General Music Chat

James,

Depending on what you mean by "negativity" I wasn't being negative. I was being realistic. If you want honest criticism, that is what I offer. I don't believe in being flowery and sugary about the music business. This is a business. And it is a BRUTAL business. It is not pretty or flowery at all. It is difficult and cut-throat. I am assuming from your post that this is what you want for a career eventually. That you want to "Make it".

So, to help you in that, I have tried to "ground" you, so you are not deluded about what you are in for. When I was younger, I could not take healthy criticism like that. I wrote music from my own painful life experiences, it came from deep places. Criticisizing my music back then, was like criticisizing my soul. I was immature. Now, being more seasoned, and more mature. I can honestly say I hunger for honest criticism and advice, and I love collaborating now, more than I enjoy writing music solo.

I want to help you realize your dream, even if in some small way. God knows I have wasted many years of my own time and talent. I wouldn't want you to set yourself up for a fall, and then quit when you did. When you make the claims you did, you had better back them up, or you will find no shortage of people waiting to pull the rug out from under you. I mean honestly, do you really believe that you are one of the best male vocalists out there? That is how your post comes across. I want to be blown away, after reading something like that. I wasn't. Maybe you have some more impressive material to share? If so, you should have posted that, or downplayed your post a little.

My uncle is a self-made millionaire MANY times over. I listen to his advice very carefully, because he truly is one of the most incredible, well-read individual's I have ever known.

Speaking on praise, self-promotion, reality versus perception, etc... He told me something one day, simple, but I have found it to be very true through the years.

"When you elevate something to others, that you have accomplished personally, they tend to take the reality, and cut it in half when repeating your stories. However, when you keep them guessing, and let them discover for themselves pieces of what you do, they tend to double the reality, when telling others about it."

In other words, when you blow yourself up by praising yourself too highly, people tend to downplay even the level you are on. When you are subdued about yourself, and people begin to discover these amazing things about you, they tend to make you twice as large as reality when telling others about it.

So, when someone asks, and you tell them..

"Yeah, I'm a singer."

> Really? Are you any good?

"I'm alright. Some people think I'm pretty good."

Then they go hear you and its....

"Pretty good? Pretty good?!!! Damn dude, you're F%&*'ng awesome man!!! Wow, I had no idea. Hey Billy, did you know James was a singer dude? He rocks man. I think he would blow any of those guys on American Idol away. I couldn't believe it dude...."


That's what you want.

You don't want to be duluded about your own abilities, and you want OTHER people praising you, and elevating you. Those are your fans. Those are your managers and agents, and the people that believe in you.

That makes the praise sweet. Because it is unsolicited. It comes from their hearts. It endears them to you, and they are yours forever.

Craig, that was a great post and I couldn't agree with you more.

Words of wisdom that you don't learn in school.

I'd like to buy you a beer man, too bad you're so far away.

I'd like to buy you a beer man, too bad you're so far away.

LOL. Thanks.

Hopefully, my band will be successful enough to work our way across the country, and brother, I'll take you up on that.

Amstel.... btw

I am not limited to singing Blues.

Oh God. A pissing contest.

Dude, you are not the only vocalist that is competent in many styles. Pat Benetar was an opera singer before converting to Rock. Many singers have cross-style abilities.

It's too bad I don't have any of my R&B stuff recorded. Alot of people think I sing that best. And my voice is completely different. You wouldn't think it was the same singer. No rasp in my voice, silky smooth. I sing James Ingram, honestly dude, not that far off from James Ingram himself. I can also sing in several languages: English, Spanish and Korean, I've even done a Russian song before.

I've sung Gospel. I was an interem music director for a church for awhile. (in a previous life. LOL)

I found some tracks I did of that kind of stuff. Keep in mind, I recorded 10 Gospel/Christmas songs on a CD as a gift to family once. I didn't want to spend alot of money on this, so I literally did ALL 10 songs in one take each, back to back, in one session.

In any event, I uploaded one of those tunes, if you're interested.

I'm sorry I don't have alot of other stuff laying around anymore, but I have given up on this business, only to find it is just too much in my blood, more times than I care to remember.

But I am not saying I am a better vocalist than you. You claim a 3 1/2 octave range. That's impressive. Kate Bush has one of the largest ranges for contemporary popular music singers that I know of, and her range is 4 octaves. You are saying you are right there with her. Wow. Maybe you are including falsetto with that? I don't know. But if not, that's a hell of a range. 2 1/2 octaves is more common.

I think the record for largest range, is somewhere between 6 and 8 octaves. Yeah, you heard that right.

But I'm with you on the smoking. I quit for 7 years, went back for 3 and quit again, only to make the stupidest deal with myself, that it was "ok" to smoke in a smoke filled bar when out with friends. But of course, that was the undoing of it all. One cigarette led right back to 2 packs a day. Worst thing in the world for a vocalist.

But, this new project I am in, has gotten legs, and I really believe in it. I have like 2 packs of smokes left, and I am quitting for the sake of the band. I mean, I can sing when smoking like a fiend, I even sing pretty well when too sick to talk clearly (go figure that one?) but when I quit smoking, it literally only takes a month, to a month and a half, and I find my highs getting back to where they should be and it's much easier to sing belting song after belting song.

So, I'm with you. Really bad habit for singers.

You should quit too.

Before you are down to 96% talent.

LOL, couldn't resist bro.

btw....Glad to hear you found your band.

I truly only wish you the best.

Holy paragraph batman !!

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