I am back with some songs/artists that have inspired me lately
Michael Jackson's album"Xscape" My friend told me about this album long time ago but I wasn't really interested in checking it out. I just believed that it's really as awesome as he said it is. Then I've heard "Blue Gangster" and... I couldn't stop playing it for few days. I was so impressed by his sharp, beautiful and unique voice. Akua Naru - Poetry: How does it feel I feel in love with this performance. I'm impressed by everything in this video - music, lyrics, performance, musicians' passion... Play this song, you won't regret and don't be surprised if your glasses get foggy. this song is HOT.
Noora Noor It has begun with "Forget what I said". I am so glad that youtube recommended this
song to me. Then I found her full album and I was listening to her
songs on and on. The one I am posting is called "Dedication". It's a
beautiful song about family. I won't lie, it makes me cry sometimes :)
It's all for today. I decided to create a playlist where I'll be adding some of my favourite songs cause posting them all here would take forever and some of them are just amazing and they don't need any special comment.
It's been a long time since I've written something here.
I want this blog to be a place where I can tell you something more about myself... but I want it to be connected with music sooo:
here are songs/artists that I've been listening to lately:
Lost And Found
I found this one on "Best of Acoustic" album I bought few weeks ago. From the first few sounds I knew that it's something special. Then I focused on lyrics. It's so bitter but beautiful at the same time.
So I started to listen to this lady and found other amazing songs. Some of them are from the time where she was only 22 (Lost and found too) what is even more impressive.
Green And Gold
As I love acoustic versions of songs I've chosen one from live session. I love the lyrics and power in her voice. And the way she says 'thank you'.
Unstoppable
I really like this energy and melodies that she has created.
I had some weak times few days ago. Sometimes we all compare ourselves to people who are better than us, prettier than us or more talented than us. I usually know that it's really silly but it comes back to me every now and then.
So I've known India Arie just because of her song Ready For Love which is one of the most beautiful songs about love ever. But I've heard Video on another 'Best of'' album. And this is how I started exploring her music.
Video
It's full of good energy. Our times are kinda sad. People get depressed because of the pressure of being perfect. Instead of killing yourself with photoshopped, unrealistic, girls from pretty videos, listen to this song.
I haven't watched the movie yet, but I really love music from it. In a place that I work I need to be a DJ for few hours so I need to explore, you know!
Freedom by Anthony Hamilton & Elayna Boynton
Who did that to you by John Legend
She is my 'cover guru'. She is a master of creating acoustic versions of songs. Just listen to her:
Accidentally in love by Counting Crows
She's So High by Tal Bachman
If you have any songs that you think I should listen to, let me know :)
While ago I decided to write something about this year... And I didn't expect that I will get emotional or something... but it happened. It's been such an amazing year for me. I have changed a lot. I have changed my life.
In 2015:
I graduated from high school, I passed my exams well and I became a student. (it sounds like nothing special but for me it was a big challenge!)
I stopped partying and going out with people who didn't give a damn about me. (I used to love night life... I realized that I was wasting my time and energy on wrong things)
I evolved from rebellious, reckless teenager to calm, mature person. (I used to think that it's bad to be mature, that I will lose my character. It didn't happened. I am definitely better then I used to be. For others and for myself.)
I became more natural... I used to care so much about the way I look, now I don't. (I have more distance now. I accept my imperfections)
I traveled, I met a lot of people, I spend some lovely time with people who I adore.
I found some great new (for me) music.
The most important - I started singing again (I used to sing but... I was too young to know what I was doing. I wasn't happy about my work so I decided to disappear for a while. In fact I didn't really come back. I started my "secret life") So now I don't sing almost only for my friends and what I love the most: I am independent. I can do what I want, I give myself time for mistakes.
I started my youtube channel, I bought the equipment to my studio. I actually started doing something with my life and with my "career". It's been 6 months... and I already see the results of my hard work. And I really love what I am doing now. I am fully responsible for everything. It feels great. (What I do is definitely not perfect right now but it's me. And that's all that matters. Pretending is not for me!)
For the first time in my life I have New Year's resolutions. I am ready for more changes. I am ready for development. I am ready for more hard work, more hours spent on fighting for my dreams, more studying, more working, more singing and writing. I will start this year with an open mind and heart.
And before I go... Thank you. For comments, likes, views, criticism, advises, messages, lovely words... Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for being here.
I could say that I haven't achieved anything yet... but it's not true. Even if there's one person reading it... It's a success for me.
I want to show you my "making a video cover" process.
