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Post by joncohen on May 7, 2013 1:10:56 GMT
Hi all.
I hope you'll forgive me for turning up here to throw my 2c in, but I wanted to clarify a few things!
When Decca contacted me and asked me to do a lullaby album with Hayley Westenra, I had the following thoughts:
1) I would LOVE to do a whole album with Hayley. I had worked with her once before when she guested on a record I was producing, and I've always loved her voice.
2) No matter how the album might need to be marketed, I would not be interested in doing it if it was a record for babies.
Hayley is a serious, established artist, and I have a reputation to look after also, so a gimmick record of kiddy songs (free with every maxi pack of Pampers?) would not do her or me any favours. There would have to be artistic merit to this. A credible record or nothing.
3) If we were going to do songs like Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, then Hayley and I together would have to put a LOT of thought and careful creativity into crafting versions of these songs which were interesting, original and which we would like to listen to ourselves. In the case of Twinkle, I personally listened to more than twenty recorded versions of the song and found them all boring and "by the numbers".
Because of my deep respect for Hayley as an artist, I felt that I owed it to her to create something more special, and I put my heart and soul into creating an original unique arrangement. When Hayley put the vocal down with such feeling and sincerity, I really felt we had something magical.
This has been the case with all the tracks on the album.
4) I wanted to record Hayley's voice in a way that hadn't really been done on her previous records. Hayley's existing catalogue is testament to the fact that for pure classical style vocals (ie non operatic), there probably isn't anyone better in the world. But I've always heard another potential in her voice. I wanted to hear what she would sound like in an intimate recording context. Not competing with a huge orchestra or sounding like she was half a stage away ( as we often treat classical vocals). I was so happy when Hayley expressed a wish to explore this approach too, and we decided that we would make a very personal record, that the recordings would be really honest, and that she would never be competing with the music. You can't please all the people all the time and we knew that some people who want to hear Hayley the same way she's recorded in the past, may object to another approach. But my feeling was (and is) that people who can listen past their prejudices, would hear something very personal and special in these recordings.
It's like she's right there with you, singing just to you. And she means every word.
5) Some of the most well loved and beautiful songs written, happen to be lullabies. As a repository from which to draw inspiration for new creations, one can do a lot worse.
I have had greater than my fair share of success in the last few years with many very successful records selling millions. I have not been more proud of any one than I am of this one.
I really hope you all enjoy it as much as I did.
Jon
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Post by Bamafan on May 7, 2013 1:36:11 GMT
Thank you Jon. That means a lot to us, and will clear up some things. I don't think we've seen a producer so involved and talented as you work with our Hayley, except for Maestro Morricone. And that says a lot.  And btw, loving the new track. Can't wait to hear more.  -Taylor i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif |
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Dave
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HWI Admin
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Post by Dave on May 7, 2013 1:37:30 GMT
Hi all. I hope you'll forgive me for turning up here to throw my 2c in, but I wanted to clarify a few things! Thank you Jon, and you are very welcome, we are honoured. I'm sure that your comments will help to calm the reservations that some members have expressed about Hushabye, though I have noticed a softening over the last day or two as we start to understand better the reasons for its theme. Some of us have of course been pretty enthusiastic about it from the beginning and I for one have become increasingly so, Hayley's Twinkle Twinkle certainly grows on you and I have commented previously on the blandness of some other versions I have listened to - not this one though! It's delightful and sounds technically excellent too, to my ears (see my post above). Please don't let them dynamically compress or limit the CD master, though! I think you will have succeeded in allaying most people's concerns about the album and I'd like to thank you very much for posting your thoughts. I for one can't wait to hear more of this album! Cheers, Dave |
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Post by Elliot Kane on May 7, 2013 2:24:35 GMT
I have to admit that an album of lullabies is most definitely not what I was hoping for, nor what I want from Hayley. I think I'll probably be skipping this one. Well, I don't think I'll skip it, but I'm beginning to re-think taking a trip just to buy it in store. I admit I'd feel a little funny buying an album called Hushabye, and which actually has some baby songs on it. No matter how beautifully she sings the lullabies, I won't be playing them much myself. And definitely not with my sister around. She is not going to be impressed at all. If she barely even likes a gorgeous album like Paradiso, she is not going to like this one much, either.  I was trying to stay positive before about how the album might raise her profile in the UK, and I hope it does... but I am getting very tired of Decca's constant delay of what we all really want: a true Hayley album, with lots of new material from her. Decca is really starting to aggravate me. Never mind whether the songs sound pretty; they will. But there is a huge difference between pretty lullabies and gorgeous, self-penned songs that we know Hayley is capable of writing. What little we've heard of her own songs is enough to convince me that anything else she writes will be at least as wonderful as those previous ones. First, a Greates hits album. Then it was Christmas - and then that wasn't half of what anyone hopes for in a Christmas album - then, an album full of Italian movie music, which was gorgeous, yes, but still not quite what I was hoping for. And now a lullaby album? I'm starting to get a little frustrated here. I know Hayley is capable of becoming a wonderful singer/songwriter, and I just feel like Decca is holding her back. When are they going to allow her to just be Hayley, for goodness' sake? I mean, even for Treasure, she said that she didn't tell them what she was doing till after she recorded it, if I remember right. I think she needs to do that again, because the result was what I can probably say is my favorite album of hers. Totally agree with you, Libby. On the first page of this thread I said I thought a lullabye album was a terrible idea, whoever was doing it, and that's still true. I'm honestly stunned that Decca would suggest it or that Hayley would do it. A royal baby will never cause grown adults to suddenly rush out and buy lullabye albums, even in Britain. Why on Earth would it? We're not even talking about 'The Official Royal Lullabye Album', just something Decca thinks might sell in the aftermath. Amongst a guaranteed flood of about twenty trillion other attempts to cash in with Commemorative Everything, almost all of which will be ignored by the general population... I can honestly see this album performing worse than Winter Magic did, and I don't think anyone would honestly wish that on Hayley. It's just a terrible, terrible idea. |
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Joe
Administrator
Supporting Hayley since 2003!
