Billy Talent

Hay guys/everyone!

I have no idea how to start, I'm not very good at that kind of things, so I will just get straight to the point.

I play in a band as a vocalist. The other guys in my band (bassist, drummer, guitarist and synthesize guy) are really good. They have even played in the Melkweg, in Amsterdam, already with their former vocalist, but she got a solo contract so moved out. The guitarist is one of my best friends, and asked me to come play with them once. Now I already play with them for nearly 6 months, but I have a few problems.

At first, they are only talking about finishing everything 100% right. I can understand and think the same, but they only seem to look at that. They only put pressure on my shoulders because they wanna reach the level where they ended with their former vocalist. But I have just passed the line of a little experienced, and trying my best already, but last night we went to record a bit and I just felt like shit afterwards. In my opinion it sounded so fucking shit.

So my questions are, when you're recording, of looking a record back, how do you guys feel about hearing or seeing yourselves back? And do you maybe have any tip for me?every little bit of help is welcome, from anyone around here!

I would really apprechiate any comment, because right now I am really feeling a bit stupid in front of them.

xoxo!

Don't put that much pressure on yourself!  I used to do that and my recordings always sounded like shit.  Last summer I recorded a demo and I decided that I was not Celine Dion (thankfully) and that it would sound like me.  sometimes, perfect erases all emotion from the songs (best exemple is Dallas by Holly Mcnarland.  Her voice cracks up intensely in the middle of the song and she left it that way - it makes the song that much intense in my opinion.

I'm guessing some singing lessons can't hurt...it never does.

I have a funny story about that - I replaced a singer once - she was very raunchy and sexy - wearing belly shirts and short skirts all the time.  The drummer once said it would be cool if I tried to act like her more.  So I did it - live!  I dressed like her - acted like even tried to sing a lottle like her.  People hated it and the whole band asked never to do this again.

Moral is - you are you - not her - and they're just gonna have to live with that.  Besides she dumped them didn't she? :P

Oh and I hate hearing myself - it's like listening to your own voicemail message...akward!

 Good luck with your recording!

L-O-V-E the hair!

Yes, private lessons never hurt anyone. You would be surprised at how much they can help!!!! I have been playing music for years and when I was 17 I got to record a cd with the band I was in, well, when I heard myself singing I thought it sounded like SHIT!!!!! I hate my voice so much, its one thing talking and another listening to yourself like that. I just think that, well, I am glad they expect something of you, don't take it personally they just want you to get better so they can enjoy playing with you instead of nit picking. They may be going about it the wrong way, just tell them you're not their former singer and that you are doing the best you can to enjoy yourself.

I mean, look at all the thrash metal and death metal out there. Most of the screamers or growlers in todays music world suck IMO (I do have ones that I like, but it takes serious skill to pull it off right) and they are perfectly successful. I am sure you sound wonderful, just take it as a learning opportunity to listen to what you don't like about your performance and practice that!

The weird thing is a lot of vocalists I know never practice. They don't treat their voice as an instrument lol... its like if it isn't attached to their body they think it takes dedication, but singing takes just as much to be good! I don't practice anything right now because I am depressed, I am just trying to stay alive. But when I was well, I practiced every instrument I play for at least an hour a day, and the ones I want to major in for at least three hours a day! I ended up playing music in addition to my classes probably 10 or 14 hours every day. I know you probably have a job so its not possible to do that much (to be honest I am a bit obsessive about practicing), but just do a little bit every day. It helps a lot.

A french horn player I knew in high school put it this way "Every day you don't practice at least a little bit it takes three times as many days as you skipped to get back to where you were..." In other words, if you practice every day, your progress isn't halted. Just a little bit even helps. :)

I agree with trbngrl.  Practice! practice! practice!

And as singer, do not underestimate warm-ups and vocal excercises.  I used to not want to do those to keep my voice «raw»  - I was in a grunge band.  but one day I took lessons and did the vocal excercises and what a difference!

If you're into screaming, there is a video out there called «the zen of screaming» I'm told it's pretty good.

ok, I can't give any musical advice, I love to sing but having no ear for music :( but I would listen to Vero. I checked her myspace and the myspace with the Bastards and I want to say just wow! I really like the songs :D

and Lis if you ever feel like showing some of your songs I would really like to listen to them :D I am pretty sure you sound really good :D

Spinachqueen:

ok, I can't give any musical advice, I love to sing but having no ear for music :( but I would listen to Vero. I checked her myspace and the myspace with the Bastards and I want to say just wow! I really like the songs :D

and Lis if you ever feel like showing some of your songs I would really like to listen to them :D I am pretty sure you sound really good :D

At first, thank you so much everyone for all of your sweet comments =) I think I really can do something with it!

@Spinachqueen, well, thanx4 the positivity =$!! I don't have any recent songs of me, but I do have a vid of the My Chemical Romance - Mama cover I did with another band somewhere june alast year. It's not a very good quality, but...If ur really curious, you can check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IboGMICqV7g

The beginning is like not very good, I couldn't hear myself and was damn nervous, but in the middle and end it went better [Especially the screaming in the end was soooooo great for me !! ], but anyways, you can have an idea of what I sound like. XD

xo!

