Isolation

[Joanna]

I wanted to do a song that didn't sound anything like me. Just a total departure, including -- especially! -- the sound of my voice. So I imagined how I would sound and feel were I a small child, alone in the dark, huddling in the corner wondering where everyone was. I tried to capture that innocent voice (and no way could I use my naturally throaty, low vocals for that). This is another of my improvised songs -- no lyrics or melody in my head. I just started singing. There is a point where my voice breaks with emotion, so I left that in, feeling that it was true to the character I was singing. My intent was to capture a mood. Let me know what you think.

Isolation

-- Joanna

[rcandrews]

i think? i am in love

very cool joanna. bravo




ps i'd kno those vox anywhere

[Fosco]

Very good Joanna! Man you never be in isolation cause we always hear youzzz

Man yer song made me kinda sad


Have a great new yearrrrrrrrr

[Joanna]

Happy New Year to you both!

Sorry I made you sad, Fosco. I'm guessing the lyrics came from having just returned from visiting my family. I miss them now that I'm back in California. But that's okay, cuz they're always a phone call away.

Robert -- so you felt the vocals didn't sound different from my usual fare? Ah, well, so much for that experiment.

-- Joanna

[rcandrews]

Happy New Year to you both!

Sorry I made you sad, Fosco. I'm guessing the lyrics came from having just returned from visiting my family. I miss them now that I'm back in California. But that's okay, cuz they're always a phone call away.

Robert -- so you felt the vocals didn't sound different from my usual fare? Ah, well, so much for that experiment.

-- Joanna

different yes. and please don't take this wrong, but joanna you're singin' from the bestest of places, off the hip n from the heart. i know cuz i can hear it in your song. even on your lighter stuff. i hate tryin to type what the hell im tryin to say. ugh

i truly dig what ya'll do with your vox n song. but your heart gives ya away

never STOP steppin out

btw the way i can hear ya'll singin that song "santa baby"


happy new year... almost
2 hrs 15 min ... to go

[toots]

I think it sounds sort of different in your vocal tone, but your personality comes through, and it's pretty unmistakably you. I like this song, and the way the music fits into your vocal improvisation.

Very nice. I think a lot of people might relate to this around the holidays. thank god for telephones!

[Joanna]

Robert - I understand what you're saying. A friend of mine said the same thing, actually. That it isn't the voice, it's the "me" she recognized.

Toots - Thank you -- and yes, indeed, thank God for telephones! I didn't have anything particularly in mind when I started, but the loops I'd chosen did sound a bit lonely, so that's what came out. Perhaps I'm missing my famliy, as well. We all had such a good time over Christmas, and unfortunately, my 78-yr-old mother had an accident just before I left. She was in the middle of a game of tennis and fell, banging up her face (huge lump, black eyes, broken nose, loose tooth). I didn't want to leave her when she was hurt, but I couldn't change my plane ticket without paying large penalties that I couldn't afford. So I had to go. The good news is that it was all surface damage and she's feeling fine now (still looking pretty bruised and awful, but she's a very active, healthy woman and is recovering quickly). But that pull that I felt to stay has remained with me the past few days.

-- Joanna

[davajonah]

Just listened, it's lovely Joanna - haunting.

Happy New Year!

DJ

[Joanna]

Thank you, DJ. I appreciate it!

-- Joanna

[maggieo]

Once again, you've come up with something really special, Joanna!

It's cool to hear you using the full range of your voice.

[Joanna]

I'll admit that I don't have much confidence in my upper register, but it was worth taking a shot.

Thank you, Maggie!

-- Joanna

[Boris]

Apparently, you sound like Peggy Lee <i>and</i> Juilee Cruise! who knew?

This is a slumbery, dreamy style for you, J, and it's really quite nice. Kudos on reaching further and touching on a new sound. Maggie said it... "something special."

Thanks for sharing your work!

Addendum: just read your previous reply about your mother... holy crap! that was a serious fall! i sincerely hope she's doing okay. very sorry to hear that news! jeez! between the "foot" and this, the next thing you know, you'll be finding a finger in your french fries or something!

[maggieo]

I'll admit that I don't have much confidence in my upper register, but it was worth taking a shot.

Thank you, Maggie!

-- Joanna

Well, consider this a BIG vote of confidence for your upper register!!!

I really like it- like Boris said, it's dreamy!

You've got a great range- from earthy to dreamy and all in between. May you make the most of it in 2005!

[slumbering]

Joanna, I really enjoy the song. i am with Robert and James, it's different but definitely you. Your voice is beautiful.

[rmaclema]

I don't think it sounds like your voice, myself. I mean, if I heard it out and about I don't think I'd know it was you. But if you said, "Here's a song and it's by someone from MacIdol I'd probably guess who it was.

I love the fearless nature of some of the folks on this site, especially you, Joanna. You will try anything you feel like trying. There's no analysis, you just say "I feel like doing such and such" and you DO it.

There's an honesty to your music and the intentions behind it, and I find it motivating. You know what it makes me feel like? I feel like I spent years and years carving and shaving thirty sticks of wood into the shape of lincoln logs, but since I made the logs I've been building the same house over and over again. I think some of the houses I've made have been pretty decent. But listening to tracks like yours makes me think, "Geez, I don't HAVE to build a house! How about I build an airplane instead?"

I'm sure other people feel the same way. When you see someone doing this kind of stuff, and pulling it off, it's very cool. The track is cool. But the exploration behind it is cooler.