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Vocal Tips for Studio Recording, by Jeannie Deva

Posted by admin in acoustic music, iama, IAMA Contest, international acoustic music awards, recording vocals on 10 15th, 2010 | 3 responses
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Jeannie Deva in studio with Mandy Moore

Jeannie Deva in studio with Mandy Moore

The voice is the signature of a band. Over time songs will change, the musical style may even vary, but fans can always recognize their favorite bands by the lead singer’s sound. How to achieve a recorded vocal track that has much personality, punch and power as in a live performance is often the illusive “pot of gold at the end of the rainbow” sought after by many a producer. While there is much that goes into this, here are two pointers taken from my twenty-two years experience as a recording session vocal coach and thirty-three years teaching singers of all styles.
The Art of Recording
Headset mix and mic choice make an incredible difference in how you perform and the ease with which you are able to sing (or not). Take the time to work with your engineer and get it adjusted at the beginning of the vocal session. Work on it until you have absolutely no attention on the mix and can perform undistracted. It is about how you, not the engineer, like the sound and volume in your headset. On occasion, the brand of headset can cause an alteration of the natural EQ (EQ: Equalization = deals with the balance or alteration of low, mid-range and high frequencies) of your voice making it sound thinner, bassier, or muffled. Try singing with several different brands of headsets. When you find one you like for its fit, weight and sound, you might buy one of your own and bring it to your sessions. Each mic treats sound differently. True for both studio and stage, the mic you use must be matched to your vocal characteristics. If not you can find yourself unconsciously manipulating throat muscles as you fight the tonal alterations made by the mic. Sometimes the problem is not the fault of the headset or mic but the result of incorrect or non-existent vocal warm-up and poor vocal technique leading to strain, pitchyness and lack of vocal ease. In this case, rushing into the studio before being ready reaps frustration, disappointment and wasted money.
Song Delivery and Performance Skills
Through your recorded track, you must attract your listener’s attention. Your voice and emotion must reach out through the recording and create an emotional effect. To achieve this, when you sing in the studio you must bring to your song the same energy and believability that your audience would expect of you in a live performance. This is also why I recommend that artists perform their material to live audiences prior to going into the studio. To help your song have presence and energy even though recorded in the more “sterile” environment of a studio, you must create the illusion of singing to someone. Don’t create mental image pictures of someone and sing to the person in your mind. That will diminish your energy and the vitality of the song as it removes you from the present. Sing the song as though the person is in front of you now. It is up to you, the singer, to integrate all the components of singing, performing and recording to reach through the track and connect and engage your listening audience.
Jeannie Deva is a celebrity master voice and performance coach as well as a recording studio vocal specialist. She has worked with and is endorsed by engineers and producers of Aerosmith, Elton John, Bette Midler, Fleetwood Mac and the Rolling Stones. Seen on E! Entertainment and TV Guide Channels, Jeannie has been interviewed as a celebrity guest on talk shows internationally. She is the author of the globally acclaimed “Contemporary Vocalist” series and “Deva Method Vocal Warm-Ups and Cool-Downs” CD. Creator of the internationally acclaimed Deva Method®, Complete Vocal Technique for Stage and Studio™, certified Deva Method teachers are located on east and west coasts of the U.S. and in Sydney, Australia. Clients include Grammy award winners, Multi-Platinum Recording Artists, American Idol Finalists, Rock Band Icons J. Geils Band and Foghat, singers for Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Celine Dion, Sting, Pink, Joss Stone, Christina Aguilera and more. Deva’s private voice studios are located in Brentwood, CA and “The Valley”in Los Angeles. She also consults and teaches singers around the world via Internet web cam.
www.JeannieDeva.com – www.Facebook.com/JeannieDeva – www.Twitter.com/JeannieDeva
© 2010. Jeannie Deva and The Deva Method are registered trademarks and owned by Jeannie Deva Enterprises, Inc.
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Best Instrumental Artist Winner El McMeen Performs On Video

Posted by admin in acoustic music, international acoustic music awards on 08 21st, 2010 | no responses
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Best Instrumental Artist Winner El McMeen Performs On Video

Virtuoso Guitarist El McMeen performing his winning song “Le Mans” and talks about it. He won the Best Instrumental in the 6th Annual IAMA (International Acoustic Music Awards).  El McMeen clearly stands head and shoulders above other instrumentalists we have seen. His heartfelt solo acoustic steel string guitar works such as “Le Mans, “Song For Sheila” and “Breakout” showcases his guitar chops as well as his knowledge of composition. His music is truly outstanding, heartfelt and spiritual. His music should do well on Sirius XM Spa Channel as well as Guitar Player Magazine and Fingerstyle Guitar Magazine. Even established acoustic guitarist out there would appreciate this artist. Watch out for this instrumentalist, he is going places!

