Vocalist Dilemmma?

WhiteKnuckles · #1 03-31-2011, 08:25 AM

Not a problem with our vocalist...but on choosing one. This is not the position my new project expected to be in.

We put up an ad on Craigslist about a month and a half ago for a 'modern rock vocalist' and ended up with a ton of responses. After giving the the scoop on how our audition process would go down, we ended up with six takers. We sent out an instrumental track with zero guidance outside of do what you feel is right for the song, then had them come into our studio a week later and track it.

Not a single one of the 5 that have been through has stunk it up yet. Really? I expected most to sound like cats screwin' in a tin can with someone who would be the obvious choice. Not the case.

That said we have narrowed it down to two we really like.

One one hand we have a known quantity. A local guy who is a long time friend of one of our players. He has plenty of experience, has a very unique voice that's in the higher register, but has a bell-like quality and a buttery smooth style that's so comfortable to us. The downside is image (an unfortunate reality), and the very uniqueness to his voice that sets him apart might turn a good many folks off.

On the other we have a guy who's very green. This was his first time in a studio setting, has never worked in a 'band' format, and only has been singing/writing for 5 years, and only been in town for weeks. That said he has the perfect natural voice for mainstream modern rock, has a good image, and is hungry. We have a bit more progressive feel than what he's used to, yet his voice is more what we originally were looking for and he seems willing to stretch out of his comfort zone.

Unless this last guy comes in and just flat takes the spot, one of these two guys is the future of this project. We have a great core of players who just gel so well together, and just need that last piece. We have sat around the control room, listened to both version dozens of times and see so many good points to each that we are really struggling to come to some kind of decision.

We've even been soliciting outside opinions from friends and family, and it's neck and neck still.

Anyways...I'm posting a couple samples here for my low-end family to take a listen to if interested. It's loud, it's rock, so I realize it's not everyone's cup of tea...but I'd love to hear some opinions on the two vocalists.

Door #1

Door #2

Tough...but this not a bad position to be in.

TWolf · #2 03-31-2011, 09:45 AM

Consider yourself lucky. My band is in the exact same situation of having a really solid lineup minus a singer. We too have put up CL ads and done the music store bulletin board scene. We have had only 3 responses in about 2 months of looking. The first guy just wasn't a good fit, and the other 2 both canceled last minute on their auditions. We are back to square one.
Still looking.
(Send whoever you don't choose down to Georgia)

Jim Campbell · #3 03-31-2011, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiteKnuckles

Not a problem with our vocalist...but on choosing one. This is not the position my new project expected to be in.

We put up an ad on Craigslist about a month and a half ago for a 'modern rock vocalist' and ended up with a ton of responses. After giving the the scoop on how our audition process would go down, we ended up with six takers. We sent out an instrumental track with zero guidance outside of do what you feel is right for the song, then had them come into our studio a week later and track it.

Not a single one of the 5 that have been through has stunk it up yet. Really? I expected most to sound like cats screwin' in a tin can with someone who would be the obvious choice. Not the case.

That said we have narrowed it down to two we really like.

One one hand we have a known quantity. A local guy who is a long time friend of one of our players. He has plenty of experience, has a very unique voice that's in the higher register, but has a bell-like quality and a buttery smooth style that's so comfortable to us. The downside is image (an unfortunate reality), and the very uniqueness to his voice that sets him apart might turn a good many folks off.

On the other we have a guy who's very green. This was his first time in a studio setting, has never worked in a 'band' format, and only has been singing/writing for 5 years, and only been in town for weeks. That said he has the perfect natural voice for mainstream modern rock, has a good image, and is hungry. We have a bit more progressive feel than what he's used to, yet his voice is more what we originally were looking for and he seems willing to stretch out of his comfort zone.

Unless this last guy comes in and just flat takes the spot, one of these two guys is the future of this project. We have a great core of players who just gel so well together, and just need that last piece. We have sat around the control room, listened to both version dozens of times and see so many good points to each that we are really struggling to come to some kind of decision.

We've even been soliciting outside opinions from friends and family, and it's neck and neck still.

Anyways...I'm posting a couple samples here for my low-end family to take a listen to if interested. It's loud, it's rock, so I realize it's not everyone's cup of tea...but I'd love to hear some opinions on the two vocalists.

Door #1

Door #2

Tough...but this not a bad position to be in.

option one would be the guy that doubles on an instrument.....another would be to consider using both and split their duties,if feasible....splitting the load while the other does harmony,doubles or both....

tangentmusic · #4 03-31-2011, 10:02 AM

Wow.. nice dilemma to have.
I would look more closely at the "greener" guy.
He's got the look
He's got the voice
He's hungry
He's willing to stretch out.
He's new in town, looking to make a name (could be a plus or a minus)
Hate to say it, but most people in the audience want a good looking lead singer to watch. A new guy in town may be the missing ingredient.

