[stephaniedema]

Hi peeps!

I know it's been a while since I was here, sorry for that.
I'll get back to reviewing other folks' music too, just been crazy busy.
Have had a bit of a writers block. It's not that I haven't been able to write at all, just never finishing anything.
And then yesterday, this song came up. Really weird. You know, when it's more like you're remembering smt than starting from scratch?
So I really wanted to post it.
But I'm back to stay, promessed! 

Greetings
SD

http://stephaniedema.bandcamp.com/track/back-up-again

[S.T.C]

Nice...sort of Tracy Chapman...after all my yrs of listening to music of various types...this sound is growing more and more on me,,,relaxing like a tumbler full of southern comfort by a log fire..

[ABeautifulVirus]

indeed like STC said very Tracy Chapman in its artistic minimalist approach. also a bit of Cat Power in there with textures of Norah Jones.

like it!

[Kafla]

Best song I have heard from you Steph - (although I liked that empty chair one )

Use your voice more - you have a really deep rich tone which is unique - sing with more confidence - it will get you noticed

I would also incorporate a pause going into the chorus - on unfold - a few bars then drop us over the cliff - this will heighten the impact of the chorus which is very beautiful

Lyrically its very tight and well written - again the best lyrics I have heard you produce

I think this is brilliant 

[montydog]

This is subtle and lyrically very strong. I think it needs a few listens before the melody reveals itself. I'm not getting Tracy Chapman at all - wierd how things strike people differently!

Thanks for posting and welcome back 

[stephaniedema]

Thanks for all the nice words, guys!

STC and ABV: I love those references! Although I do get monty as well, when he says he doesn't hear them in the song

Kafla, cheers mate! Haha, the empty chair one, I should really dig it up again and try to make a decent recording/production for it, but my producer skills are kinda unexisting  :p
I will def consider a short break before the chorus. Thank you for the advice!

SD

[andy5544]

I liked it , recording was a bit on the quite side  , did you sort out cubase ? sounds like you did.  i could imagine this with a full band .... easier said than done if you dont have one 
good tune , well done 

[Michael]

What you wrote in the description - that this didn't feel like writing something new, more like remembering something - this is what makes songs like yours great: One can really hear the emotion in your voice, great job (Why they rarely play music like this on the radio I will never understand)

i could imagine this with a full band

I too would like to hear a full band production of this song... not sure though if this wouldn't lack the emotional aspect of the "live" acoustic version... but it would definetly be worth a try

[Paul]

Hi Stephanie,

I can feel the emotion of this song.  That's one of the greatest assets that any song can have.  Please would you post the lyrics.  It will make the listening experience more enjoyable and also easier for me to critique the song.  My friend and I were talking about the songs that LLoyd Cole writes (He's a fantastic writer).  After producing several albums with a band, he then made two very minimal albums that relied largely on his voice and guitar playing, with the addition of one or two other instruments.  We decided that his songs were best presented with a limited palette of musical instruments.  Whilst I immediately start to hear ways of developing this song with further production, I wonder whether this would enhance or detract from what is quite a beautiful, heartfelt song.  Your song stands up extremely well with minimal instrumentation.  Well done nd thanks for sharing!

[stephaniedema]

Andy, I did sort Cubase out partially, but am still struggling with it. This was recorded with Kristal (freeware). I would love to have a full band version of some songs, but it is quite hard when you don't have a band and are not much of a producer 
Paul, the lyrics should be in the description on the bandcamp link?
Thanks for the comments, guys 

SD

[Pez]

nice line, i'll guess you never saw you through my eyes.

i like this minimalist approach. good work.

[James Nighthawk]

Very pretty song this. Simplistic but earnest in the best ways. The little hammer on twiddles add a flourish that fill the gaps in the vocal and keep the movement going, a clever trick.

The ending could be truncated. No need to repeat the guitar motif, once around with a slow down would have been perfect

Nice work

[seriousfun]

A wonderful write and beautifully sung. Like James, I didnt see the value in the long acoustic outro. Its very nice playing but having heard it all the way through the song I dont think it adds anything having it carry over at the end. You could either cut it or have a repeat of the chorus maybe if you didnt want to shorten the song. But it was certainly nice playing, a few accents and and twiddle certainly have a lot more interest in them than a simple strum. Kudos to you.

[Dutchbeat]

i enjoyed that a lot, Stephanie! great lyrics and emotion

and again, it reminds me of sarah Bettens from K's choice

en de opname klinkt ook goed, heb je het cubase opgenomen? heb je het latency probleem op kunnen lossen?

he, lekker even in Nederlands / Vlaams kunnen praten op dit forum 

wie weet wordt de voertaal nog eens Nederlands hier....je komt toch uit Vlaanderen? of moet ik in het Frans schrijven? (ben ik niet goed in)

[stephaniedema]

Thanks!

Yes, I wasn't too sure about the long outro myself. But if I didn't use that, I was going to end up with a song of under 2.30, which I thought was too short... Or wouldn't that annoy anyone?

Pez, that's one of my fav lines as well 

DB: Jawel hoor, ik kom uit Vlaanderen. Godzijdank, geen Frans. Ben ik ook geen topper in :p Deze opname is niet met Cubase gedaan, maar met Kristal. Andere freeware. Iets eenvoudiger, waardoor ik het makkelijker vind om eerste versie mee op te nemen. En dankjewel voor de verwijzing naar Sarah Bettens. Geweldige stem vind ik haar hebben!

Cheers!
SD