I almost always record "live covers" (No, I dont' record my voice in a studio and then record a video, as many people think). The only one I've recorded partly is "Writing on the Wall" (I didn't know the song well but I wanted to recorded it anyway so I needed to have lyrics, take some more time)
I took some photos when I was recording "All I Want" by Kodaline. Here's the video:
So there are some steps that I follow (almost) everytime:
1. I need to pick a song first. I usually cover songs I always wanted to sing... or songs that are new and can bring me a bit more attention. I always try to add something from myself to the song i pick. Sometimes it just happens naturally (I am not talking about pronounciation or grammatical mistakes :D) I'd call it "interpretation".
(here's the original version of this song. Both video and song are so beautiful and sweet)
2. Another step is "finding the right instrumental". I can't play the guitar too well so I need to use instrumentals from Youtube. I usually search for acoustic ones. I want my cover to be a bit different from the original song. And I need to make sure that the musician who created this instrumental is ok with me using it. I don't want no trouble!
(Sometimes I find an instrumental first and then I decide to record a song. I found this one and I was like "I need to record this!")
3. I need to prepare myself, find a nice place where I can record. I try to record in different places everytime, to make my videos easier to distinguish.
(this time I found this cool wall in my house. grey, empty...perfect)
4. I need to set up my equipment. I need to adjust the microphone settings and all that technical stuff.
(It takes some time, I also change a lot during my recording time - it's about trying and finding the best way to record)
5. Finally - I record my cover. It usually takes about 2 hours. I don't really practice songs before so I need a lot of takes to record one good version. It usually is the last one.
noo, it's not over here
6. I need to edit my track and video, and then put it together. It takes even more time the recording it all.
(I need to crop my video, edit colours, contrast, add some effects, add the intro, match song with the video, edit the track to make it sound good to me (it's very hard)...)
7. The most time-consuming part - waiting. I need to wait about 2 hours to crop and convert the video. After saving my video - another hour. Uploading video on Youtube takes another 2 or 3 hours.
8. Promotion - I post my video on all of my social media. I promote it mostly on Instagram, in Facebook groups, or on Soundcloud. Sometimes I pay for promotion but I am just a poor student so I can't do it too much. I think I'll work on it soon! (it's time to get a job girl!)
(and here's my selfie from the recording day. Partly dressed - in a decent shirt and pajamas!
So... I don't know if there's already someone who wants to know who I am... but I want to tell you.
Simply - who am I?
I am Helaine Vis - 19-year-old singer-songwriter.
What do I like to do, and what do I need to do?
My biggest passions are - music, poetry, art. I love both creating and listening/reading/admiring. I am a vegetarian - it become some kind of passion. What I need to do - I wanted to find a creative way to say that I am studying and it's not my favourite thing ever. I'm studying French and English. I like it but...I am generally not a big fan of studying. (I prefer life lessons)
Where am I from and why I'm not gonna tell you?
I live in one of these not too interesting, not to bad countries in Europe. I don't think that an information about where I am now is that important. The most important thing for me is where I will be in the future. My goal is to move to London and grow as an artist-musician-singer-songwriter. I dream about it since I was young
My activity in the internet
I am totally independent so I do everything by myself - I record covers(video and audio), I make photos, I edit them, I create backgrounds, themes... I promote my stuff all day and all night. But it feels really good. I really enjoy doing it all.
What kind of music do I like to listen to, what kind of music do I want to make?
I think that what I listen to is similar to what I want to create. I really love sad songs. I admire artist I listen to for different things. I am a big Amy Winehouse fan. I am so impressed by her vocals, songwriting and... attitude(I am not saying about her addictions, I like how much she didn't give a fuck about things) and a important fact that everyone forgets about - she was sensitive. I really like Emeli Sande especially for songwriting. I like David Bowie - he is just one of the kind. I adore Soko. The way she is direct and a bit weird but it's a good thing. I am also a big fan of Selah Sue, her energy, songwriting, music... I like listening to Daughter - their lyrics and music are brilliant. So, I would like my music to be emotional, passionate, real and maybe a bit edgy and unregular sometimes...
It seems like I see much more in music
Music inspires me, but mostly along with artists creating it. That's a reason why I want to write. For example: Jessie J is someone that I admire mostly for the way she acts/talks/writes. I am not into her music too much. I am into her talent (incredible vocals) and the way she talks to audience. She has always been something to me. She helped me with understanding that I need to be myself no matter what. And nowadays it's a really good message to have to young people - be true to who you are!
My dreams and goals
It was already said - I want to go to London to make music. But I wan much more than this. I am a dreamer so... I want to help people with my music and lyrics. I want to write songs about my mistakes to make people avoid making them. I want to create and find people who will want me to create more... I want to mean something. I want to leave something to this world. Something good, something important.
thank you for your attention, I hope I don't write only for myself
