Very Short Review Of My Original Music On A Website

[Fierce Critter]

A friend of mine put out a compilation CD of some local EBM/Synthpop/Industrial music, including a couple cuts by me. Sincognito is the name I use in a sort of Trent Reznor/NIN way to not have to just use my real name in connection with the music I eventually hope to someday release commercially.

The CD was reviewed recently, and these are the comments about my cuts. The cuts I included are "Ever, Mary" the song I included on the DGN CD 2 years ago, and "Obsession (Save Your Love)", which can be heard on my Myspace page.

"SINCOGNITO follow and they offer female-leaded vocals to known and mostly already discovered sounds. “Ever, Mary” is a decent mid-tempo tune, while the second of their tracks, “Obsession (Save Your Love)” ends in a fiasco, because of the misplaced female singer, which totally gets out of tone."

LOL. I wondered how I'd react if the review would be less than stellar. And to be honest, this doesn't bother me one bit.

I'm not really fond of how the songs came out in the final mixdown/production. The high parts are too high, the bass & drums too muddy. It causes my higher-pitched vocals to kind of stand out obnoxiously, when they should blend more with the music.

And I actually do agree with what they said about my voice sounding "misplaced" and "out of tone" on "Obsession." I made the mistake of trying to hit some higher notes for some variation, and I'm afraid upon relistening, it doesn't work with the kind of music this is. It sounded fine when I was in a small coffee house or bar, strumming an acoustic guitar. But it doesn't translate well to electronic music with synthesizers. I came to that conclusion long before this review ever came out.

Actually, upon re-listening after reading the critique, I don't go out of "tune." But I put some pretty heavy effects on my voice to make them blend with the background instrumentals. It causes a sort of watery, wavery effect that actually does sound weird upon re-listen.

A learning experience. Drop my vocals down to a lower range, and seek someone who will be more careful with final production/mixing.

By the way, everybody seems to like the "Ever, Mary" song a lot, and not so much the other one. I disagree strongly, because "Ever, Mary" was the first song I ever did electronically, and with very poor software and our older, slower computer so I was really limited. I think the instrumentation is kinda lame, and hope to re-create it with better VST's and Qbase. But the vocals on that song were definitely much better than on the "Obsession" song. Improve on those vocals and I think I could have a pretty decent sound going on.

I also don't mind the "already discovered" sounds comment. That actually makes me happy. I'm one of those who likes to hear the oft-requested "same old, same old" songs at CC by Apop, Wolfsheim, Wumpscut, VNV, etc. I wasn't trying to sound like any of them, but if my style fits in there, then I personally am happy about it.

Anyway, less than super review, and I'm still pretty happy.

[Steven]

I havent heard Ever Mary but I agree with you that Obsession does not go out of tune, and sounding weird or odd does not neccesarily equate to a bad thing, or even that you stumbled (I dig the song)......all of us however who have recorded music (especially on a budget) cringe at every little thing that we think we could have done better, its hard not to. I know I still do (cringe) and yet I sing like a mutherfucker. Still, even on good recordings, its sometimes hard to listen to them even though other people enjoy them...Ive been in the studio on the labels dime before where I sorta had carte blanche and everything was technically "correct" but I still was not happy with my phrasing, timing, approach, conviction, whatever.

and to you critics: write a song fukerz.

and to you snobs: get onstage beeches.

[Homicidalheathen]

Congrats. Eh, some peoples opinions are misplaced lol

But its good you can take that as constructive and keep going!

[Azeuron]

what do you use to make your songs? synth machines? computers? drum machines? all of the above? lol i've been trying to get into doing those things but i dont knwo where to start. Thought about just DJing but that would get boring i think.

[Fierce Critter]

Congrats. Eh, some peoples opinions are misplaced lol

But its good you can take that as constructive and keep going!

I was warned by the CD's producer that the reviewers on that webpage tend to favor the people they are friends with, and slam anyone else. Indeed, the acts on the CD that are more well-known seemed to receive exceptionally good review, and the lesser-known were treated rather snarkily in my view.

But as I said, the things they "picked on" as far as my stuff I had already pinpointed as lackluster prior to them even hearing the songs.

Ive been in the studio on the labels dime before where I sorta had carte blanche and everything was technically "correct" but I still was not happy with my phrasing, timing, approach, conviction, whatever.

Oh, I am, without doubt and by far, my own worst critic. It is exceptionally difficult for me to step back, listen to something I've done, and say, "I did well there." I generally do rely in the input of others to confirm the quality of what I do musically. But I have learned to seek the opinion of someone who I think knows what they're talking about. I'd ask Steven, a couple other friends who are musicians what they think. But I'll never ask my tone-deaf, Michael Bolton-listening sister to critique a song ever again.

As for my vocals, I've always - ALWAYS - had a problem singing cold into a microphone. Up on stage, with my 12-string full dreadnaught Fender in my hands, I can sing with conviction, style, and strength. But something happens when I'm in a cold studio situation or in my living room in front of my computer. My throat tightens, emotion leaves, and I end up singing in a style that's probably best described as sterile & lifeless. I fucking hate it, and I'm not sure what to do to fix that.

[Fierce Critter]

what do you use to make your songs? synth machines? computers? drum machines? all of the above? lol i've been trying to get into doing those things but i dont knwo where to start. Thought about just DJing but that would get boring i think.

The first song I did I used FruityLoops with it's built-in instruments. FruityLoops is actually meant to be used mostly with it's own sampled loops - you're really just supposed to sort of use the loops like puzzle pieces to be put together into a not-so-original whole.

But I used it in a way it really wasn't meant to be used. I basically figured out a way to put an entire instrumental together the same way you would with ProTools or QBase. But it was limiting, as it doesn't use VST's and I was limited to their built-in instrument effects.

