FAWM : "Harmony Singers Challenge" (by @beacon)

@beacon 8w

Okay gang, we had a fun time last FAWM (and I really dropped the ball in 50/90, because of *life*), but hoping to start again and have a good time.

Ever see on TikTok where people take one person's singing a capella, and add a harmony, and then add another harmony, etc.? Well, this is that equivalent. It's where we get:

1) someone to write some lyrics
2) someone to write a tune (could be the same person as #1)
3) someone to put down the first melody recording (could be the same as #1-2)
4) someone to put down the first harmony part
5) someone to put down the second harmony part
6) someone to put down the third harmony part
7) someone to stitch it all together and post it, crediting all the participants (could be the same as #4, 5, or 6)

Basically, we need at minimum 4 people to sing, with people to write the lyrics, melody and stitching (which can be the same as the singers.)

Volunteer and I'll try to match everyone up. Let me know if you're willing to do more than one part. We love lyricists who want to participate in the #1 spot!

I'll steal the recommendations that @nadine posted in the Digital 4-Track Challenge (https://write.fawm.org/forums/432)

Rules & best practices:
- 24 bit / 44.1 kHz WAV
- Fixed BPM, 8 bars of count in. Export from bar 0.
- No reverb except for sound design
- One person one voice. You're allowed to double track or layer.
- Share contact data with successor and producer as early as possible
- Mail links instead of files and include BPM info, lyrics, MIDI or chord sheet
- Comment here and mention your successor when you did your part

Common issues:
- Finishing earlier: All fine, pass the ball to the next one!
- Sickness / delay: Comment here and I'll move you to the end of your chain. If you're the last one, I'll take somebody from the waiting list
- Sign out / no reaction: I draw somebody from the waiting list.

Post what you'd like to do below and I'll try to match everyone up. Have fun!

@beacon 8w

Here's the main list of participants:

Song #1: https://write.fawm.org/songs/23532
Lyricist: @kahlo2013
Melody Writer: @cleanshoes
Melody Singer: @cleanshoes
Harmonizer 1: @tan482
Harmonizer 2: @kcflowers
Harmonizer 3: @tjeff
Stitcher: @cleanshoes

Song #2:
Lyricist: @nancycunning
Melody Writer: @fearlessflight2014
Melody Singer: @fearlessflight2014
Harmonizer 1: @darcistrutt
Harmonizer 2: @sorby69
Harmonizer 3: @erbaer <<<---
Stitcher: @fearlessflight2014

Song #3: https://write.fawm.org/songs/22192
Lyricist: @charliecheney
Melody Writer: @metalfoot
Melody Singer: @metalfoot
Harmonizer 1: @carleybaer
Harmonizer 2: @katestantonsings
Harmonizer 3: @beacon
Stitcher: @beacon

Song #4: https://write.fawm.org/songs/21441
Lyricist: @jorh
Melody Writer: @nwhosings
Melody Singer: @nwhosings
Harmonizer 1: @deadhead
Harmonizer 2: @rowanb
Harmonizer 3: @emkaydeebee
Stitcher: @deadhead

Song #5: https://write.fawm.org/songs/21004
Lyricist: @kristi
Melody Writer: @loveonamixtape
Melody Singer: @loveonamixtape
Harmonizer 1: @sjbatavia
Harmonizer 2: @emkaydeebee
Harmonizer 3: @florianhoffmann
Stitcher: @florianhoffmann

Song #6: https://write.fawm.org/songs/17407 <<<---
Lyricist: @cindyrella
Melody Writer: @nateger
Melody Singer: @nateger
Harmonizer 1: @reklov
Harmonizer 2: @debs
Harmonizer 3: @tezzin
Stitcher: @tezzin

Song #7: https://write.fawm.org/songs/12707
Lyricist: @daveescoffery
Melody Writer: @daveescoffery
Melody Singer: @daveescoffery
Harmonizer 1: @caitlin <<<---
Harmonizer 2: @ampersandman
Stitcher: @ampersandman

Song #8: https://write.fawm.org/songs/22742
Lyricist: @kahlo2013
Melody Writer: @complexissimple
Melody Singer: @complexissimple
Harmonizer 1: @didi_bergman
Harmonizer 2: @eargoggle
Harmonizer 3: @kendrakinsey
Stitcher: @beacon

@beacon 8w

@charliecheney Great. I'll put you in as lyricists for Song #3. We start on February 1st!

