Got a situation folks, maybe ya'll could help. I have been working on my project for 3 years and it is close to being ready for mastering. Now in these 3 years I've had several singers audition for the part of lead and finally got down to this one girl with grit. I have the other singers doing backround vocals on other tracks. Here is the situation. Someone "must" have got in her ear about the project taking too long, possibly my rapper, and now she wants to bail. So now I have her parts all over my project and I don't know what to do. I certainly don't want to restart this thing at this point. So of course words were exchanged so we are not on the best of terms. Problem is I can find another singer but I built so many songs around her "style" of vocal and I can't really see getting rid of her tracks unless I "have" to. The rapper that I use is really the one who was feeding her this nonsense in the 1st place. So now I am in a pickle. Do I continue mixing and mastering this thing and leave their parts on? Really, I don't feel they deserve much of the credit on this thing since I have done "everything" from write the songs to mixing and playing the instruments as well as teaching them studio techniques. I really do feel under appreciated since they have given me no money at "all" in the midst of this thing. So what is a producer to do? Any thoughts? Eventually I wanna get this thing released but I don't want future complications when the album comes out.

Maybe you could implore her to finish the project and give her some sort of compensation for doing so, like so many hours of free studio time or something like that. I would say get rid of the rapper as it sounds like he's throwing around some bad vibes that could potentially mess things up. People like that are dangerous.

If the tunes sound they way you want them, I'd master the project as is.
Simultaneously start looking for a new singer & rapper that have a similar style.
They're out there.

One monkey (in this case 2 monkeys) don't stop no show.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

I'm very sorry for you.

You know that I'm a fan of your stuff!

In case you want to keep the tracks, make really sure that there aren't any future problems!

My sentiments exactly. And to think that they both came to me at different times begging me to put them on tracks. Sometimes I am so gullable in reference to trying to help out people. I never really asked peole to contribute because I know times are hard. The girl had 3 children and was struggling so I never wanted to make thing hard on her. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine this guy spreading negative vibes. I don't know if any of you have had this problem, but when ever I get attractive women to sing or perform, the dudes I work with get thrown off track. I had to let another guy go due to him pursuing my "last" singer. I don't know why in the world some people can't be professional on this level and keep it all platonic. Ultimately, the music is so close to being mastered and completed I hate to go backwards. In reference to the free studio time, I don't think I would go that route with "her". She is recently engaged so I think she might have been looking for a way out. Now the rapper wants to continue on with this thing but I don't really want him to. In my mind he has sabotaged yet another venture of mine. I just don't think singers and songwriters really "know" how long and tedious production takes. In her mind she probably got to thinking that this was just a hobby of mine. Which I laugh at because in the beginning their were so many things I had to get for my studio just to get us up to par for a professional recording. This stuff sucks because my vision of this Nu Era thing is suddenly blurry now.

theAudience said:

My thought was to give them a small percentage of future sales. A very small percentage! LOL! But I wouldn't really know what to base the percentage on..... Any ideals?

Personally, I been in a not too dissimilar position and it may not be pretty but there are many singers out there who are willing to do the work.

Take it from me, I created a hiphop movement called "Thematic" and right now, I can't stand the rapper nowadays - I refuse to talk to or work with him.
The track alas, made it to a mass compilation CD in the UK but I just can't stand to hear the track as it reminds me of bad times.

It may seem long-winded, but I would get another singer (3 years yes I know) and record your asses off! At least U'll have piece of mind in the long run and if U're like me, U won't be reminded of a bad time when U hear the songs again.

There will be singers and rappers who are always hungry. Get rid of the crap and let them shoot themselves in the foot. Trust me U'll be happier and content in the long run.



'dre

jojofran said:

Why? You said that you wrote all the material.
If this is the case, then hopefully you've gone through the copyright process.

Assuming the above, then all you really need to do is pay them some agreed upon amount for performing on the recordings of your tunes.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

theAudience said:

Yes, I have written all the material "except" for the rap for the other rapper. My raps of course I have written. The singer has written nothing. She had every opportunity to do so but had chosen not to. I always tried to encourage her to write but she always depended on me in the end. I dunno, still a lot of questions in my head.

DreZone said:

My sentiments Dre, that is why I went to this "Nu Era" venture. The rap we do is positive, yet the album isn't just pure rap. It's spoken word, R and B, Jazz, Rock... All the things point to change of this culture taken over by corporate big wigs who have left creativity and originality behind. To me its like any band in history that did great music together but have broken up due to this or that. The music that was created during the ebryonic stages is great, so question is, do I silence the music created due to swollen heads, or do I leave it alone and try to deal with these catz who may turn up later on looking for a handout once the money starts to come in?

jojofran said:

Whatever U do, don't silence the music!
As for the idea that this situation is other bands that have broken up well, the difference it seems is that, during creation of the music, it must have been a (mostly) positive experience from concept to completion... If U feel that the criterion is apropos to you (taken into consideration that the material ain't even mastered yet), then take that next step...

personally I'd rather move 1 step backward to take 3 steps forward more than that taking 1 step forward without looking back.
Smell what I'm cookin'?

'dre

DreZone said:

Thanx dog, I really would like to hear of what some others have done. I get incensed that I have been trying to get them out there for years through this medium or that, and all I get is riff raff. I never promised anybody anything but in their eyes they blame me for why they are not successful. Imagine that? First and foremost I do music for the "love" of it 1st. The notoriety, if it comes, is an added blessing. I'mma be old and grey haired and I'd still enjoy playing the piano, gigging, as well as singing and writing songs. I think the problem with some folk is that they think being a musician or artist is synomynous with being recognized and in magazines. Feel me? I mean their first time doing any studio recording was in my crib. I taught them time signature, scales, pitch, tone.....etc. I guess I feel like Obi-wan when Anakin turned against him in the end. LOL!