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Tenoch Villa
Today was the first time I actually sat in during a recording session. I was nervous. I was worried I might break one of the studio rules. I was worried my ego wolud drive me to say something dumb."Maybe you should add some hand percussion. Maybe you should try something else for the intro. I agree, that doesn't sound on beat." Thank god I kept my ntipicking to myself and the notepad I was writing in. Prince made it very clear to me that it was important I am respectful to the people working. Wheter it's him, musicians, or whoever. Practice professionalism.
Anyway, when I showed up to Portland Underground Prince Strickland was in the midst of making some adjustments to a song. One of the songs that today's scheduled musician had wrote and recorded from a session I was present for. Prince was looking for a drum track that would fit best under the song. Based on my first impression of the song, I really enjoyed it. I couldn't think of an artist or song that would be similar to that of the one being played, all I can say is it was soulful, folky, and had a great groove that drunk people couldn't help but get down to. Even a fully sober person couldn't resist tapping their foot to the beat and bobbing their head. I know I was.
A few minutes later, the musician showed up. His name is Aziz. He came in with an acoustic guitar and a firm handshake. Not in the way your high school grlfriend's dad would shake your hand, compressing his judgments and stern ideals into his palms and fingers. Aziz shook hands like a man who is excited to meet you. Like he has heard all about all the accomplishments you've had since kindergarten. He gave off a postive energy in everything he did. More on that later.
Aziz sat down with Prince at the mixing board, Aziz was hearing the song with the added drum track for the first time. He was really excited to hear himself it. I was felt his excitement even as an outsider. Aziz and Prince talk about the structure of the song, and Prince suggests that he adds some percussion to chorus of the song to liven it up some more. This is when Prince really got into producer mode. He is sweeping the drum track, adjusting the EQ, adding filters, all while making sure Aziz is on board whilst making suggestions aswell.
Communication is Critical Now this brings up something I was aware of before going into it, but I really noticed. Both a musican and producer really need to be on the same page if they want to make a project sound good. They also have to be ready to take and serve some critisisms or concerns. It is in their best interests to. Both of them have their own reputaion and expectation to uphold, and they can't allow anyone to say otherwise without putting in their all into a song.
After getting all the meat and potatoes to their liking, they add some savory seasonings to the mix: Hand claps. While Prince sets up the live room for the recording, I give a hand and help as much as I can. Which translates to THEY ASKED ME TO HELP PROVIDE CLAPS TO THE SONG! WHAT??? I'm sure most people woudn't have the same level as excitement as I did for such a miniscule contribution but forget them, but a lot of people can't clap in time on the down beat of a song so forget them.
Though the song sounded pretty good, Prince and Aziz both want a live drummer to play hold it down so the son transcends into greatness. With that established, they move into the next track, Renegade. Aziz needed to write down the words to the song so I fetched him a pen and notepad while Prince rearranged the mics to record vocals and guitar. I remembered you need to use more than one microphone so it can pick up the reflections of the sound bouncing off walls and such. SOUND SCIENCE.
Prince starts playing different drum samples until Aziz picked the one he felt fit the mood and style of the song. Aziz mentions that the song isn't in its complete form yet do it may draw out. Prince says it is fine, it gives them a basic idea of the song so they can work on it as time goes on. Strangely enough, this approach to song writing was unheard of to me, but it makes so much sense. Sure you could write it down or try to remember it, but recording it would have the best results.
They run a few practice takes. During one, Aziz accidentally moves on of the microphones. Doing so changed the phasing of the track, because the rebound of the sound wasn't hitting the mics were they should. Mic placement is critical. Prince goes in and fixes it and everything sounds like it should. After a few more minutes, they call it a day.
They seem pleased with what they got done in the time. And they really did get some results, from an outsiders point of view. After Aziz left, Prince and I straighten up the live room. He asks me what I thought of today and of the songs. I told him I was really fortunate to be able to sit in on a reccording session. I know it is oart of my education, but I don't thing the coolness factor of being in the studio will fade for quite sometime. He said maybe someday I can record my songs their, play producer and artists. You know it man. I'm working to get anywhere I want. And the soundboard is one of many stops on my list of sites to see.
Today ignited a real fire in me. My passion and motivaion to create has never been more present than it has since that session. If I want to make a name for myself I need give it my all every chance I get. The road will be tough but bumps and hiccups haven't stopped me before and they sure as hell ain't gonna stop me now or anytime soon. If I'm not working to become the greatest artist of all time, then I'm wasting time itself. Get ready ya'll, I'm a musical force to be reckoned with.
