It's always exciting to hear a finished track you've contributed to. Songwriter/composer Rick J. Alvarez, based down in Mexico, reached out to me as a last ditch effort to get a real violin on his song. He'd tried three other violinists, one where he lives and two others elsewhere in the US, and was worried he'd have to stick with his AI mockup as no one seemed to be able to replicate what he envisioned. Then he found me and decided to try one last time. It was definitely a process - deciphering the sheet music printed out from his MIDI composition (which was a good starting point, but definitely not entirely representative, as most sheet music is not), comparing it to the AI violin audio he sent, the other violinists' attempts, and running it through my own violinist ear sensibilities while staying true to the part he's written. Thankfully he was thrilled with my parts. Kind of a Celtic meets shreddy-bluesy-rock feel. Definitely listen to the end as it changes as it goes. Enjoy!
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Laurel ThomsenViolin, Viola, Vocals
Performance, Instruction, Recording
Based in Santa Cruz, California
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"After the Fire" - released January 21, 2022!
Each song portrays a facet of the journey from setback to reclaimed hope - finding faith in the possibility of LOVE in “Make Me Come Alive,” HOME in “Beale Street,” COMMUNITY in “Together Again” and “Money Shouldn’t Talk That Strong,” and one’s own STRENGTH and FORTITUDE in “If A Wave” and “Hey, It’ll Be OK.”