Dear Dude,

I recently joined a metal band.  We are pretty talented, have had good feedback from people, and serious about our music.  In a few weeks we are going to record a demo and will be starting to play shows soon.  My question is how do you create things like a band logo and album art? We have a MySpace but we do not know what to use as our logo and we want a cover so we need art.  I don’t even know where to turn too for this.  Advice?

Thank you,

The Art of Choosing Art

Dear Art of Choosing Art,

Album art, MySpace / website art, band logos, T-Shirt art, and well all things concerning the visual impression of your band can be nothing less then a pain in the ass. As musicians we are not always artists mastered in the visual form. This sucks, especially because the overall first impression of your band is tied into the way your logo and album art looks. How bands operate regarding all things visual art related can be very different from band to band. There is no “one” way to handle the band-art necessity, but to get you started here are a few things I have learned along the way.

The “In Band” Artist: Although, I personally have no real visual art skills this is not true for all band members. In fact many bands that I have toured and worked with have one or two artistically inclined members. This scenario may be best. Why? Well, it’s free. Most good designers cost money and trying to find the cash to pay someone to layout your demo, website, or MySpace, as well as fund all the other things a starting band needs can really suck. So having an “In Band” designer or artist can really save money and move things a lot faster. Not to mention it may also help your band to develop a more distinguishable look. Converge, Baroness, and Isis are just a few of the many successful bands who have one member who designs most of look of their band. Finely, having a member involved with creation, design, and implementation means that there is a much more direct (and hopefully) clearer line of communication between band and designer. This is crucial in making sure the band gets what they want out of the artist. From T - shirts to websites, album covers to computer wallpaper having an artist in the fold that has a distinct visual direction (the other members like) is almost always helpful. The few bands I have played in that have had an “In Band” artist always have a much easier and rewarding time putting together ANYTHING visual.

Ok so what about the rest of us? You know the bands that have no one with an understanding of visual art. Well just because the “In Band” artist is cheaper and easier it doesn’t mean you will always get great art or art the whole band likes. Using an outside artist does give you a chance to think outside the box, see many different ideas for the same project, try different looks for different records, and adapt or change band looks much faster. 

But where do we find these artists? Well before the beautiful Internet we used to do a thing called credit hunting. Much like writing a record you have to know what your influences are. So “Credit Hunting” is when you look through the jackets of all your CDs and Records (preferable the ones that have a cover or layout that you like). Get out there and look at art, explore it, and find those records with art that you love. Now you have to use a little reason, I mean if your band is just starting out your not going to be able to afford the artist who did the last Metallica cover. But Artists much like musicians need work and trust me for every one band that’s out there trying to find a cover there are 15 artists trying to sell art. One of my favorite moves is to find album, website, or T-shirt art from a band I like and find a way to communicate with the artist who designed it.

Another avenue that has worked great for me over the years is to work with an artist that is local. Many of the artists who have done Darkest Hour record covers have been local. Hidden Hands and Mark of the Judas were done by good friend Shelby Cinca (Frodus / The Mind Control Design), So Sedated by good friend Matt Michael (Majority Rule, CloakDagger, Creative Panic), and Undoing Ruin by good friend Chris Taylor (Pg. 99). So really all we did was find the “In Band” designer/artist for another band and hired them. 

There are a few websites out there that artist use to silicate their work. The ones I have used were mainly for T-shirt designs but its a good chance that an artist who does shirt designs can or will do art for record covers. A good place to start is: http://www.emptees.com/ its worth a shot, but I have never found an artist through these means.

Working with an outside Artist:

A Good Idea Will Get You Far: I am always happiest with the overall art of a record when the band presents a cohesive idea to the artist. In other words, it’s all about communication. I think the more you can tell the artist about what you want, expect, envision, etc. the more you will be happier with the overall out come.  I suggest bringing a cohesive idea to the table that the artist can expand on in his or her own way. Artists like to do their own thing 99% of the time so allowing the artist to develop your idea into their idea works great. I believe all artists work best when you allow them to find and express a little piece of themselves in the art. So a good place to start when working with an outside artists is to say, “The album is really about this etc. etc., the songs focus on this etc. etc., the overall vibe of the record is this etc. etc., and what we are going for is a sound and look a lot like this etc. etc.” Giving an artist something to go on is really helpful and always gets the ball rolling in the right direction. Remember to not have a strict idea of what you want and try to let the artist develop your idea, after all it’s why you hired one from the outside.

