New work and Vocals!

I finally started working on ideas based on a piece I wrote back in the mid-late ’80s, while in high-school.  I actually did compose a piece for the symphonic band, which they played for me for a couple of days at the end of the school year – that was very cool.  It was based on a piano piece that I’d been tinkering on for a while.  In the years since then, I’ve imagined it many ways, and it has evolved into a combination of a slow orchestral piece with transitions in and out of a faster jamming part.  I just started working on it in my studio in earnest, and I like where it’s going.  It’s going to have vocals!

So, my daughter Christy is a fabulous singer.  She could be a professional, but she’d rather be a wife and mom – nothing wrong with that!  But she’s written lyrics and a melody to go with the track Beautiful Lonely One that I put out late last year.  The lyrics and the melody are fantastic, so I definitely want to update the music and get her vocals recorded with it.

Also, the vocals for my new stuff really seem to want an operatic style female vocal.  I also think that it needs lyrics that are in Italian.  So, since I’m actually trying to learn Italian in preparation for a vacation in Italy later this year, I’m going to see what I can do to write some lyrics for the melody part of this piece.  I also have a vocalist in mind – a young lady I know who is graduating high-school in a few months, and is a statewide top-ranked singer in many styles, including the one I want.  And the tone of her voice will perfectly fit this music.  So I’ll see if I can get her to record this when I have the music ready.

In preparation for recording vocals, I’ve had to get some more gear.  So yesterday, I went online and spent just under $250 total for what I think will be very good stuff for recording vocals in my home studio.

For the mic, I got the MXL 900:

I also got a heavy duty mic stand, a vocal pop shield, and splurged a little on a good mic cable – the Planet Waves Custom Series 10′ XLR mic cable.

I also ordered an acoustic isolation shield – this will help keep the recorded sound dry and crisp, without any ambient room noise or sound reflections:

I’m happy that I picked some really good gear for a really good price.

That’s all for now!