WhiteKnuckles · #5 03-31-2011, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TWolf

Consider yourself lucky. My band is in the exact same situation of having a really solid lineup minus a singer. We too have put up CL ads and done the music store bulletin board scene. We have had only 3 responses in about 2 months of looking. The first guy just wasn't a good fit, and the other 2 both canceled last minute on their auditions. We are back to square one.
Still looking.
(Send whoever you don't choose down to Georgia)

Where at in Ga and what style are you shooting for? We're an S.C. band and some of these fellas live near the SC-Ga. border and/or are willing to travel some for the right fit.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Campbell

option one would be the guy that doubles on an instrument.....another would be to consider using both and split their duties,if feasible....

They both play a bit of acoustic guitar. As far as duel vocalists...it would be a bit to much in our opinion, considering everyone in the whole mess can sing fairly well and enjoy layering the hell outta harmonies. We already have to scale back from sounding like a hard rock choir.

Edit:

Quote:

Originally Posted by tangentmusic

He's new in town, looking to make a name (could be a plus or a minus)

He is. He has traveled for American Idol auditions, has been doing the open mic thing, and has openly stated he'd like to bring some of his own material into the mix. It's something we intend to have a heart to heart with him on sometime in the next week or so. We don't mind that he has aspirations at all, and actually like someone with that much hunger to do something big, but we don't want it to compromise anything...whether he breaks off 8 months down the road, develops a suffocating ego, etc., etc.

makkE · #6 03-31-2011, 12:23 PM

I liked d-samp.mp3 better. Highly subjective of course. He sounded more creative, and more emotive. The other guy was very good too though.

I envy you guys for having to chose between two very good singers

Great playing/material too.

Zoa · #7 03-31-2011, 07:07 PM

door 2 sounds better to me.

Unrepresented · #8 03-31-2011, 07:47 PM

First off, I don't think that either choice based on the samples is going to be a bad one. I think it'll be more of a band decision on what direction you're looking to try and pitch yourself in.

Door 1 has a younger sounding voice because of his cleaner extended high range. It's a more modern voice, and fairly contemporary which may be a turn off to rock "purists." I think he's got a stronger chorus. Be prepared to be compared to other modern sounding acts if you go with him.

Door 2 sounds a little greener to my ears, he also sounds a little more "generic" active rock, which is going to go over well with a slightly more conservative audience (which much of rock is). I like what he's doing on the verses better than door 1.

May want to decide where the band is hoping to market itself.

KenHR · #9 04-01-2011, 07:51 AM

That is quite a dilemma to have. They're both very good, and both have found a way to fit very well with your music.

Based on sound alone (I could give a fig about image, but then that's probably one of the reasons why my main gig is selling insurance), I'd go with Door #1. The guy has a helluva range and a more creative take imo. I think it's the kind of vocal instrument that would allow the band to explore a lot more creatively down the road.

Door #2 is very good, but just doesn't sound as exciting to me.

Bassdirty · #10 04-01-2011, 08:02 AM

Wow..I could listen to both.I think I like door # 1 better though.
I guess If you like both..I'd look at other factors:

Does either of them: Not have a car?..or shoot up before practice?..or have a better "frontman Vibe?"

.

prd004 · #11 04-01-2011, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassdirty

Wow..I could listen to both.I think I like door # 1 better though.
I guess If you like both..I'd look at other factors:

Does either of them: Not have a car?..or shoot up before practice?..or have a better "frontman Vibe?"

.

YES, THIS! Drug/drinking habbits will make or break the project. It seems you Know one of the singers and to me this makes him a known comodity. The other guy, you don't know from a hole in the wall.

I was in the same dilema almost six years ago only we didn't know either of the singers. The guy we chose was one of the best/most talented musicians I've met. His writing and creativity took the band up several notches. However turns out he had a nasty little heroin habbit.

WhiteKnuckles · #12 04-01-2011, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unrepresented

First off, I don't think that either choice based on the samples is going to be a bad one. I think it'll be more of a band decision on what direction you're looking to try and pitch yourself in.

Aye! This is part of what is making it such a hard decision.

Musically, I believe we have a unique sound for our area...it's kind of hard to define for me personally. What we're shooting for is an almost prog rock sound, but trying to keep mainstream arraignments and accessibility. I'm not sure that makes any sense...

Here is the instrumental only track we've been using...and I'm not sure what I'd call it.

I just know a vocalist is going to shape that identity in the end....and either way we're going to miss out on something.

NOAH_FX · #13 04-01-2011, 08:20 AM

Door #2, he has the spark, he has the look, and it sounds like he has the work ethic. As it's all semantic's to argue what MIGHT happen down the road, I'd say go with this guy. As much as I'd hate to say it, the FACE of your band will be a large part of your future success. I think Door #1 sounds like the better singer (IME, right Now) but I think Door #2 sounds like the better front man.