A great logo, website design, T-shirt design, and album cover can really help build the image, persona, and overall vibe of a band. I have seen some of the biggest arguments bands can have over album art so I know its not that easy to settle on a visual interpretation of your music. A lot of that tension comes from the reality that although it’s your music and your vision you have to hire someone else to execute it. Shit, and to top if all of you have to like it! It’s an interesting infection with the only antidote being a healthy mixture of communication and flexibility. So good hunting!

The Dude

Dear Dude,

I am the screamer in my Metalcore band. According to everyone that hears the band live, my vocals sound amazing (I’m working on my Darkest Hour-style screaming). But, when we go to record our stuff in our home studio, I just can’t seem to replicate the sound. I mean, the studio recording doesn’t sound bad, but it’s not as good as it can be. I need it to be the best it can be when we record our demo in a professional studio. How can I work on this? Do you have any tips? Thanks Dude!

Thanks 

Screamer With a Vengeance

Dear Screamer With a Vengeance,

Metal style singing (or as most refer to it, screaming) can be very hard to master. Now, to the untrained ear metal singing might seem just like thoughtless yelling, shit I wish I could tell you all the times some idiot told me the singing in my band was just noise. If you don’t get metal you don’t get it, simple. But, to the countless metal/hardcore/punk fans out there this style of singing or screaming moves them like no other.

Lets get this out of the way, I really can’t sing but I have had the lucky fortune of hanging and working with some of the sickest singers in punk/metal/metalcore today. So drawing from this and my 15 or so year love affair with this style of singing I will give you my thoughts.

It sounds good live why doesn’t it sound the same recorded?

Ok there are a lot of things that could factor into why you don’t think it sounds the same live as it does on the recording. I mean lets first look at who is telling you it sounds good. I mean who are they? Where are they standing the room? How loud are the vocals in the mix? Are they distorting in the PA? Are the super compressed or have a ton of effects? The list could be endless. There is really no way to know what it sounds like live, well no way other then record it. Its always good to record your band live. Video or audio both is good. I know a lot of bands that NEVER watch video or listen to audio of their performances. It’s a shame you can learn a lot about your band, live show, and overall appearance by watching or listening to recordings of your band live. So try recording that live set and listening, because you need to KNOW what it sounds like not hear what others think it sounds like.

The Home Studio.

I know most bands that are just starting out don’t have the capabilities, money, or time to record themselves live. So the second best option is to record at home or at the practice space. Recording yourself is great practice and is something that every band should get into. Just remember that the style and quality of the mic and recording gear you’re using will affect the overall sound. Make sure you’re recording with a microphone that isn’t clipping (or distorting). It’s ok to add distortion when you want the desired effect, but if you want to know what your voice sounds like you have to hear it clean. Make sure you’re not moving it around and make sure you’re singing into the microphone in a consistent manner (I usually never let a vocalist hold the microphone in his or her hands. Putting the microphone on a stand gives you the ability to record with more clarity and less noise).

Ah compression!

Other then reverb or delay the main effect that most metal vocalists use on their vocals is called compression. Basically it flattens (or compresses) your voice making it sound more even and consistent (it also can add gain or distortion both of which work well in the context of metal vocals). If you had any kind of decent soundman live your vocals would have been compressed. If you’re recording at home and using no compression then they will sound very, very different. So mess around with the compression offered in all those recording programs you’re, using it will make a big difference in the overall sound on your demos.

Oh shit did I mention practice?

Oh yeah, you want to know the real simple answer to your question, practice. That’s how you’re going to get ready for this recording. You’re already on the right track recording yourself and laying down demos. But if you want this recording to be sick, well then your going to have to practice your ass off. When go time comes all you want to worry about is nailing the take the way you want it. Now practicing metal vocals is hard. I know a lot of dudes who practice with a stereo turned up real loud in the next room. I mean there has been at least two instances in my life when cops were called because someone heard vocals they thought where screams of pain! And I know a lot of singers who spend time after practice using the practice space to sing with headphones on. Look its gong to be embarrassing when some people hear you just screaming your ass off to no music. But who gives a fuck? I think there are too many metal singers that are afraid to own the instrument the way they should. I mean shit do you love metal? Well then fuck it you’re a metal singer so what if it seems crazy to the rest of the world that you scream. I get it, everyone who loves metal, we get it, so sing on and practice hard.

