How do I even begin to explain how this song came about?
It’s a feeling. It’s an experience.
What culminates to the final product is what I have learnt or re-learned over the weekend.
Understanding God’s plan for mankind is so vital.
Understanding my own personal struggle is not easy but I think the song captures it very well.
I also challenged myself to come up with a new sound I have not done before. I have always been composing for children. I’m glad to say this sound is worthy for a more mature audience. All glory to God.
It started with a recent favourite pop song, Hello by Westlife. I just tinkered some chords from the song. It got stuck. The new grove got stuck. The melody, however, was kinda new for me. I have not write anything like that before.
The words were simple but the message is understood. I realize that simplicity is what we should strive for; mankind made things complicated for themselves.
Armed with limited live instruments and equipment, I did my best with the recording. The initial key was too high as I realized when I start to record the final version seriously.
This was the first version. Seems more like a draft and I sounded so pitch-y. Too high a key for me it seems.
My workflow was figuring out the chord sequence and I liked the use of only one minor chord in the verses and chorus. I especially like the bridge section. It reminds me a lot of Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors for some reason.
Like an ABBA song, I like a song to have a contrasting mood from the original intention. This song is a sign of my personal struggle but it doesn’t have to sound sad or moody. It is quite optimistic.
The piano track was the base of the recording and I recorded with metronome to set the tempo right. I experimented with my new cajon tablet that I bought from Timoz. I’ve been resisting from recording my cello but my playing has improved some what and I decided to give it ago. Last but not least, my trusty DIY rice shaker in a small glass bottle.
Here are more specifics of the recording and video:
DAW – Cubase LE AI Element 9
Microphone – Cardiode AT 2035
Digital Piano – Casio CDP 200R
Cello – Eurostring
Timoz Cajon Tablet
DIY Rice Shaker
Vocals – my own
Video program – Da Vinci Resolve
Video visuals – Canva
The vocal harmony was a last minute decision but I didn’t regret it. It adds a nice touch and provides more color to the song.
My only qualm is probably my production mixing can be better but I’m still learning and it can only improve over time.
If your ears are sharp, you can probably some bird tweeting sounds in the track. Those are natural occurring sounds while I was recording. My study room is not sound proofed enough and my microphone at the lowest sensitivity possible.
This is all I can share so far and I hope that anyone who listens will be blessed. Amen!
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