Where Am I - Jon Solo June 2008

JonSolo · Post by **JonSolo** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 8:50 pm

It is quite deep into the month for me to finally be posting a song. The truth is that at the start of the month I embarked on four separate ideas. Each one brought a challenge. As many of you know I am in the process of finishing up a CD and many of the songs here will be featured on it.

This song has gone through so many versions and variations that I probably have a few other songs just as leftovers from this one. After creating huge arrangements and so on, I finally settled on a simple one.

Here is my song of the month for June...a softer personal ballad. It is called Where Am I.

http://www.thesolofactor.com/music

Enjoy. The only thing I need is a real violin player.

Jon

ronbo27 · Post by **ronbo27** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 1:27 am

If you don`t mind me saying so, this is one helluva ballad.....better than anything I`ve heard in a long time on the radio, or any other media. You hit this one out of the park,,,just a great listen over and over. Well done!
CHEERS!
Ron.

JonSolo · Post by **JonSolo** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 2:11 am

Thanks a lot Ron. I am glad you liked it!

For the record I scored a violinist this evening. I hope to be dropping the track this weekend sometime.

Jon

Dee · Post by **Dee** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 2:56 am

Hi Jon

Beautiful song, beautiful singing, beautiful lyrics and.... beautiful arrangement.

Just plain blooming beautiful!!

Looking forward to hearing version with violinist.

Regards from
Dee

Stephen · Post by **Stephen** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 11:04 am

This is very very nice Jon!
There's nothing to pick at, but just a personal preferrence, when you go up to the high notes you could add just a touch of verb, in fact, on a ballad such as this, I like a little wetter vocal, but as I said....

Bravo!

Regards,

JonSolo · Post by **JonSolo** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 2:06 pm

Thank you Dee. Me too. I believe it will add the right flair to the song.

Stephen I think you may be right and will consider more verb when I remix with the live violin. I currently have a light plate verb on my voice with a medium reflection. I don't like to wash it too much because that is not with the "current sound". But I am with you: a nice verb on a ballad sits quite well.

Thanks for listening. Should have a new improved version by early next week.

Jon

georgeinar · Post by **georgeinar** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 12:42 am

Strange, but I was thinking about the verb on the first pass as well. I do think the voice sits nicely here though, so I know for me I hesitate to verb up too much, though if you can get a correct wet sound there it might add just the right touch. Ok, and the only other thing I was thinking about was the violin part, which you are addressing. I think real violin will be the finishing touch. That part could be played by another sound but I think the single violin would be perfect there as you've demonstrated. Now, how do I like it? It's really beautiful in its simplicity. Love the piano here, its so clear and confident. The lyric that I love the most is the 'bridges are burned' or something like that. Nice phrase. The pads that seem to travel back and forth panning is very nice. Those background vocals are exactly right and 'goose-bumpy' for lack of a better word. Kudos here for not trying too much. Many a masterpiece is 'less is more' and here you have just the right amount of dramatic effect (I'm getting the bells now). And while there's a middle 'build-up' that one expects in these types of pieces where it gets fuller and thicker, it's nice how you end quietly. I've been trying to do that sometimes, as I did with my Goodbye song, where the end mimicks the beginning and is quietly fading away. While this song sounds so easy and simple, there is no way you could have achieved this without many starts and stops and false turns. I'm picturing crossed out lyrics, bridge notes discarded etc. But only because that's how it is for me and not because this beautiful piece suggests anything but a labor of love. Having done a couple ballads myself lately in the sequencer I can appreciate the meticulous effort it takes to make every note exactly right. Fast dancey stuff you can cheat and throw a bunch of sound effects in and wow the ears, but with the thin pallette of a softly played song, every note counts and has to carry its own. I've been listening to your Forever Garden album lately (at least twice thru). I am really a huge fan by now and hope to hear many more gems in the future. Sorry for rambling, but your songs do inspire.

chordial · Post by **chordial** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 4:52 am

Another great piece Jon,

I like the chord sequences, and there are a few musical surprises along the way too.

Look forward to the hearing this with the live violin.

Cheers Simon

JonSolo · Post by **JonSolo** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 12:35 am

Ok it looks like I got something set up this week. I was hoping for this afternoon, but Sunday is just not a good day for some.

I will let all know when I post the revised. I am SOOOO excited about dropping live violin on this!

Jon

DrWho · Post by **DrWho** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 9:49 pm

Oh man - you certainly know how to put a ballad together!

Hmm ... maybe some verb would be good up there - not sure. I like it as is - not a complicated mix - maybe its just me and what I've been listening / working on lately.

So how do you write lyrics? A learned skill or built in talent?

Congrats on pulling together thru all the variations - that is a challenge! And cool on the violin player. Please repost

Pecca · Post by **Pecca** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 1:14 am

maan ! How do you find all levels on vols / fx.. amazed
- splendid !
Love the ballad piano/ strings and vocals.
Wish you could bring a girl to sing along with you.

maybe Elisabeth ?

really loved it. - Thank you

JonSolo · Post by **JonSolo** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 3:39 am

Thank you. The violin part may take a bit longer. The girl I got for the part is out of town for the weekend. So hopefully no later than a week from now. I am still debating how much as well as what type of reverb to add in there.

Jon

ellll · Post by **ellll** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 7:40 pm

Hi Jon,

This is a sweet song indeed...It has character and effect in abundance...and many fine feelings and sounds...The VOCAL background is SUPER!!! and SUPERIOR...The strings sing without any overplay, when they need to. The theme of the lyrics is both clever and thought provoking!! What a fine bit of mental acuity here!!!!!!!!!!!

I would like a better cross from your straight voice to the fax or falsetto voice...and I believe the solo could have been more forward and brighter, with a bit more emotion...(

)...( sorry...its great in all ways..., but I felt the NEED for more in the voice....!!!!, I only say this, knowing it will not discourage you about vocals; you seem doubtful at times..., but we all KNOW!! you can sing.....)

Your usual faultless engineering is there also with aplomb and mechanics!!

A GREAT production except for the desire on my part....(

)...!!!!

Sorry I am late on this...I have been just goofy for a month or more....Getting back on track I hope...if not...I will be ..well...we will see..

Edit...I did write this without reading other comments on purpose...and see that I may not be in full agreement with a few others...but I am for the most part

John....(ellll)

ellll · Post by **ellll** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 8:20 pm

Hi Jon,

I was afraid I said too much, being a novice at popular genre's but may I add, after a few more listens...

I would also like to see a more "extended" ending. Even though going for simple...I think it would improve even more with another simple resolution and a longer sustain on the end.....(???)

John....

JonSolo · Post by **JonSolo** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 2:22 am

I am still working on getting that violin dropped. Schedules are a wreck this week because of the holidays. So the ending will have real violin on it. As far as the lead vocal, I totally agree with your comment on the transition. It is a complex part because I can do it naturally with no head voice...but the song begs to have it done falsetto, so that is what I gave it.

I do not consider this finished by any means until the skinny lady plays the violin.

Jon