In the end vocals are just another instrument and that means you have to look at them as one. It takes hard work, determination, and more hard work to make them sick. So get in your home studio, practice space, bathroom or wherever else you can scream and start working. Forget about what people say it sounds like live and worry about what you know it sounds like now. Think about it the John Henrys, Thomas Lindbergs, James Hetfields, and Ozzy Osborne all started singing at some point and probably faced the same hang ups and problems you are. I am confident if you take the time to work and experiment with your metal singing you will find that unique voice that’s all your own.

The Dude 

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Dear Dude,

I play bass in a metal band, and we’re preparing to go record a demo in the next couple of weeks. I’ve been playing in bands and recording for about half my life, so I’m only mildly nervous about the whole situation. Our guitar players are both very talented and consistent players, but they both seem freaked out about going in and recording our first demo.

I suppose my question is this; is it normal for dudes to get so wound up over a recording? If it is a common occurrence, is there anything I can say or do to help? I want these guys to know that they’re going to be fine and that their guitar playing is top notch without seeming like I’m patronizing them.

Thanks,
Concerned Low End Provider

Dear Concerned Low End Provider,

Recording can be the biggest head fuck of all time. Many times when I was younger I would find myself freaking out in the studio over the most mundane little details. I remember one time being so afraid that one of the producer’s cats was going to hit the knobs on my guitar head that I would meticulously cover it every night before we went home. Needless to say it’s pretty easy to lose your cool in the studio. I have seen some pretty big rock stars lose their shit in the studio and it’s not really as funny as you think it would be.

Is it normal for dudes to get so wound up over a recording? Yes, totally. It’s pretty common for at least one dude to be nervous right from the beginning, and we’re not even talking about the dudes who get wound up once you get there. Be not afraid. Many other dudes have fought this battle. Here are some things you might want to try.

1. Suggest your dudes practice: I know, I know, it’s redundant, but it’s true. I have seen so many professional bands make up shit on the fly in the studio it would make your head spin. I mean do you think Born in the USA was written after the drums were tracked? Ah, No Sir! It’s sad, stupid, and fucking lame when you think that there are some bands out there who get thousands of dollars from record companies and show up with half written songs, while other bands work at taco bell all summer just to get into a studio. Anyway, make sure you have all your songs written. Like I said, you would be surprised at the amount of bands I have worked with who hadn’t fully finished every note and lyric before they started recording.

One suggestion you can make is to try practicing with a metronome. Tell them you heard that playing with a metronome a few hours a day can greatly improve your ability to play in the studio by improving speed, tempo, clarity, and rhythm, amongst other things. Ask if they have ever done that. Then mention that you were thinking about doing the same thing, but only on a few songs that you don’t feel that confident with.

This will show them three things:

a. You are thinking about practicing and the upcoming recording process.

b. You found that a solution for your nerves is practice.

c. They might be able to cure their nerves the same way.

2. Take them by the studio to check it all out: Some dudes who haven’t spent a lot of time in or around recording studios think it has to always be this religiously laborious process. You need to be able to mentally envision the home studio inside the professional one. Maybe you can check out a session for a second (you, of course, have to check with the studio to make sure that’s cool before you just roll by). Really, what you’re trying to show them is that the studio can be a pretty normal place. All those knobs, lights, and chords, can be intimidating at first (I still to this day get intimidated by fancy gear sometimes), but they need to remember they are all just instruments. If you look at it that way it’s just like being in a room with access to an endless assortment of instruments. There’s no way any musician wouldn’t think that’s exciting.

3. Record at home: This might be a little complicated to pull off at first, but there now are ways to record anywhere, at any time. Even if it’s recording on a laptop in Garage Band (that’s free for apple users), it just helps to get your brain in the mode of ‘recording’. I suggest a Digidesign MBOX. Every guitar shredder should have one. It’s the best way to document your ideas and get super comfortable with the recording process. It’s really easy to use and was for me the gateway to start producing bands. If I hadn’t bought that first MBOX I wouldn’t be even able to think about recording anything! It will bring both you’re playing and writing up a level, just being able to analyze and document your playing like that is so valuable, especially for a guitar player.

In the end you can try any of these suggestions, but they all require you to do one thing; communicate. Look, you have had the experience before so you can take the lead and help facilitate a really good first recording experience for your dudes, you just need to open that first line of communication.