|
|
Post by martindn on Jan 13, 2013 21:20:43 GMT
Yes, I agree with that, I would really love her next album to be predominately or even completely her own compositions. From what she has said several times about spending time songwriting, it seems that might happen.
Personally Libby I have nothing against "themed" albums, some of my favourite albums ever fit that description. What matters is the quality of the music, and whether or not is is following some set theme or not doesn't matter much to me.
I might have asked you before, but since you are not as keen on Paradiso and the Japanese Songs albums as the others (for me they are her three best albums), I might ask you which of her albums is your favourite.
Martin D
|
|
|
|
Post by Libby on Jan 13, 2013 21:41:05 GMT
I know you like it, but the whole world won't necessarily, and I personally can't take another one. A few themed albums are fine, but let's not make every album themed, please.
And I just said in my other post that I don't have a favorite, because I can't choose.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2013 21:48:03 GMT
Libby, yes for the sake of Hayley's success growth I could see the themes getting in the way for some people, although she did release all 3 after having 4 (technically 5) primary non-themed records. I tend to think, however, that with albums such as the Japs and even Paradiso the songs themselves are diverse enough, but what can link them together is the arrangement. Generally the same band plays on every song and they seem to have an overall "color" that you can quickly identify as soon as one plays. Even before I recognize exactly what song is playing I can often say "this has gotta be a Jap album" within the first few seconds. Maybe non-themed albums can be like this too but it's just something I've noticed when listening.
And it goes without saying but of course I'd really love an album written entirely by Hayley! I think it would be perfect on many fronts: she has had many years to mature as a performer AND as a writer, and I always find that there's an almost palpable level of emotional connection between the performer and a song written by the artist performing it. Plus Hayley would get more respect as an artist for writing on top of singing, and hopefully playing instruments as well. Come to think of it, has Hayley ever played an instrument on any of her recordings?
-Rory
|
|
|
|
Post by Libby on Jan 13, 2013 21:51:44 GMT
I can't think of 5 of her albums that aren't themed. Only 3 at the most. The American version of Treasure was most definitely themed. Winter Magic was themed. River of Dreams wasn't themed, it just had very little new stuff on it. Paradiso was themed. I guess if you count her first album, but then with a lot ALW songs, that almost makes it themed.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2013 22:00:10 GMT
Well I mean Hayley Westenra (album), Pure, and Odyssey aren't as heavily themed as the Japanese albums or Paradiso in my opinion, just naturally themed as any album recorded/produced at the same time would be. Either way, it never bothered me, just hope she can be even more internationally successful with the next album.
-Rory
|
|
|
|
Post by martindn on Jan 13, 2013 22:15:12 GMT
As for playing instruments on her recordings, "Sonny" and "River" are two songs where she accompanies herself when she performs them live. I'm not sure that she was playing piano herself on the recordings though.
Martin D
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2013 22:21:59 GMT
As for playing instruments on her recordings, "Sonny" and "River" are two songs where she accompanies herself when she performs them live. I'm not sure that she was playing piano herself on the recordings though. Martin D Right I've seen videos of those. If she doesn't play on the recordings, she still does an excellent job of recreating the arrangments on the track live. The piano for river is beautiful, absolutely haunting on the recording and equally live -Rory |
|
|
|
Post by Libby on Jan 14, 2013 0:18:40 GMT
None of her albums have ever said inside that she played any of the instruments. Ever.
Having said that Celtic Treasure was themed, I did like the theme of that album, and of course a Christmas/winter theme is fine. As I said, a themed album here and there is fine. Also, originality is always a strong point for me. So, the more original songs, the better.
|
|
Martin
Global Moderator
HWI Management Team
Posts: 3,339
|
Post by Martin on Jan 14, 2013 8:39:40 GMT
Yes, I agree with that, I would really love her next album to be predominately or even completely her own compositions. Martin D It really would depend upon how "strong" the twelve or so compositions were. Let's not forget that Decca would have final say on the contents of the album and they undoubtedly would want confidence that it would be commercially viable. My guess is that Decca would only sanction up to, say, 50% self compositions on an album with the remainder being already established backlist by other artists. Let's keep our fingers crossed!  Martin |
|
|
|
Post by Bamafan on Jan 14, 2013 12:38:39 GMT
None of her albums have ever said inside that she played any of the instruments. Ever. Hoho, on the contrary!!! It does.  Just checked my Celtic Treasure CD; it says right in the credits that Hayley accompanies herself on piano on "Sonny" and "The Water Is Wide." -Taylor i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif |
|
|
|
Post by martindn on Jan 14, 2013 21:11:27 GMT
As for playing instruments on her recordings, "Sonny" and "River" are two songs where she accompanies herself when she performs them live. I'm not sure that she was playing piano herself on the recordings though. Martin D Right I've seen videos of those. If she doesn't play on the recordings, she still does an excellent job of recreating the arrangments on the track live. The piano for river is beautiful, absolutely haunting on the recording and equally live -Rory Yes, I can remember being there for the soundcheck for the first concert in which she ever performed "River" live. It was the first concert of her "Winter Magic" tour, and we were in Peterborough cathedral. Hayley spent a lot of time rehearsing "River", over and over again, there was obviously something about her performance that she wasn't happy with, and she seemed annoyed when she was interrupted to be told that the choir was ready to rehearse with her. But she did the rehearsal of the Coventry Carol with the choir (during which she gave up on the idea of standing on stage and using to microphone to stand with the choir and sing unamplified), then went back to perfecting her performance of "River". Needless to say when it came to the concert, her performance was spot on. Sometimes I don't think we appreciate all the hours of practice that go into a great musical performance. Hayley's performances might look effortless, but behind them I'm sure are many hours of practicing. Martin D |
|
|
|
Post by maya on Apr 30, 2014 4:07:21 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by martindn on Apr 30, 2014 21:29:59 GMT
I think this is the third version of this interview tat has been posted (I think I can claim the first). Maya, do you feel up to giving us a better translation than Google. It would be much appreciated I'm sure.
Martin D
|
|
|
|
Post by maya on May 1, 2014 14:34:07 GMT
I think this is the third version of this interview tat has been posted (I think I can claim the first). Maya, do you feel up to giving us a better translation than Google. It would be much appreciated I'm sure. Martin D As an engineer, I barely write technical affairs in English or sometimes in simple Spanish. To translate someone’s precise mind is beyond my ability to handle. Below is just my trial to translate the final important part of Hayley’s words before the interviewer asked the last question. “I have no idea to arrange a large-scale song for an orchestra but there are some smaller ones that I can do and I have been actually joining the team to do so. Through the experience, I sometimes can see a vision how I sing songs with sounds that I arrange. Now I wish I could do it myself as much as possible. Regarding song writings, ideally I expect to do it together with someone and I write all the lyrics. That would make it possible to write different types of songs, wouldn’t it? Someday, I want to sing those at my concert and make an album collecting those originals”. |
|
|
|
Post by martindn on May 1, 2014 22:09:33 GMT
Thank you Maya. I, and several others here, are very interested in Hayley's songwriting. I always considered her strength was in writing lyrics though, and I think she has confirmed that.
Martin D
|
|
Just checked my Celtic Treasure CD; it says right in the credits that Hayley accompanies herself on piano on "Sonny" and "The Water Is Wide." 
