Post by ©KAJAMANIA Board Team (Slim K) on Feb 26, 2004 17:50:02 GMT -5
hi Kajamaniac's,
this is Limahl on his last release 'Love That Lasts' !!!
(Release Date:9th September 2002 in Germany)
"I was approched by Harry & Uli ('Disco Brothers') at the end of last year about appearing as a guest vocalist on their upcoming album of retro artistes and after the deal was worked out we met briefly in London (while they were here working with Bananarama).
They played me some of the other songs from the album which were nearly ready and it seemed to me there was a perfect slot for a pop/dance tune in the style of 'Cher' or 'Kylie'.
They gave me a CD of a backing track/idea they'd put together but after hearing it a couple of times and discussing it with them, we all decided we weren't sure about it.
They went back to their studio in Germany and a couple of weeks later (this is where todays technology came in useful)......they e mailed me an 'MP3 file' of the new backing track and I really liked the flavour.
I worked on the melody and lyrics and met them in a Notting Hill studio (London) on the day of the scheduled vocal recording......on reflection, it was very risky because it would be the first time they would actually hear my lyrics and melodies......thankfully they liked them.
However, they played me their melody ideas too and on hearing their chorus idea I knew instantly that it was stronger, so we worked on the lyrics to fit in with the new melody and......hey presto !!
I realised a long time ago that you can't please everybody......and I noticed already in the website guestbook 'Sandra' from Denmark has written "where is the old Limahl" !!!!
The old Limahl is here but time and people do not stand still......it all felt right for me on THIS project......not every track I do from now on will be pop/dance......this is merely one creative collaboration which I hope continues to show my performance/writing contrasts.
Finally, we had a big debate about whether or not to use the special vocoder effect on the voice in the chorus and I must stress this was not a marketing effort to sound trendy or something......I like the effect when used interestingly in some of todays music and when we listened to it with and without the effect, we all felt overwelmingly that it suited the track......as simple as that.
A creative decision taken on the spare of the moment......that's one of the fun things about working in the studio......let's try this......lets try that......ooh that sounds great......or whatever.
Technology has progressed at an alarming rate in the studio and from my point of view, its exciting to embrace it and use it......thats exactly what we did with Kajagoogoo's early demos and recordings......we bought all the latest synthesisers and used the BRAND NEW sounds.....it was the latest technology of its day and it worked......so why should I change the habit of a lifetime......I'd be pretty invalid creatively if I only stuck to the 'old'.
So......its an honest record, we all worked hard on making a pop/dance tune with a European flavour and I think we acheived it......enjoy......and perhaps escape briefly to that little place we all go to when we're under music's magical spell ;--))"
Harry's latest news & comments on it:
"Hi to all, I was one of the producers (discobrothers) who produced Limahls last year´s single "Love that lasts"! We are trying to rerelease it because Limahl asked us to do so... In the meantime we are rereleasing the discobrothers Album with a few songs added - INCLUDING LIMAHL´s SONG "LOVE THAT LASTS" on the album!"
www.comebackstars.de
I keep voting - you all should too! :-)
[at the "Comeback - die große Chance" Show on Pro7 every monday evening!!!]
keep checkin' KAJAMANIA!!!
peace & love
SLIM K
this is Limahl on his last release 'Love That Lasts' !!!
(Release Date:9th September 2002 in Germany)
"I was approched by Harry & Uli ('Disco Brothers') at the end of last year about appearing as a guest vocalist on their upcoming album of retro artistes and after the deal was worked out we met briefly in London (while they were here working with Bananarama).
They played me some of the other songs from the album which were nearly ready and it seemed to me there was a perfect slot for a pop/dance tune in the style of 'Cher' or 'Kylie'.
They gave me a CD of a backing track/idea they'd put together but after hearing it a couple of times and discussing it with them, we all decided we weren't sure about it.
They went back to their studio in Germany and a couple of weeks later (this is where todays technology came in useful)......they e mailed me an 'MP3 file' of the new backing track and I really liked the flavour.
I worked on the melody and lyrics and met them in a Notting Hill studio (London) on the day of the scheduled vocal recording......on reflection, it was very risky because it would be the first time they would actually hear my lyrics and melodies......thankfully they liked them.
However, they played me their melody ideas too and on hearing their chorus idea I knew instantly that it was stronger, so we worked on the lyrics to fit in with the new melody and......hey presto !!
I realised a long time ago that you can't please everybody......and I noticed already in the website guestbook 'Sandra' from Denmark has written "where is the old Limahl" !!!!
The old Limahl is here but time and people do not stand still......it all felt right for me on THIS project......not every track I do from now on will be pop/dance......this is merely one creative collaboration which I hope continues to show my performance/writing contrasts.
Finally, we had a big debate about whether or not to use the special vocoder effect on the voice in the chorus and I must stress this was not a marketing effort to sound trendy or something......I like the effect when used interestingly in some of todays music and when we listened to it with and without the effect, we all felt overwelmingly that it suited the track......as simple as that.
A creative decision taken on the spare of the moment......that's one of the fun things about working in the studio......let's try this......lets try that......ooh that sounds great......or whatever.
Technology has progressed at an alarming rate in the studio and from my point of view, its exciting to embrace it and use it......thats exactly what we did with Kajagoogoo's early demos and recordings......we bought all the latest synthesisers and used the BRAND NEW sounds.....it was the latest technology of its day and it worked......so why should I change the habit of a lifetime......I'd be pretty invalid creatively if I only stuck to the 'old'.
So......its an honest record, we all worked hard on making a pop/dance tune with a European flavour and I think we acheived it......enjoy......and perhaps escape briefly to that little place we all go to when we're under music's magical spell ;--))"
Harry's latest news & comments on it:
"Hi to all, I was one of the producers (discobrothers) who produced Limahls last year´s single "Love that lasts"! We are trying to rerelease it because Limahl asked us to do so... In the meantime we are rereleasing the discobrothers Album with a few songs added - INCLUDING LIMAHL´s SONG "LOVE THAT LASTS" on the album!"
www.comebackstars.de
I keep voting - you all should too! :-)
[at the "Comeback - die große Chance" Show on Pro7 every monday evening!!!]
keep checkin' KAJAMANIA!!!
peace & love
SLIM K
