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Autotune – Handy Studio Tool or Singer’s Curse?

April 14, 2013 By Lisa Martin Leave a Comment

I was doing some session work the other day and was having a bit of a lively discussion (!) with the producer about pitch correction devices such as autotune.  He seemed to think that autotune was just another editing tool that could be used in the same way that reverb and other effects might be added to the vocals, and made the point that even legends like Frank Sinatra had their work edited.

I feel quite differently; it’s one thing to ‘cut and paste’ the best parts of a performance during a studio session – but to change the actual notes that a singer decides to sing interferes with the artistry of singing, in my opinion.  When a machine is used to alter these notes by measuring and gauging whether they are perfectly ‘in tune’, I think we can run a real danger of removing some very important nuances of the singer’s performance.

Pitch correction software such as melodyne shows each vocal note on the screen.  Every little ‘flaw’ is made visible, making it very easy for producers to ‘pull’ the errant note back into perfect pitch; effectively editing with their eyes instead of with their ears.

But why this need for everything to be so ‘perfect’? 

Some of my favourite songs are full of ‘imperfections’ in terms of pitch.  In fact I think those very imperfections are what makes them so unique.  Take Billie Holiday’s ‘The Very Thought of You’, or Marilyn Monroe’s ‘Diamonds are a girl’s best friend’ – two very different styles of singers – but it would be a travesty to change a single note of either of these performances, in my opinion.

When I compare Marilyn’s version of ‘Diamonds are a girl’s best friend’ with the more modern ‘Glee’ version, I am in no doubt as to which one I prefer.  I would much rather listen to a performance with pure heartfelt emotion, as opposed to a technically perfect, but soulless version.

Imagine iconic moments such as Audrey Hepburn’s rendition of ‘Moon River’ in the film Breakfast at Tiffany’s, taken and hacked neatly into submission by a pitch correction machine… would it remain such a poignant and unforgettable piece of movie history?  I personally don’t think so.

Now, I don’t completely disagree with producers who claim that autotune is a vital time-saving piece of studio equipment; used judiciously I agree that it can be a useful addition to the producer’s toolkit, especially in time-limited situations.  However the problem arises when people get ‘lazy’- doing a couple of quick takes and leaving the rest to the ‘post-production magic’.

Pitch correction software first came out in the mid 1990s, and ever since it has become more and more ubiquitous in the world of popular music.  Like it or not, it seems it is here to stay.  Just like when we see models with flawless complexions in the pages of magazines, we will never again be sure that we are faced with the ‘real’ thing, or a technically altered version.

I just count my blessings that this kind of technology was not around in the days of Billie, Ella, Frank, Nat, Judy, and all the other legendary singers whose artistry we are fortunate enough to be able to listen to in unadulterated form.

1940s, 1950s and 1960s tribute shows at Nardini’s, Largs, Scotland

March 22, 2013 By Lisa Martin Leave a Comment

Lisa Martin 1950s showI recently appeared at a great venue on the West coast of Scotland called Nardini’s.  This famous Scottish landmark was first opened in the 1930s, and it still retains its ‘retro’ art-deco style – perfect for me of course!

I was booked to perform 3 tribute shows in one night – starting with my 1940s wartime show, then my 1950s show, and finishing off with my 1960s show, plus some lively modern songs to keep everyone dancing.

I really enjoyed my first visit to this fabulous restaurant.  The staff were very friendly and helpful, and the audience were ready to enjoy themselves.  A big coachload of ladies from Ardrossan ensured that I was kept as entertained as my audience – they were really up for a laugh and enjoyed dancing and singing along to all the old favourites.

 

James Bond Tribute Show at Gleneagles Hotel

February 9, 2013 By Lisa Martin Leave a Comment

Last week I appeared at a function in the world-renowned Gleneagles Hotel in Auchterarder; a beautiful town within the magnificent Perthshire countrside, deep in the heart of Scotland.  I was booked to perform my James Bond tribute show for a multi-national group of business people.

