I was born an off-pitch singer! The mentality that singing was meant to be done on one’s normal voice (talking range or normal range), set me up as unable to sing. Then also, when I was in the choir, I found myself forcing me to sing normal; it’s okay because it’s a group, but few times I’d wished for something un-normal.
Note: My definition of off-pitch isn’t off-key. I believe in singing on key because, there is the need for harmony; and there is also the need to be on scale. I still sing off-key, and I’m learning not to. Off-pitch to me implies singing a song in an octave different from what is being heard and/or singing a song outside a normal range. Looking through my history, that’s how I’ve always sang and enjoy singing. And I don’t enjoy songs that stick strictly to normal range as such, unless it's downtempo or solemn. Weird is beautiful to me!
“Hey” is the first song I perfectly composed to be mixed off-pitch -- normal range and off-pitch. I was extremely excited when I was able to put it together. Though some notes where still difficult for me to sing initially, I knew I had to work on them before I could ever produce it. And by the time I produced it, I could sing it as I wanted it to be. The only problem I had (aside from few off-keys) was my producer - he dislikes off-pitch or falsetto.
“Hey” was composed in 2014. I think the later part of 2014 - close to the end of the year. Its rhythm came inspirationally and so were some initial lines. I actually dreamt singing the song, and I woke-up remembering the rhythm - I definitely can’t forget an off-pitch song when I hear one. Afterwards, I worked through it to become what it is. I regarded the song as dancehall, but it turned out to be rock.
“Oblivion” was intuitively and consciously composed as it is - as another perfect off-pitch song with distorted arrangement. I really made my producer unhappy with it; because while working on production I sang it 'straight'. But that was done to help him grasp the basics.
“Oblivion” was written on the 30th June, 2016. Just like some of my songs, I fixed the lyrics together in one day. I don’t think it spectacular, I just do it. But it took days for my voice to hold the song. The song was composed as slow-rock (with a spiritual undertone and as such I regard it as New Age), and was produced as such.
I can’t say both songs were perfectly mixed off-pitch arranged as could be. But I can say I plan to get better at mixed off-pitch singing and arrangement.
Cheers
