It all started with Kim Zolciak from "Real Housewives of Atlanta."  When I first heard her new song, "Google Me," it made me realize how simplistic Top 40 songs are nowadays.  Not that they haven't always been, but there seems to be a new crop of pseudo-celebrities who are not traditional singers but are releasing songs in an attempt to strike while the iron's hot with their careers.  Kim is one.  Others include The Situation and Kim Kardashian.

So, if I'm bold enough to criticize them then I need to be bold enough to try it for myself.  In the process I can highlight what goes into making a song and possibly gain more respect for anyone who tries.

The first step was a visit with Jan Smith.  As a Vocal Producer she helps singers use vocal tools to their full potential, and works with clients like Usher, Justin Bieber, Rob Thomas, India Arie, and Chili.  And Melissa Carter.  It is at Jan's studio I discovered my inability to find notes and also a fear of singing in front of people.  However Mama J, as she is affectionately called, walked me through what it takes to be a serious vocalist and made me realize that the magic of music can be broken down into small well-trained parts.  To run a marathon I'd have to train my body to endure that test.  Same is true with singing, my throat is still a part of my physical being.

See my SESSION with Jan.  And all the videos listed here were produced by Rett Thompson, who took his time to follow me through this process.

  

While working with Jan, Producer Nate Butler took the lyrics I wrote and built a song around them.  When that was completed I headed to Icon Studios here in Atlanta to meet with Nate, studio owner Stone Stafford, and Tracking Engineer Justen Robinson to lay down my voice on the track.  And it is my voice, even the harmonies.  But, unlike most musicians, I could only do it with the headphones off.  Seems when I heard the music, oddly enough, I couldn't find the notes.  But if I listened to Nate and matched his voice, I could get where I needed to be.  And when I mean listened to Nate - he was standing right beside me singing in my ear.

Watch the VIDEO of my recording session.

But it would still be a few days before I had a chance to hear the final version, after it was placed in the skillful hands of Blake Eiseman from Bink Sound.  That's when Stone and Nate came into the studio so I could hear the song for the first time during The Bert Show.

And now "Unplugged" is available on iTunes and Amazon.com and benefits the Melissa Carter Transplant Fund at Piedmont Hospital.

What did I learn from this experience?  That anyone dedicated enough to spend their time honing their skills, however limited they may be, deserves respect.  And so does the team of people behind the curtain.  My abbreviated experience was hard work in itself and would never have produced a real song without the talented team I've mentioned above.  

And I was giddy.  The excitement of singing in the car to my own song is something I never thought I'd experience.  And that must be the feeling for Kim, The Situation, and Ms. Kardashian.  Who am I to take away their sense of accomplishment at something many others might be better at? It's fun, and harms no one.  And to Kim Zolciak (@KimZolciak), I appreciate her Tweet following the debut of my song:

And now I'm about to jump on iTunes and order "Google Me."