The Recording Process and a Reflection
Less than a month before recording was scheduled to begin, my husband, one of my sons, and I came down with dengue fever. This was the most sick we had ever been in our lives and it was a difficult time. Recovery can take a while as it drains your energy for several weeks or months. However, I knew God would make a way for this to happen and we were able to move forward with the project on time.
The recording process was very interesting and exciting for the girls. First, I recorded the piano tracks at my house with the help of the drummer (to keep the right tempos). Then, the drummer took a few days to record his parts at his home. Once we had this basic track down, it was time to go to the studio.
I worked hard on coordinating the schedules of the musicians who needed to record in studio to maximize everyone's time and try to limit waiting around. We recorded the sitar, tabla (Indian hand drum), flute, guitars, and violin. This took a little more than a week, then the engineer needed several days to do some mixing before we started recording the vocals.
Since there were about 50 girls on the album, it was not possible to bring them to the studio across town. So we brought the studio to them! The engineer brought his equipment and set up a recording room in the hostel for the girls to record in small groups of no more than 20. So even for one song with all of the girls, we needed to record in three groups, and each group would do 2 or 3 takes at least. Add in the time needed for recording solos and harmony parts, and you can see that this took a while! We were pleased to get it done in three consecutive evenings, all done after their long school days.
The girls were thrilled when they realized that the recording engineer was in a famous Indian rock band, and he played one of the songs that they knew from the radio. I remember them giggling and dancing as they waited for their turns to record. They were convinced that they were all going to be Bollywood stars!
After the recording, the engineer took some time to mix and master the album. Once it was ready, we planned a release party for the girls at the hostel for them all to hear the album together from start to finish. They sat quietly, amazed, and in unbelief that they were listening to their own angelic, beautiful voices. The staff were in tears, also unable to believe how beautiful it was. Afterwards, I asked the girls to share their impressions of the album and how they felt during the whole year-long process of training, teaching, auditions, practicing and recording.
Many girls shared how they were thankful for this opportunity, how much fun it was, and how they would remember it forever. Many shared that they still could not believe that was their voices. One girl, Megha, shared something that has stuck with me until now.
Megha was one of my main soloists, one of the best singers and a leader to the girls. She stood and had a frustrated, emotional look in her eyes. I wondered what was going on in her heart. She said with a cracking, angry voice, "My mother always told me that I could not sing, that my voice was not beautiful. But I cannot wait for her to hear this and show her that she was wrong." She quickly sat down, quiet, but I could see her trying to make sense of it all. My heart broke as I thought again about where she had come from. They have no support and little opportunity. They rarely, if ever, get support from their families and struggle with confidence. I was so thankful that they had this opportunity to work hard and create something so beautiful that would touch lives and spread the gospel of Christ. These girls did an amazing job and I am confident the Lord will continue to use them to further His work.
The recording process was very interesting and exciting for the girls. First, I recorded the piano tracks at my house with the help of the drummer (to keep the right tempos). Then, the drummer took a few days to record his parts at his home. Once we had this basic track down, it was time to go to the studio.
I worked hard on coordinating the schedules of the musicians who needed to record in studio to maximize everyone's time and try to limit waiting around. We recorded the sitar, tabla (Indian hand drum), flute, guitars, and violin. This took a little more than a week, then the engineer needed several days to do some mixing before we started recording the vocals.
Since there were about 50 girls on the album, it was not possible to bring them to the studio across town. So we brought the studio to them! The engineer brought his equipment and set up a recording room in the hostel for the girls to record in small groups of no more than 20. So even for one song with all of the girls, we needed to record in three groups, and each group would do 2 or 3 takes at least. Add in the time needed for recording solos and harmony parts, and you can see that this took a while! We were pleased to get it done in three consecutive evenings, all done after their long school days.
The girls were thrilled when they realized that the recording engineer was in a famous Indian rock band, and he played one of the songs that they knew from the radio. I remember them giggling and dancing as they waited for their turns to record. They were convinced that they were all going to be Bollywood stars!
After the recording, the engineer took some time to mix and master the album. Once it was ready, we planned a release party for the girls at the hostel for them all to hear the album together from start to finish. They sat quietly, amazed, and in unbelief that they were listening to their own angelic, beautiful voices. The staff were in tears, also unable to believe how beautiful it was. Afterwards, I asked the girls to share their impressions of the album and how they felt during the whole year-long process of training, teaching, auditions, practicing and recording.
Many girls shared how they were thankful for this opportunity, how much fun it was, and how they would remember it forever. Many shared that they still could not believe that was their voices. One girl, Megha, shared something that has stuck with me until now.
Megha was one of my main soloists, one of the best singers and a leader to the girls. She stood and had a frustrated, emotional look in her eyes. I wondered what was going on in her heart. She said with a cracking, angry voice, "My mother always told me that I could not sing, that my voice was not beautiful. But I cannot wait for her to hear this and show her that she was wrong." She quickly sat down, quiet, but I could see her trying to make sense of it all. My heart broke as I thought again about where she had come from. They have no support and little opportunity. They rarely, if ever, get support from their families and struggle with confidence. I was so thankful that they had this opportunity to work hard and create something so beautiful that would touch lives and spread the gospel of Christ. These girls did an amazing job and I am confident the Lord will continue to use them to further His work.
December 2013, CD Release
The My God Will Hear Me album is available at many online stores and streaming services. All profits for purchased music goes to Disha Foundation to support the girls.
Apple Music: http://itunes.apple.com/album/id/1333650406
Amazon Music: https://www.amazon.com/My-God-Will-Hear-Me/dp/B078XKXXR3/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1516856743&sr=8-8&keywords=voices+of+disha
YouTube album playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVUK8PpjL5M&list=PLk5JNsq8PKb83N9qzIHuYPE3YHwdShuiF
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