Michelle Lee Oglevie

Nice songs ;
check out our new jam

-P.B.D.

Listened to "If You Believe"... I loved it. Beautiful, beautiful writing. You show alot of emotional maturity for your age. Keep on writing sweetie... can't wait to hear more!

Hey Sweetie.
Thanks for your comment. You know, music is so very personal--- and to have anyone judge somebody else's songs is so very crazy because, art is subjective. Not everyone's personal taste is going to be the same-- that's a beautiful thing. That's what makes each person a snowflake, beautiful and unique in everyone's own way. But competitions here on this site, though they can get you some recognition etc, need to be kept in check. Don't take too much to heart about people's comments. Music at it's most basic and stripped down essence is EMOTION. Who on earth can say that your emotional creation is more valid than mine or vice-versa? That's like saying your feelings are more important than your sister or brothers, for example. You know what I mean? Really-- it's silly… But that's the music business and it's a tricky, complicated world out there, especially now that almost anyone can make their own recordings and distribute them online. Cool in some respects, but really hard to sort through to find art that you can relate to.

As for your work: to me, personally, I think you're so very talented. I too was writing and recording at your young age-- in fact I'll look way back in my archives and try to locate one and send it to you via private email sometime. I think you're doing really great, and with this much potential at your young age you'll just continue to be even more stellar as the years go by. The important thing is to create songs and recordings that YOU are the judge of and that YOU are proud of-- then everything else, any other criticisms or accolades from anyone else takes a back seat. And, I think you're really on the right track, Sweetheart. Just keep on keeping on, and always work with other musicians that are supportive and positively helping you get your message out in the best way possible

As for the little bits of pitch or intonation issues in your songs-- look, I was an opera singer who studied at Oberlin Conservatory of Music (a very prestigious music school in Ohio), so I'm just very picky about being in tune. I have my sketchy moments, as well. I think, just really be comfortable with the vocal lines you write for yourself. Since you're in control or in charge of writing your song (and how cool is that?! How many young performers really are creating their very OWN music? You're so ahead of the game, Little Sister!), make sure you always write stuff that either feels good to you in your voice or challenges you to improve your overall technique and breath support. (As an aside, you know that things always can get even more pitchy when you've got adrenaline rushing through your veins performing live- so take that into account as you're writing and performing-- and recording.) I'm always the most impressed with artists that sound as good or even better live, when they don't have the advantage of studio magic to make them sound perfect. Over time and with experience you'll truly learn to strike the balance that work for you. And think about that phrase: "works for you.." I used to be a Bikram Yoga instructor for over ten years and Bikram would always say: "How do you know if something is right? Something is right when it WORKS." I think that's very telling and very astute

It's quite clear from your recordings that you have a fabulous, innately talented vocal instrument, and perhaps, you don't want to chemically alter or pitch correct any of your recordings, to show that. My opinion in that matter is, if your producer is talented and can make adjustments stealthily, go ahead and have him or her alter those couple of places on the recording that are a tiny bit questionable and move on and forget about it. Have as much integrity with your recordings of your songs as possible. Take some time to let them sit and live with them a little. The beauty of a RECORDING artist is that you can go back and remix or make an adjustment here or there. When you release something, if there's something that you are personally not satisfied with, never be ok with that. Often times, money is involved or we have time constraints or whatever, and we as artists will say, well, that's not exactly right or how I want it but nobody else will know or it's good enough. There's definitely something to be said about finding something a particular sound on the synthesizer or whatever, that fits the criteria one's searching for-- With so many possibilities out there in this vast world we'd be searching for a virtual eternity to just make up our minds and get something done already! That's not what I'm speaking of. I'm saying, if there's something in your art that you absolutely know is not what you want and you can fix it--- by all means do so. Regardless of what anyone else you're working with or your producer or whomever thinks. Remember you're in charge sister. And your artistic integrity is key in releasing a song you truly feel proud of. Never feel that you need to sacrifice your vision for somebody else.
I think you're absolutely going in the right direction and I look forward to hear your new material and following your career!If you ever want to talk shop or vent, feel free to give me a call, and I'll be there for you.
Sincerely, with much love
Tamara Cimmeria
http://www.katzenmusic.co

Hey sweetie! I joined your fan club. I have come across your music in competition, and I know you have been blessed with helpful critique. Always see it as a blessing, because any critique is better than none. I like your music... its fresh and young. Do I detect a little Taylor Swift influence? Understandable... she is great and so are you! Keep up the good work and make each production a little better. Thats all any of us should strive for. Later