[stephaniedema]

Hi folks!

Been a while since I've posted something, but have been busy with school and going to festivals after that  :p
Anyways, just wrote this one today. Did a quick recording of it.
What do you think?

http://stephaniedema.bandcamp.com/track/fading-demo

Greetings
SD

[S.T.C]

I liked it..good lyrics as well.

[man of simple pleasures]

nice guitar sounds great! i like the moody vocal sounds like it could build into something epic the bit where you start to get into the strumming before the solo!

[montydog]

I like the overall vibe of the song and the playing and singing is good. It takes a couple of listens before it starts to come into focus and I think you've definately got something. I would say that some of the lyrics need to be re-shaped so that they scan a little better - the ideas are good but I think it needs a little more polishing lyrically.

Thanks for posting 

[James Nighthawk]

Hahaha. Turn your phone off when recording!! (that ggggadurrr ggggadurrr sound from phone inference at about 13 seconds in...low in the mix but my ears are trained to pick these things up!!!). But tis only a demo so no worries!!

I feel this probably does need a few listens to blossom in its current format. It is very open so could be worked over with a nice arrangement to give something more to pull the listener in more quickly. The playing is nice and the vocal warm, so the components are there, but I don't think the song is strong enough to stand alone as an acoustic guitar only affair.

[stephaniedema]

Thanks for the feedback, guys!
I agree that the lyrics might need a few tweaks here and there.
Haha, James, you're right about the phone. While recording a thought 'shit', but when I listened and put it together, I totally forgot about it. You've def got a good pair of ears there! Might indeed look into making a more elaborate arrangement for it, but I still haven't managed to get my hands on Cubase/other software that has a rack of decent virtual midi-controlled instruments...

SD

[Dutchbeat]

sounds very good, Stephanie.

you have a very nice voice (sounds like that of K's choice too me)

do you also play with a band? It would also be nice to hear this with a full band

[jmacdon]

Nice song Stephanie, but you need to "rock" it up a wee bit - it's way too quiet.  The first verse needs to be an octave higher and a simple drum beat in the background would really help.   I like it and i'm sure you can turn this into a great song.  Keep at it girl :-)

[stephaniedema]

Wow, DB, thanks, I take that as a huge compliment, I love Sarah Bettens voice I've never played with a band. Would love to though. But with my master's year at school coming up, including internship and stuff like that, it's hard to estimate how much spare time I'll have left... And it's hard to find a band as well, I reccon
Hi, jmacdon. Would you sing the first verse like the second one then? Or what do you mean? (I don't know any music theory, so I'm a bit stupid when it comes to things like that  :p ) While I was writing, I kinda liked the vocal dynamics in the song (low - high - low again).

SD

[habiTat]

Hi, I like this a lot, it reminds me of Karine Polwart, really really nice. I wouldn't really do much more to this, it works as a simple voice/guitar track.
Nice one

[jmacdon]

I kinda liked the vocal dynamics in the song (low - high - low again).

SD

A pop song has got to grab the audience - from the top of the down beat until the final minim - the low - high - low routine doesn't work. you need to give it your all from the top - so that mean it has to be a high - high - high.  Try it!

[Boydie]

I am not usually a fan of "slow plodding" acoustic numbers but I really do like this a lot

I find the vocal debate interesting as I can see what you are doing with the "low - high" thing but I also understand where JMACDON is coming from

My personal take is that it doesn't really matter what register you sing in (high or low) but it has more to do with the amount of EMOTION you get across that is important to gaining/retaining the listener's interest

It is usually easier to put emotion into a "higher register" performance - however it is still possible with a lower register, Tracey Chapman springs to mind

I think it is worth percervering and trying to eek out every last bit of emotion in the vocal performance to really connect the listener with the lyrics


I thought the "woody" tone you captured from the guitar was particularly nice - great job there!

I still haven't managed to get my hands on Cubase/other software that has a rack of decent virtual midi-controlled instruments...

I think CAKEWALK SONAR is a good bet for soft synths - it comes bundled with a staggering amount - much more than most othr DAWs so may be worth checking out - I am a huge fan of CAKEWALK 

[stephaniedema]

J, I will try it out, compare both and see what works best. Thanks for the advice!
Boydie, glad you liked it. I will check out Cakewalk Sonar. It's about time I had some decent software. But it seems to be quite expensive? I'm living on a student's budget  :p

SD

[Boydie]

It can be expensive

There is a "cheap" version for around £75
http://www.dv247.com/computer-music-software/cakewalk-sonar-home-studio-7--60380

The entry version of the "proper" version is around
http://www.dv247.com/computer-music-software/cakewalk-sonar-x1-producer-mega-deal--97766

Don't forget that there is free software out there

REAPER springs to mind and also there is a free DAW on the COMPUTER MUSIC magazing CD that they are always adding to

I haven't played with these but I think you could get great results

[Dutchbeat]

REAPER is very good and you can try it out for free (even without a fixed end date), and the commercial version is not expensive

and it is really good, i would say, give it a try Stephanie!