blog

composing

Not exactly composing; More like copying. 

I’ve begun working on covering a couple old standards by Harold Arlen-Not saying which ones yet. The mere fact that I’m doing it has sort of taken me by surprise-the spontaneity of it. I had forgotten how fun it is to work on music. The difference between now and before is that I know now that my main instrument is my voice, and that I can adapt it to many styles of music. I don’t need to hide my voice or terrible musical chops behind effects and interesting patches. Right now I’m really keen on vocal standards and I also think I’m pretty good at it. And with this type of music there really is no hiding one (lack of) talent.

You either got it; or you don’t.

I guess we’ll see what happens.

One thing that is a big hindrance is my inability to record my vocals at all. I’m so broke that spending $3.99 on an xlr patch chord on eBay, an xlr-to-trs chord at 1.96 at Goodwill, and a 1/4″ – 1/8″ trs adapter for $2.99 at MicroCenter actually hurt me. That’s food and gas. That’s pathetic is what that is. Even more is that I had dozens of those cables and a proper digital recording interface not more than five-to-six months ago before I moved. Thank goodness, I didn’t get rid of Shure 55sh and the tube pre-amp, and that I still have a decent laptop with Reason and old Cakewalk. It’s just sad that I’m stuck with using the microphone input on my laptop to record the vocals. Well now I suppose I just need a mic stand. I’ll look into how much I have in change tomorrow-Hopefully twenty bux for the cheapest mic stand at the local Guitar Center. I’ll also fashion a spit-screen out of panty-hose and a coat hanger, and try to rig some type of mini vocal booth around the mic.

It’s all terrible, yet somehow refreshing starting all over again.