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Post by Joe on May 7, 2013 2:45:30 GMT
Hello and welcome, Jon!  Very good of you to share your view on some issues regarding 'Hushabye'. As my colleague Dave said above, your post may help to reassure some members. This is a proper CD. One can sense the energy in its creation. I wrote yesterday that everyone can benefit from calming music. I'm very much looking forward to this recording. On behalf of HWI, thanks for your message, Jon; and wish you continued success in all of your work! Best regards, Joe |
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Post by Libby on May 7, 2013 5:27:08 GMT
Well, I'm glad to see the press coverage. That in itself brings attention to Hayley. So, I guess the important thing is that her name is heard/seen in the media a lot more than it might have been otherwise, particularly in regards to the Royals, who are already popular subjects for the media. So, even if the people who see all this don't actually buy the album, they'll at least be more familiar with her name, maybe? I'm hoping? I'm going back to trying to be positive. So, I guess there are positive and negative things about this album, and hopefully the positive will outweigh the negative. Most of you think of her albums in terms of how well you yourselves will like it. With me, I am very concerned about what everyone else will think of it, whether potential new fans will like it. Of course I want to enjoy them myself, but I can sometimes find it less enjoyable if I'm worried about the rest of the world liking it (the Winter Magic song selection as a whole are a case in point). That probably sounds crazy, but that's just the way I am. It's the way I've always felt about Hayley's music, well, at least for a very long time. I've mentioned before that this partially has do with wanting her to be well-known enough to have concerts in the US a little more often. But when I think about it, something inside of me almost isn't quite satisfied with that reason by itself. Of course I'm dying to see her sing live, in person. But it's almost as if there's some hidden reason why I'm so obsessed with her career, that I can't even explain it. Maybe the true reason isn't just for name recognition and tours, maybe it has to do with reaching people with her voice, people who need to hear her beautiful, calming, heavenly voice. So, yes, this album will be calming and relaxing, but her other albums have already proven to be so, so I'm not sure I see any need to add lullabies to the mix, if her previous songs are already doing the job. Other than to "cash in" on the coming media hype, maybe. Martin, I think BOTW is still a possibility on this album. It's supposed to be "for all ages", and I would think BOTW could be for all ages. It's certainly a comforting song, and I'm sure parents of children of all ages could use a comforting song like that. Even You Raise Me Up could fit! And if you ask me, I have a feeling Over the Rainbow could be on it. In fact, I think it's highly likely. I won't be sad if it isn't, but I'll listen to it. And for the record, I do find Twinkle to be very pleasant to the ear. It's just the idea of it all that's been ruining things. All going back to that obsession of mine about pleasing the masses. I certainly hope this album does please, or at least interest, the masses. And yes, thank you, Jon, for taking time to explain all that to us. It definitely helps a lot, but I still have some lingering doubts anyhow. Hopefully they'll all be put to rest once I hear the whole album. |
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Post by Ross on May 7, 2013 6:00:42 GMT
Thanks Jon for clarifying the situation about the CD. an intimate Hayley CD sounds like a great idea.