Spinachqueen:

ok, I can't give any musical advice, I love to sing but having no ear for music :( but I would listen to Vero. I checked her myspace and the myspace with the Bastards and I want to say just wow! I really like the songs

Thanks!  we'll post some full band songs very soon :D

KidOf2Morrow:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IboGMICqV7g

This song is probably a little low for your range but your voice is great!!  I can see that you need to work on some stuff but you definately have somethign to work with.

And while your at it, I hate to impose but would you do me a huge favor and listen to my myspace music songs? :)

I just uploaded them, its from like 2006 so its a bit old, and its jazz, but I would like it if I could get some feedback.

http://www.myspace.com/bellaburst

Be nice to me... 

BTW I love your voice Kidof2morrow... ^_^

Its ballsy and totally cool. :)

Vero:

KidOf2Morrow:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IboGMICqV7g

This song is probably a little low for your range but your voice is great!!  I can see that you need to work on some stuff but you definately have somethign to work with.

 I have to say I already just...feel I've gotten better than that, for example, when I sing those songs now it's like...a lot easier for me. I can keep hights better, my range has become a lot wider and stuff, oh, and my voice shakes less :P But by that time I like...sang seriously only when we were practising (and now I sing at least a bit serious when I'm singing anything + a good bandpractise once or twice a week) Coz in the past I were sooooo ashamed to sing normal, so I went to force my voice and went to sing bad on purpose so they couldn't say anything of it. Now...I'm building up a lil confidence, but it's not very stable (as soon as there happens something the confidence vanishes ><!).

But can you like...maybe explain what I do "wrong"?

Thanx a lot everyone! xo!

trmbngrl:

And while your at it, I hate to impose but would you do me a huge favor and listen to my myspace music songs? :)

I just uploaded them, its from like 2006 so its a bit old, and its jazz, but I would like it if I could get some feedback.

 

http://www.myspace.com/bellaburst

 

Be nice to me... 

 

BTW I love your voice Kidof2morrow... ^_^

Its ballsy and totally cool. :)

So, I listened to your music! So I had to put myself over the fact that it's not my style at all, but so I did, and when u started singing I was like....Shit............................... That's damn good...............I want to be able to sing so good toot, but then in the world of rock and punkmusic!!!!!!!!

So I'm pretty jealous at ur voice, it's really awesum!!! And I'm fuckin serious! ;)

Aahhw, thanx4the compliment!! I always turn a lil red when someone says somtheing like...yeh well, that my voice is ballsy, coz for me that's like a HUGE compliment, coz that's what I also want it to be =$

@Vero, may I know your myspace? I'd really like to hear something after the comment that ur music was really good! It made me curious =)

xo!

KidOf2Morrow:

@Spinachqueen, well, thanx4 the positivity =$!! I don't have any recent songs of me, but I do have a vid of the My Chemical Romance - Mama cover I did with another band somewhere june alast year. It's not a very good quality, but...If ur really curious, you can check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IboGMICqV7g

The beginning is like not very good, I couldn't hear myself and was damn nervous, but in the middle and end it went better [Especially the screaming in the end was soooooo great for me !! ], but anyways, you can have an idea of what I sound like. XD

xo!

Lis firstly I would love to listen to it with better quality, but :D I really think your voice is great, I mean it is a strong voice, not Vanessa Paradis :D As it is an old video I am sure you are now better ;D cause as you sey at forst you seemed to be a little nervous :D but from 1:32 or sth I got the impression that you started to enjoy singing this song :D I am looking forward for you new vid ;D I am no music specialist but I really like our voice (on this vid you sounds way better than the drummer :D) hahaha

Edit: Vero when you'll post please let me know :D

Edit 2: Brit - holy shit your voice is great! It sounds so professional :D And as I like jazz and blues very much (well not so much as punk rock) I must say it is beautiful ;)

Thank you so much guys it really means a lot to me! I don't have much confidence right now and I'm really thankful for that. :)

I know its not normally what you guys would listen to but that's the kind of music I did in high school, also I played the trombone in those songs too. :) I was a trombone performance major until I changed it lol. I like singing much better, and kid of 2morrow our voices are so different there is no way I would want you to sound like me lol.. I'm like a pure soprano. >< 

Four octave range the whole bit, but I want to be a hardcore singer with punk overtones similar to Refused or Flyleaf... well Flyleaf for the singing, Refused for the sound.

Also, the only reason it sounds professional is because we did record a whole cd in studio and edit it. haha. Thank you so much it made me smile huge!

Kidof2morrow : you're not doing anything "wrong" at all.  This song is a little low for your range - especially in the verses - so you are "forcing" your voice to sign that low - but I mean it's entirely normal...You can get your guitarist and bassist to buy a capo - they would be able to transpose the songs to a higher range and still be able to play the same chords.

like I said, there is room for improvement (as always in music) but you definately have something to work with.  Keep practicing, you'll see it only gets better!   

My band's myspace is www.myspace.com/bastardsonsofmetal there are two accoustic songs on there (there are two more on my myspace www.myspace.com/veronikmusic I'm just too lazy to transfer them to the new myspace...

trmbngrl :   I love love love the jazzy in your voice!  I would totally see that voice with a little more aggressivity  in a punk hardcore band - something kinda like the horrorpops.