Marii's First Demo

[Man in Black]

Finally I got a good clip of Marii singing. I know I've done a lot of bragging about her but I've never been able to get anything online until now. My new DroidX video camera is really good and has a great mike. Marii and her sister Lily cut a demo to send out this weekend and I got a good vid of it and put it on Youtube. Hopefully this is the start of some success for her. Any of you that see this here... please pass it around. I hope to have quite a few more before long to start a channel just for her. Enjoy... it is very good!

[Jason]

Sweet. Once I get to my computer, I'll give this a listen!!

[Jason]

Holy holy moly!
She really does have a great voice. Her sister, too!
Thanks for uploading, MIB. It may just be me, but it seems more courageous to get up and sing like that in front of a small audience than it is a big crowd.
Hopefully she'll get recognized. That'd be amazing.

[Man in Black]

I'm glad you liked it. I thought it was really good, but I'm biased. Their voices are so different and complement each other like magic. As far as her being nervous there was nobody there but me and she pays me no attention. The only other person there was the kid with the studio basement she paid to record the demo.

She was very nervous though... I told her I could tell. It's so funny to watch her. They did like 5 practice runs with the kid and his equipment to get the sound right... all those times they looked like pros. Marii was laughing and joking with Lily... sounding and looking just like when she's practicing at home.

When the dude said OK we'll try for a take this time... it was like a switch was flipped. Marii got stiff, gave herself that big hug you see her doing during the video and looked like she'd seen a ghost.

Lily never changes... she looks like she's having a blast if she's washing dishes and there is not a shy bone in her body. I'll give them credit on the sound though... that is the first and only take that you are looking at there. They didn't need a second one, that's how good they are.

And I changed my mind about the sharing the video request... that's my boring little channel there. Wait until I get her site going and then I'll pester everyone to show their friends so we can get their songs going viral. It will do her no good for people to see my channel. ;D

[Jason]

You should name her channel "MARII'S OFFICIAL YOUTUBE"

You can tell she was nervous, and it did hold her back, a bit. But the talent is there, and it's easy to see. With some work on her stage fright and a good vocal coach, she could be a star, easy, in my opinion.

[Man in Black]

She read my last post and did remind me that she had a bad cold. But oh, everybody sees she's nervous everywhere she goes. I tried not to laugh the other Sunday at a church the preacher came up to her and told her she should smile while she's singing instead of looking terrified.

Listening to the demo CD I wouldn't know she was nervous, but when you see that video it's blazing obvious. I hear the difference though. When she's singing freely with no nerves it's even more amazing. People cry constantly at churches when they sing. My Mom listened to them just practicing right before the demo and left crying. It's there if they want it... they have an effect on people and that's what it's all about.

She also has access to some really good vocal coaches too. As you could probably see Lily just lets it fly and I'm sure she could help Marii with that, and their Mom is nearly 60 and still has a beautiful voice. She is a real pro as her and the Dad have released albums in Mexico. And then I'm always trying to get her to contact her aunt, who if you remember the post on my site was on the Lawrence Welk show and is in charge of his company now... still touring the US and singing away.

I'm pushing really hard to talk Marii into pulling Lily into the whole thing full force. They are so amazing together. Standing back just being unbiased and critical, my take is this: Marii's voice is much fuller, sweeter and pure. Lily has to try harder but is not afraid to push her voice to the max making the end result sound polished. And obviously Marii has a much deeper voice while Lily has a smaller, higher range.

Also even though they both have lived in the US their whole life - English is their second language and Lily has no trouble switching over but Marii has more difficulty with English. It's funny because she has no accent at all... it's just that the family does 90 percent of their songs in Spanish.

It's basically like this. Bruce, Lily's husband asked me right after the demo "well, when are we going to have two stars on our hands?"

"When ever they decide they want to," I told him.

"That's the truth," he said, "anytime they want to."

[Jason]

I hope for the best, and you're right about Lily. It seems she's been more active and outgoing with her singing than Marii. But the good thing is that is easily fixable. Maybe you guys can work on getting a show or two for them to perform at local bars or restaurants. My Grandpa and his band were a big hit at this old bar and grill that my Dad used to take me to to watch the Broncos on the big screen when they weren't on TV. I don't think it should be too difficult to get a gig. And if they want to actually do that, it could be just the thing to calm Marii's nerves about singing.

[Man in Black]

The main problem is that Lily is a happy housewife and reluctant to go any farther. Marii is working on changing her mind. Marii is always wanting to go to a restaurant or lounge like you mentioned. She just has to get enough songs together to make a set or two. Like I told Lily's husband Bruce... it's really up to them and how bad they want it.

[Jason]

If I were talented enough, and were actually able to sing or play an instrument as well as Marii can sing, that's probably what I'd be doing, now. Getting gigs at bars and restaurants. It'd be fun.

[Man in Black]

That will get her noticed some... but most importantly it will get her more comfortable and confident.

The internet (youtube) is so key to many aspiring musicians... we are beginning to get that set up. Marii is getting warmed up right now to do a video just for youtube of an original song she has written. I will post a link to that here probably when I get back from my trip next weekend.

Another cool recent happening is that after the guy from Kings of Leon got her last demo he has added her as a friend on Facebook. She had thought he had forgotten about her or wasn't interested... but then she got a friend request from him.