Just a note for lyricists (@nancycunning, @kahlo2013 , and I'm pretty sure that @cindyrella is also interested), its best for harmonizing to have shorter, punchier lanes, with a consistent rhyme scheme and a rousing chorus. Bridges can sometimes work, but for our purpose, I'd defer them to your other projects.

Anyone else interested? We need more people for Song #4!

@complexissimple 7w

I'd like to participate, but my recording setup is so stripped back at this point that I can't listen and record at the same time. But I could do melody, if people don't mind that the BPM doesn't follow a click track?

@kahlo2013 If the song you wrote the lyrics for was the "Perfect Evening" one, I have an e-mail chain I can forward you with a melody and one harmony part. I don't think it ever got further than that.

@complexissimple 7w

@beacon, @kahlo2013 I feel like I missed part of this conversation. To be clear, what we are doing is taking the bits from the song from 50/90 and continuing from there, right? If so, then I wrote and sang the melody (and it does have the no-click-track issue I mentioned), and I'm pretty sure the harmony part is @didi_bergman. Who all should I forward it to?

Also, I don't think Didi sent me their track in isolation, just the two combined, so if you need that you'll have to get it from them directly.

@beacon 7w

@complexissimple If we do this, it would need to be listed as a separate song, and I was looking to see if I could combine groups, as we already have 7 total songs booked up and starting on the 8th, and I didn't want to have to stretch it too thin, but as this one is already halfway done, I'll include it and see if we can get other people to fill in the spots.

@mariekevinkmusic, should I add you onto this one, as there aren't any other people on Song 7 yet other than the lyricist?

@beacon 7w

Hello all! Tomorrow's the day we've been waiting for!

Here're some notes and suggestions as we move forward:

1. Lyricists ( @kahlo2013 , @nancycunning, @charliecheney, @jorh, @kristi, @cindyrella, @daveescoffery), we're all really dependent on you to start this process. We've got 28 days and a lot of songs to get through, so if you can prioritize to get your lyrics done in the first few days, that will really help your fellow songwriters on your team.

2. Melody Writers ( @cleanshoes @fearlessflight2014 @metalfoot @rwhosings @loveonamixtape @nateger ), be in contact with your lyric writer so you know when you're going to get the lyrics so you can be ready to crank out your melodies!

3. Song Writing Teams (that's all of you!): Be in contact with each other so you agree upon what formats you're going to record in, who is getting the files sent to them, who's stitching (some groups don't *yet* have a designated stitcher!), and maybe if people have a certain style they want to do. Last year's songs were both in the folk genre, but that's because I wrote them and that's in my wheelhouse.

4. Remember to post when finished with the #harmonies and #harmonychallenge tags, and make sure everyone on your team is credited.

5. Now, it's bound to happen that someone gets sick, has a family emergency, etc. and can't do their part. I'll try to help to get replacements if needed, if I can. It's helpful if you tag me in a post so it gets my attention. If you can fix it all amongst yourselves and don't have to involve me, so much the better!

6. We still need people to fill in Songs 7 & 8, so if you have friends or want to do double duty yourself, post here.

Lastly, thank you all for jumping on this challenge. Harmony singing is a deep love of mine, and I'm glad to find other FAWMers to join me in it!

@fearlessflight2014 7w

For the harmonisers on the Song #2 team - Harmonizer 1: @darcistrutt
Harmonizer 2: @sorby69
Harmonizer 3: @sandicove2015
Nancy and I are already at work, and I’m happy to stitch together the final result as I will have the project set up to record my melody. Just a heads up that I record in 44.1 so if you don’t know what sample rate your DAW is set at just send me a high quality MP3. We are going with a garden theme!

