The Stranger (rough demo)

  • 24 Replies
  • 3595 Views

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

stephaniedema

  • *
  • Solo Gig
  • ***
  • Posts: 315
    • Sienna Little on Facebook
« on: May 20, 2013, 09:13:33 PM »
Hey guys (and girls!)

It's been a while since I posted a song of my own, so here is a rather new one.
I played it at my open mic performance earlier this month.
It is inspired by the homeless people I passed every day in Brussels on my way to my internship at Radio 1.

It's a rough demo. I amped up my Fender Strat and use one recording mic, for both vocals and the amped up (distant) guitar.
What do you think?

SD


http://www.reverbnation.com/siennalittle/song/17368627-the-stranger

Lyrics:

He flees the city
It's half past midnight
And the last train has long gone

A police car drives by
He hides his face
From the pale blue lights

And he doesn't know where he's going now
After the street lights have all burnt out
And every open door has been closed so many times before

He's a stranger to you
And he's a stranger to me too

He's had a tough life
So he's resistent
But even he gets lost

Getting high on brandy
And a half pack of cigarets
But he can't afford the cost

So he sneaks in and sneaks back out
Wondering when things will turn around
But every corner he turns
Just brings him back to start

He's a stranger to you
And he's a stranger to me too

But I know his face
And I know the place where he goes
When it gets too cold outside

He flees the city
It's half past midnight
And the last train has long gone

We drive by
We pull over
And we decide to take him home
Like a little spider I'm climbing the insurmountable. But I never hold myself accountable. - KT Tunstall

https://www.facebook.com/siennalittlemusic
https://twitter.com/SiennaLittle
http://www.reverbnation.com/siennalittle

seriousfun

  • *
  • Stadium Tour
  • *****
  • Posts: 1681
    • Allan Kilgour - Original Compositions
« Reply #1 on: May 20, 2013, 09:47:38 PM »
I liked the sound you got her with the guitar. It gave it a great natural ambience like you might expect on a live performance. The song is cool, love the lyrics though I was confused over one thing that may be worth considering a small lyric change.  The line and he doesn't now where he's going clashes with And I know the place where he goes. It just seems strange to me that the singer can know where the stranger is off to when he doesn't actually know him self. Other than small nit pick I reckon the lyrics are very strong and extremely well presented vocally as I have come to expect from you.

Job accomplished with song, it's super.

Neil C

  • *
  • Stadium Tour
  • *****
  • Posts: 3970
« Reply #2 on: May 21, 2013, 09:48:46 AM »
Nice playing and good sound to vocals. The song supports the lyrics well.
Moves along nicely and for me its got a sort of Tracy Chapman meets Sade feel to it.
It would be interesting if you intended to do a 'band' version to hear what it would sound like..
:)
Neil
songwriter of no repute..

habiTat

  • *
  • Stadium Tour
  • *****
  • Posts: 1455
    • habiTat songs
« Reply #3 on: May 21, 2013, 02:22:56 PM »
Hey Stephanie,

This is fantastic, I really like it. I'd love to go to one of your open mic nights. It's got great atmosphere, I reckon with some subtle reverb on the vocal it would just finish it off perfectly. Maybe get some Flossie piano on there as well, like with the pawprint song you guys did, just a lazy note here and there, to compliment the guitar.

Love the bendy guitar at the end as well, very cool :)

Excellent

hab..

stephaniedema

  • *
  • Solo Gig
  • ***
  • Posts: 315
    • Sienna Little on Facebook
« Reply #4 on: May 22, 2013, 12:28:51 PM »
Thanks for the feedback, guys.

Sf, I hadn't really noticed it myself, but you're right. It is a bit weird. I'll look for a fix.

Neil, thanks. Tracy Chapman is a lovely reference to hear. She's amazing! Not sure yet how I'll record it. Just starting to work out the whole Virtual Instrument things, so I might give it a go over the summer holidays, try and get a "band sound".

Hab, I'd be happy to have you at any open mic I might be playing, but the whole Belgium-thing might get in the way of that ;) It def. needs some reverb, this was a very quick, dry recording. As I said, not sure how I'll work the instrumentals out, but I might ask Flossie if I need some lovely piano sounds :)

SD
Like a little spider I'm climbing the insurmountable. But I never hold myself accountable. - KT Tunstall

https://www.facebook.com/siennalittlemusic
https://twitter.com/SiennaLittle
http://www.reverbnation.com/siennalittle

S.T.C

  • *
  • Stadium Tour
  • *****
  • Posts: 2633
  • American Cars........out now
    • http://oldsongsnew.com/
« Reply #5 on: May 22, 2013, 01:52:54 PM »
It`s a good song..easy does it i reckon.

Liked the story..iv`e written something like this about some one out at night not knowing or waiting for something/one..

Your vocal delivery was fine also..it`s difficult when you sing this type of song and you need to fluctuate the sounds..and it`s all so exposed ,the pressure to keep in tune ,hey!!

