Finding your voice/genre

[linziellen]

Thank you guys, I'm on a right downer at the moment. I've managed to get lost in it all, I've not been singing, playing or even writing properly these last couple of days it seems to come and go every few weeks and then I tend to jump back up again with another thousand ideas...here's hoping...

[geo]

Quote:Thank you guys, I'm on a right downer at the moment. I've managed to get lost in it all, I've not been singing, playing or even writing properly these last couple of days it seems to come and go every few weeks and then I tend to jump back up again with another thousand ideas...here's hoping... Try breaking your routine.... also a little break every now and then is good for the ears (I think)... Geo

[linziellen]

Hello...me again! I have made a HUGE discovery/breakthrough which at the time I reacted coldly to, however I'm now...pretty much buzzing! I've always been a fan of Indie/pop/rock and lots in between but haven't managed to fit my voice to any of it. I managed to pull it off but didn't feel comfortable. Even my writing style has closely followed the above genres but only the very occasional song has slipped the net and I've sung it 100% from me. OK I said I kept my ears open to all kinds of music but when I caught wind of the words - "soul, funk, blues" it kinda made me cringe and took me back to childhood which made me think along the lines of old and dated! However earlier today I took the plunge and typed "Soul Music" into my Youtube search field. I fell straight into a lady called "Alice Russell" and " PING " as soon as I heard her voice I said "that's me"!!! I felt confused but so relieved to think that this might be where I can lay down that bloody jigsaw piece with the funny edges I never managed to fit into the picture - there she goes!Now what?!? I need to down my Sherlock Holmes outfit and investigate because this is one genre I know nothin about! I'm off to look into the likes of Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin, Jill Scott?! Does this mean I can wear yellow shoes and dresses with big buttons, I hope so!!!Thanks for hearing/helping me out guys,Off I go again...into the world of jazz, funk, hip hop and soul...

[michael11]

Quote:Hello...me again! I have made a HUGE discovery/breakthrough which at the time I reacted coldly to, however I'm now...pretty much buzzing! I've always been a fan of Indie/pop/rock and lots in between but haven't managed to fit my voice to any of it. I managed to pull it off but didn't feel comfortable. Even my writing style has closely followed the above genres but only the very occasional song has slipped the net and I've sung it 100% from me. OK I said I kept my ears open to all kinds of music but when I caught wind of the words - "soul, funk, blues" it kinda made me cringe and took me back to childhood which made me think along the lines of old and dated! However earlier today I took the plunge and typed "Soul Music" into my Youtube search field. I fell straight into a lady called "Alice Russell" and " PING " as soon as I heard her voice I said "that's me"!!! I felt confused but so relieved to think that this might be where I can lay down that bloody jigsaw piece with the funny edges I never managed to fit into the picture - there she goes!Now what?!? I need to down my Sherlock Holmes outfit and investigate because this is one genre I know nothin about! I'm off to look into the likes of Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin, Jill Scott?! Does this mean I can wear yellow shoes and dresses with big buttons, I hope so!!!Thanks for hearing/helping me out guys,Off I go again...into the world of jazz, funk, hip hop and soul... Blimey!!!! (bet you don't hear that alot where you live!!! )Lindsey I have never heard of Alice Russell before but if you sound anything like that you should get off your derriere and get your music out there.Michael.

[linziellen]

Lol "Blimey" I still use it all the time, it hasn't caught on over here yet but I'll keep working on it!I have a lot of study to do, I've no idea how to write soul music but from what I've heard so far some of it is pretty repetitive.I've been listening to all sorts of soul from the 1950's and 60's, tonight I'm going to move into the 70's. I keep trying Amy Winehouse out but she's a bit dark for my likings. Alice Russell certainly holds the torch so far, she's fast turning into my hero!I checked out your music, pretty cool Lindsey

[geo]

Quote:I've always been a fan of Indie/pop/rock and lots in between but haven't managed to fit my voice to any of it. I managed to pull it off but didn't feel comfortable. Even my writing style has closely followed the above genres but only the very occasional song has slipped the net and I've sung it 100% from me. Don't try to write it a certain way, you have a piano now, just play it and sing it how you naturally sing it, record it (nothing fancy, room mikes/tape deck etc) and listen to the play back. As you listen think about the beat, tap it out with your hands... if you have any drum programs (casio?) play around with different ones until you find something that feels good... think about other parts.... at this point you should be getting an idea of what kind of song you have. I use GarageBand for this... developing ideas... but I always start strumming acoustic, tapping out beats with my feat... singing away (badly ) but then use this to develop the song... I rarely think about what genre it might be until I start picking the drums out.It appears to me you are trying to pigeon-hole yourself to guide your songwriting, "I write POP" etc.. I say just write for now... concentrate more on writing good songs than writing "INDIE" songs or "POP" songs. Instead try writing in something other than 4/4 (or MODES ) but allow your writing to develop, don't force it a certain way... not yet.Sorry I didn't want to appear I was lecturing you or anything... it's just when I read your post I get the vibe that you are someone who likes to speak through their music, no wimpy love songs here, good strong lyrics (can't comment on your playing ) but you are unsure of the direction you should be taking.... IMHO I say for now don't worry about writng a Dixie Chicks stlye country song... write a Lindsey style country song. I hope somewhere in my pot induced ramblings there's a nugget or two of wisdom... nite all, Geo

[linziellen]

Hi there Geo, Thanks for your message There's a whole load of truth in your words, yes I was following what I thought to be within the rules and regulations. Take for example "Best Spin" which I posted up a few weeks ago and there's your classic example of trying to fit. Then compare it to "This is War" which was coming from moi! That's the difference. Problem is I'm not very confident, since I've been writing I've never felt better but I still have a long way to go before I can stand up and blast out a song! I swear (*x$x*xf) excuse my French, that I have well and truly slipped into my genre with this soul/funk/jazz/blues thing. It's bloody fantastic and suits my voice down to a T. I believe that's why I haven't managed to fit to pop because I was singing it with the above genre voice and it sounded daft. Looking through my notebooks I can now pick out the songs I wrote and sang in a "soul" kinda way and I was scrapping them thinking it just didn't work. Those repetitive lyrics about beatin on drums etc - they are the kind I sing from the bottom of my blooming shoes! I love BIG beats and I get an amazing thrill from the ones I hear within soul/funk. Can't get anything like that from my Yamaha unfortunately but I just bang on the pots and pans with my wooden spoons lol (no lie)! I always had a thing for songs such as "Ole Devil Called Love" and "Stormy Weather" now I realise it's because I can sing them. It's just I didn't give it the time of day because I didn't think that this day and age would accept it...until I came across Miss Russell and the little light bulb above my head went "ping"......Revalation!!!What's that saying about the "proof being in the pudding"...I now have to go really work on this and stop jabbering.Thank you (all) for taking the time to reply. I know I ramble but this is such an exciting journey. I might quieten down a little now I've made this discovery! Also I should just say "thanks" to TAXI for this site because while it might look like I'm doing the "blog" thing here I actually aspire to be a proper member and benefit from your feedback - which I hear is the tops Big up TAXI lol and it's members!!!Lindsey

[geo]

You sound like you got a good idea which direction to go in.... now you go girl!!! Get writing ... Geo

[squids]

Lindsey,Honey, write, sing and record. The rest happens without our intereference. As musicians, we're evolving a little bit every week, sometimes whether we're playing or not! I'm happy you've found some genres you're comfortable in. It's sometimes good to have a place to dock while you venture out into the unknown. I really enjoy your posts. I'd love to hear you sing!

[linziellen]

Thank you Squids, that means a heck of a lot