UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

My daughter has recorded two song which she has also written and posted them on myspace. Two further songs will be posted there shortly.

I think the first two songs are pretty good although they are still only demos.

The link is shown below. I would be most interested to receive comments from anyone who has a few moments to listen.

Thanks

http://www.myspace.com/emmaparnes

Not bad you know!

But the main comment is the backing sound (piano i assume) it was way to loud and drowned her voice.......

Michael.

You must be very proud to have such a talented daughter. She has a very pleasant voice but I have to agree with Jay that it was drowned out by the piano in the first track.

I wish her every success in the future. Does she intend to make singing her career?

Lesley.

Michael

As you know, or maybe don't, I used to work as a record producer, and my daughter is a professional musician.

Emma's (untitled) song "I hear your voice.." is quite angst ridden, but the simple production of piano accompaniment works well with the lyric.

The guitar at the bridge does suggest that things may be changing, but then oddly when the main theme returns nothing has changed; it is still "the end of you and me". I wonder whether this is a lost opportunity for progression?

Emma has a good voice and she plays piano well. The guitar at the bridge could be better rehearsed.

If this demo had come across my desk years ago, I'd have wanted to hear more. Does Emma have plans to market her song either over the www or in shops: with a bit more work on the production values, which could easily be done at home, I'd buy this song, and I am interested to hear more.

Andrew

I just found Emma's second song. She is certainly exploring the lower reaches of her range here! Still a lot of angst, but the accompaniment seems brighter.

Is the end a little abrupt?

Please pass on my warmest congratulations to Emma.

Andrew

Thanks, Jay, Lesley and Andrew for your kind and constructive comments. I pretty much agree with what you all have said.

Andrew, I didn't know of you and your daughter's musical connection.

Emma is at university having taken a gap year last year so she is now 20. Initially she recorded the songs onto her ipod but when she played them to some of her friends at uni recently they thought how good they were and said she really should make proper recordings. The songs are not in there finished state and indeed with the second there is a lot more to be done and as you say, Andrew, it is unfinished. I think all the electrics blew in the building and initially Emma and her friends thought they may have been the cause of this!

Whilst Emma has passed grade 8 piano, she did not play on either piece.

I think Emma would love to market her music if the opportunity arose or there was a demand for it although at this stage she probably doesn't know how to proceed next.

Michael

It may be that there will be people in Emma's University who would be able to give her technical advice or support. I do not know what she is studying, but even if it is not music related, most universsities have either an academic music department or a tech "AV" department (or even both).

Emma clearly has more than an instinctive feel for music; whether she uses her talent as the basis of a future professional career or as the basis of a life of recreational listening or performing, she will continue to do well.

Andrew

Andrew

Emma clearly has more than an instinctive feel for music; whether she uses her talent as the basis of a future professional career or as the basis of a life of recreational listening or performing, she will continue to do well.

You really sound like a high school Teacher writing a school report there! I swear I have a number like that; that sounded very similar! Brought back memories! HA!

Thanks Andrew.

Emma is in her college's choir and I believe the choir master has contacts etc so I think she will probably have a word with him in due course.

She is studying Land Economy by the way.

Thanks for your interest.

Jay, I am sure Andrew can put school teaching somewhere into his cv

Jay

You wouldn't have used that metaphor if you had ever been on the other side of the glass, having turned up for my studio time and not rehearsed. Still, I am flattered by the comparrison (I think).

Michael, I make a point of never offering an undeserved compliment. It cheapens the currency to throw compliments around willy nilly. I am glad to know that Emma is already using her gift. The wonderful thing about a musical talent is that the more we spend it, the more it grows.

Andrew

ps I never was a school teacher. Had neither the patience nor the calling. I did work for a time in an old Approved School as a housemaster, and I do spend time as a School Chaplain.