Nick Denison

Regarding your uncomfortable experience with recording and struggling to hear yourself properly. Firstly, are you practicing your songs acapella? (i.e. taking a reference pitch and then singing without a backing track/guide. Checking that you are staying on pitch by resounding your reference note/chord as you work the song) If so, you should try turning your other tracks (the pitched ones - guitars etc) way down in the mix when recording. Leave some drums or other timing references higher in the mix to help you stay in time. People naturally tune to the bass/bottom end of the sound, be it in singing, trumpet playing (yes, they have to worry about tuning too!) or whatever. So leave some of that if you need it. Now crank the monitoring of your own voice coming back through the headphones, so you can hear every nuance of what your doing. You need only hear the pitched tracks loud enough to get your bearings for pitch before you start singing. Then sing it with confidence because you've (hopefully) worked the song acapella, and have the confidence to know you're on pitch. I guess it's that old saying, "horses for courses". Different things work for different people. IMHO I'd stay away from doing funny things with the headphones. Having one ear on, one off, having them half on your ears, around your neck etc. In my experience these things (particularly using one headphone only) can really screw your equilibrium and do weird things to how you hear pitch. Just my opinion though, and no doubt it seems to work for some.

Felipe, you crooned me all the way A note about your English, it's very good here man, well done. If I didn't know your native tongue was Portuguese, I would absolutely believe your mother tongue was English. I listened to your take on "For Whom the Bell Tolls" (which I understand is older material?) and there is a massive difference in the naturalness of pronunciation. Is it a case of having greatly improved your accent, or do you think the Metallica cover was a greater challenge, regarding the accent? edit : PS The above is by no means a negative criticism of your singing "for whom the bell tolls", I found it unique and enjoyable.

My apologies! I had another listen and it's higher than I first thought. The chorus does the B - F sharp thing. Beltable if you've got (i.e. developed) a strong mid voice I definitely don't think you have a 'low' voice. I missed the higher notes at he end of the song before. You get up to an e flat right at the end there - but it's hard to hear as it's hidden in the mix a bit. Be cool to hear that part a little more exposed, to better hear what you're doing there. I concur with Ron, keep this stuff coming.

Took me a while to realise you are playing all the parts yourself.... Well done! That kind of adaptability will surely serve you well. Sounded like a good mix too, and the multi tracking film edit you did was cool. I'm not familiar with the song, so I won't say anything about your interpretation etc. Whilst there is nothing particularly technical vocally in this song (does not appear to move through or beyond the passagio - stays comfortably in 'chest') your delivery sounded true to the style. I don't mean at all to devalue the music or your efforts, simply an observation. I look forward to more of these one man band productions from you!

Hi.. Is this an original song? (I'm assuming yes?). Do you want input on your vocals, your song, your production? all of the above? It's a little unclear from your post.

I think if you re-post your clip with far less effects on your voice (perhaps just some basic reverb and compression), no doubling etc, it would be much easier for people to give feedback on your singing. Having said that, I can hear some good stuff in there (some pitch issues here and there perhaps), but I'll refrain from commenting further until I can hear it a little dryer. I think you'll get more people commenting if you re-post. Look forward to hearing it :)

I enjoyed that, compositionally, very much! Very refreshing to hear a departure from the well worn 3 chord type formula. Especially like the major/minor juxtaposition thing she had going there, which could have been weird, but she made it really cool with her chosen vocal line on top (and subsequent chord choices).

Great man. A beautiful fusion of the eastern aesthetic with rock here. I'm guessing the departure point regarding the eastern influence is Indian music? Just listening to the sitar sounds on that one. Vocally, I really dig your use of melismatic lines. I get the sense you could improvise them all day and night. Great stuff!

I'm with Keith and Ron. Great song, just rolls along nicely and leaves nothing to be desired. Satisfying! I have a question.... I'm guessing that's a vintage tube amp on the crunchy guitar? Great warm sound. If that's not a boutique tube amp of some kind, it's a damn good emulation of one!

x 2 on What Owen has said, not to contradict myself regarding being totally relaxed.... but ultimately it comes down to a smart management of tension, healthy tension. I think many coaches throw the "absolutely no tension" thing out there, as a means to get students away from unproductive clenching and gripping, as Owen said. Once you are rid of the bad tenancies to tense, and push, and understand the difference between that, and a healthy 'squeezing' of the sound, you can start getting more adventurous with your approach.