Sent from my MB865 using proboards
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Post by Richard on May 7, 2013 7:30:22 GMT
Hello folks!  I've found a new article from The Telegraph which has the full lyrics of 'Sleep On', so I've started a new thread for the song HERE. Please continue your discussions about Paul Mealor's song in the new thread. Many thanks, Richard |
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Martin
Global Moderator
HWI Management Team
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Post by Martin on May 7, 2013 7:41:26 GMT
Hayley's existing catalogue is testament to the fact that for pure classical style vocals (ie non operatic), there probably isn't anyone better in the world. Jon Praise indeed but we all knew this, didn't we? i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifMartin |
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Post by comet on May 7, 2013 8:24:55 GMT
I am impressed with the technical quality of the recording of Twinkle, as posted on Youtube at 720p. It has an impressive dynamic range, very little dynamic compression has been applied at this stage, there is NO peak level limiting at all, and I hope the final CD master is not spoiled by doing that to it, as sometimes happens (but makes me cringe). I like it!  Cheers, Dave So it would seem that Hushabye is the album many of Hayley's concert going fans have been waiting for. That beautiful live sound, that sound that makes people travel the world just to hear her for just a couple of hours. To be blessed with the experience of a beautiful intimate performance. and so the addiction begins. I may have to get more new speakers  |
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Jillian
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Post by Jillian on May 7, 2013 8:35:21 GMT
Hi all. I hope you'll forgive me for turning up here to throw my 2c in, but I wanted to clarify a few things! When Decca contacted me and asked me to do a lullaby album with Hayley Westenra, I had the following thoughts: 1) I would LOVE to do a whole album with Hayley. I had worked with her once before when she guested on a record I was producing, and I've always loved her voice. 2) No matter how the album might need to be marketed, I would not be interested in doing it if it was a record for babies. Hayley is a serious, established artist, and I have a reputation to look after also, so a gimmick record of kiddy songs (free with every maxi pack of Pampers?) would not do her or me any favours. There would have to be artistic merit to this. A credible record or nothing. 3) If we were going to do songs like Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, then Hayley and I together would have to put a LOT of thought and careful creativity into crafting versions of these songs which were interesting, original and which we would like to listen to ourselves. In the case of Twinkle, I personally listened to more than twenty recorded versions of the song and found them all boring and "by the numbers". Because of my deep respect for Hayley as an artist, I felt that I owed it to her to create something more special, and I put my heart and soul into creating an original unique arrangement. When Hayley put the vocal down with such feeling and sincerity, I really felt we had something magical. This has been the case with all the tracks on the album. 4) I wanted to record Hayley's voice in a way that hadn't really been done on her previous records. Hayley's existing catalogue is testament to the fact that for pure classical style vocals (ie non operatic), there probably isn't anyone better in the world. But I've always heard another potential in her voice. I wanted to hear what she would sound like in an intimate recording context. Not competing with a huge orchestra or sounding like she was half a stage away ( as we often treat classical vocals). I was so happy when Hayley expressed a wish to explore this approach too, and we decided that we would make a very personal record, that the recordings would be really honest, and that she would never be competing with the music. You can't please all the people all the time and we knew that some people who want to hear Hayley the same way she's recorded in the past, may object to another approach. But my feeling was (and is) that people who can listen past their prejudices, would hear something very personal and special in these recordings. It's like she's right there with you, singing just to you. And she means every word. 5) Some of the most well loved and beautiful songs written, happen to be lullabies. As a repository from which to draw inspiration for new creations, one can do a lot worse. I have had greater than my fair share of success in the last few years with many very successful records selling millions. I have not been more proud of any one than I am of this one. I really hope you all enjoy it as much as I did. Jon Firstly, hello Jon! Welcome! I might start with saying that perhaps you should have been entrusted with the task of writing the press release! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif Thank you for your post. It was very interesting and insightful in terms of the process of making Hushabye. I'm really glad that you took the time to share that with us. I think the more the thought processes and reasoning behind Hushabye is explained, the more fans will be able to understand it. Hello everyone else i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif Just some general thoughts. I was thinking that it's almost humorously ironic that Hayley releasing an album of lullabies seems to have become one of the more controversial steps she's taken in her career so far. We're not exactly in Charlotte Church 'Crazy Chick' territory here.. But I think that it's a big 'managing expectations' thing, really. I'm guessing Hushabye is quite similar really to Winter Magic. Only with a Christmas album, it's a lot easier to conceptualise the place and role of a themed album for an event, because Christmas albums are common place and also aren't mentally categorised as 'a real album'. I just think everyone was really quite taken by surprise by Hushabye (I for one didn't see it coming at all). It's the concept that will take some time to get used to. I don't think anyone here doubts for a second that a sincere and earnest effort was put in by Hayley, Jon and everyone involved. Likewise I'm sure that no one doubts it will sound amazing. I don't think Hayley could sound bad if she tried. As everyone says, she could technically sound great singing the phone book. It's just an expectations thing. I for one really want that Sleep On track released ASAP so we can all listen to the big lead track and start focusing on the new and interesting things this release has to offer. Then we'll also be able to stop rehashing the original impression created by 'Twinkle Twinkle'. That song was always going to be instant judgment call. Cheers, Jillian |
