Pre-production of a vocalist : best practices before stepping into the studio
Räsänen, Katja (2023)
2023
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023051410634
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023051410634
Tiivistelmä
Vocals are the center of attention and usually the most important part of a recording. However, studio time is expensive and limited, yet the result should always be first-rate and captivate the listeners' attention. The industry literature rarely reveals in detail practical ways how to prepare for a recording session and many times the information is vague. The question that the thesis aims to give an answer is what are the best practices when interpreting musical and lyrical content before a recording session.
The data were gathered by interviewing industry professionals, singers, and artists but also by researching the music industry and performing arts literature. Content analysis was carried out in which the theory and interviews were compared and patterns were identified. The results were put into practice in the form of a singing recording project in which an interpretation of the original song “Innuendos” was created.
The results gave an overview of the steps vocalists take before the recording sessions and how to go through the material in an effective way. The theoretical section explored performing arts and the similarities between singing and acting and gave insight into the tools for conveying the message of the song to the listener. The results covered commonly used methods to analyze song lyrics and melody but also finding the headspace and expressing emotion.
Though the results did not focus on classical or opera singing, the preparation methods could have been used in all genres where singers practice for recordings or performances. The specific genre defines the final way of interpretation and tone. The preparations mentioned helped the performers to understand the material and context in a deeper way and be fully prepared for the studio recordings.
The data were gathered by interviewing industry professionals, singers, and artists but also by researching the music industry and performing arts literature. Content analysis was carried out in which the theory and interviews were compared and patterns were identified. The results were put into practice in the form of a singing recording project in which an interpretation of the original song “Innuendos” was created.
The results gave an overview of the steps vocalists take before the recording sessions and how to go through the material in an effective way. The theoretical section explored performing arts and the similarities between singing and acting and gave insight into the tools for conveying the message of the song to the listener. The results covered commonly used methods to analyze song lyrics and melody but also finding the headspace and expressing emotion.
Though the results did not focus on classical or opera singing, the preparation methods could have been used in all genres where singers practice for recordings or performances. The specific genre defines the final way of interpretation and tone. The preparations mentioned helped the performers to understand the material and context in a deeper way and be fully prepared for the studio recordings.