new
music
release

Play time is over for me, it's time for me to get real!

Previously, I have been learning and experimenting mixing my vocals with a single instrument and I need to progress to mixing my vocal with a full set of instruments. This particular song presents challenges in many front.

First-up, Cantonese is not my first language. Well, I may have dabbled with a little Cantonese growing up but I hardly ever use it these day. I may still remember some of the swear words though! 🤪

Secondly, this song itself challenges my vocal. As a baritone, this song, which is in F major, goes up to A4, which is like the upper-end of range for a baritone like myself. I'm sure if I train hard enough however, I would be able to go even higher, but I'm cool for now. This song is also quite an emotional song so I need to try and capture the emotion from it. That's not difficult however as this song is one that I can relate to, growing up.

On top of that, I had given myself an extra challenge to get even more creative and shoot this music video in a location outside of my home and studio. The title of this song is "Boundless Ocean, Vast Skies", so what better place to shoot a music video than the beautiful and sunny Cornwall. I was lucky that the week I spent there shooting at various locations, I have been blessed with warm, sunny weather, as you will see in the video. Besides, in the original Beyond music video of this song they did shoot by the sea as well.

Some may think that this song is a bit bleak for a warm and sunny spring in Cornwall but this song itself is about "pursuing freedom, maintaining resilience, and holding onto dreams despite facing harsh, cold criticism, indifference, or loneliness", as noted by Google anyway. Besides, as I've mentioned before, the title even mention ocean and skies.

Personally, I would like to think that despite the current state of the world (and weather) looking a little bleak, the future will eventually be sunny and bright - just like the sunny Cornwall.

This music video comes with Cantonese lyrics and English subtitles, so be sure to turn it on if you want to follow what the song is about.

Slowly but surely my vocal chain and mixing technique is improving. It's not there yet but I am better than I was before. I took it up a notch this time by covering Robbie William's song, Angel, which I recorded in one take alongside this video.

This song does not only tests my mixing technique but it also tests my vocal range as a baritone, as it goes up to G4. I do have to admit however it took me a few weeks to master the smooth transition between the F4 key to the G4 key. This song also forces me to learn EQ technique to reduce the grittiness from the vocal. I don't think I did a bad job but I'm sure it can be better.

Coincidentally, this song comes at a perfect timing as I thought it is a good song to celebrate Mother's Day, or Mothering Sunday for the religious. So to all mother's around the world, I dedicate this song to you - Happy Mother's Day. Not just birth or biological mothers, but also mother figures or maternal figures to those. And speaking of which, I think it's a good time for me dedicate this Aunt Doreen in London and Carroll in Cornwall. I hope both of you have a wonderful Mother's Day, and Carroll, I'll see you on your birthday next month!

Also a special thanks to ‪@AcousticLounge‬ for the acoustic guitar backing of this song,    • Angels - Robbie Williams (Acoustic karaoke)  

Do check them out!

p/s Just look at my knackered headphone! I definitely need to get a new one.