meandthestereo

Going to the recording studio can be the most exhilarating adventure of all time. Whether you are singing in the vocal booth or watching and/or producing in the control room, every true artist should have their material recorded. I believe I have been waiting years upon years to go and record my own music, and maybe you have had the same feeling. Since being in California, I did have the opportunity to experience this. Although the process was very tedious, it was well worth it.

First things first, you need your track. Picking the actual track gave me the enjoyment to hear all kinds of music and concentrate on what style I would like to focus on. It’s better for you, the artist, to be involved as much as possible in this process so you can be comfortable and really treasure your work. After I picked the music, I took a few days to come up with the lyrics, drawing from my relationships and experiences in the past.  I picked which part of the song was going to be the verse, the chorus, and the bridge. The next step was rehearsing and rehearsing with my producer to get a feel for the song as well as have the chance to switch things up if need be; this  helps you spend less money and time in the actual studio. Now off we go to the studio!!!

I could not possibly sleep the night before because I didn’t know what to expect; it is said that you should get a good night sleep, but clearly I could not. The day finally approaches with 6:00pm at hand. I get to the studio located  in Long Beach, California and from the outside it looked like a quiet residential neighborhood.  The gentleman escorted me through the house back to a garage that had been completely remodeled into a studio. WOW!  I thought to myself, here we go.

I give the track to the man and he plays it. Meanwhile, I am so nervous because the room is full of my producers,  artists, and  friends. There has to be a level of concentration and confidence in one’s self to be able to  go through this process. Well, it’s time for me to step into the booth and start singing. We laid down the whole song and I thought that would be it, but little did I know I would be there for another 3 hours that day, leaving with only the hook completely done. We decided to work specifically on the chorus, and I had to sing that about a thousand times until we picked the one that sounded the best. When that is done, it was time to do ad libs, harmony,  and add special effects to the track. This was still only the chorus, and I still  had two verses and the middle of the song to complete. It is important to keep your energy up so you won’t sound tired on the song, so bring plenty of water and healthy snacks.

On the last day, I knew I had to finish the song because I only had a few days left in California before I returned back to the East coast. When my producer and I entered the studio, the recording man played back what we did the other day, and it sounded good. I stepped back in the booth and went through the whole process for each verse and the bridge of the song. Luckily for the bridge, a talented rapper came in and completed it quickly. By the time it was over, I had spent about 5 hours in the studio. Okay, now we are done, I thought to myself, but it was  now time for the mixing and mastering process. I wanted to scream!!! Only because it was after midnight and I had to get up for work the next morning.  Even though I wanted to scream, I still had fun and enjoyed the final product. I received a good deal on the price and spent no more than $200 for this song.

I believe that creating your own music is nurturing for your soul. As an artist, it is importnat that we have these experinces to build and grow on. I look forward to completing an album and letting you hear my music.

If you live in Long Beach and you need a good studio call 562-999-6099 for the Chamber Music Group.