Re: Up for some hillbilly music?
 

You sound like a platypus to me... :p

Definitely southern, though, mhm.

When do you think we could hear (download/purchase?) some of the other songs you've written and performed? And... could you throw up the lyrics somewhere? :D

Re: Up for some hillbilly music?
 

Hopefully soon I'll have more up soon. And it will all be free online and maybe a buck or 2 above my CD cost for the hard stuff.

The project is managed here at the Cakewalk forums: http://forum.cakewalk.com/tm.asp?m=1677634 The "band" is the Freelance Rider Company with me as Alan parsons with a hat and so far about 3 or 4 contributers (wait until you hear the female lead's voice.. she's working on a waltz of mine right now).

I plan to reactivate my website soon and start providing more info, including lyrics. I may even create another blog for music efforts...

Hang tight!

Re: Up for some hillbilly music?
 

This is where I really wish we had a bloody 'thanks' button in here :D

Thanks, Tex!

Re: Up for some hillbilly music?
 

Well, this little Off Topic venture doesn't contribute to anything Maemo-related... although maybe I could do a theme song... :D

Re: Up for some hillbilly music?
 

If you were to write a half-decent theme song for maemo... that would be so awesome :D

It could be an epic story, we already have plenty of characters for a tale ;)

Re: Up for some hillbilly music?
 

It would be even awesomer if we could get the mascot to dance to the theme song.

Re: Up for some hillbilly music?
 

it could be bigger than hamster dancing!

Re: Up for some hillbilly music?
 

hey TenSpeed-- I've been torturing guitars for many years without getting past certain barriers to understanding the mechanics (keys, chords, progressions, etc). But today I played with my handy chord wheel and actually had a few epiphanies-- in other words, this old dog is finally learning some important tricks! I think I'm getting this!

Re: Up for some hillbilly music?
 

ooo... wait til you guys hear what Julianna (vocalist) has done with a western number I wrote... :D

Re: Up for some hillbilly music?
 

I didn't peek into this thread until just now..... nice job Texrat! Your father was Canadian?! No wonder you're so cordial ;)
p.s. Did you get my PM?

Re: Up for some hillbilly music?
 

Yes! Sorry I forgot to respond. The answer to your question is no. You're cool. :)

Re: Up for some hillbilly music?
 

Hey, awesome! It's never too late to learn something new, especially in the field of music. And given that some of my students resist learning at every turn (even grad students... sigh...), I'm doubly impressed when someone does it because... well, just because!

As an aside, I once got stopped at customs on my way into the USA, where I was doing some grad school in music. The customs officer asked me what the chord progression for a 16-bar blues was, and - I was working with choirs at the time - I totally messed up. They made me sit for over 2 hours as they checked me out. :D Guess I should have paid a bit more attention back in undergrad :)

By the way, that "ducker" I thought I heard - are you running the vocals and mix through different compressors? That could have a similar effect (although I didn't notice it as much in your newer mix). I'll listen again on tomorrow on my main monitors, when it's a bit quieter here.

Re: Up for some hillbilly music?
 

Yeah, there's different compressors. But I'm betting it's my singing, because I looked at the wave in V-vocal and some parts looked like I was gargling... my voice is recovering though from all the allergy and chest infection crud so I should be able to recut very soon.

Had a very cool day today. Last night the female vocalist, Julianna, emailed me her vocals for a western waltz. I played it and was blown away by her quality but the rendition sounded too punchy. I asked her about it and she said she wasn't used to singing that high (key was D). We went back and forth and she suggested transposing to E. I did, and then realized not only was that the better key for the song, but I had the wrong root (A instead of D) in the original! I rescored in E, correcting the goofs, and shot her back a rough result. She came back with clear, dead-on vocals that would make Emmylou Harris hang her head in shame. Ok, maybe not... but Julianna is awesome! When I get some backing cowboy-style vocals on this I've got dynamite. :D

Re: Up for some hillbilly music?
 

Okay, I'm so excited to hear someone else sing one of my songs I can't stand it... so I'm posting a link to a VERY ROUGH mix that highlights her singing. There is zero mixing on instruments so just ignore that aspect.

http://cynicalsigns.com/projects/frc...nt-J1rough.mp3

Leaver's Lament

Leaving ain't easy
Don't care what they tell you
Parts of your heart start to fail

Right foot goes forward
The grave's got the left
And your mind's somewhere miles down the trail

O'er the lake on a limb
Where it's now think or swim
Praying the branch doesn't break

Leaving ain't easy
Don't care what they sell you
Never touch more than you'll take
Never touch more than you'll take

copr 2009 Randall G Arnold and Julianna McDuffie, Cynical Signs Publishing

Re: Up for some hillbilly music?
 

