Getting Back In Shape

Next week, as I return to developing the songs for Spirit Blade 3, I'll also be starting a new, daily regimen of vocal exercise.

While re-recording some vocals for the Special Edition of Spirit Blade, I noticed that my vocal endurance and some of my upper range flexibility had weakened since recording for Dark Ritual. Spirit Blade was recorded just a couple of years after I graduated from college as a vocal performance major. Dark Ritual was recorded shortly after two years of serving as a worship pastor, which involved regular vocal exercise. But since then I haven't had a vocal regimen built into my daily routine, and it's finally begun to show.

Although I'll continue producing music now and then after Spirit Blade 3, I don't really plan to do as much of it. But I still want Spirit Blade 3 to have the best voice possible from me. So, like an actor who goes to the gym for three months before filming that superhero movie, I'm going to be working my voice as hard as I safely can so that when it comes time to record my song vocals for Spirit Blade 3 I'll have all the options I want in terms of vocal range and tonal qualities.

Part of me is looking forward to getting my voice back in shape, but another part of me dreads adding more to my day that does not directly advance the development of a new project. But for every grand vision there are numerous details that have to be stacked one on top of the other in order to assemble the final product. And if this has to be one of them, well... at least it will be more enjoyable than marketing.