New Favorite TV Show

Back in October, BYUtv started showing a series called Sue Thomas: FBEye.  I happened to see it when I was waiting to watch a sporting event my brother, Erik, was mixing the sound for.

I immediately loved the show!  So for Christmas, it was great to open up my presents and get the entire series on DVD.  (What did we do before those magic discs were invented?)

The series is based on a true-life story of Sue Thomas, a hearing impaired woman who worked for the FBI.  The actress who portrays Sue, Deanne Bray, is also hearing impaired.

I love shows that depict characters with integrity, a sense of right and wrong, and moral fiber.  This series definitely fits the bill.  I felt a kinship with Sue's character, having had to deal with my own health challenges that affect my everyday life and often isolate me from others.  A lot of people in the course of my life experiences--okay most people--cast doubt, even demeaned, my efforts to be a performer and singer because of my health problems.  But just like Sue Thomas, here I am doing what so many have told me I couldn't do.

And of course, I love the bond between Sue and Levi, her hearing dog.  I had that kind of bond with my dog Dylan.

I've never been one to like those kinds of characters who, as we say in the Chaston home, "wiffle-waffle."  I like characters whose true moral selves are revealed under duress.   They do not shrink, hide or run away.  Unlike the weak-minded, loose-moral characters media predominantly portray, there are more people like those characters who can stand up and work hard to make a positive difference in their families, communities, and the world.  I like to view characters in the media who remind me that there are real-life people who want to be and do good.

My single My World expresses some of my feelings and response to being told I should not, would not, could not do what I do.

What To Do When You Feel Under the Weather

So today I felt a little under the weather.  I did what any smart, sick person would do: lie down on the couch and veg.  Except that it is really hard for me to just sit and rest.  So I do other things...

I look for recipes and I knit.  I even prepare my taxes...really!

And sometimes when you're feeling not-so-good, you need a little lift!  Here's my uplifting single "My World."

"My World" is finally on iTunes AND the Next Single...

What a great surprise to hear my new single, "My World," playing again on Y105 in Iowa this morning! And the long version is finally up on iTunes...just took a bit longer than expected!

Between co-hosting the morning show on Y105, arranging for recording sessions in August, pitching to do a charity gig, operating the board for radio remotes, Erik and I mixed a new single today.  

Now this song has a story!  I don't want to give away too many details, but it is the first non-angry/hurt song I've ever written.  I co-wrote it with my new songwriting partner, Justin Jensen, who plays piano and sings on the recording (okay, so I CAN tell you it is a duet).  

More details tomorrow!

My Take on "My World"

Jillaine released her "My World" single today!  I never get tired of the song and let me tell you I have heard it at least 100+ times.  Okay, that is an exaggeration but I have heard it a lot in the last week.  With most songs you would feel inclined to cut your ears off when you cannot stand to listen to them one more time.  This is by no means the case with "My World."  In fact, it is just the opposite.  

Every time I hear it, I connect even more with not just the orchestration but the deep meaning of the words.  "My World" simply envelopes--it pierces the soul.  It really is hard to express the effect it has had on me.  This morning it was played on KLYV 105.  It took all the muster I could conjure up to not get emotionally choked up--not the kind of choked up because it is my sister, Jillaine, I am hearing on the radio, but because the song is just that powerful in connecting with the listener.  It is simply something you have to experience for yourself.

"My World" on iTunes!!! (FREE download on Facebook)

Today, my first single is...RELEASED! "My World" is definitely an invitation into, well, my world! (That pun was TOTALLY intended!)

Get the FREE "My World" (Radio Edit) on my Facebook band page. Hurry, it will only be around for a limited time!

Fortunately, though, a blog is forever!

Yesterday, I blogged about how the lyrics of "My World" came to be. And, as promised, today is all about the mixing!

After fixing timing issues (we wanted it to be perfect for slow dancing), we set about creating the sound of the song. Not just the sound of each track, but really how we wanted to whole song to blend together.

We experimented with Antares Harmony efx on the lead vocal to add back-up vocals, but the sound wasn't quite right for this song. Though we did like the effect itself and plan to use it on future releases.

Next we tried chorusing within Pro Tools. We knew we wanted that effect, but the plug-in was giving a metallic sound to the vocal so we looked further. Little did we know we had a wealth of chorusing effects within our Kurzweil KSP8 outboard effects processor. After some experimenting with different kinds of chorusing, we settled on one that added just the right amount of depth. Then Erik programmed the delay to correspond with the tempo and triplet feel. We were making headway!

We applied a similar chorusing effect on the instruments, but something was still missing. We thought it was in the synth, so we searched for the right synth patch and found it in Synergy. Unfortunately, there was still something missing.

Erik then had a brilliant idea...I should play a harp part! I was a little bit wary of his idea, but decided I should give it a try. This isn't an ordinary harp you hear.  It is electric.

So Erik got my Camac Big Blue all plugged in and we literally composed an additional track.  Yes, Erik would sing what he wanted while I played what I heard him sing!  Frankly, it was hilarious! I play harp on the choruses and bridge. The upper registers on the harp add just the right scintillating touch to the song!  Harp will be included in upcoming releases!

And that's our mix down of the process we used to bring you "My World."

Until next time!

Writing "My World"

My first single! Who would've thought?

The single is up on iTunes tomorrow and the radio edit is free (for a limited time) on my Facebook page (also tomorrow).

Amazingly, "My World" has taken a long road to get where it is. It was originally recorded in the summer of 2009 with only temp lyrics. The final lyrics didn't happen until March 2010. Since that time, it has been catalogued under...well, "not ready to release!"

The temp title was "Rock Love Ballad" so I kept trying to write lyrics for a love song.  After countless hours, endless scribbled note paper, and quite a few headaches, I decided the love song angle just wasn't working out. New direction: hmm...?

Still stymied, I just wrote down what I was feeling at the time. I was...frustrated. However, I knew I could finish the song, so I was still hopeful. I continued to write in an almost stream of consciousness fashion until I began discovering some good ideas. Then I quit for the day and ate some ice cream. (Tip: ice cream always helps in songwriting. Not sure why, but I think someone should do a study on it and get the figures down. I'd volunteer for the study! My current favorite is Breyer's Butter Almond!)

Over the next few days, I hammered out the rest of the lyrics and got the song structure to fit with the recorded tracks.

Next objective...recording vocals...in a make-shift vocal booth made of air mattresses poised and balanced in the hallway. Being a college student is so awesome!

Tomorrow I'll update on the mixing, which was actually the most fun I've ever had mixing! After doing jazz that requires a mostly natural room, clarity in the vocals, and instrumental sounds, doing a pop song allowed Erik (my brother and all-around genius music engineer) to experiment with some pretty sweet plug ins and outboard gear.

Until tomorrow!