a simple one-track recording after a couple beers.
once again, turn it up :)

Her Soul's Apocalypse (2013)

I don't normally listen to Rhianna, but I found this was easily in my vocal range, so I did an acoustic cover. Enjoy!

Lesson learned: Practice playing the guitar and singing at the same time. Not all songs will have a simple rhythm. Learn to listen to your voice and the guitar with separate ears. You've played piano before, you can do two different things with both hands, now try that method with your strumming patterns & vocals. Practice, practice, practice. 

Stay - Rhianna (cover)

A total gem off their new album, I love to blare this song late at night when I'm driving.

Not totally happy with this recording, I could probably do better live - just can't seem to slow it down enough. I tend to get really excited about a recording, and maybe that just naturally speeds up my tempo. Must work on that... 

Or maybe I just had too much coffee. That also happens.

Lesson Learned: Calm the fuck down and try the slower tempo another day.

Flesh and Bone - Current Swell (cover)

Apparently I get better with more wine. I tried this recording for days, weeks almost, and I could never get it right until now. Yay!

Lesson learned: Stop trying so hard. If you're trying to do a recording for several hours and it's just not happening, then it's just not happening. Let it go. Sit on it for a while. Give it a few days, maybe a week. When you've stopped thinking about it so much, then try again - it always seems to work better when it comes out of nowhere.

Jolene - Ray Lamontagne (cover)

For the first time in my recording history (about 10 years?) I was happy with the very first take! YAY! That's a huge accomplishment for me! 
...Either that or I'm more accepting of my screw-ups, whichever way, I'm pretty happy right now :) and my haggard little "solo" at the end hahha

Lesson learned: You're too hard on yourself. Love your flaws. Most people might not even notice them, anyways. Stop being a perfectionist and just let it be.

Heart - Stars (cover)

This song has been consuming me for several months now. I had to learn it. My recording isn't perfect - I screwed up some lyrics and I didn't even nail my favourite part to sing, but whatever. Maybe it's better this way, more true, more raw. Hope you like it!

Lesson Learned: Once again, stop being such a perfectionist. A recording is never going to be as good as real life. You can try, and try and try, to make it just so - but it will never be. You cannot re-create real life in a recording, so just be happy with what you can give. 

3am - Gregory Alan Isakov (cover)

I've been trying to mimic voices for as long as I can remember, even before I started singing. I try to find vocals that truly test me, and damned if Hozier didn't do that. I am still floored by his voice and it was a challenge to try and sing this song, but I did it. A few screw-ups here and there, plus I totally fucked up the ending so I had to fade it fast. Well, here's to my one and only recording of 2016. 

Lesson Learned: keep everything. don't record over anything. It could just be the first and original take that you're happiest with in the end, even if it's not perfect. Sometimes you try, and try and try again, but nothing beats that first true and raw recording.

2016

Work Song (Hozier cover)

Had a few glasses of wine and nobody else will harmonize with me, so I did this myself. Clapping done with my very own two hands.

All My Lovin - The Beatles cover

Four Naked Seasons (2010)

a recording from Toronto life in 2008.
This was the song that showed me how moving music can be. I came home to my partner who was nearly in tears - he had been listening to this recording over and over and over again. He said it was such a haunting song and one certain part at the very end made him really sad. It amazed me, and kind of gave me a whole new appreciation about how fragile we are with each other, and the effect we have on others when we bare our soul in the form of art. It's a powerful thing, the music...

Autumn's Monologue - From Autumn To Ashes (cover)

Another song I wrote while living in Ottawa

The Only Love We Know (2011)

an old song from high school, written by myself and Tony Pilon. First recording ever!

We Like The Conversation  (2006)

another high school song, just haven't re-recorded it since.

Should I Be Sitting Down For This (2006)

a very rough and quiet recording of my new favorite song to cover.. by Paramore
(this is the first song I've recorded on Garage Band, I try not to, but all my equipment is in Ontario still!) 

The Only Exception - Paramore (cover)

A quick Friday afternoon recording. Not sure if these are the right chords, there's nothing online so I just learned from watching & listening. Hopefully it sounds ok :)

Devastating - Hawksley Workman (cover)

Turn it up, this is a pretty quiet recording!~ a different way of singing the classic song.

Lesson learned: If the song doesn't sound right when you're trying to play it properly, but you're still super determined, put your own spin on things. The best covers usually sound totally different than the original. 

If You Could Read My Mind - Gordon Lightfoot (cover)

A new song, it really needed a beat... so I threw some sounds together with my keyboard.

Also, this song is waiting to be re-recorded with my bud Jesse, rockin' his mad piano skills! 

Brother Of Mine (2012)

One of my favourite Iron & Wine songs, so beautiful.

Lesson Learned: just breathe. 

Each Coming Night - Iron and Wine (cover)

A timeless Elliott Smith song, one of my favorites. So haunting.

Between The Bars - Elliott Smith (cover)

For some reason, my keyboard didn't turn on today :( I was really looking forward to playing some piano track for the chorus, but no such luck. 

I feel I could have done this whole recording better... more volume in the vocals.. we just moved into a basement suite and I didn't want to bother / wake up the new neighbours upstairs! 

Lesson learned: Don't be afraid to write about the truth anymore. You can get away with putting your heart on the line if you disguise it good enough. 

The Quiet (2013)

Step 1 to Losing Your Shit: Know Your Surroundings.
Step 2: Forget Your Surroundings.

Jill Beale

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