cbspock
11-28-2000, 09:08 AM
SHANIA UPDATE
I get a bevy of questions on Shania Twain through Ask Hazel and other outlets. The following should answer questions and explain how she and her hubby, co-writer and record producer R.J. "Mutt" Lange, write and create her music. Speaking about the current album, the couple are in the process of starting to record and as far as the direction of the music, the singer says, "I think it's very important for people to understand…we're still writing and when you're writing you're not thinking of concepts. You're thinking of melodies, you're thinking of lyrics, you're not thinking about formats and styles and sounds, really so much. So it's too early to tell in which (music) direction it's going to go."
Going back to their beginning, Mutt saw Shania on a video from her first Mercury album, and came to Fan Fair with singer Bryan Adams, who he produces. He casually met the singer, got her phone number, and began a long-distance phone romance so to speak. From what Shania has said, she and Mutt, for a long time, talked more music than love. Shania obviously told him she was unhappy with her first record and explained she wanted to write songs. Let me preface that with this, when Shania first came to town, she had song ideas, lyrics, etc., on legal pads and some songs on cassette. Her record label/producer, powers that be were not interested in her songwriting and never realized songwriting was Shania's dream. She complained about this big-time to close friends. After meeting Mutt, their whirlwind phoner began, he discovered her lyrics and asked why she didn't include her songs on her first record, and she explained 'nobody listened.' So around the world co-writing began. If Mutt was producing Def Lepperd or another act in Paris or some other exotic place, eventually Shania was with him, watching him work.
Finally, Mutt came to Nashville with Shania, met her label exec, saying he wanted to produce her and all he wanted was musical freedom and where-with-all (money), plus he offered to pay for overages that occurred out of his pocket if her record sales failed to recoup. Nobody in their right mind would have said no to that offer. It was a no lose proposition for the label and the smartest move Luke Lewis (prez) ever made.
I have not been in the recording studio with Shania and Mutt when they record and am not apt to since they are now working in Switzerland where they reside. I am told the way the couple works is Shania has her lyrics and ideas on the legal pad when she goes into the studio. Mutt looks them over, finds one he likes, and together they begin to build a melody that fits the lyrics; changing words; adding phrases; deleting lines; and building bridges, rhymes and rhythms, over and over until they get the groove and complete the masterpiece. Keep in mind, this could go on for days working on the same song. Most artists can't afford the luxury of building songs in a studio like Shania has been afforded with Mutt.
Back to the singer's conversation…when someone apparently asked if her next album would lean toward pop or segue back toward country, "It's too early to tell in which direction it's going to go," she offered. "I don't know when it's due (next album) for sure, but there will be a tour involved," assured Twain. "I miss the fans," she emphasized. "They're really true and tell you the truth about what you're doing. So I miss that."
I get a bevy of questions on Shania Twain through Ask Hazel and other outlets. The following should answer questions and explain how she and her hubby, co-writer and record producer R.J. "Mutt" Lange, write and create her music. Speaking about the current album, the couple are in the process of starting to record and as far as the direction of the music, the singer says, "I think it's very important for people to understand…we're still writing and when you're writing you're not thinking of concepts. You're thinking of melodies, you're thinking of lyrics, you're not thinking about formats and styles and sounds, really so much. So it's too early to tell in which (music) direction it's going to go."
Going back to their beginning, Mutt saw Shania on a video from her first Mercury album, and came to Fan Fair with singer Bryan Adams, who he produces. He casually met the singer, got her phone number, and began a long-distance phone romance so to speak. From what Shania has said, she and Mutt, for a long time, talked more music than love. Shania obviously told him she was unhappy with her first record and explained she wanted to write songs. Let me preface that with this, when Shania first came to town, she had song ideas, lyrics, etc., on legal pads and some songs on cassette. Her record label/producer, powers that be were not interested in her songwriting and never realized songwriting was Shania's dream. She complained about this big-time to close friends. After meeting Mutt, their whirlwind phoner began, he discovered her lyrics and asked why she didn't include her songs on her first record, and she explained 'nobody listened.' So around the world co-writing began. If Mutt was producing Def Lepperd or another act in Paris or some other exotic place, eventually Shania was with him, watching him work.
Finally, Mutt came to Nashville with Shania, met her label exec, saying he wanted to produce her and all he wanted was musical freedom and where-with-all (money), plus he offered to pay for overages that occurred out of his pocket if her record sales failed to recoup. Nobody in their right mind would have said no to that offer. It was a no lose proposition for the label and the smartest move Luke Lewis (prez) ever made.
I have not been in the recording studio with Shania and Mutt when they record and am not apt to since they are now working in Switzerland where they reside. I am told the way the couple works is Shania has her lyrics and ideas on the legal pad when she goes into the studio. Mutt looks them over, finds one he likes, and together they begin to build a melody that fits the lyrics; changing words; adding phrases; deleting lines; and building bridges, rhymes and rhythms, over and over until they get the groove and complete the masterpiece. Keep in mind, this could go on for days working on the same song. Most artists can't afford the luxury of building songs in a studio like Shania has been afforded with Mutt.
Back to the singer's conversation…when someone apparently asked if her next album would lean toward pop or segue back toward country, "It's too early to tell in which direction it's going to go," she offered. "I don't know when it's due (next album) for sure, but there will be a tour involved," assured Twain. "I miss the fans," she emphasized. "They're really true and tell you the truth about what you're doing. So I miss that."