Many of you know me for my drawings, but I bet most of you didn’t know that I also like to sing and voice act! I’ve been so busy with all my visual arts that I’ve had very little time to work on the audio stuff. I’m planning to make some audio samples to toss onto my portfolio site this summer.
Here’s one I’m working on now, as a singing sample. I’ll have to completely re-record it, because I originally recorded it in my old dorm with terrible acoustics, and where I had to be quiet because the walls were paper thin. Also, there are just some part of the song that need to be tweaked… at one point I actually forgot where I was and started to sing the wrong part! Agh! Also, the high part is a little TOO high for me. You can hear that I’m much more comfortable singing the lower half of the duet. ;D
It’s the Oscar winning song, “Falling Slowly” by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová from the movie “Once,” and one of my favorites!
Wow! That was incredible! You’re voice is pretty in the higher registers, but you can definitely tell that its the lower ones where you really shine. This was a nice interpretation of the song as well! I am now as impressed by your voice as I am by your art!
Very nicely done! Just listened to it and it sounds great! Art & singing talent…what can’t you do? o_O
Jesse~
Hey, I liked that. I hadn’t heard that song before, but I love the melody intertwining with the harmony. Very pretty.
You did well singing it, although I think you’d do better if you had a chance to sing and not ‘whisper’ at the same time, which would also make it easier to hit high notes, probably– be able to put more of your diaphragm into it and so forth.
Wow. very pretty. I was pleasantly suprised!
That was beautiful.
@ agnespterry (and yamino): you can still sing quiet and support the sound. your diaphragm and abs support the sound and the air stream, (mostly @ yamino now):
keep the air speed steady and keep your muscles constantly pushing to keep it steady, but keep the throat open so that the tension of your muscles doesn’t distort your sound. Don’t get me wrong, you did a wonderful job, the tonal quality of your voice is phenominal, but i agree that the harmony (lower vocal) was better (the pitch was steadier). i’d like to hear more of your singing, it was very pleasant to listen to =) just remember, support support support! i don’t know how much you sing, so i’m not trying to make you feel stupid here, just passin along some previously gained knowledge. great vocals (and comic), love it!
btw, if any of what i said bothers you or negatively affects your singing, just don’t listen to me. you sounded great before i said anything so i don’t want to ruin any of your greatness =P
WHOA WOW WEE WHOA.
you have an amazing voice!!
Your voice is so lovely…
Omigod Yami your voice is so BEAUTIFUL! I could almost like, cry, but, I don’t really cry! Amazing! Your voice – I can’t get over it! Sugoiiii! Lovely and spectacular and amazing and ALL OF THAT STUFF! :3 ^o^
You’re voice is absolutely gorgeous, I think I’m love.
I love this movie (I actually purchased the CD!), so what a pleasant surprise this was. Very awesome, I would love to hear you sing your heart out like Glen Hansard. Your voice is very beautiful, I hope you continue to train it.
My training is completely classical, so I can’t comment on your technique (i.e. commissures spread/not spread, voicing the consonants versus singing them, etc). I was taught to pick apart my own vocal performances as critically as possible, which I won’t do here, specifically because I’m horribly mean and slightly rusty.
You do a good job with it- your vowel sounds are consistent throughout, which is very difficult to do. And your voice is excellent.
However, whenever you begin a phrase (especially the higher ones) you’re hesitating and your pitch wavers just slightly. Keep your breath going and speed it (your breath, not the tempo) up toward the end of your phrases. It’ll help with the pitch in a few spots.
You’re falling just short of some high notes that begin with consonants (“th” especially). This may be because you needed to keep quiet, or it may be because “th” “m” “v” etc. are difficult.
Try to keep the lower notes light. You’re sitting on them a bit, causing them to flatten towards the end.
You close to the “l” of “still” much earlier than you need to. That’s specific, but you do that to other words too. Sing the vowels longer!
Have confidence in the high notes! Breath is everything. (My suggestion: stand about one foot from a wall, facing it, while singing. Pretend to push your breath through said wall. It’s hard to explain, but it works.) You’re breathing correctly already if you recorded that as quietly as I think you did.
Hope what I’ve said helps! Also, I hope it doesn’t seem too awfully critical. Questions are very welcome and I can always clarify what I’ve said if need be!
Regards,
Ver
@MoosicGuy & Ver:
Thank you so much for your thoughtful critique! By the way, never feel like giving me such detailed feedback is “mean” or unappreciated. I really value your opinions, as I’m still very new to this. Ver, I know what you mean about the differences between classical and pop singing, most of my training was in choirs, where I was taught to really enunciate and blend harmoniously with a group rather than develop an individual voice. It really means a lot when a professional tells me they like my singing, and even more when they take the time out to give a solid critique to help me improve. =)
I’ll look over your advice again before my next recording, and try to work on the things you suggested. Thanks again!
Great Song! Any way we can download it? I would totally put this in my iTunes and listen to it.
What can be said that hasn’t been said already. Well I’ll try.
1° Your voice is beautiful. And one can tell you really like that song. It does lack a bit on the higher notes, but I feel that’s more a lack in confidence than in talent. You should do it again in a place where you can scream at will (and upload that again please).
2° Did I say your voice is beautiful? Actually I’ve never seen said movie, but you made me look for the soundtrack. Downloaded both the movie version and one by the Frames, and I think yours is better. And onto my mp3 it goes!
3° Thanks, and keep blessing the world with the precious sound of your singing!
You’re welcome!
I remember blend, too. We used to spend a good chunk of time standing in a circle and singing until our vowels matched. DX
You have the right idea in developing your individual voice. Even with choral training, knowing your strengths and weaknesses and working on them in a solo setting is essential. Choral training is excellent, though. It’s all bout consistence, which is a good lesson no matter what you do.
OWE-MY-TAX-CO-LEC-TOR! that was amazing! i let my friends listen to it and they all loved it, esspescialy Chris. he said you should go for American Idol.