by Gary Powell
Today we recorded the final vocal for Helen Darling’s song, “Mistake” co-written with Gary Burr.
I cut Helen with a Rode NTV through Mark McQuilken’s RNP (Really Nice Preamp). This combination of mic/mic-pre is warm and wonderful for Helen’s voice with no sibilance at all. With Helen, there was no need to compile the vocal from different takes. We have a conversation about the performance she is choosing and with a very few punches we’re done. We recorded a three/four part background vocal texture in the bridge with cascading, major 2nds added to each chord change. It offers a beautiful blue-grass voicing for those chords. None of it was parallel to the lead vocal, which we both loved. Helen has a wonderfully quick ear and is a total pro (and fun) in the studio. Thanks, babe.