So today, I got to relax and let someone else do the singing for a change. Ben invited Elana Arian, a singer/songwriter in her own right who tours regularly with Catie Curtis, to come and do background vocals on some of the songs. Elana also plays violin (or is it fiddle? I never know the distinction – perhaps someone can tell me. My guess is that if it’s a classical tune, it’s a violin, and if it’s down-home country, y’all – it’s a fiddle!), and we got her to play on some songs, as well. She was great to work with on all fronts; very talented, creative, and genuinely nice. I’m sure we’ll have her back for some additional songs later in the process.
The thing that really stuck out about the whole of today’s experience is also probably going to be the hardest to describe, or to put into words. I’m a songwriter, right? I hear nuance in lyrics and lyrical structure, I hear basic melodies, but that’s really it. Beyond that, the world of music is a mystery to me. Ben? He hears EVERYTHING. With only the guitar and vocal tracks as a baseline, he guided Elana to try so many different vocal and instrumental options, ideas, etc…so many iterations, in so many different styles, just to see what worked and what didn’t…and while he was often quick to discard things that weren’t working for him, he was just as quick to seize on an idea, no matter how seemingly small, and tease it out until it became a core part of the song. I have no idea how he does it. I have no clue how he hears the things he does, or how he came by this ability to work within this realm with such consummate skill. It’s like a black box to me; it’s like magic. All I can do is sit back and appreciate it, and let him know my opinion when I have one. I can feel around the edges, so when I have strong feelings one way or the other about an approach, I voice it…but often, I find that I am simply trusting that Ben “hears” what is best for the project, and giving him lots of room for discretion. Given his pedigree, it seems like the wise course.
Tomorrow we’ll spend the day adding Ben’s piano parts to a bunch of songs. At the end of the day, I hope to have another rough mix that I’ll be able to share with you, showing you a song which at that point will contain background vocals, violin, and piano (in addition to my vocal and guitar takes, of course).
That’s all for now. I LOVE to see your thoughts, comments, and questions – whether on Facebook, or directly in the Blog – so please do let me hear from you! It’s great to feel connected, especially with the 3,000 miles distance separating me from so many people that I love. Thanks for being there, and THANKS FOR LISTENING!
Steve
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