Goodluck

WhiteKnuckles · #14 04-01-2011, 08:45 AM

No heavy drug use, we flat out ask and then do a little background checking through what channels we have. Both we're on time for their audition slots. First impressions were very strong for both.

The greener of the two has the better frontman vibe, very charismatic, and even though he was obviously nervous his first time in a studio setting, he wasn't shaken. We even tried to rattle his cage a bit, and he was right there with a sharp comeback. Very likable guy.

The known guy has some image issues (he is aware of it), but he fronted a band locally a few years back and was by far the most entertaining of the bunch. We would have this blue-collar ruffian looking players, and a geeky (term used lovingly) frontman. That said he is also very likeable, but in a quiet way.

One thing we are trying to keep in mind is that we are not in a rush and have no intentions of unveiling this thing until late-summer. Will #1 be able to stetch out of his comfort zone? What you hear in his sample is what he does well. Will #2 be able to do the same?

We decided last night to have a writing session with both of these guys. We put something together last night that should be right in #2s wheelhouse and plan to give it to him a couple days before his session and ask him just to come up with some general ideas and we'll get together and work it out. Yet, once he comes in we intend to push him way out and see how he reacts.

We intend to do the same with #1, but this test is set-up to answer some questions about how #2 would work during crunch time.

Everyone in the project is brutally honest, so the thin-skinned couldn't hack it. It's never a personal issue...but someone thinks something is slop, they'll say it. If someone makes a suggestion to try something, you can't be bull-headed, just try it...it may work.

Anyways...thanks for all the opinions so far.

tangentmusic · #15 04-01-2011, 09:08 AM

"Geeky Frontman" does not engender a positive response with me. Unless thats the vibe you are going for.
The frontman is the visual focal point for your band. As you are aware, they can make or break the image you're trying to project.

themacinator · #16 04-01-2011, 09:16 AM

Your selection criteria should be in this order then:

1. Who will do their homework on your songs (Home practice is ESSENTIAL)
2. Who has a job, car, home, etc. (In other words who can live a stable lifestyle and not have a lack thereof be a drag to the band.)
3. Who will show up to practice and shows ON TIME?
4. Who will be the better "team player" and leave their "I'm the singer, worship me" attitude at the door?
5. Who is willing to and CAN step up and be a "frontman"? Crowd engagement is key with a careful balance of not embarrassing the band on stage.
6. Who will not bring girlfriend/wife drama to the band. Can't have it.
7. Who brings fresh ideas to the band? Most times singers aren't the initiators of fresh takes on things but maybe this person would be different.

Lastly ask yourself this - "Would I be comfortable introducing him to my mom?" Mom's know everything.

Good luck.

**lowendfriend** · #17 04-01-2011, 09:38 AM

Door #2 sounds like a better match to the musical style in range and tone. Door #1 sounded like a better singer.

Who can deliver will be making the call for you.

Any way to have the finalists do a gig with your band and see how they function live?

WhiteKnuckles · #18 04-01-2011, 10:36 AM

To themacinator's comments: It'll be a dead heat on all accounts at this point. The only one that is a real question is vocalist #2s ego. He's confident, hungry, and looking to make a name for himself...but he also seems to have a bit of humility. Proud but not a braggart.

Issues like that don't tend to rear it's ugly head until months down the road. So it would be a leap of faith.

For Lowend...zero chance of gigging this out.

That said, we've seen #1 perform on several occasions and even though there is an image issue, he is an entertainer. Afer all, he was drama major.

We've also seen videos of #2 performing solo with his acoustic at open mics, and though he's green, he is comfortable enough with a small intimate crowd....so we don't foresee any problems there. If he's anything like me...small crowds are the most uncomfortable.

WhiteKnuckles · #19 04-06-2011, 05:36 PM

Well, we finally came to a consensus on the vocalist last night after 'interviews' with both of 'em...we ended up answering some pending questions about 2...and 1 is going to be our guy.

We offered him on the spot, and he was thrilled to be a part of it. We immediately went back into the control room and started working on some laid back acoustic thing we had been fooling around with and it really clarified that we made the right decision. He listened to the thing twice and and said, 'just let it roll'. He just came up with really hooky lines on the fly that just unexpectedly worked and sound like no one else around. Easy to work with and immensely creative.

His melodies are going to be great for me as a bassist to work with. I'll have an opportunity to be really expressive in ways I couldn't with with someone who would sing something right 'on top' of the music. Can't wait.

stepswork4me · #20 04-06-2011, 06:08 PM

#1 has a better sound to me. #2 will bring comparisons to Shinedown. Going for the look is a double edged sword but it's part of the pop biz. Remember that the biz is changing, though. Indi is becoming the way of things. Image can be worked on or the difference can even be exploited.

Oooooops..... too late.