@caitlin 7w

@daveescoffery I would be delighted! Since your lyrics are so powerfully autobiographical, might I suggest that you take a stab at the melody writing/singing? As for finding a third harmonizer and a stitcher, I’m making a wee shout out to my pals @katestantonsings and @ampersandman. Would you two be interested in participating with us? :)

Song #7:
Lyricist: @daveescoffery
Melody Writer: @daveescoffery
Melody Singer: @daveescoffery
Harmonizer 1: @mariekevinkmusic
Harmonizer 2: @caitlin
Harmonizer 3:
Stitcher:

@complexissimple 6w

This thing is driving me crazy. It is not fun to spend your FAWM coordinating and explaining a challenge that you don't even really get to participate in. I'm sure we'll figure out our communication issues eventually, but I gotta take a break and maybe do some actual songwriting.

@ohdeer I know you don't have all the info that you need yet, I will make sure you get it, it just might be another day or two because I can't think about this any more right now.

@kahlo2013, @didi_bergman It might be helpful if you can contact @ohdeer directly to make sure they have access to your contributions.

@beacon, is there some way you can make it clear at the top of the thread that this is for a capella harmonies, and there is no instrumental backing track? People keep asking me that.

@beacon 6w

@ohdeer I don't have you down as working on any particular song. What do you think you are working on?

Song 8 Group: (which is @kahlo2013 @complexissimple @mariekevinkmusic @didi_bergman and @antlion) from what I understand, this is a song that was started in 50/90, so the lyrics, melody, and (I believe) first harmony were already completed. All the needed to be done is that @mariekevinkmusic and @antlion needed to add their harmonies, and whoever it was decided to be the stitcher among the group (I didn't have anyone specific listed) would get the original sound files from last year, and the two new one and put them together and publish. Someone please tell me if I'm missing something.

And, yes, the whole point of this challenge is it is all a capella. There is no musical track, just like if someone started singing in a pub and everyone joined in with harmonies.

@beacon 6w

Okay gang. Here're the adjustments (Check the first note in this thread for lineups of participants):

Song 7: check out the new lineup
Song 8: We're down to the people who already did the work in 50/90. If we can get others to join up, we will, so @complexissimple and @didi_bergman just hold on to the files, and I'll let you know who to send it to, or to take it off your back, just send the file to me (music@kenmattsson.com) and I can forward it to the others and take it off your plate.

@beacon 6w

@yewnorker Thanks for the offer! Right now I'm trying to fix up some of the other songs.

@kendrakinsey and @eargoggle: I can add you now onto Song 8 as harmonizers. I have the files and will send them to you. I got all the files, and I'll plan on being the stitcher for that song, so don't bother @didi_bergman @complexissimple or @kahlo2013 as they've done all their work.

Glad to see all the song groups working together. Let me know if there are issues.

@rowanb 6w

@downburst @deadhead @rwhosings @jorh I’m really nervous about this now, especially going last! I’ve never done anything like this before. Any chance I could hear a sneak preview of the initial song now? Or is that cheating?
If okay can you send it to rowanbartram@yahoo.co.uk please?

Also what does it mean by send links instead of files?
I’m recording using my phone (with the track playing on headphones from a separate device). I think that creates an mp4 file. Is that going to be suitable? Does the ‘stitcher’ then mix all the layers/different parts together?
Just trying to make sure I understand what I need to do. I don’t have the technology to do anything complicated.
Thanks

@deadhead 6w

@rowanb
For sending links instead of files - this is largely since wav files are often bigger than the max file size allowed by most email servers. Even mp3 files can hit that limit. If you're using something like gmail, it will often auto-turn files into links by storing them in your google drive, but it still looks like you're sending a file. I'd recommend just trying to send it to me how you'd normally send files around, and if it doesn't work, we'll work it out when we get there!