Also appearing were Sean Connery, Daniel Craig, Kate Middleton and Our Majesty the Queen.  Well, not quite – they were all lookalikes – but very convincing nonetheless!  It was a lovely night with a very friendly audience who were really enjoying themselves.  The organisers really took care of every detail, with a lavish dinner, lots of great entertainment (including the fantastic showband Stax of Motown), and even some Knighthoods by Our Madge!

Gleneagles Hotel

New Year Dinner Dance at Seamill Hydro Hotel

January 6, 2013 By Lisa Martin Leave a Comment

Lisa Martin wedding singerMy first booking of 2013 was on New Year’s Day for a dinner dance at the beautiful Seamill Hydro Hotel in West Kilbride.  This is the first time I’ve been to this hotel – or to West Kilbride for that matter – and I must say I was very impressed, both by the lovely setting, and the friendly helpful staff.

The Seamill Hydro is set in a stunning location – it was dark when I got there, so it wasn’t until I looked out of my window the next morning at magnificent views over the Firth of Clyde that I realised it is right on the seafront.

There were a lot of families staying at the hotel over New Year, and it was obvious the hotel catered for them very well, with a fun kids’ club, and even an old-fashioned Carousel outside in the gardens.  Not to mention all the great leisure complex facilities for the mums and dads!

I was performing alongside the fantastic DJ ‘Cheeky D’ of Cheeky Entertainment.  A true professional, he played all the right songs, and did a great job in getting the crowd up to party on the dancefloor.

All in all, it was a great start to the New Year.  It was quite a mixed crowd in terms of age-range, so I sang a mixture of modern pop songs and older classics, to try and include something for everyone.

Here’s one of the songs I performed on the night; the Nat King Cole standard ‘Let there be love’

 

James Bond Tribute Show London

December 5, 2012 By Lisa Martin Leave a Comment

James Bond casino showLast weekend I performed my James Bond tribute show for a corporate Christmas function at the beautiful Grand Connaught Rooms  in London. As it turns out, they only needed a short performance, so I flew all the way from Glasgow to London to sing for 20 minutes! Still, it was a great night, I was made very welcome, and it was lovely to revisit London – it’s been a few years since I was last there.

Even  though it was a short show, I managed to fit in all my favourite James Bond songs, including Goldfinger by Shirley Bassey, Nobody does it better by Carly Simon, You only live twice by Nancy Sinatra, plus the latest Bond theme song Skyfall by Adele.

Of course, no James Bond tribute show would be complete without the classic song Diamonds are forever – so here it is!

The pros and cons of working as a Cruise Ship Singer

November 14, 2012 By Lisa Martin Leave a Comment

Cruise ship singerThe other day I got an email from a music student asking about the pros and cons of working as a cruise ship singer. I thought it was a great question which warranted more than a brief reply, so I decided it would make for a good blog topic.

I have done a variety of different kinds of singing jobs onboard cruise ships over the years, and they all presented their own highlights and challenges. The job of ‘a cruise ship singer’ can vary from ship to ship and contract to contract, in terms of job conditions, type of performance, and length of contract.

For instance, one of my first contracts was as a production cast member, singing in the ‘in-house’ shows onboard ship. I auditioned in London, got the job, and from then on things happened very quickly. I had to arrange my visa then fly straight to the US to attend show rehearsals for several weeks before joining the ship for a six month contract.

As well as performing in the shows each night there were other ‘entertainment host’ type duties I was expected to fulfil onboard ship, such as compering events, organising safety drills and socialising with passengers.

I have also worked as a ‘resident band’ singer on many ships. This job is also generally a long contract of around 6 months, and can involve singing for up to 6 hours a day, for 6 or 7 days per week, so it can be quite hard work as a singer. My vocal chords certainly became very strong after a while!

