my vocal potential has yet to be fulfilled
I know that in general, my vocals can be better than what they have been since I started this whole edm thing. And there's a practical reason for that, which I would like to explain in this post. It has mostly to do with my living situation. I'm proud of the work I've done so far... but when I listen to it, I just know I can do better than that. May sound kinda perfectionist... but I think it's also normal that artists want to keep improving their own work... and I know I can. It's just dependent on certain circumstances, which are a bit unusual right now...
The first track that I was featured in was CoLd_Friction's "Broken Drum"... I recorded this on the very last day that I was living in my previous apartment (just a few months ago), which was a studio, and I lived there alone during my studies. It was a new building with very good sound insulation. I had lived there for three years... and during that time I played a lot of guitar and sang loudly sometimes, whenever I wanted... cause I knew I wasn't disturbing my neighbors. I'd really belt it out in the shower too... I think that was when I got some of my best practice =P (reminds me of Woody Allen's latest movie, To Rome With Love... which I thought was hilarious and if you watch it, you'll know what I'm talking about lol.)
See... I battle with shyness. That's why recording vocals in my bedroom is so good... cause no one else is there ;) I do believe that my voice is actually quite good... when I sing by myself ;) But when other people are there... I don't know, I just freeze up somehow :/ I know I need to get over this... cause eventually I would actually like to start doing live performances. So something definitely needs to shift regarding my attitude... but that's another issue.
Anyways... right after Broken Drum, I moved into my new apartment, which is in a really old house with very thin walls... where I have four roomates (plus our grumpy landlord who lives right above me).
So yea... maybe you guessed it: I can't sing here. I just cannot. Yes, I tried, and it wasn't happening.
That's why I found my "studio" space (described in a previous post about Fang's track), which is basically an empty apartment that a family I know is letting me use for free =D yea, so awesome! I'm lucky to have scored this space... the universe just took care of me, what can I say. So I keep my recording equipment there and I go there specifically to record.
But... see anything wrong with this picture??
I haven't been practicing singing like I used to... when I go to my studio, I have to warm up my voice and it takes a while. After a few hours of singing, I'm much better... but I also can't spend all day at the place (yet).
I also haven't been playing guitar lately (and singing with it), like at all... and I neeeeeed to now. I need to get back into it like, so bad. It was therapeutic for me. But I'm too fucking shy to do that here... and I hate that. I wanted to bring my guitar to the studio but (just my luck) my guitar case completely broke recently and I need that... whatevs, I'll just have to figure out a way to get it over there anyways. I should do that today.
And then I should start spending more time there, maybe start spending the night. I know the family who owns the place would be fine with that. I also have to get the internet password... that would be super helpful too (probably distracting, but the benefits would be greater). Ideally, I should move in... I'm considering doing that, but of course moving is a pain in the ass (and I might have to start paying to use the place). Thinking about it though.
Sooooo... basically, when I spend more time in the studio and sing more regularly, and belt it out in the shower like I love doing... I know my vocal quality will be better. I know I can sing better than what I did in all of the tracks I've recorded for so far. So this is actually kinda exciting, cause if people like my voice now... just wait 'til I can fulfill my potential ;)