For wav vs mp3, if you're looking at releasing an album, you need high quality wav files to make sure you have good recording quality, and that you don't introduce weird artifacts by converting between formats, adding effects, making final renders, etc. However... we ain't professionals releasing an album here, so as long as there's no noticeable sound quality issues, I'll make it work. For mp4 files, you'll probably have a quality slider or option, it might be called bitrate, or similar. If you do, then just turn that up high, and if not, I'll do my best to get it all sounding nice at the end.

For the sneak peak, I personally don't care, but it can be fun to be surprised by the end. The main issue with a sneak peak, is that just the melody can have many different styles of harmonies added, and not all of them work together. So the risk with having a sneak peak is you start to plan your harmony, just for it to not work at all by the time your part comes up!! Having listened to some of your songs, you have a good sense of pitch and rhythm, so you'll be just fine if you wait! But can send it along if you want. Though I'd also want to make sure that doesn't ruin it for the other members as well 🙂

@beacon 5w

Just wanted to say that I've been getting a few emails with people asking me what to do, so I figured I'd mention some things about each of the role, and sort of how it functions in the whole scheme of things here.

Melody Writer: Your setting the tone for the song, and what kind of style it is. You are effectively the person getting up at the Pub to start the singing of this song and function as the leader.

Harmonizer 1: You're creating the duet. You have sort of free range about what kind of duet it's going to be, and how you want to play off of each other.

Harmonizer 2: You're really setting the chordal structure, as you need three notes to make a chord. Depending on what note you sing, it could be a major or minor chord, or even some more passing tones, etc. Before you step in, it's only a melody without any harmonic structure at all.

Harmonizer 3: You're going to see how you could add some spice, either by layering a unison to some of the other notes sung, or by adding some crunchy bits like sevenths or dissonant tones (not mandatory!). Does it need a low bass or a high descant? What's missing that you could fill in.

Stitcher: You get to balance this all out, and do your arranging magic.

Hope this makes sense and helps some people.

@katestantonsings 5w

Hey friends! The last two nights I sat at my DAW to sing and not only does my throat hurt, but my vocal cracks and I didn't feel comfortable. I'm sorry!! I have Carley & Metalfoot's parts. Please advise @beacon. I hope everyone has plenty of time to finish up before the month. @caitlin would you be interested in filling in for me? <3
Song #3:
Lyricist: @charliecheney
Melody Writer: @metalfoot
Melody Singer: @metalfoot
Harmonizer 1: @katestantonsings
Harmonizer 2: @carleybaer
Harmonizer 3: @beacon
Stitcher: @beacon

@beacon 5w

So, I'm trying to be a good organizer, and keep track of where each of these songs are in the process. I've updated the note at the top which lists each of the songs and I've notated with <<<--- where I can see the song is right now. Can people just confirm if I've got it right, and let me know if there are any issues?

Song 1: @tjeff is doing the Harmonizer 3 role and will pass it off to @cleanshoes
Song 2: Waiting on @sandicove2015 to either complete Harmonizer 3 or call "Uncle" and we'll add someone else ( @fearlessflight2014 let me know if you need me to call in reserves!)
Song 3: It's @beacon going to add harmony while @katestantonsings recovers her voice hopefully next week.
Song 4: @rowanb has it in the Harmonizer 2 spot to hand off to @emkaydeebee
Song 5: @florianhoffmann is doing the Harmonizer 3 spot and will be stitching
Song 6: Our 1st finisher at https://write.fawm.org/songs/17407
Song 7: Not sure where this song stands. Any news @ampersandman @caitlin @ohdeer @daveescoffery ?
Song 8: @kendrakinsey has it as Harmonizer 2 and will hand it off to @beacon for final harmonies and stitching.

Overall, we're doing pretty well for such a lot of songs with many moving parts! If you're struggling, reach out to your co-song people, and I'll try to help too!

@florianhoffmann 5w

@beacon Perfect! And thanks a lot for the update. 😊 Yeah, song 5 has reached its last participant with me and I'm preparing the final harmony and will stitch things together.

