Working with vocalist?

[EFFE]

I've had trouble working with vocalists for songs. I've had 3 finished tracks sitting on my computer for over a year while have tried to find vocalists with the right fit for the song.

It's a difficult balance: you want someone experienced enough to have real creative input and authority singing and writing lyrics, yet many of these vocalists are not willing to work with smaller/newer producers, at least not for free. I can understand this from their point of view, but seeing as I write music with vocals in mind, it's hard for me to release anything.

I have worked with several vocalists on these songs (synth pop style music, in case anyone wondered...) but can never get the right vibe, sound, whatever, from them. I understand it's a collaborative process, maybe I need to let go a bit, but I've spent so long on this music I would love the vocals to be awesome! Does anyone have any tips on where to find vocalists, how to deal with trying to get the lyrics/vibes/performance you're after... etc.

[Artless Venture]

I haven't worked with professional vocalists yet, but I worked with two friends so far, of which one song turned out well and I am satisfied with. I could imagine it being harder to do vocals for a almost complete track, with experienced vocalists that have their own styles. Maybe you know someone who is talented and just starting out to sing, and therefore is open minded regarding different styles?

I think the chemistry between you, the producer and the vocalist has work really well too so you both talk open about what you think is good or what needs improvement. Starting out a song with a vocalist from the beginning seems like the best way for me though, you can then shape the music in order to fit the vocalist too, and don't have to find the vocalist who perfectly sings with the voice you imagined to the finished track.

With my last song, it started out by laying down some basic chords, then we wrote some lines together and recorded them. Over the next weeks I then changed the chords and style of the production completely, but she liked it and we continued to write some more verses and changed some parts of what we had too.

So, this is as far as my experience goes but I hope this was helpful to you.
I really like your music and I really want to know how this sounds with vocals - Good Luck!

Artless Venture

[Joseph]

I prefer to make the track fit the vocals, and not the vocals fit the track. When using vocals I want the vocals to be the center of attention, and this is the best way to do it, at least in my opinion.
It's not too hard finding a vocalist if your tracks are good enough. I found a few vocalists who've worked on songs with millions of views but only like 50 followers in soundcloud. I never actually worked with one of them because I rarely finish songs, but the guy was willing to do some vocals for me.

[EFFE]

Ideally, yes, I would work the song around the vocals, but my writing 'style' I guess I just happen to always write songs with places for verses and choruses, but I'm never happy with my own lyrics or singing.

All the people I've sent the tracks to have been really positive and super keen on working with them, I just find it hard to articulate how I personally think it should sound. I also find it difficult to tell people that I don't like someone because I know people put a lot of time, effort and personality into lyric writing.

Either way, hopefully something will work out. I just want these songs out, I'm so excited and proud of them but don't want to rush the vocals, which, as Joseph has said, should be the centre of attention.

[lyteside]

I hear you... working with vocalists is a unique adventure in and of itself. Finding the right ones that have good chemistry with you, and have a style that works with your work, and well... good cross-promotion opportunity, are hard to dial in.

I work very similarly. In my dance pieces, I almost always write with some sort of vocal sound in mind. So I encourage you to stay with what is resonating with your heart and creativity. Don't give up!

I've been blessed to work with vocalists Christina Novelli, Kirsty Hawkshaw, and Sarah Russell, etc. but I still consider myself indie and small time. I've learned so much in the process, and I have a few strategies and patterns to share, for what its worth.

Endless & Persistent "Cold Calling".
Keep aiming high - for the big names you like. Message them on their facebook accounts. Email their managers. Prepare yourself for tons of rejections, and move on. If your music is good, someone will eventually accept! Even if you are after a specific person, this process is still necessary, because it will build your portfolio.

Snowball Effect
Now that you've got a project going on with a more well known vocalist, your cold calling gets easier. You have some names to throw out there with your great music. Vocalists can see that other great vocalists have worked with you.

Pay Them
Tip them even. Put the money into it that your project deserves. When asking vocalists to work with you, be upfront about asking them what their rates are, etc. Even if a friend is volunteering to help you out with some vocals, strongly consider giving them some money for it. Even just $50. $20? Something that says, "this song is important to me, and I'm serious about it." It very much will benefit you as an artist to feel yourself investing.

