Making an incredibly hard desicion

[marmadaddy]

he says he has great contacts and the know how to take us to the next level

The rock bars and rehearsal halls of the world are full of guys who say this. If he knows how to get to the next level, why isn't he there already? And if he had such great contacts, he'd be using them to find his next band. Or they'd be calling him to pair him up with a band.

Personally I want the female singer. The drummer (the originator of the band) told me and i quote "Look at the rock scene. How many female lead singers do you see? ...

That's an argument IN FAVOR of hiring the female. Does he really think that trying to be like every other band is a strategy to stand out?

 

[Stumbo]

Why would Lauren want to be in your band?

 

[pedro]

Yeah, Im not one of those easily offended people, and the guy had no way of knowing she was my wife. I found it funny, and a bit flattering.

Me either. In fact I'd consider it a compliment.

 

[Muttleybass]

From listening to your tunes, the GIRL would be better than whoever sang on your demos. She would take your band to the next level.

The guy is just another screamo metal wannabe. If he truly has whatever connections and contacts he says he has, he would have his own band. Since he doesn't, and he's not that great, I'd say he would be riding on YOUR coat tails... not the other way around.

We have a female singer. What we find is that venues and people dig it because it's DIFFERENT. Don't get hung up on the gender thing.

....One thing I'm not getting here is that these two singers are at TOTALLY opposite ends of the spectrum. So different than each other I almost have to wonder whether this is a joke. I'll take your word for it that it isn't, but the bottom line is, it's a simple matter of direction. Who is best suited for the kind of music you want to make?

 

[Akami]

I can not think of another thread were almost every TB'er is in agreement. Your tread might have set a record.

+1
Always disagreement no matter what the subject, until this thread! Maybe you deserve an award for accomplishing the impossible!

She doesn't look old, she's cute and she can sing.

I don't think the issue here is who to choose, it's whether she will even accept your offer. I would bet there are other bands that are already scouting her.

I would bet that if you have not made an offer to her, it's already to late.

I'm surprised she's even available.

 

[bassinplace]

Yeah, Im not one of those easily offended people, and the guy had no way of knowing she was my wife. I found it funny, and a bit flattering.

Oh, double faux pas! I didn't understand your story and thought you didn't actually know the girl. Still a really good story, though. Good thing you have a good sense of humor. That could have had the potential to turn ugly with the wrong person. Guy must've had tourett's or something.

That would be awesome. Morcheeba is an awesome group! Id like to make music in that style myself, actually.

I dated a girl once who was pretty into them. I ended up liking them quite a bit. Particularly the Big Calm and Charango albums.

 

[lokerola]

The girl is a knockout and has a knockout voice - go with her.

 

[odie]

I think the girl is better than the guy by far.

Its funny you sound like you think she isnt good enough for your band but I think it is the other way around. She is too good for your band!!

No dont take both singers. Reminds me of Lacuna Coil, hot great female singer with a shouty terrible male singer.

 

[dannoman]

Ok,

Short answer
Pick the Female singer. I think it would bring new life into your music.

Long answer
This is just my opinion but....
Almost every band talks about wanting to "make it" or "going to the next level" and what do they do about it? They get together with a group of people who look, play and sound like everybody else that is current. then 1 of 2 things happen.

1.They play clubs/shows and some do well and get a nice following and then someone gets tired of waiting for "it" to happen and leaves which puts the band back at square one
or
2. The scene changes because something new and improved comes out and they have to change their sound in order to remain relevant.

Very little bands actually take the time to "create" their own sound. Having influences and bands you like is one thing. Playing something that you created (even with your influences on your sleeves) that may be different from whats popular is something completely different.

IMO, If you really want to sound great and stand out go for the female singer.

I listened to your band and in all honesty, you guys are good, but the sound of the vocals is very common and in turn make the band sound very common.

Don't be afraid to create something new.

 

[Manuel101]

I think the girl is better than the guy by far.

Its funny you sound like you think she isnt good enough for your band but I think it is the other way around. She is too good for your band!!

No dont take both singers. Reminds me of Lacuna Coil, hot great female singer with a shouty terrible male singer.

I never said she wasn't good enough for our band. I previously stated that I am not well verse in regards to what is needed to "make it" and that I would normally rely on the drummer's input who has been playing in the rock scene for many years. I was saying that the drummer believes that it would be hard for a progressive rock band (its hard to classify our sound since it has changed a bit) to make it with a female lead singer. At this time him and i are at a disagreement (which is very rare) because I want her to be our lead singer while he insists in having the male singer audition since he really bought what the singer was telling him in regards to what he can so for our band. For me it is a difficult decision because the drummer is sort of the band leader (he started the band) and so far his vision has helped us move along a bit, it just so happens that I think he is wrong in this one. I even told him that we should create a second band to play with Lauren since it would be very hard for us to find some one as talented as she. I think the main problem is that he is confusing correlation with causation. He figures "well there are not that many rock band with female lead singers so that means that people don't take them seriously"

 

[Manuel101]

Also we are getting together tonight and we will record our whole set (minus vocals) with my camcorder. I will then email Lauren our mp3 files so she can write the lyrics for them.

 

[odie]

That might be one of the best things you could do. Some people can sing and write and some can't write their own vocals which could be an a problem if you need them too.

 

[bluewine]

I never said she wasn't good enough for our band. I previously stated that I am not well verse in regards to what is needed to "make it" and that I would normally rely on the drummer's input who has been playing in the rock scene for many years.

He figures "well there are not that many rock band with female lead singers so that means that people don't take them seriously"

OP, your drummers experience is definitely limited.

In terms of marketability, historically a good female Singer is always a plus regardless of genre. Particularly at the local level.

I've seen guys like your drummer, we call them "know it alls". Don't buy into his nonsense. It sounds like he knows very little about your local music scene.

Your really in a frustrating situation. It doesn't sound like bringing in the female Singer is going to work.

I see a whole new issue here. Whether or not you should stay with the band.

You can still play " hard ball".

Diplomatically ;

" Either the female vocalist is in or I'm out."

Blue

 

[waynobass]

The only issue is marketability; we think that even though she is amazing it might be harder to "make it" with her in our genre.

The chances are tiny that you will "make it" anyway. Always base your decisions on music, not career.

In other words, f. marketability!

 

[Big Brother]

You should hire them both and do an Evanescence meets A.F.I. thing.

That could be mortal with the right kind of songwriting.

 

[Febs]

I've seen guys like your drummer, we call them "know it alls".

Boy, those types of guys sure are annoying.

 

[bluewine]

Boy, those types of guys sure are annoying.

"I've been around long enough to know that I know very little about anything. I only have opinions."




blue

 

[ChrisB2]

The man:
http://vimeo.com/7402942


The woman:

Wow. This is "incredibly hard"? Sorry. No offense. But that's like saying choosing a snack between ice cream and decaying road kill is incredibly hard.

Of course, I'm a little biased because one candidate can growl like a beast and the other can sing like an angel, but to me it's a no brainer....

 

[smcfarland1337]

I know I'm pretty late to this and only read the first page, but those videos you first posted...
Are you trying to compare those two, really?

I mean, if you have a heavy band going for the metal / NU-metal / metalcore etc etc etc sound, then go with the guy.
If you're going for something smoother, than the girl is your shot.

I personally don't do bands with girls.

But I know talent when I hear it, and she's good.
Then again the guy isn't awful for that genre either.

So it all comes down to what you guys play.
Don't hire the girl for screaming and don't hire the guy for singing.

 

[ChrisB2]

hire the girl ... don't hire the guy.

Fixed it for ya.