Performances can be in different parts of the ship; for example lounge bars, the theatre, or even out on deck. Resident bands are not expected to perform ‘entertainment host’ type duties, but would be required to participate in health and safety procedures, such as boat drills and other regular training sessions. Also, performances are not necessarily confined to evening; often the band are required to play during the afternoon. Add regular band rehearsals to this and you may be disappointed if you expect to have every day free for sunning yourself out on deck!

Perhaps the most sought-after Cruise Ship singing job is that of a ‘headline act’ or ‘visiting cabaret’. These types of contracts are usually very short-term and can last anywhere between one night and a couple of weeks, during which one or two shows will be performed in the main theatre. No other duties will usually be required, and the singer will normally have passenger status (which means a passenger cabin, no restrictions in terms of using bars and restaurants, and no safety drill responsibilities).

The money and conditions for this type of job are usually much better than other types of contract, especially considering that you are only expected to perform a few shows and are free for the rest of the time to enjoy the ship – however it can be quite difficult to secure a contract as a visiting cabaret, unless you are already well-known on the circuit.

There is a downside however, as a lot of travelling is involved in these short-term contracts. As a solo performer it can feel quite lonely flying back and forth to various ports to meet the ships, and staying in hotels alone en-route. ‘Living out of a suitcase’ may not be everybody’s cup of tea. An organised and confident personality is a bonus when dealing with delayed flights, lost luggage and other stressful travel situations. Again, it all depends on your own outlook – a lot of singers would relish the thought of being paid to travel to so many different places.

No matter what your job, any work onboard ship calls for quite an outgoing personality, as you are expected to be friendly and polite to passengers at all times. Privacy can be an issue, as when you are at sea there is ‘nowhere to hide’ – plus you often have to share a cabin with another performer, unless you are a visiting cabaret. In terms of food and general living conditions, it varies greatly from ship to ship – it’s a good idea to study your contract carefully before signing to check out what’s in store!

Weighing up all the good and bad points, I must admit that I certainly don’t regret any of my time onboard cruise ships – it has been a fantastic way to travel the world, meet some great people, gain unique life experience, and see some places I never would have travelled to otherwise.

Swing Show in Ayr Scotland

October 17, 2012 By Lisa Martin Leave a Comment

I recently took part in The Ayr Festival, joining Jim McMail and his Big Band to perform 1950s Swing classics in the ‘Septembayr Swing’ Show at Ayr Town Hall.  Jim McMail performed his tribute to ‘Ol’ Blue Eyes’ himself, Mr Frank Sinatra. Jim sounds uncannily like the original – check out his website at http://jimmcmail.com

We were joined by the very lovely funnyman Bert Allan, who entertained us all with his unique style of humour while compering the show.

Here are a few clips from the show:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccVHsez7tE0

 

 

1940s Show at RAFA Club Prestwick Battle of Britain function

October 8, 2012 By Lisa Martin Leave a Comment

1940s show tribute singerI had the pleasure of performing my 1940s show ‘I’ll Be Seeing You’ recently at the RAFA Club in Prestwick as part of their celebrations to commemorate the Battle of Britain.  What a lovely, warm, friendly club – special thanks go to Del Granger for his help during the evening.

Everybody had a great time, and boy do they love to dance in that club!  The dancefloor was packed from start to finish, with some very smooth movers – quicksteps, foxtrots, jives, rock ‘n’ roll, plus even a bit of line-dancing thrown in for good measure.   We also all enjoyed some good old fashioned singalongs – well, who can resist the lure of those classic songs by such popular performers as Gracie Fields, The Andrews Sisters, and of course the legendary Dame Vera Lynn?

I received some wonderful feedback for my 1940s show asking me to return soon, so hopefully it won’t be my last time at such a welcoming club.

Here’s a link to my rendition of one of the great 1940s songs featured in the show: “We’ll Meet Again”

 

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Lisa Martin Retro Singer

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About Lisa Martin

Lisa Martin retro singerLisa Martin is a professional singer based in Glasgow Scotland who specialises in classy vintage style shows.. Read More…

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