An email from Andrew in Australia…(cool questions)
Hi all. Here’s an email sent to me by Andrew Roland from Australia. I thought I’d response to it here (in case you’re wondering, I do have his permission 
“I recently bought and listened to the Song Writing Secrets recordings. Great stuff. I thought I was an experienced song writer but I picked up lots of good new stuff. Particularly your tips about getting ideas from DVDs and library books for songs 
“
Why thanks Andrew. I really appreciate the feedback. It’s a method overlooked by many
“I’m mainly a guitarist and not much of a singer. In order to make decent demo recordings I was considering hiring session singers to record the singing parts for my songs. What do you think of this idea? The only other alternatives are 1. I learn to sing which could take 1+ years 2. I meet other singers (a good friend of mine can sing) but I find that they often are not good enough or don’t have the right range or sound. For example two songs I’ve written would be great for a female rock singer but the only singer I know is male.”
This is a tough call, and I’ve been there. I myself can sing (funny enough, I’m a vocal coach) but I still have times where I want another lead voice for the track - and not my own.
Here’s what I would do. Firstly, I would learn to sing in any case. (when I say ‘i’ I mean whoever faces this dilemma). This will give you more flexibility in the future when facing these hurdles. You may want to lay down your vocals regardless of whether or not you sound ‘fit’ for it or not, and this is a good thing.
I recently bought Brett Manning’s Singing Success course a couple of weeks ago, and wow. I don’t see how anyone can’t improve their voice and vocal range with that one.
Ok, so let’s move on to hiring out a session singer to do the job for you. I don’t see anyting wrong with this, provided you’re sure that the vocal tone you’re after is similar to the tone your chosen singer has. There’s nothing worse than paying a singer that sounds awful and just doesn’t deliever. Believe me, I’ve been there. Not cool.
Here in the UK, you can probably hire out a session singer for around £50-£150 a day . Some even charge £200 or even £250.
In US dollars, this equates to around $100 - $500. But don’t let these numbers scare you. You will often find that vocalists who charge the earth can often get away with that because of their status and credibility. I’m not saying that the more expensive one’s aren’t any good — I’m sure that many are brilliant.
But what I AM saying, is that you can often find diamonds in the rough by just fishin around. Going to a couple of open-mic nights, shows or even university gigs can often be an easy way to find a hungry singer who will lay some vocals down for you for a cheap or reasonable price. It can be done… and infact, it happens all the time.
I’ve also had luck hanging out at rehearsal studio’s. Quite often, when you approach a singer after a rehearsal, they will often take you up on the offer since they’ve just come out of a 2 hour rehearsal which they’ve spent money on!
“Do you review songs? If so I would like to send you 1 or 2 of mine and ask you what you think.”
If I said yes, at this point I would be in-fluxed with emails asking me to review their songs. Don’t get me wrong, the answer is yes, I DO review songs in detail. All the time, actually. BUT, the thing is, it does eat up all my time. If you want your song reviewed, then I’d put a price of $150 per song review.
I know, I know - you’re thinking, how could you charge such a ludicrous amount? The truth is I’m hoping that people will see the price and get put off. Seriously! If there is interest, then I will make a separate blog post (and email everyone) about the specifics.
On that note, of anyone is interested in having their song review, then contact me here:
Andrew, thanks for the email.