Deutschland! ach so! Ich komme aus Australian, aber ich spreche ein bisschen... Ich habe für zwei jahre Deutsch gelernt, denn reise ich im nächsten Jahr nach Deutschland (villeicht...). Excuse the dodgy grammar Yes, it does seem a paradox! That was my big epiphany I spoke of, learning to relax. That and vowel modifications, also thinning the sound down as I got higher (these things you will learn about ) In regards to relaxing and singing powerfully, you must develop the power from the diaphragm, not with tension or constriction in the throat. Throat stays relaxed, open. Diaphragm develops power (you will read about "support" and the 'support mechanism'). Also counter intuitively, you will learn to use far less air as you try to sing more powerfully or higher. Too much air is a voice killer..... and will have your voice hoarse and sore in no time. So the use of the diaphragm isn't about blasting loads of air through your vocal folds. There are experts here who have written great articles on this stuff, so I'll not blabber on about it put in some search terms such as "open voice", "support", "Diaphragm" etc on this forum, and you will lots of material to read! and also vids to watch too. Once it clicks, and it's ingrained in muscle memory, you'll wonder how you could have done it any other way Ich werde jetzt zu Bett gehen! es ist hier 5am.... I look forward to your future posts and development ! Not in a band currently..... I'm busy finishing a postgraduate degree so unfortunately there's not much time for anything else Plus Adelaide (where i live) is quite.... lets say 'desolate' for a music scene. Although as soon as I finish my degree here, and move (possibly to Germany for further study) I will def do it!

ahh cool. I was sure you are a woman! but didn't want to assume, as some guys have high voices, and a guy might be upset to know he sounds feminine... (if he thought he had a muscular sound, you get the gist ) so I was being careful. Go for it, seriously. A few years ago, I was awful, totally useless. If I hadn't gone for it anyway, I wouldn't have gotten to where I am today. In my case, some coaching from a singing coach, lots of trial and error on my part and finally having it all 'make sense' , a eureka moment. If your throat is hurting and closing... you need to avoid whatever is doing that. Singing should never, ever hurt. Even if you're belting the hell out of your voice. When does it happen? when trying to sing too loudly? or too high (for you at this stage). You're probably trying to pull your chest voice up too high, and having your larynx do something awful. There are people more qualified to advise you than me.... but I'd say, keep your throat open, like a yawning sensation. That's a good rule of thumb in general. Open and relaxed. Out of curiosity, where in Europe?

Hi, I agree with Tommy. Everyone has the potential to develop their voice as far as they want to take it. You've made a good start, you have some decent feel for pitch, well done! Now it's time to hone what you have into its true potential. Well done on having the courage to sing acapella (with no backing track). Read these forums, ask questions. Perhaps get hold of a recommended DIY voice method, or better, a vocal coach to really get things going. It's much the same as asking if you can be a bodybuilder or not. Everyone has the potential, some start out with naturally better physiques than others (just as some singers start out with more natural abilities). With hard work you will get there. Having said all that, I liked the folk like melody of the song, and your sensitivity to dynamics. I don't mean to insult by asking this question, but are you a male? or female?

Having read your disclaimer, and Felipe's criticism, I was expecting something far more abominable... Sure, I can see you point, and where Felipe is coming from, but I still enjoyed it all the same. I just dig your tone in general man, consider me a fan haha. Probably on the quieter high bits your struggling with....it may be one of those cases where it's more simple/easier than it seems, when you just relax into it and stop trying. And that there is potentially the most vague, unqualified advice you'll ever receive Keep 'em coming man.

That was great man. Along with the others who have mentioned Neeley, I also heard him in there. Intentionally, or unintentionally, you really captured some of his nuances. I had just been listening to (and enjoying) Neeley's live performance on YouTube recently, so it's very fresh in my mind! love the production too, nice and crisp sounding, Nice reverb too. May I enquire as to the mic you use?