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Liz Longley, 6th Annual IAMA Top Winner Featured on ABC TV

Posted by admin in iama on 08 5th, 2010 | no responses
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Liz Longley, 6th Annual IAMA Top Winner was featured on ABC TV, performing her winning song “When You’ve Got Trouble”.
Liz went on to perform at the prestigious Newport Folk Festival. She has performed with Livingston Taylor, Shawn Colvin, Paula Cole, Colin Hay, Nanci Griffith, Jesse Colin Young, and Jonathan Edwards. See her TV clip here:

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7th ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL ACOUSTIC MUSIC AWARDS KICKS OFF

Posted by admin in IAMA Contest, Music News, Uncategorized on 07 12th, 2010 | no responses
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7th ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL ACOUSTIC MUSIC AWARDS KICKS OFF

Liz Longley, 6th Annual IAMA Winner

Liz Longley, 6th Annual IAMA Winner

The 7th Annual IAMA (International Acoustic Music Awards) is currently accepting entries. IAMA promotes excellence in acoustic music performance and artistry. Acoustic artists in various genres can gain exciting radio and web exposure through this competition. Participating sponsors include Fingerstyle Guitar magazine, D’Addario Strings, New Music Weekly, Loggins Promotion, AirplayAccess.com, Sonicbids, roadjam.com, Kari Estrin Management, Acoustic Cafe Radio Show and Sirius XM Satellite Radio. More sponsors will be announced shortly.

Unlike American Idol, IAMA is open to all independent artists and labels, there is no age limit and people from all countries can enter and best off all entrants do not have to stand in line for hours or days in order to audition. Entrants need to mail in an entry form along with a CD recording or enter online on IAMA’s website.

Win prizes in 8 different categories: Folk/Americana/Roots, AAA/Alternative, Instrumental, Open, Bluegrass/Country, Best Male Artist, Best Female Artist, Best Group/Duo. There will also be an Overall Grand Prize winner awarded to the top winner worth US$11,000, which includes radio promotion to over 250 radio stations in US and Canada. Therefore, winning songs will be heard on radio. Winners and runner-ups will also be featured on IAMA’s compilation CD.

Last year’s winner went to folk singer-songwriter Liz Longley, a college student attending Berklee College of Music. After her win, she was confirmed to be performing in the prestigious Newport Folk Festival.

Judging is based on excellence in music performance, songwriting/composition and originality. Winners are selected by a panel of established artists and industry professionals. Other past winners include: The Refugees (2009 Winner), UK singer-songwriter Charlie Dore (2008 winner). Charlie Dore is most famous in the United States for her 1980 pop single, “Pilot of the Airwaves,” which hit Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts and shot to international worldwide fame. Fertitta and McClintock (USA), Jen Foster USA), Mistin’ (Australia), David Francey (Juno award winner from Canada), April Verch (Canada) and Millish USA).

Winners and finalists of the Awards will be featured in the IAMA website and e-newsletters, read by music press, talent buyers, promoters and other industry insiders. All songs submitted must be submitted must be original and submitted on CD, the artist may perform original material not yet released and written by other songwriters or composers.

Early Entry Bonus: first 1,000 entrants entered by August 31, 2010 will each receive a free gift. Check out:
http://www.inacoustic.com

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USA Songwriting Competition Podcast

Posted by admin in Podcast on 05 12th, 2010 | no responses
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Tune in to the USA Songwriting Competition Podcast.

Music featured in this episode by:

Melissa Greener – Bullets To Bite

Kyler England – You And I

Eric Colville - The End of War

Nicole Morier – Good Boy

Carla Coppa – I’m Not

Anne Simoni – Papagaio

Sarah Lonsert – Dancing Through Life

Jordan Zevon – Home

Ari Gold – Where the Music Takes You

The Waifs – Bridal Train

Kate Voegele – Only Fooling Myself

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (61.7MB)

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