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Heather Cairncross

Jazz Singer

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Recording Solo Vocals on The Genesis Suite with composer Tolga Kashif

Today I was recording solo vocals on a very interesting piece based on the music of rock group Genesis but completely transformed by composer Tolga Kashif. The track combined material from Land of Confusion (from the 1986 album Invisible Touch, remembered by many Genesis fans because of its video, which featured puppets from the 1980’s UK sketch show Spitting Image) and Tonight, tonight, tonight (also from the Invisible Touch).

Here’s the original single cover parodying the iconic 1963 cover ‘With the Beatles’.

album cover for Tolga Kashif's The Queen SymphonyI’ve worked with Tolga many times on wide variety of projects and also sung in a live concert (in Portugal) of his critically acclaimed CD The Queen Symphony. Inspired by the music of rock group Queen, it is a lushly orchestrated album with 6 movements based on some of their famous themes including Bohemian Rhapsody.

The text was a made up quasi-latin language and the singing was definitely folky in style – when I was booked I was told ‘voix bulgares’, which is a very strong, harsh, nasal sound. I found a great video on youtube of the Bulgarian Radio Choir which won a grammy in 1990 – it really is an extraordinary sound.

When we started working in the studio, it became clear that what Tolga really wanted was a cross between a devotional church quality with a layer of ethnic tone and breath layered on top. Much more intimate and innocent sounding. The first part was the lowest of four solo voices and although he wanted a rich somewhat Russian quality, I had to sing quite quietly. He jokingly summed it up as a religious peasant woman with lots of children, quite happy with her lot. We quickly agreed that if he described the sound he wanted as a colour or atmosphere rather than as a technical vocal description, then I could try a few vocal sounds until he liked one. (This is often the case in recording – the composer has a very clear idea of what they want but as they are not singers, it’s hard for them to either clearly demonstrate or describe). Our job as a session musician is to be very flexible and willing to try anything to achieve the result.

Later on in the music he wanted a complete change of colour and I had to resurrect the African tribal sound which I had used with Karl Jenkins on his album Imagined Oceans recorded way back in 1998. This involves quite a harsh, nasal sound – cutting off the head resonances – it’s loud! – the other important thing is to try to create a sense of improvisation in the way you deliver the rhythm – so it sounds very free and exciting.

In the second session I had to swap to another higher voice part and he wanted it to sound like a different voice again so we eventually went for a much younger almost boyish sound with an ‘inner devotional joy’ – I know….what we do to earn a crust!

Next week I am singing in the professional choir which will record the choral parts.  These will act as support for the solo sessions from this week – Tolga is a complete perfectionist and we did so many takes with very subtle nuances between them. He will spend days weaving into the finished product. I can’t wait to hear the finished product.

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3 Comments

on Recording Solo Vocals on The Genesis Suite with composer Tolga Kashif.
  1. Lynne
    06/07/2010 @ 12:01
    -
    Reply

    This is ace heather.. really enjoyed reading about what you are up to and it is very insightful! I’m looking forward to reading and following your adventures! I’ve signed up for the news feed! thanks for sharing it.
    L
    x

  2. From a vocalist’s view point – Tolga Kashif
    11/07/2010 @ 16:27
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    Reply

    […] by Heather on July 3, 2010 – 1 Comment Categories: In The […]

  3. The Genesis Suite - FORUM des Deutschen Genesis Fanclubs 'it'
    06/08/2010 @ 20:16
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    […] […]

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Heather Cairncross Singer

4 months ago

Heather Cairncross Singer

Take 2!

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Heather Cairncross Singer

5 months ago

Heather Cairncross Singer

UPDATE. Well it seems it was too good to be true….following the government’s unclear announcement the managers of the pub have cancelled the jazz for now. I’m really sorry if you’ve booked a table but you now need to call and cancel to make sure they don’t take your deposit. Hopefully we’ll revive this gig in the near future. I KNOW!!!! This Sunday lunchtime in Brighton

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Heather Cairncross Singer

5 months ago

Heather Cairncross Singer

The Swingles & The Stay at Home Choir – You’re All I Need to Get By

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Video

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Heather Cairncross Singer

6 months ago

Heather Cairncross Singer

In the absence of any live Prom concerts (courtesy of Covid 19), the BBC is re-running many gems from previous years. Tonight on BBC4 at 19.00 is @johnwilsonorchestra with a starry cast of soloists and the ever splendid @maidavalesingers in ‘The Broadway Sound’. Possibly the campest ever prom?Back in 2012 when this concert was recorded, I still wrote a backstage blog which may interest some of you – it seems a lifetime ago and I sincerely hope that those wonderful concerts will be back in business next year – in fact any concerts…..the prospects seems rather bleak at the moment.heathercairncross.com/the-broadway-sound-singing-in-the-john-wilson-prom-2012/

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Heather Cairncross Singer

6 months ago

Heather Cairncross Singer

Oh yes indeed, it’s the one where I have the six word Jimmy Durante stylee solo

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Heather Cairncross Singer

7 months ago

Heather Cairncross Singer

A message from wonderful and prolific choral composer James Macmillan.

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James MacMillan: Let’s get Scotland singing again

www.scotsman.com

As we move out of lockdown, a return to putting our voices together in song should be welcomed for the good of the nation, writes Sir James MacMillan

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Recording Solo Vocals on The Genesis Suite with composer Tolga Kashif - Heather Cairncross UK Jazz Singer