Tag: behind the scenes music production

  • From Good to Great: How One Lyric Rewrite Changed Everything

    From Good to Great: How One Lyric Rewrite Changed Everything

    Bing, bang, boom. Been an interesting few days with a bunch of requests for some music to fit a few commercials. Fingers crossed that at least one of them get’s pics for some of the opportunities. Yesterday I got to put the final touches on to a song that got a bit of a major rewrite lyrically. Now I have song fifteen done before the Super Bowl.

    This latest in the quest for the final 18 songs is now called “Brighter Side of Success.” The original title was “Imagine Life.” Fortunately that has changed. Changed in to a much better song lyrically. Stronger. More cohesive. Also, more positive. That’s a plus. It was good to reexamine the nature of the tune and what it should have been from a lyric standpoint.

    Musically, I didn’t have to change much of it at all. In fact, there were only some very minor melody/rhythm of vocals tweaks to accommodate the new lyrics. I think it was pretty darn strong musically. Though I do think I will add some stuff in the studio once all the bed tracks are tracked. Maybe a synth or two here or there. But otherwise, it’s to remain a solid uptempo pop rock style tune that stays in the bass, drum, guitar, vocal realm.

    Now I can sit for a day and take in the mother of all football games – The Super Bowl. Interestingly enough on iTunes my versions of San Francisco 49’s and Baltimore Ravens “Do You Want To Play” are hot on the popular meter right now. I’m making an educated guess that fans of both teams are picking up their respective versions to pump themselves up for the big showdown!

    Which team you rootin’ for? 49’s? Ravens? I’m actually more interested in the commercials and seeing huge plays. My team isn’t there, crud.

    Enjoy the Super Bowl, and stay tuned for next week should see at least two of the last three, if not all three of the tunes to complete the 18 to be finalized for the recording process. Remember “Brighter Side of Success” is song fifteen done and it’s right before the Super Bowl! Hell Yeah.

  • Why “American Mayhem” Feels Like the Start of Something Big

    Why “American Mayhem” Feels Like the Start of Something Big

    The tweaks are beginning to flow. My first song finalized is American Mayhem. So far I’m going in alphabetical order. No rhyme or reason it was the first on the list.

    I got the verses tightened up and made some changes to the lyrics in the chorus as well. I recut the vocals on the demo to closer represent my final goal and to have the new lyrical version around for practice. I’ve added some elements to the music part of the mix as well. I’m looking forward to getting into the studio to cut the final vocal and get the mix completed. It’s gonna be a nice slammin track.

    Stay tuned as more songs are getting tweaked. Which one will be next on the list? Check back and find out. For now, you know the first song finalized is American Mayhem.

    — Jody

  • From Airwaves to Trailers: My New Music Journey Beyond the Stage

    Hero Unexpected has been getting radio airplay in Canada. Shortly we’ll be making the push to CMJ to start with going for radio play in America.

    In the meantime, I’ve been holed up in the studio. I’ve been writing material for film trailers. Currently awaiting word on a new trailer that I’ve recently finished a song called Apple of My Eye. I also created the theme song to a fun little program called Hollywood Dish. It should begin airing in the next several weeks.

    I’ve also been writing with Heather Bradley and Jan Linder-Koda. We’re going to be completing a full CD of childrens songs. So far we have four songs that are all very catchy and very cool for kids and adults alike.

    Heather and I will also be writing music for other ventures as well. We’re starting on that this week.

    To top things off, I’ve been getting into a writing situation with Troy MacCubbin of TaTu fame. We’ve already got one song nearly finished and will certainly be going for more soon.