Just to confirm, Ken, since I am doing this for the first time. No serious mixing, right? We want this acapella harmony style? Is it okay to apply some standards to clean up and bind them together with the right presence? I mean compressor, equalizer, de-esser, reverb, and maybe delay.

@beacon 3w

@deadhead What an amazing song, and so different from anything else. Congrats to the Song 4 crew!

We're getting down to the wire, gang! 3 songs in and 5 to go! Especially if you are up for adding your part and your feeling overwhelmed (it happens, it's the end of FAWM!) just raise your hand and say "not me now" and others on your team will pick up the slack. Someone else can add a second harmony, or stitch it together for you.

Here's what I have for the rest of the songs:

Song 1: @tjeff finishing the last harmony and handing off to @cleanshoes for stitching
Song 2: @erbaer stepping is as a pinch hitter for Harmony 3 and handing off to @fearlessflight2014 for stitching
Song 3: @katestantonsings is getting her voice back and will hand off to @beacon for final harmonies and stitching.
Song 4: Done! https://write.fawm.org/songs/21441
Song 5: Done! https://write.fawm.org/songs/21004
Song 6: Done! https://write.fawm.org/songs/17407
Song 7: @ohdeer @caitlin and @ampersandman are in the mix of finishing up. Let us know if you need help!
Song 8: @kendrakinsey has the last harmony for @beacon to finish up with stitching

We're doing great and coming down to the last stretch!

@beacon 3w

So gang, I've been amazed at the songs that have been put together so far (and I'm sure the ones coming up will be just as amazing). I'm wondering how participants feel about putting them all together as a recording on Bandcamp as a compilation album. I am willing to but this together, but wouldn't do it if I didn't have the support of everyone here. I just think it could be a great thing to show off the amazing singers here and the variety of a capella music. Let me know your thoughts.

@beacon 3w

@complexissimple @charliecheney @nwhosings @darcistrutt Thanks for your initial thoughts.

I would probably make the album a "choose your price, where free is a fine price" option, and we could make what proceeds come through go to some charity. A favorite one of mine is the Ukulele Kids Club, which provides ukuleles and music therapy to children who are in long-term hospital treatment. https://theukc.org/. I'm certainly not wed to that.

Granted, this is getting a bit ahead of ourselves, as I would first want to make sure that everyone would be okay with it.

@beacon 3w

Hello all, As I'd like to make sure I get everyone's okay if I'm to release the 2023 Harmony Singers Challenge songs on a Bandcamp EP, I've come up with a release form on Google Forms for people to fill out, including giving their okay for me to do this, letting me know your contact information so that I can give you credit, and giving you some say in where any proceeds from donations should go. If you could please go to https://forms.gle/RxuNivmnhjXvzWy99 and fill out the form, that would be so helpful. We know that we don't see everyone after March 1st, so I'd love it if you could do it as soon as possible so I don't have to chase people down.

I will only include songs that I get releases from every member of the project.
@kahlo2013 @cleanshoes @tan482 @kcflowers @tjeff @nancycunning @fearlessflight2014 @darcistrutt @sorby69 @erbaer @charliecheney @metalfoot @carleybaer @katestantonsings @beacon @jorh @rwhosings @deadhead @rowanb @emkaydeebee @kristi @loveonamixtape @sjbatavia @emkaydeebee @florianhoffmann @cindyrella @nateger @reklov @debs @tezzin @daveescoffery @ohdeer @caitlin @ampersandman @kahlo2013 @complexissimple @didi_bergman @eargoggle @kendrakinsey

@beacon 3w

Stitchers for those Harmony Singers Challenge Songs that haven't yet been posted ( @fearlessflight2014 @cleanshoes @ampersandman ), I would suggest that if you're waiting for someone to finish their part, give them a deadline for the end of the day and put together what you can to post it by Tuesday. You can even add in a second harmony part yourself (or someone else) if you want. Let's just get them all over the finish line and done, so we don't have anything hanging. Remember, a harmony can be just two singers!

@fearlessflight2014 3w

@erbaer I haven’t heard back from you so I’m going to mix and post the song on Monday if I haven’t got anything from you. I have other restrictions this week and my FAWMing is almost over.

