Recording Vocals With HypeMiC. Meet Singer-Songwriter Marian Carmel.

Singer-songwriter and vocal producer Marian Carmel has been making waves in the industry with her indie-pop sound. Her latest EP, a testament to her growth and artistry, was largely recorded in the comfort of her home studio, utilizing our very own Apogee HypeMiC. In this exclusive interview, Marian shares insights into her creative process, her journey on writing the EP, and how the HypeMiC has become an indispensable tool in her arsenal.

Introduction

Hi! I’m Marian Carmel, I’m a singer-songwriter, vocal producer, and visual artist based in Singapore and The Philippines. I make story-driven indie-pop music for hopeless romantics! Every song I put out is like a chapter in my life, and they mean a lot to me. I started writing music at 11 years old (after watching Camp Rock), and dabbled in production as a teen. I’ve been releasing songs for 6 years but I only started vocal producing in the comfort of my bedroom at the start of 2022. 

That was after recording my first album ‘to you, to me‘ and learning what I could from watching the amazing vocal producers I worked with, Leo Goh from Soul Dot, and Jason Gelchen from Homeground Studios. I didn’t intend to become a vocal producer, but in recording demos and guide vocals before going into the studio, I realized that I tend to get the best takes at home!

Working on “What If Nobody Kisses Me” EP

What was the overarching theme or narrative you aimed to convey with this EP?

I wrote the EP about learning how to love in my early twenties, getting my heart broken over and over, but getting up and doing it again anyway. It was my way of poking fun at the mistakes I’ve made (there were so many – falling for a friend, talking to my ex “as friends” too early, never being able to forget a summer fling, etc) but at the same time, honoring the lessons I’ve learned. I started writing it in 2021 and recorded most of the demos in 2022 with my producer Charlie Kurata when I visited him in Paris.

I took a break from the EP in 2023 and released some collaborations, and then picked up the project again at the start of this year. Revisiting it years later made me realise that I had grown a lot as a musician, and I don’t think I would have been able to record, arrange or produce the vocals the way that they are now if not for the break that I took in 2023! 

How did you meet Charlie Kurata whose the main producer on the EP?

Charlie and I had no idea that we were neighbors and schoolmates until our last 6 months in College. We met on Twitter as chronically online musicians do, and only realized that we were schoolmates after I posted a photo of me in school. We’ve been close friends and have written many songs together since, online and in person.

He moved to France after we graduated in 2021, and I bought his desk set up and gear from him because shipping a huge table and monitor across continents wasn’t ideal. That really propelled my journey in vocal production and I’m still using the same set up today! The old interface I got from him isn’t working very well anymore though, so I borrowed my friend’s Apogee HypeMiC, and now I use it for all of my recordings.

Which track from the EP resonates most with you in terms of it’s lyrics or message?

I can’t decide! All of them have a special place in my heart, and are about very different things. But if I had to pick, an evergreen song that I can relate to at every point in my life is ‘we’re gonna die anyway!!!‘. I wrote it with my best friend RENE, who is an extremely talented singer-songwriter-producer. RENE and I performed it for the first time for Pink Dot 2022 (Singapore’s Pride protest), and that was when people really started to listen to our music. I really love the song because it’s an honest recounting of queer people’s lived experiences in Singapore, in the flavour of indie-pop with a sprinkle of optimistic nihilism. The song is a great song to dance and scream to, and we usually end our shows with it! 

Recording Process and Equipment

Could you elaborate on your home recording setup and equipment you primarily use?

I use Logic Pro on my MacBook, that’s connected to the monitor that I bought from Charlie. I also have a pair of M-Audio BX4s for listening to mixes (they’re great for movie nights too!). But when I’m recording, I plug in my Audio Technica ATH M50X directly into my Apogee HypeMiC since it provides zero latency direct monitoring. The HypeMiC is on a boom arm, and sometimes I use the Hakan P110 pop filter because it’s really good at dealing with plosives. It’s a simple set up but it does the job! 

Did you utilize the HypeMiC to record all the vocals for your EP?

I got the HypeMic in 2023 and used it to record most of the songs on the EP (‘what if nobody kisses me?’, ‘take what i can get’, ‘crush on my ex’, ‘wanted you’). ‘wanted you’ was a challenging song to record, so I recorded the lead vocals in the studio with Leo (who produced my first album) and then I finished the backing vocals at home with the HypeMiC! ‘we’re gonna die anyway!!!’ and ‘no good way’ were both recorded in 2022 with Charlie’s old mic and interface.

What are the key features or benefits of the HypeMiC that you appreciate the most?

My favorite feature is the Blend Control, which has 3 different settings for monitoring. I like hearing myself loud and clear, so I use the first two settings the most. I also like that it’s so compact and comes with a small travel case. I always bring it with me when I go overseas, and it’s been great for writing sessions too!

When recording vocals, do you typically aim for a specific number of takes, or does it vary depending on the song?

I don’t really aim for a specific number of takes, but I take as many as I want to until I feel like the line finally ‘feels right’ in terms of delivery. The message of the song and the energy is the priority, because no amount of gear or post-production can recreate that. Lead vocals definitely take the longest because I take my time to capture those moments. The comp folders are thick, but every take is different and I get to pick and choose! Same goes for doubles and backing vocals.

Future Projects

Are there any exciting projects or collaborations in the works that you’d like to share?

I am currently writing for the next project and planning for next year! I played an unreleased song at the EP Launch concert, and am working on some collaborations I can’t speak about yet. It’s been a crazy 2024 – went on my first tour, played some festivals that were on my vision board for the longest time, and released the EP. I’m taking it in as the year ends, and am very grateful, but also eager to start 2025 soon!