Star Wars Music Minute

Solo 29: Interview with Baraka May (Singer on ”Chicken in the Pot”)


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Baraka May has recording vocals on over 500 films, TV shows, video games, commercials, and albums. Today, we're discussing her work on "Chicken In the Pot" in Solo: A Star Wars Story! 🐔 Baraka reflects on the recording process, talks about how she approached the Huttese dialect, and talks about how she and John Powell experimented with pitch and speed-shifting in order to land on the unique "Chicken in the Pot" vocals.

Timestamps:

  • 00:00 - Hello there!
  • 04:20 - How did Baraka get called in to sing "Chicken in the Pot?"
  • 11:09 - Baraka's training as a singer, actor, and voiceover artist. Becoming a "utility singer."
  • 17:30 - Brazilian Bossa Nova + breathy + nasal.
  • 19:27 - Recording the original demo in Sith, then changing it to Huttese.
  • 23:11 - "Chicken in the Pot" vocals were recorded in a fast tempo, then slowed down. John Powell and Baraka May played around with lots of approaches.
  • 31:39 - The pitch bending was Baraka's own improvisation + flavor. There are no microtones notated.
  • 37:10 - Baraka's friend Reid Bruton ended up singing the bass backup vocals for the film version.
  • 41:00 - "Chicken in the Pot" lyrics and translation confirmed!
  • 45:00 - The high-pitched backup vocal was achieved by singing in a character voice in a slightly lower pitch, then pitching it up a little. "Sprechstimme" = speak-sing.
  • 57:35 - How did Baraka remember her vocal placement when she went back to the studio for re-records?
  • 1:00:41 - Maintaining vocal health with a full schedule of session work.
  • 1:12:12 - What kinds of voices and styles are trendy? Baraka's favorite vocalists to emulate.
  • 1:21:31 - What was Baraka's first "Chicken in the Pot" take for John Powell like?
  • 1:26:16 - Posh Huttese.
  • 1:28:51 - SWMM Questionnaire
  • 1:35 28 - If Solo 2 happens, would Baraka be down to reprise her role as Aurodia Ventafoli ("CITP" singer)?
  • Things to Check Out:

    • Video of Baraka May in the recording studio with John Powell: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1945815745719721 
  • Playlist of all SWMM Conversations with Star Wars musicians: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE4n8ygyS0MLbbtk0Hzpb0Z3JlShtuf_U
  • Solo 9: Chicken in The Pot Iceberg (Minutes 41-45 with AurekFonts) - https://youtu.be/W4mqTn4oYVg
  • ---------------

    STAR WARS MUSIC MINUTE QUESTIONNAIRE:

    1. In exactly 3 words, what does Star Wars sound like?

    • Otherworldly. Epic. Unexpected.

    2. What's something related to Star Wars music or sound that you want to learn more about?

    • How the collaborative relationship is between and amongst Star Wars composers. How composers navigate mixing in the old with the new.

    3. What's a score or soundtrack you're fond of besides anything Star Wars?

    • Lord of the Rings trilogy (composed by Howard Shore) and Edward Scissorhands (composed by Danny Elfman)

    ---------------

    Guest: Baraka May

    • Website: https://www.barakamay.com/
  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barakamay/
  • IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6970285/
  • Twitter: https://twitter.com/Barakamay 
  • ------------------

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    Where else to find SWMM:

    • Twitter: https://twitter.com/StarWarsMusMin
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    Star Wars Music MinuteBy Chrysanthe Tan

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