Dutchbeat

  • *
  • Guest
« Reply #6 on: May 23, 2013, 07:52:17 PM »
Hi Stephanie,

i am verry hsppy to hear a song from you again. I really like everything you make, i don't think this is the best recording / song i have heard from you, but i am not sure  :P, because i love it again, and some shivers again !!!!  :o :o

i really like your music, and tbh, i would love to get my hands on one of your songs one day to make a mix
i would make it into the usual Dutchbeat mess, but i really would do my best

i think your vocals are very GOOD, your melodies always work, absolutely work for me, but i would like to hear it in another arrangment and mix....


can I???  :-X :-X :-X :-\ :-\ :-\ :-\ :-\ :-\


stephaniedema

  • *
  • Solo Gig
  • ***
  • Posts: 315
    • Sienna Little on Facebook
« Reply #7 on: May 24, 2013, 09:06:17 AM »
Thx for the kind words, stc :)

DB, I'd be honored to throw one in your blender  ;) Just let me know what song you'd prefer to work with and what recordings you need. I'll happily serve them to you on a silver platter ^^

SD
Like a little spider I'm climbing the insurmountable. But I never hold myself accountable. - KT Tunstall

https://www.facebook.com/siennalittlemusic
https://twitter.com/SiennaLittle
http://www.reverbnation.com/siennalittle

Dutchbeat

  • *
  • Guest
« Reply #8 on: May 24, 2013, 03:29:54 PM »
thanks!  ;D ;D ;D i will send you a PM

montydog

  • *
  • Stadium Tour
  • *****
  • Posts: 2700
  • http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h40/montydog1/Me
    • Reverbnation
« Reply #9 on: May 24, 2013, 06:46:29 PM »
Hi,

Strong song with a great, earthy vocal delivery. Needs reverb on the voice but otherwise it's gutsy and ballsy. Some tuning issues but you'll sort them out. Definitely a Tracey Chapman vibe. Authentic and real.

Sing4me88

  • *
  • Stadium Tour
  • *****
  • Posts: 1191
« Reply #10 on: May 25, 2013, 12:41:11 PM »
Flows along very nicely. Great guitar playing. Lyrics are very clever. I think the above poster nailed it on the head when they said Tracy Chapman. A full production down this route would take the best out of the song IMO.

Michael

  • *
  • Solo Gig
  • ***
  • Posts: 345
    • Soundcloud
« Reply #11 on: May 25, 2013, 02:54:04 PM »
Wow, what a performance!
I might have mentioned this before, but you have an absolutely stunning voice. Goosebumps for those oohs...
I completely agree with hab, I too would love to hear this played live :)
Loving the open chords on the guitar as well.
Really really cool

stephaniedema

  • *
  • Solo Gig
  • ***
  • Posts: 315
    • Sienna Little on Facebook
« Reply #12 on: May 25, 2013, 09:20:40 PM »
Thanks guys!

Monty: Feels really good to get those compliments, esp. the Tracy Chapman comparison :D

Sing4me: A full production down that road, what do you envision in that way?
I thought re-recording (acoustic?) guitar, vocals with a little reverb, some double bass and some soft drums.
Or going the rocky way, but I think that'll clash with the atmosphere of the song as it is now and as I intended it...

Michael: Thank you for the compliment on the vocals, though there were some tuning issues. But well, that's what a demo is for, right? ;)
I wish we could all get together and play songs for each other, that would be awesome! But sadly enough we're pretty far away from each other (I guess)...

SD
Like a little spider I'm climbing the insurmountable. But I never hold myself accountable. - KT Tunstall

https://www.facebook.com/siennalittlemusic
https://twitter.com/SiennaLittle
http://www.reverbnation.com/siennalittle

Sing4me88

  • *
  • Stadium Tour
  • *****
  • Posts: 1191
« Reply #13 on: May 27, 2013, 10:27:38 PM »
Hi Steph. I know nothing about production but the first way seems to fit the bill. A 'less is more approach' rather than an in your face rock song though at the end of the day it is your song so you've the freedom of going whichever route you please.Either way you've a very solid basis here to work off :)

ShinyThang

  • *
  • Platinum Album
  • ****
  • Posts: 596
« Reply #14 on: May 29, 2013, 07:20:38 PM »
Finally I get to hear it! ;)

Good lyric and phrasing in the delivery. This one grew on me after a few plays. Which I guess is another way of saying it didn't grab me right away. Well, it didn't really but I like it now. It's a demo so, I guess your'e going to develop it and I think it will become a good track. I was pleased that the vocal melody din't just track the chord pattern which can happen in this style of song and you've included some nice open spaces in some of the verses which is an option many arrangers forget they have I think (I include myself in that).

A strong lyric and good melody well worth developing.
They're, there, their  ...  They're all different!

www.soundcloud.com/geoffjamesevans