@beacon - re. Bandcamp release idea: I’d like to keep Song 2 inside FAWM only like all my other collabs. Sorry guys but I’m making that clear now to save @nancycunning, @darcistrutt and @sorby69 from filling out release forms unnecessarily!

@beacon 3w

I'm repeating this hoping to get a few more people to sign the release form re: a Bandcamp release:

As I'd like to make sure I get everyone's okay if I'm to release the 2023 Harmony Singers Challenge songs on a Bandcamp EP, I've come up with a release form on Google Forms for people to fill out, including giving their okay for me to do this, letting me know your contact information so that I can give you credit, and giving you some say in where any proceeds from donations should go. If you could please go to https://forms.gle/RxuNivmnhjXvzWy99 and fill out the form, that would be so helpful. We know that we don't see everyone after March 1st, so I'd love it if you could do it as soon as possible so I don't have to chase people down.

I will only include songs that I get releases from every member of the project.
@kahlo2013 @cleanshoes @tan482 @kcflowers @tjeff @nancycunning @fearlessflight2014 @darcistrutt @sorby69 @erbaer @charliecheney @metalfoot @carleybaer @katestantonsings @beacon @jorh @rwhosings @deadhead @rowanb @emkaydeebee @kristi @loveonamixtape @sjbatavia @emkaydeebee @florianhoffmann @cindyrella @nateger @reklov @debs @tezzin @daveescoffery @ohdeer @caitlin @ampersandman @kahlo2013 @complexissimple @didi_bergman @eargoggle @kendrakinsey

@tezzin 3w

Also signed. I'd be happy to see it, assuming the rest of the song 6 team signs off.

@beacon I've been asked by @debs to substitute in some different takes of her lines into the final mix and I'm going to do that but I can't change the file on Soundcloud without losing all the like and comments. I'm assuming you'll need the wav file directly when it's done, yes? In which case a revised mix is no problem. Again assuming everyone signs off.

Remaining team members - @cindyrella @nateger @reklov - if you all are on board with Ken's Bandcamp release plan, would you mind a revised mix (in addition to the change requested by debs)? By which I largely mean to tighten up some things, mainly in the realm of EQ, compression, panning across the stereo field, that kind of thing. I'm really proud of what we did, regardless!

@beacon 2w

Hello all! Many people have signed (thank you!) but we still have a number of people who haven't. So I don't have to chase down people, I'd really appreciate it is you could just go and give your release (or at least fill it out and let me know you're not giving a release for your work). https://forms.gle/REFS2ZjgUs2gD7sN8

So far, it looks like the most popular answer is for any proceeds to be given to the FAWM team for their great work in hosting all of us.

@beacon 2w

Update on the EP:

Thanks to all who have filled out the release form. I have been looking over the people who have signed and wanted to give an update and request for some help. (Granted, I know that many people might not be on FAWM right now, but wanted to at least post it hear before I need to go hunt down people.)

Here's the current status:

Song 1: Need @kcflowers and @tjeff to sign release
Song 2: Already know that this will not be released
Song 3: Need @charliecheney to sign release
Song 4: Complete!
Song 5: Complete!
Song 6: Need @nateger to sign release
Song 7: Need @daveescoffery to sign release
Song 8: Need @complexissimple to sign release

You can all sign it at https://forms.gle/foGzkCxyxmg5QDgc9

I will need the stitchers ( @cleanshoes @deadhead @florianhoffmann @tezzin and @ampersandman ) to send me your final tracks, and I'd appreciate it if you could also send me the individual tracks in addition to the final combined audio in case I need to do some tweaking to make it all consistent in the mastering.

Looks like we should be able to get about 5-6 of them together for a nice little release. The choice of the group for any money donated was for it to be sent to FAWM, which is I think a lovely gift back to this community.

If anyone wishes to be helpful in any way in getting this together, please speak up. My email is on my profile.

Thanks all so much!

Harmony Singers Challenge

New to FAWM?

Recent Discussions...