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Post by Jeff on May 7, 2013 14:26:29 GMT
Well, I don't think I'll skip it, but I'm beginning to re-think taking a trip just to buy it in store. I admit I'd feel a little funny buying an album called Hushabye, and which actually has some baby songs on it. No matter how beautifully she sings the lullabies, I won't be playing them much myself. And definitely not with my sister around. She is not going to be impressed at all. If she barely even likes a gorgeous album like Paradiso, she is not going to like this one much, either. I was trying to stay positive before about how the album might raise her profile in the UK, and I hope it does... but I am getting very tired of Decca's constant delay of what we all really want: a true Hayley album, with lots of new material from her. Decca is really starting to aggravate me. Never mind whether the songs sound pretty; they will. But there is a huge difference between pretty lullabies and gorgeous, self-penned songs that we know Hayley is capable of writing. What little we've heard of her own songs is enough to convince me that anything else she writes will be at least as wonderful as those previous ones. First, a Greates hits album. Then it was Christmas - and then that wasn't half of what anyone hopes for in a Christmas album - then, an album full of Italian movie music, which was gorgeous, yes, but still not quite what I was hoping for. And now a lullaby album? I'm starting to get a little frustrated here. I know Hayley is capable of becoming a wonderful singer/songwriter, and I just feel like Decca is holding her back. When are they going to allow her to just be Hayley, for goodness' sake? I mean, even for Treasure, she said that she didn't tell them what she was doing till after she recorded it, if I remember right. I think she needs to do that again, because the result was what I can probably say is my favorite album of hers. Totally agree with you, Libby. On the first page of this thread I said I thought a lullabye album was a terrible idea, whoever was doing it, and that's still true. I'm honestly stunned that Decca would suggest it or that Hayley would do it. A royal baby will never cause grown adults to suddenly rush out and buy lullabye albums, even in Britain. Why on Earth would it? We're not even talking about 'The Official Royal Lullabye Album', just something Decca thinks might sell in the aftermath. Amongst a guaranteed flood of about twenty trillion other attempts to cash in with Commemorative Everything, almost all of which will be ignored by the general population... I can honestly see this album performing worse than Winter Magic did, and I don't think anyone would honestly wish that on Hayley. It's just a terrible, terrible idea. Well, Elliot, I must admit I had my doubts at first but now the actual record producer has posted on this forum and having heard Paul Mealor's work on Youtube, I am somewhat reassured and will wait to hear the entire album. You never know, you might be pleasantly surprised ! |
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Post by grant on May 7, 2013 14:35:00 GMT
Hi Jon and welcome to the forum. It's a real privilege to have you here and for you to post detailed reasoning behind Hayley's new album Hushabye and your involvement with it.
As you are probably aware, it has received a mixed reaction from Hayley's fan base here and I think there are two main reasons for that, one being that some think it is a bad career move whilst others have been waiting for an album of songs written by Hayley herself (hopefully you can help her with that in the not too distant future!) and are disappointed that it is not to be this time. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star also appears not to be the most popular track to have released first - I would have probably thought the same had I had time to think about it, but I was blown away by Hayley's rendition which I think is absolutely exquisite. Consequently, I'm really looking forward to hearing more tracks from this album.
Very best wishes
Grant
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Post by grant on May 7, 2013 14:39:56 GMT
Hayley's existing catalogue is testament to the fact that for pure classical style vocals (ie non operatic), there probably isn't anyone better in the world. Jon
MartinYes we did Martin but to have it confirmed by someone of Jon's stature is immesurable! Best wishes Grant |
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Post by susieverity on May 7, 2013 14:49:25 GMT
Hi Jon, thanks for posting a message to explain more about the album, while I was disappointed when I heard it would be a lullaby album, I have really started to come around to the idea and now thanks to your post I think this will be a great album. As I said in an earlier post I think a more 'live' sound will suite Hayley's voice best and I can't wait to hear a whole alum like this.
The first thing I thought when I heard Twinkle was that I loved the arrangement and before I listened I thought it would be boring and that I would hate it, but now I actually really like it. It's really good to read how much work and thought has gone into the album. I was also thinking that Hayley has sung a few lullabies before and they are actually some of my favourite songs of hers Hine e Hine, Wiegenlied, Nemunoki. So when I think about it like this Hushabye could be the sort of album I want to hear, but I just did not know it before!
Susie
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And btw, loving the new track. Can't wait to hear more. 