You're right; she does have a nice voice!

Re: Up for some hillbilly music?
 

I am so fortunate to have her on board!

Re: Up for some hillbilly music?
 

A little update on "Leaver's Lament":

http://cynicalsigns.com/projects/frc...nt-J2rough.mp3

Note that I'm aware of the flaws...lol. Just getting started...

Re: Up for some hillbilly music?
 

Update on "Leaver's Lament".

The singer says this mp3 sounds harsh on her system... can anyone else confirm or deny? I'm not hearing it...

http://cynicalsigns.com/projects/frc...nt-J3rough.mp3

Re: Up for some hillbilly music?
 

Yes, it sounds rough here as well (listening on nice Genelec monitors, which are working fine). The vocal sounds very low-fi, and the bottom end of the mix is completely missing. Still, nice singing!

Re: Up for some hillbilly music?
 

That's bizarre. On my PC system it sounds rich, full and clear... same in my wife's car using the CD I burned.

I don't get it...

Re: Up for some hillbilly music?
 

The music sounds good, but the singer's voice is mixed with too much high end.

Tim

Re: Up for some hillbilly music?
 

Thanks Tim. I'm working on that. The hard part is that it doesn't show up on my PC or wife's car audio system. I don't get it...

Re: Up for some hillbilly music?
 

Update on "Leaver's Lament". Problems fixed. Man, are Julianna's vocals sweet!

http://www.cynicalsigns.com/projects...s%20Lament.mp3

Re: Up for some hillbilly music?
 

Dude, I totally missed that her name is Julianna -- that's my wife's name! (Same spelling too.)

Sounds wonderful. :)

Tim

Re: Up for some hillbilly music?
 

She's getting a lot of positive feedback on this.

And it occurred to me-- there are websites designed for independent musicians (soundclick, reverbnation, etc) but I have not found one that supports the sort of collaboration I'm looking for-- ie, a virtual Alan Parsons approach. There may be potential in such a concept...

Re: Up for some hillbilly music?
 

Re: Up for some hillbilly music?
 

Ooo! Thanks Jay, I'm signing up!

Re: Up for some hillbilly music?
 

Report back how it works for u. I signed up but haven't used it yet. My old singer moved to Iowa, and I'm waiting to hear back from him in regards to an online collabo.

Re: Up for some hillbilly music?
 

Still working hard on the project. Here's the latest update to the song closest to being finished:

http://www.cynicalsigns.com/projects...s%20Lament.mp3

Man, music production is a TOUGH job!

More to come...

Re: Up for some hillbilly music?
 

that is some hillbilly music :)

I like it tho... u have some reverb on her vocals?

Re: Up for some hillbilly music?
 

Just a little, why?

Re: Up for some hillbilly music?
 

no reason, sounds good.

i would have just been extremely impressed if u said there wasn't!

Re: Up for some hillbilly music?
 

I'm stil learning the fine art of mixing/mastering, which is why I have run so many "builds" of this song. Since Julianna's vocal work was so perfect, I am using this song as my benchmark-- once I get it right, it will be thje gold standard for my folowing work. I think it's 97% of the way there. All constructive criticism is welcome!

Re: Up for some hillbilly music?
 

Not from me. I have a terrible ear for mixing / levels. Our drummer handles all that stuff.

Re: Up for some hillbilly music?
 

Okay, this one isn't "hillbilly", but it's part of the same project as the other two songs... just with a different vocalist. Still my writing, arranging and producing. The singer, my friend Tony, did do some mixing.

95% done, just needs a little polish (may take some time to load):

http://www.cynicalsigns.com/projects...20Tony%202.mp3

My wife says it's radio-worthy. :)

Re: Up for some hillbilly music?
 

I f*cking like it!

Unfortunately, in this musical / entertainment climate, the radio is far, far away.

(Believe me, I know...... mtv and clear channel are dirty, dirty whores.....)

Re: Up for some hillbilly music?
 

That is great!!!

Tim

Re: Up for some hillbilly music?
 

Isn't Tony incredible? He'll be on at least 1 or 2 more.

And Tim, I'm just waiting on a new soundcard and then you and I start working. ;)

Re: Up for some hillbilly music?
 

Yeah, Tony's a real pro, for sure.

And, I'm waiting... :)

Tim

Re: Up for some hillbilly music?
 

Anyone have suggestions as to where I can put up two of my old bands' songs for downloading? I'm short on cash at the moment, so free is the only option right now.

Joe.