How do you guys go about finding feature singers?

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-- How do you guys go about finding feature singers?

Posted by oldspice891 on Nov-03-2011 00:09:

How do you guys go about finding feature singers?

I've done the approach of looking on facebook/soundcloud, but how do you guys go about finding singers to work with?

More specifically, how do you find singers of the caliber that Kaskade works with? Those female singers are amazing. I'm sure they charge like 500-1k a track, but atleast they deliver.

Anyone know of any amazing female singers in the Los Angeles area??

Thanks guys

Posted by DJ RANN on Nov-03-2011 00:15:

Re: How do you guys go about finding feature singers?

Posted by oldspice891 on Nov-03-2011 00:17:

Re: Re: How do you guys go about finding feature singers?

quote:
Originally posted by DJ RANN
Dude, this subject has been done to death on here and covered at least 3 time in the last 3 months.

do a TA google search for "cryophonic" and "singer" or "vocals" and you should find a number of those threads.

To summarise, if you want those singers that Kaskade uses, well, er, contact them or their agents.

If you're looking to find new talent, then go through craigslist/facebook/myspace etc and hold auditions or listen to the demos.

No easy way I'm afraid.

I see, so I guess it's the same old way of networking and finding out who to contact. Alright sounds good. thanks.

Posted by DJ RANN on Nov-03-2011 00:42:

Re: Re: Re: How do you guys go about finding feature singers?

quote:
Originally posted by oldspice891
I see, so I guess it's the same old way of networking and finding out who to contact. Alright sounds good. thanks.

Yep, afraid so.

I have a friend here in LA that just wanted to do a pop/edm project and just went through craigslist and put up a wanted ad on craigslist.

They set up a bunch of auditions (like 20) all on one day and actually found a really good young female vocalist.

Good luck!

Posted by Mel David on Nov-03-2011 01:19:

Hit up your local churches for singers. Or join a choir group. Perhaps you'll get kicked out of the choir group for sounding like a tortured cat, but you may find yourself a singer before that happens.

Posted by meriter on Nov-03-2011 02:10:

omg you're in LA and can't find a singer?

Posted by EddieZilker on Nov-03-2011 02:26:

Topic 86

Posted by DJ Robby Rox on Nov-03-2011 02:47:

Are you a feature producer?

And #2 feature your own singer I tend to value a variety of amateur singers more than I do hearing the same professional sing over and over. Although some pro's obviously just have trademark voices. Even Britney Spears though however her voice has become nasal and cheesy to me to the point where even when it sounds good I hate it.

Focus on the music and inspire your not so good singer with it, maybe they might even sing better. Terrible advice likely too but obviously you have the choice not to listen to it.

Posted by studiobob on Nov-03-2011 08:52:

email any local recording studios near you. You will find they probably have a list of decent session singers that they use for various projects.

Posted by DJ RANN on Nov-03-2011 16:47:

quote:
Originally posted by Mel David
Hit up your local churches for singers.

I actually used to suggest that to people as I've known it to work in the past, but recently a few people have said that they tried it and Church folk can be pretty moody, not to mention they have zero interest in EDM (or "drug music").

Asking a studio for session singers is not a bad idea, but often you have to pay pretty decent money for them, and I've found in a lot of cases they can certainly sing technically, but there's not that extra spark that makes their voice incredible. You may well find that one magic undiscovered person, but often they're session singers/backing singers for a reason. They can deliver, they can perform when needed but it's nothing that will set the world on fire, though in fairness that's sometimes exactly what you need.

Posted by Looney4Clooney on Nov-03-2011 17:16:

kareoke. Honestly, this is the best way to find talent these days. They are auditioning right there, alcohol is involved so talking and breaking the ice is easy. And you get to see alot of people sing. Craigslist is just weird.

as Rann said, session singers are session singers because they have a generic sound as one would only hire a session singer for things were the singer isn't the focus. They will hit every note but in EDM, you need something that is different. Half the female singers you hear in EDM aren't really singing. Or they are ugly and being back up is just a reality of being ugly and female and a singer.

Posted by Mel David on Nov-03-2011 17:26:

Glee club?

Posted by cryophonik on Nov-04-2011 16:40:

Re: How do you guys go about finding feature singers?

quote:
Originally posted by oldspice891
I've done the approach of looking on facebook/soundcloud, but how do you guys go about finding singers to work with?

More specifically, how do you find singers of the caliber that Kaskade works with? Those female singers are amazing. I'm sure they charge like 500-1k a track, but atleast they deliver.

A few thoughts/questions that you should ask yourself:

Have you worked with vocalists or written songs for vocals before? If not, set your expectations much lower. Singers of the caliber that Kaskade is working with, like Haley and Becky, are not going to work with someone who has never done this before. Even if you have written some tracks for vocalists, I would guess that it's highly unlikely that they would work with you unless you have a name in the industry. I could be wrong, though, since I've never tried.

Assuming that you have never worked with a vocalist before (probably why you started this thread), you should make sure that you understand the difference between writing instrumentals and writing for vocalists. The singers I work with are constantly being asked to collab and getting demos sent to them are (1) not vocalist-friendly and/or (2) just terrible tracks anyway. Nine times out of ten, the singers just reject the song outright because it's not structured for vocals and they don't know what to do with a 9-minute track that follows a typical instrumental structure. Typically when they ask the producer about what they're looking for, where the vox go, etc., the response is about the equivalent of "....uhhh, I don't know, just sing some stuff."

As for finding vocalists, I think the most obvious ones have all been answered, with a couple of exceptions. Scout out the local scene for bands with female singers, go check them out at a gig, and hit up the singer for a collab. You might also want to check out online collab sites like Indaba - I haven't used it, but I know of a couple of vocalists who have had some success there. Good luck!

Posted by oldspice891 on Nov-07-2011 08:23:

Ok sorry I should elaborate more, but I appreciate the replies.

To answer your post cryophonik, yes I've worked with singers/rappers numerous times. I've actually written a lot of songs as well as producing the tracks.

Generally now, I will actually write the song, record the demo scratch track at the studio, then send it out to the singer.

I guess I was going to keep doing it the same way I was with networking through the studios/singers/rappers I've worked with. Some of the vocalists I've worked with, the songs sound amazing. Some meh.

Those female singers that work with kaskade are amazing, and of course they would want to get paid to work with them. I was just wondering that's all.

I'm working on a feature project, kind of like Guetta's album. Rappers are everywhere, and good male volcalists come and go, but those amazing female vocalists with those soft angelic voices are awesome. If anyone has any links to their facebook/soundcloud, feel free to post them!!

Thanks for the replies btw guys. I guess it's back to networking yeahh!!

I was just wondering is there a certain method to find these awesome female singers? But I guess since I'm unknown, I gotta do it the old fashioned way and search on facebook/soundcloud, and just find these people.