studio – Paul Melancon

24 February, 201617 January, 2017

We begin actual work on a new record

It’s a strange world to rejoin after a decade away. The night is dark and full of neuroses.

I have big plans for the thing… or maybe “elaborate” is a better word. Elaborate plans that involve a number of non-musical skills I don’t currently possess, and a lot more work than just organizing the recording process. Plans that represent me trying to find ways to work inside and outside a music industry that is less recognizable to me than it was when I was last part of it, and finding different ways to tell a story that might be engaging.

I’m going to try to be more engaging, too. It’s probably no secret to you that every attempt to let the world know I exist is also a battle with my own mental limits. I won’t ask for your patience, because if you’re reading this you’re already still here, and thank you.

30 October, 2002

in the studio

Sunday and Monday I spent time at Rob’s doing backing vocals for the corporate thing. Lots of high stuff, the sort of thing it’s almost embarrassing to sing. I think my vocals may have suffered slightly from laughing in between takes. Anyway, there’s still a bit left to do on the song, so I’ll be back in there at some point this week. If I can get a copy of this thing at some point I’ll post it up. Apart from my freakish backing vocals you’ll get to hear Michael Lorant doing his best Freddie Mercury, which is eerily good.

Sue Witty came in at the tail end to do some work on her CD and so I ended up singing on a couple of songs for her. I haven’t really heard any of her stuff given a full treatment before and the two songs I heard really sounded good. I told her to let me know if she wanted any more vocals at any point.

I really do love doing vocals for people.

The quote of the day, from Rob, after asking me to do some particularly high range stuff: “Ah, my favorite female voice in Atlanta… Paul.”

25 October, 2002

in the studio

Not for myself, mind you.

A couple of days ago Rob called and asked if I could come in and do some backing vocals, and also that there was another ‘project’ that he’d talk to me about when he saw me. This was the extent of the details provided.

It turns out it was for a band called the Indicators. I actually did backing vocals for this song about a year and a half ago, but they’ve since switched a band member and are re-recording that song plus 13 others. So I went back in to do that song, and then they had me do another. Then someone else named Murray from Athens showed up to sing on a couple of songs. He’s talking and his voice seems familiar. Finally I ask Rob after Murray goes into the studio proper who this guy is, having begun to suspect.

Yep. Murray Attaway. From Guadalcanal Diary.

Christ, I used to listen to them constantly when I was in college.

All part of the strange services that working with Rob provides. Anyway, he did a couple of songs, and then I did another and then one more. I love coming in and working on other people’s stuff. It feels great.

The ‘other project’ is a Supermodel (that’s a side company that Rob and Michael Lorant have that does music for tv and advertising. When I did the backing vocals on that promo that eventually ran on the USA network that was who it was for) thing. Some corporate thing, I don’t think it will ever be heard by the general public, but they’re having to do that “Kind of Magic” song by Queen. Not by choice. Anyway, I’ll be going in to do backing vocals for that sometime next week.