Oh, and before I forget, Andrew is based in Bondi, Sydney Australia (hope I’m getting this right) and if you’re a female singer in Sydney looking for a songwriter, then give Andrew Roland a shout here:
andrew.roland@resonatesolutions.com.au
Cool
Talk soon…
Shamir
January 31st, 2008 at 8:46 pm
Hey,
thanks for the blog. That was actually very use full to me considering I’m a singer. haa… I’m actually going to an open mic thing today. This will be the first time I’ve ever sang a song I wrote in public. Whew… Scary, anyway the post was very usefull. Thanks,
~TREVOR~
January 31st, 2008 at 10:29 pm
This just might help someone! I am basically just a lyricist, but have ‘created’ music? to just about all of my songs! Collaborate with someone, or co-write with someone IF you are having trouble finding the ‘right words”! 2 heads are better than 1! Do I suffer writer’s block? Sometimes - we all do, but I think the ‘advice’ to check out library books, or DVDs, or other helpful stuff MIGHT give your songwriting a kick-start! I recently wrote a song about a ‘hero’ I found searching google for ‘folklore’! This song is about William Jackman, a fisherman, & excellent swimmer from Newfoundland! I called it “The ballad of Capt. Jack” - music to come real soon! So, check out the library for ‘inspiration’! Works for me! Ray Withrow, President of No Creek Music
January 31st, 2008 at 10:37 pm
Hey, thanks for the reply. I actually have an account @ showcaseyourmuisc.com/trevorh if you wanna check it out and terll me what you think! My e-mail is trevorhoen@yahoo.com. thanks I would really apreciate it if you would. Thanks,
~TREVOR~
February 1st, 2008 at 5:21 am
Does anybody have idea’s for me….you know….i want to wring songs that i feel inside of me…i been going through things in school and everything and like….when i feel like sad or an angry coming on me…..i really want to get a notebook and a pencil and start writting down things but i try it…but it seems not to work……….i need help cause i been down lately and everything sometimes i feel like school is not for me….sometimes i feel…..like i dont wanna be there to much enemie going on in that school….but sometimes i feel like writtin my feelings down in a poem or a song and just like sing it at church you know cause kids just ugh these days and plus im going to be a junior in high school this comin up 2008/2009…and i really want somthing new to happen to me this yr in 2008 i want God to touch my heart he always there for me i just need you know……help and things well…all i want to say is……how do i write my feelings and like how do i start out…..if you know can you please comment it back thank you very much.
~AngelNisha~
February 1st, 2008 at 5:54 am
Um, here are some stuff I do to help with my emotions. You should start e-mailing me so I can send you a long message, but some things I do, is write three pages in my journal the second I wake up and if you ever have some kind of emotion you can’t get to fit a song, write it out as exactly what you feel. And Maybe later you can figure out how to make it into a song. Songs aren’t always done in half an hour, sometimes in years, lol. I doubt that helps, but yeah. There’s a book called the artists way and I think that would be something good you can look into. Please reply by e-mail if you want to talk more, thanks,
~TREVOR~
And I know exactly what you mean about the school thing I’m in 10th grade right now.
August 25th, 2008 at 11:03 am
I haven’t the faintest clue who I’m talking to but I was just searching around looking to see how I could maybe get someone “famous” in Australia to listen to just one of my songs. I am fascinated about writing a “hit” song - I just refuse to believe that it is really that hard. I think you just have to be tuned in. So after writing poetry on and off for 40 years (yes 40 years) I decided (after getting divorced and now meeting the love of my life ) to write her a song (nobody has written a song about Karen I think) and yes you’ve guessed it is crap! But this was my first song and I only play about 20 chords on a pretty rusty guitar. Anyway Karen liked it (at least she said she did!) so renewed in the faith that all things are possible I decided to review (from now on in) everything that I write in the same way that I criticize everything else I hear. Ruthless!
I started driving around in my car on business trips recording melodies into a dictaphone - sometimes I write 3 or so melodies in a few hours. If I don’t record them they get forgotten. Some I hum along to all the time and I am not sure anymore whether they are mine or whether I have subconsciously plagiarized them? It’s a weird feeling.
What’s the point dummy!
Well I wrote a “hit” -it might be an accident but I’m sure it would be a hit. It’s sort of an “Achey Breaky Heart” kind of thing and I knew when I finished it that it was different. (says he after 1 year of endless trial and error!). But I think that there is a certain sound (not formula though) that says “hit” - and the only way to get there is to ruthlessly reject everything else you write no matter how attached you get to some melodies - they are the “also rans”.
So, whoever you are, what do I do with this bloody hit?
Thanks for anything…………..Pip (Short for Philip)
September 8th, 2008 at 1:31 am
Have you had any sort of a response Pip
February 16th, 2010 at 6:32 pm
I’m glad I found this site, it’s full of useful information.