Vocalist Motivation

[Uladyne]

Does anyone have any tips for motivating a vocalist to get "in the zone" for tracking vocals?

In this case the vocalist is me. I'm home alone with a few hours available to track some vox, but I can't seem to get my mind in the right mode to deliver what I feel would be a genuinely inspired performance. Normally the music itself would do it but I've already heard the songs about 14,000 times since I started the project.

Not being able to tear myself away from this forum doesn't seem to be helping the situation, haha.

Sorry if there's been a post about this before, I couldn't find anything in my search.

 

[crillemannen]

set the light, perhaps light some candles ( i know it sounds corny hehe) perhaps listen to sound inspiring music before you record

 

[Jaymz]

Good luck Greg Im also trying to get into my lyric writing "zone"....but I TOTALLY know what you mean when you have heard the same songs a million times over.

Very difficult....im not sure im the best to offer advice in my current position but perhaps take a break and listen to a different style of music, come back to it and you might have some new ideas you can get pumped up about and be ready to throw down?

 

[Uladyne]

Good ideas, all of them. Not sure if the candles would work for this type of music, as it might be a bit relaxing, which is kind of the opposite direction I'm wanting to go. I think I'm looking for something to kind of pump me up. Maybe I should listen to some Pantera, or revisit that thread from a while back about music that goes along with working out, whatever that was called.

 

[Jaymz]

Or....what really pisses you off? Read up/watch some stuff that gets your blood boiling then get straight on the mic and give it the beans! \m/ *trying not to throw the mic through the window in the process!*

 

[Uladyne]

I think you might be on to something there, James. Maybe I'll go watch some Glenn Beck videos or something, haha.

 

[Jaymz]

I think you might be on to something there, James. Maybe I'll go watch some Glenn Beck videos or something, haha.

 

[ahjteam]

think of your first ex-boyfriend.

 

[Jaymz]

think of your first ex-boyfriend.

 

[Uladyne]

The video for Pantera's I'm Broken did the trick! One more song in the bank!

 

[Uros]

don't exactly know the answer to the OP, but fwiw, ahjteam - I think that your "jokes" are really lame and are anything but funny. you are trying too hard, and it's just so lame.

 

[ahjteam]

don't exactly know the answer to the OP, but fwiw, ahjteam - I think that your "jokes" are really lame and are anything but funny. you are trying too hard, and it's just so lame.

you're a jerk.

 

[espartaco]

alcohol???

 

[TesticleMilkshake]

Meditation, it helped me. Treat your warm ups like they are a meditation, it will mentally prepare you. Singing on random open syllables and playing with the shapes of the vowels. Try to think of chanting or overtone singing, but your tongue doesn't screw around as much. You really need to feel the music, sometimes it just helps to remove all distractions, close your eyes and let your body just become a pitch or note. Mentally visualize your own existence as being purely sound.

Sorry that sounds really cliche, but it does work.

 

[jackwood09]

don't exactly know the answer to the OP, but fwiw, ahjteam - I think that your "jokes" are really lame and are anything but funny. you are trying too hard, and it's just so lame.

Haha I must be really lame too cause I laughed when I first read it.

 

[joshwheelermusic]

Treat your voice as an instrument. You'd practice the guitar every day to get better right? warm-up and cool down every time you sing (which should be often). Point is, the more serious you take yourself and your singing, the "pocket" develops as a consistent mindset.

 

[Skinny Viking]

don't exactly know the answer to the OP, but fwiw, ahjteam - I think that your "jokes" are really lame and are anything but funny. you are trying too hard, and it's just so lame.

that shit was pretty funny

 

[Melb_shredder]

i find having another member there having input and motivating you is the best way

 

[Uladyne]

There are no other members as this is my solo thing. I found that Pantera videos seem to be good motivation, although they also motivate me to drink beer, but I think I can keep that under control, haha. Tons of great tips here though, for sure. I like the meditation idea, I might have to try that.

This might be a useful thread for others who need to motivate their vocalists. I think vocals are the one thing you have to sort of be in a certain zone for when recording. Guitars, bass and drums you can track no matter what mood you're in, but vocals can sound faked if you're not in the right mindset. Unless you're a bad ass, which I'm not.

 

[DanLights]

I found Anssi´s joke to be really funny, but you can´t really call him out on that. Remember, he´s a finn, those people don´t smile cause their lips are always frozen and shit