SO EXCITED.....

Ok.

Not to sound like a COMPLETE jackass?

but...

I just recorded/arranged/almost finished except for the acoustic cello and violin parts...

the COOLEST rendition of a traditional civil war song E-ver.

Four part harmony, based on an awesome arrangement by Goodspeed's Michael O'Flaherty where we did the new musical BATTLE CRY OF FREEDOM ...

with piano, cello and violin...

i...

am....

SO pleased.

can't WAIT to get the girls over to record the cello and violin and send it off to be mixed.

it's like CHRISTMAS ....

no wait..

it's even better..

it's like HALLOWEEN!!!!!!

GGGAAHHHHHHH!!!!!

ok

more soon.

have to run...

but just wanted to sharesies.

wheee!

music is FUN!

and...

vegetables are good for you!

but...

aren't nearly as fun as music!

wheee!

Now.

please to enjoy Alice Ripley's version of the 'Peppermint Twist'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAy392PU5Tc

xo

dl

THANK YOU KEN AND DAVID!!

Two more new 'angels'-

david anderson and ken werther.

you guys friggin' ROCK!!!

;-)

xo

dl

ps

another song in the can tonight...

will catch up soon with the posts on the music, i promise.

just so EXCITED about MAKING the music!

whee!

"OLD FRIENDS"

THE CD OFFICIALLY HAS A TITLE...

It's called "Old Friends".

I've decided to name it "Old Friends" because as I'm working on these songs I'm realizing that the connecting tissue between all these tunes is that I have personally turned to them at some point in my life and cathartically listened to them over and over and over.

These songs have, in one way or another...

saved  me.

So...

they are much more than just songs to me...

they are, not to sound like a complete crunch bag but....

they are a part of my soul because they've all in one way or another...

put it back together again when it was broken.

So.

Old Friends it is.

It works.

It's accurate.

And it really encapsulates the true "feel" not only of the CD itself but..

why i wanted to share these songs with other people.

I think maybe somewhere deep inside, i hope that when someone needs that sort of catharsis that only music can bring...

they might put in my CD and find the comfort that I've found myself in these songs.

The thought of helping someone out like that-

someone i may know-

or someone that i may have never even met...

it's beyond humbling.

and immensely fucking cool.

Ok dolls.

Gotta get back to work.

I'm more ahead on the music than the blog shows but i'll catch up soon...

but gotta ride the creative wave, ya know what i'm sayin'?

;-)

Hoping you're all enjoying the turning of the seasons!

The leaves are starting to change in front of my window...

it's the magical time of year!!!

(Oh yeah...Christmas can totes suck it).

Halloween RULES!

xo

dl

THANK YOU NEW ANGELS!!!

Our newest angels:

Mr. Julian Rad- $50

Ms. Rebecca Van Dusen- $50

"Sweeney Todd Alumn"- $100

ENDLESS GRATITUDE and many thanks to you!!!!

xo

dl

HOW TO DONATE (OFFICIALLY)!!!

Many of you have asked for specifics about making a donation to the 'Cause Of Making The CD' (BLESS you). 

While I am maintaining my pledge to make, create and produce my CD for under $1000- I have decided to accept donations for a PR/Marketing Fund for the CD's promotional purposes once it's finished.

For every donation of $50 or more you get:

A public thank you on the blog (unless you wish to remain anonymous)

A public thank you in the CD liner notes (unless you wish to remain anonymous)

An autographed CD (please know that this was someone else's idea and modestly...not mine)

An invitation to the CD Release Party at The Beechman Theatre (date and time- TBA)

If you would like to become an "Angel" and donate to the PR budget of this CD please go to:

http:/ /www.donnalynnechamplin.com/buycd.html 

Scroll down the page.

Click on the "Donate" button and it will send you to PAYPAL where you can make your donation securely-

You will receive a receipt through PAYPAL for your transaction. 

Again-

i am BEYOND thrilled and humbled that so many of you wish to support me in this endeavor in SO MANY ways.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

xoxo,

dl 

EXPLANATION OF THE TOOTHBRUSH

Yes.

Some of you have commented on my holding a toothbrush in the previous photo of my fabulous bathroom/studio. The use of the toothbrush is actually a marvelous recording trick which I will now share with you all.

If you're a breathy/"plosive" singer like myself, there's no 'pop screen' in the world that will keep you from popping the mike on your p's, t's and in some cases h's and f's. Also being more of a theatrical singer I tend to really dig into my consonants and breathe into my vowels for dramatic effect. Great onstage....not so great in the studio.

So.

In addition to the 'pop screen', you can hold a toothbrush (or a pencil, or even your finger) in front of you and the mike. It dissapates the breath and gets rid of the 'pop' that will always ruin the best take you've done all day.

See....

ya'll just thought I was cray cray didn't ya!

nope.

well, not this time anyway.

more soon....

xo

dl

NEW MICROPHONE

So.....

I ordered this fancy ass USB microphone (Samson CO1U USB Condenser Mic) that goes right into the computer?  Here's the thing....

The GOOD news...is that it's so fucking awesome of a microphone that it picks up literally...

shit from space. 

I'm not kidding. 

I'm hearing stuff on here that...

I can't even remotely hear with my ears...

and ask anyone who's ever dated me or lived with me...

i have sonar hearing. I can hear a kid crying three buildings away. 

So...for this microphone to be picking up stuff I can't hear? 

That. 

Is. 

A. 

Mazing.

Now the BAD news....is that it's so fucking awesome of a microphone that it picks up literally...

SHIT FROM SPACE!!!!!

I am going out of my MIND with this thing.

It's making me CRAZY.

And, noo... 

i am NOT going to tell you all the things specifically that are making me crazy with it because chances are I'm just being incredibly over sensitive to it...

and if i tell you...

and then you listen to the CD....

you will automatically be over sensitive to it too...

which you probably wouldn't have been if i hadn't called your attention to it....

and then that's not gonna be good for anyone.

I've tried using my crappier microphone-

which is 'cleaner' but....very hollow sounding.

i'm finding i like it for the instruments but...not for the vocals.

I even accidentally thought I had my mike plugged in and recorded just via the computer's microphone. Again, some things i liked about it...some things definitely not. So...the USB mike is the way to go...i just HAVE to figure a way around some issues with it.

My awesome sound mix master extraordinaire Jay Atwood (www.jayatwood.com) has sent me many suggestions such as covering my computer, unplugging my fridge, putting comforters up on the windows, maybe even going into a closet, etc, etc, etc....

personally i prefer rocking back and forth in a fetal position.

But ya know, that's me.

cause i'm a professional.

I even sent him a MICROPHONE PEPSI CHALLENGE-

where I recorded on both mikes-

and he tewtally called which was the better microphone so....

i'm just being retarded, basically.

I think i may have finally found somewhat of a solution, however...

the bathroom.

Nice ring, small space, can buffer stuff with towels (handily, already in there), complete with door. Here. Please to enjoy the finest things that a budget of a piece of straw and a used napkin can bring:

So.

I have a work station in the main part of my studio...

and now i have a station in the bathroom.

At least one part of where i work is actually called a studio.

bless.

xo

dl