Use Work For Hire
The big timers are going to want royalties and more money in advance for the project, so temper your first big one with some work for hires, which will be a lot cheaper, and shouldn't cost you royalties. Check out sites like https://soundbetter.com/ and find an amazing vocalist on there (they really are awesome...) for $200-300 or so. Use this to fill up your portfolio more with vocalists, so you can finish more songs with them, gaining more experience at working relationally and creatively.

When it comes to the creative process, I'm curious to know more of where you are coming from, because obviously everyone's approach is different, especially when collaborating with another artist, right? Do you like to be involved in the melody and lyric writing? More hands off? Somewhere in the middle?

Just some of my initial thoughts. Hope some of this is helpful!

[lyteside]

I think the chemistry between you, the producer and the vocalist has work really well too so you both talk open about what you think is good or what needs improvement.

absolutely! So much depends on the chemistry and ability to communicate accurately ideas back n' forth. Sometimes an "okay" vocalist can become a great one with some confidence and clarity on the direction given.

[Steven Gold]

Hey there, I feel like I may have some good input for ya since I'm a "new artist/producer"

First off, I live in Nashville.. and granted, almost everyone here is a freaking songwriter lol. but even so not many people are into electronic music here. Also I'm pretty introverted so I'm not one to "network" unless it's the internet. so I totally get your struggle.

I've found some great vocalists that I'm working with right now though. 2 are here in Nashville, and 2 are from online. BUT, all of them either emailed or DM'd me because of remixes I posted on SoundCloud. I literally did nothing but make remixes that are in the style that I want my originals to be in, ya know? Treat a remix like an original, and remix songs that have vocalists that you like. So that way when a vocalist hears your remix, hopefully they say "Oh, I love that singer & this remix is good. Im gonna hit them up"

It really is that straight forward. And also look for singers that aren't "huge" but still really good. There's a LOT of the them out there. I've found SO many talented singers with under 1000 twitter followers, and I have all their emails saved for when I need to find a vocalist for a track. Working with smaller artists is a lot more achievable than an artist who is unreachable, or waits 3 weeks to respond to your email and wants a $500 advance.

Remember, Vocalists are looking for great producer/songwriters just as much as we're looking for vocalists.

~ Hope it helps.

[lyteside]

Hey there, I feel like I may have some good input for ya since I'm a "new artist/producer"

~ Hope it helps.

Post some examples of your vocal songs! Can't wait to hear

[Anuma]

There's always vocaloid software, which I think would suit your style of music quite well, worth experimenting with I'd say

[dominique]

I am a vocalist, and even with less than 1000 followers on soundcloud, I get about 2-3 requests per week to do vocals for a producer. It might not sound like many, but doing vocals for one track can take anywhere from 5-15 hours, depending on if they ask me to write and the number of revisions. Even if I really like the track, I have to turn down unpaid collab requests because I barely have time to get my own stuff done. If the producer offers to pay, I'm more likely to agree because I can use the money to fund my own pursuits, but they almost never do. So my advice, when sending requests to vocalists, include a question about what their budget is. Also, be detailed about what you want in the track and include the instrumental. If they have all the info upfront, they can gage whether they'd be a right fit for the job right away and respond accordingly.

There's also a website called vocalizr that connects producers to vocalists and vice versa. It's a great way to make money too if you find a vocalist looking for someone to produce their track.

[EFFE]

I am a vocalist, and even with less than 1000 followers on soundcloud, I get about 2-3 requests per week to do vocals for a producer. It might not sound like many, but doing vocals for one track can take anywhere from 5-15 hours, depending on if they ask me to write and the number of revisions. Even if I really like the track, I have to turn down unpaid collab requests because I barely have time to get my own stuff done. If the producer offers to pay, I'm more likely to agree because I can use the money to fund my own pursuits, but they almost never do. So my advice, when sending requests to vocalists, include a question about what their budget is. Also, be detailed about what you want in the track and include the instrumental. If they have all the info upfront, they can gage whether they'd be a right fit for the job right away and respond accordingly.

There's also a website called vocalizr that connects producers to vocalists and vice versa. It's a great way to make money too if you find a vocalist looking for someone to produce their track.

I would ideally be able to pay really good singers to work with me, but I'm a student in university and I really can't afford to do so most of the time. Just as a side note, your voice is stunning and you'd work really well on my tracks haha - but I understand you're busy and working for free isn't ideal for you.

also......

Post some examples of your vocal songs! Can't wait to hear

can't seem to embed a private SC link so here is the link to an old wip of one of the tracks https://soundcloud.com/effe1/track-2/s-YUf7c