the way I think of it…it’s simply what I have been compelled to do. And I love every minute of the process.
So, it’s painful, you’re forced to grow, to stretch, and give birth to your creation through those labor pains. ALMOST as fun as giving birth (which I loved)!!
Are you an artist? musician? dancer? writer? actor? scuptor?
What’s your process about?
I’d love to hear from you!!
OK, OK…finally we get to the fun part! If you’ve read Part I and Part II of Mixing Your Vocals, you’ll know that laying the musical foundation – a great mix on the instrumental tracks – will give you a ‘frame’ for your vocal track. The instrumentals need to enhance, showcase, support your vocal instrument, not distract or cover.
It was a very interesting process, as Steve has such a different (and lovely) sense of melody/harmony than I do. And working with another chordal instrument was challenge, since I’ve already got piano, guitar and vibes providing the harmonic/chordal structure underneath the songs. So – how to add accordion without making everything sound muddy?