Still, people seem to like that song a lot. So I guess I did o.k.

Now, I use QBase. QBase is - from what I've seen - just like ProTools. You create individual midi tracks you put together and eventually mix down into an audio file. You can input the sounds with a keyboard, or if like me, you can't play keys, you can mouse it together with a piano-roll feature that allows you to basically "draw" your notes to trigger specific instruments at specific notes for specific lengths of time. (FruityLoops works with a similar feature, but more limited). It uses VST's, which are basically "instrument sample packs" that you use just like hitting the instrument buttons on a pre-programmed drum machine or synth.

Once you have your piece finished, it has a ton of filters, effects, and tweaks that allow you to really customize the sound.

Check out my Myspace Music page. Both songs I did are playable there. Again, "Ever, Mary" was done on FL, "Obsession" was done with QBase.

In both cases, the vocals were added with CoolEditPro. It's got an easier interface for cleaning up the sort of bad background noise I get when using a microphone in a less-that-optimum recording environment. Also preferred for mixing tracks and optimization.

[Steven]

As for my vocals, I've always - ALWAYS - had a problem singing cold into a microphone. Up on stage, with my 12-string full dreadnaught Fender in my hands, I can sing with conviction, style, and strength. But something happens when I'm in a cold studio situation or in my living room in front of my computer. My throat tightens, emotion leaves, and I end up singing in a style that's probably best described as sterile & lifeless. I fucking hate it, and I'm not sure what to do to fix that.

I shall have to give this some thought Camille.....I personally can hardly play the guitar, let alone sing and play at the same time, but I definately DO understand the performance freezeup or breakdown and the difficulties of going in cold.....I'm a wreck onstage the last three minutes before my band kicks in to the first song, and it often takes me a few songs before I'm out of my head and into the music and only the music....that's the place you need to be at to be the storyteller you need to be with your voice....your best vocal performances will always be when your as loose as possible...intentional yes (I mean I cognizantly work a song and often think of phrasing and tempo changes while in mid flow) but free at the same time.......to get in that headspace I sometimes "act out" the song where I get very animated onstage....and Ive learned to do that when Im alone practicing as well.

[Steven]

The first song I did I used FruityLoops with it's built-in instruments. FruityLoops is actually meant to be used mostly with it's own sampled loops - you're really just supposed to sort of use the loops like puzzle pieces to be put together into a not-so-original whole.

But I used it in a way it really wasn't meant to be used. I basically figured out a way to put an entire instrumental together the same way you would with ProTools or QBase. But it was limiting, as it doesn't use VST's and I was limited to their built-in instrument effects.

Still, people seem to like that song a lot. So I guess I did o.k.

Now, I use QBase. QBase is - from what I've seen - just like ProTools. You create individual midi tracks you put together and eventually mix down into an audio file. You can input the sounds with a keyboard, or if like me, you can't play keys, you can mouse it together with a piano-roll feature that allows you to basically "draw" your notes to trigger specific instruments at specific notes for specific lengths of time. (FruityLoops works with a similar feature, but more limited). It uses VST's, which are basically "instrument sample packs" that you use just like hitting the instrument buttons on a pre-programmed drum machine or synth.

Once you have your piece finished, it has a ton of filters, effects, and tweaks that allow you to really customize the sound.

Check out my Myspace Music page. Both songs I did are playable there. Again, "Ever, Mary" was done on FL, "Obsession" was done with QBase.

In both cases, the vocals were added with CoolEditPro. It's got an easier interface for cleaning up the sort of bad background noise I get when using a microphone in a less-that-optimum recording environment. Also preferred for mixing tracks and optimization.

I would SO love to learn all of this computer mumbo jumbo shit so that I can do what you've done without having to rely on other people to help me

[Fierce Critter]

I would SO love to learn all of this computer mumbo jumbo shit so that I can do what you've done without having to rely on other people to help me

Want to know the truth? If I could play guitar - I mean really play guitar, I'd be doing music along the lines of Crowded House. Not electronica.

But I'm sick to death of relying on UNreliable guitarists who are bottomless in their talent, and completely lacking in drive & determination. GODALMIGHTY, I have worked with some insanely talented guitar players, but trying to get them to commit to the work involved in a serious musical project just drove me insane.

I can play decent rhythm guitar. I'm happier on acoustic than I am on electric, even though with my small, weak hands, electrics are easier to play. But I cannot play well enough to get the sounds that are in my head out of my hands & guitar. It's heartbreaking. The music I could have done, how far I might have gotten if I'd just been able to play.

But I don't have that talent. I've gone as far as I can go on guitar. I wouldn't insult truly talented guitar players by saying that anyone can play if they work hard enough. Sure. Maybe mechanically. But it's not the same.

My voice is best suited to stuff along the lines of Annie Lennox, Sarah McLachlan, Evanescence, etc. I prefer ballads to rockers. And the style I'd most love to perform is Crowded House, early (pre-"Out of Time") R.E.M., Pretenders, Depeche Mode (God, the duets I could do with Dave Gahan). But I cannot play guitar, so I can't do it. And I'm tired of trying to work with others.

There is a massively impressive guitar VST program called Real Guitar Player. I've thusfar only messed with the demo. And it's insane. The sound is beautiful. It's an expensive package. I'd like to get a copy of it and see if I can do the same thing with that as I do with the more synth-oriented sounds. Maybe that would be enough for me to actually get something audible out there in a style better suited to me, so that maybe I can make a demo up for myself and shop myself out to lables that would provide studio musicians who can provide genuine instrumentation for actual CD recording.

I dunno. I'm still not sure where I'm going with any of this.