Martin Swinger: Blog

After some years of setback (PESKY Economy!) I am finally moving forward again on my upcoming CD, M O O N. I am recording with Ed Desjardins and Jud Caswell and have to say I am very excited about the results we are getting in the studio! 
I'm recording songs JUST RECENTLY FINISHED  (Consider the Oyster! - the gruesome truth about our favorite bi-valve,  Stay With Me - a love song to the Sun, Wooden Boy - portrait of a young man with autism,  Gravity -  exploring the outer limits of remorse)  and several songs around for a while (Little Plastic Part, Betty Boop and Buddha) plus a few lost gems from my former lives (Home to You - journey to self - more to come!! 

I got some interesting feedback months ago while working with vocal coach and improvisation teacher, Rhiannon, who suggested I was not exploring the vulnerable side of my voice. For a time I thought that simply meant I was singing too loud all the time (Guilty, as charged!) and my excuse was that I do a lot of un-miked performances and my voice needs to carry and be strong to be heard. Who doesn't like to belt it out once in a while? I have spent my life training my 'theatre' voice to project across the room (or campfire!) All good, but perhaps "too much of a good thing..." Also, I'll admit a personal bias against performers who sing so quietly they are impossible to hear - are they trying to manipulate me to focus impossibly hard on their song, or have they simply not learned to support their voice - the #1 tool of a singer?

Recently I was loaned a small mixer board (THANKS, ED!) which has many sound effects. I noticed using the effects on guitar and voice drastically changed [...]