Auditioning
I am currently strongly considering a new direction. That is to sing more in the lower part of my voice. The lower part of my voice is the higher quality. So some people will ask why have you waited so long? Well if you're a keyboard player, would you want to chop your piano in half and just use the low notes? And if you're a guitar player would you want to cut off the 3 highest strings? So of course there are lyrics and artistic expressions that I have felt would be best in the higher range of my voice. I have always used a good part of my voice which last I tested was 5 octaves. I don't really want to come down to earth. I would much rather have the music promoted on a big scale and have people visit my planet instead. I'm not going to abandon the high end completely but I'm thinking more like If I'm doing a show where there are other people who are not yet Fictitious fans perhaps one middle range song like "Fictitious Optimism" and maybe one half song or so for the high end in a 45 minute set for example. This thinking basically is coming from becoming more in tune to how people seem to be so super critical. That is things like one minute auditions without verb, industry experts not taking the plastic wrap off the CD and when they do that maybe 2 minute attention span. And although music developed with higher voice and much more outside positive inspiration would be the greater gift to offer. {When people could open up to it.} This is of course something that I really did not want to see happen, I even duplicated five thousand CDs {Fictitious Optimism 2005} that featured mostly middle and high end singing. I still consider the high end the more unique part of my voice.
So what's it going to sound like? I'll soon add some more songs clips so people will know.
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Sometimes I hear people who refer to themselves as industry professionals that tell me they don't know how to market or promote the material {Fictitious Optimism} Of course I can think a few constructive ways. But recently I'm thinking perhaps this is too much to ask for.
"Besides the Optimism" is the second half of the work I have been doing for awhile now. This will feature a similar song structure but vocals which are a bit lower and the songs perhaps not so err...Optimistic. Both CDs I am working on adding a more commercial song to. The original goal of these CDs were to get record company interest and sponsorship and to also demonstrate how much better the music can sound with a full band. And it does sound much better than it did when I was just one person with the acoustic guitar. I guess the ideal thing to happen would be to get a Hit of some sort from "Fictitious Optimism" and then perform to an audience that is there for Luke Fictitious.
The next best option I suppose would be to become a famous actor. People would still likely hear the music before seeing the show and therefor I could still be playing to my audience. I have been getting into acting with very minor jobs and it is also something that I have been developing in front of the camera. I believe acting is very largely natural ability. The only problem here I suppose would be people associating you with only one or two characters. For example there is only a little humor in maybe a couple of songs.
I'm already thinking about the next direction. Some of the songs I have been working on have by this time became old songs for me and songs I should have been done with by now, but I just had to see what I thought was a good version of them.
What might be most important is management. That is someone else needs to help with the phone calls and contacting of the many different people in the business.
Currently auditioning Drums, Bass, and Keys. Although I am planning a change in direction, I still think "Fictitious Optimism" is a good piece of work and although these songs can be rearranged for live and others from the CD don't have to be played to certain audiences I can't see a point in working with someone who does not like the music therefor you should be familiar with the material before making contact and at least think It's OK.
*There are currently over 4900 copies Of "Fictitious Optimism" in circulation and if 5 people heard 4000 of those copies this would mean twenty thousand people have heard a unique and interesting recording and one which has cost me a great deal of time and money. This is a conservative estimate and there could be between thirty and fifty thousand who have heard the music in total. Unfortunately this is still a very small and insignificant number in a city of over 7 million. However what makes the project microscopic is the lack of participation from venues. Therefor I will no longer be involved in bringing people into a venue.
A live recording might be made with any musicians that wish to collaborate and the music can be somewhat changed.
Bass Player Wanted {Just to get started current material}.
The parts are currently somewhat simple and it is the way it complements the music that makes the Bass parts as beautiful they are {not to mention the best strings money can buy and a five string Bass {Low B}. However if you happen to be a Bass God and think this would be a bore you could pick up the bottom 2 notes of the rhythm guitar or use a six string Bass and pick up some of the acoustic guitar parts. {Now we have plenty to do.}
Keyboard player wanted {Just to get started current material}.
Again the parts are simple just some lush chords backing up a good amount of guitar but I would prefer to work with a really fantastic keyboards who could do the lush pads with one hand and pick up some of the acoustic guitar parts with the other. People who like the music is right now an important thing however.
Drums/Percussion Wanted {Just to get started current material}.
So easy I could almost do it. So I'm not going to pay for rehearsal space OK? Please have either an electronic kit or have your own space to practice I really don't want to invest in rehearsal space. If you're not a kit player I will still consider just a percussionist things can open up live but it would be an advantage to learn the parts already there. The backbone of the music right now is the acoustic guitar.
This project can and probably will play out live without a full band in place. So I'm not going to wait for everybody.