Members timrocker Posted December 10, 2006 Members Share Posted December 10, 2006 Hi,I put an ad in Craigslist to find a lead vocalist to co-write with. (May have been my first mistake.) A few weeks ago, got an email from a guy that wants to give it a shot. We started co-writing tunes and putting down sketches on my 8-track portastudio. In my ad I said specifically melodic and hooky upbeat, positive themed rock music. Every lyric sheet he's brought in so far has been a rant or a negative scenario. Have not had one melody yet either. Of course, there's no hook. Just a voice forced over a progression with no real musical relationship. My dilemma is, do I need to give this thing more time and attention, or do I need to run now and look somewhere more promising for a co-writer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tamoore Posted December 10, 2006 Members Share Posted December 10, 2006 If it's not what you want, move on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Stackabones Posted December 10, 2006 Members Share Posted December 10, 2006 Originally posted by tamoore If it's not what you want, move on. +1. This one doesn't sound like a good fit. Move on. Maybe in your next ad, you could mention a trial period of two or three songs? That way you can try something out, see if works, and then continue with it or end the relationship. Also, perhaps you could exchange demos with each other? Or at least play songs for each other before moving into a creative situation? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bluesway Posted December 10, 2006 Members Share Posted December 10, 2006 dude, forget it! sometimes co-writes don't gel. just tell him it ain't happening and wish him the best and to let you know when he releases a tune with someone else, as he's your friend now and you genuinely care! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TheBCProjects Posted December 11, 2006 Members Share Posted December 11, 2006 I wouldn't get to down on Craiglist, I've met some pretty amazing people off it. If you think he has promise as a musician, you might just want to talk it out with, revisit your expectations. I've also found that sometimes it just takes awhile to warm up. Its all about how much work you really want to put in. Good luck to ya! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ToxicBass Posted December 11, 2006 Members Share Posted December 11, 2006 Fire da bum:mad: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members timrocker Posted December 11, 2006 Author Members Share Posted December 11, 2006 Thank you all for the help in "thinking about it". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members timrocker Posted December 11, 2006 Author Members Share Posted December 11, 2006 I just tried something dramatical. Heh. I sent him an email and gently put words to my doubts and objections to the negativity and the absence of hooky melody. Then, I suggested that we learn 8 or so cover songs and use them as intentional influences and as templates to make our songs more commercial and more conventional. Both to have songs ready to perform sooner, and to have these styles rub off on us by intention. If this doesn't work (which it may not) then I'm going to jump off of this project before any more time is lost to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jabney Posted December 12, 2006 Members Share Posted December 12, 2006 "In my ad I said specifically melodic and hooky upbeat, positive themed rock music." Perhaps you should have specified some things that you wanted this person to imitate. For example, "Zippity Doo Dah" or maybe the "Up With People" songbook. While I'm at it, let me ask, what do you consider to be good examples of, "...upbeat, positive themed rock music?" Not that there's anything wrong with upbeat and positive, but maybe this guy is being honest with his lyrics. Is there a big class difference between the two of you? best, john Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Stackabones Posted December 12, 2006 Members Share Posted December 12, 2006 Originally posted by timrocker I just tried something dramatical. Heh. I sent him an email and gently put words to my doubts and objections to the negativity and the absence of hooky melody. Then, I suggested that we learn 8 or so cover songs and use them as intentional influences and as templates to make our songs more commercial and more conventional. Both to have songs ready to perform sooner, and to have these styles rub off on us by intention. If this doesn't work (which it may not) then I'm going to jump off of this project before any more time is lost to it. 8 tunes? That sounds like too many. I'd stick with no more than three. By the way, it sounded like you didn't have much confidence in this one. Why are you sticking it out? Don't be afraid of being the bad guy! This is your music you're talking about, your vision. Stick to your guns! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RockerOB Posted December 12, 2006 Members Share Posted December 12, 2006 8 tracks are definitely too many. You've also seen the lyric sheets he's brought in already... You're giving him way too many chances, don't you think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members timrocker Posted December 15, 2006 Author Members Share Posted December 15, 2006 The wrap-up: I got out of it. Just wasn't going to work. Didn't want to spend any more time on it. 3 Sessions is enough. Now I'm even thinking 1 is the bellwether. Influences matter. Doesn't anybody believe in vocal melody anymore? Okay, back on track. Put Steve Miller, Cheap Trick, and Aerosmith in a blender. Stand back. Pour over cracked ice. Enjoy without moderation. That's all I want for Christmas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Stackabones Posted December 15, 2006 Members Share Posted December 15, 2006 Originally posted by timrocker The wrap-up: I got out of it. Just wasn't going to work. Didn't want to spend any more time on it. 3 Sessions is enough. Now I'm even thinking 1 is the bellwether. Influences matter. Doesn't anybody believe in vocal melody anymore? Okay, back on track. Put Steve Miller, Cheap Trick, and Aerosmith in a blender. Stand back. Pour over cracked ice. Enjoy without moderation. That's all I want for Christmas. Cool! If one doesn't feel right--and I mean, you get nothing from it--then you should split. Stick around only if you see & hear something. Something good will come along. Keep on writing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members blue2blue Posted December 17, 2006 Members Share Posted December 17, 2006 Originally posted by timrocker Hi, I put an ad in Craigslist to find a lead vocalist to co-write with. (May have been my first mistake.) A few weeks ago, got an email from a guy that wants to give it a shot. We started co-writing tunes and putting down sketches on my 8-track portastudio. In my ad I said specifically melodic and hooky upbeat, positive themed rock music. Every lyric sheet he's brought in so far has been a rant or a negative scenario. Have not had one melody yet either. Of course, there's no hook. Just a voice forced over a progression with no real musical relationship. My dilemma is, do I need to give this thing more time and attention, or do I need to run now and look somewhere more promising for a co-writer? Sounds to me like this guy is pretty far away from what you want in not just output but approach (since he apparently felt his stuff fit your requirements enough to volunteer... yet it sounds like it's miles away from what you were looking for). There's no cause for hard feelings or rejections if it's not working out. Thank him for his time and efforts, assure him you won't be using any of your joint work (if anything even got finished) without some kind of mutual agreement. It would probably be nice to give him some positive but honest parting comments (let's face it... even us tough guys sometimes feel "rejected" over some pretty small stuff) and reassure him that the two of you just wanted different things and you're sure he'll find the right collaborator out there somewhere... Say... why does so much in being in bands and music collaborations always end up soundling like relationship politics? PS... OOPS! Shoulda read the whole thread FIRST... ah well, that's the problem with wanting to get your "uncontaminated" thoughts down first... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.