Luna Guitars - Artist Feature
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Denise Rosier is a singer/songwriter/producer in Orange County, CA. She has a band, and a solo artis...Denise Rosier is a singer/songwriter/producer in Orange County, CA. She has a band, and a solo artist career with one album and another one due for release later this year. In 2012 she will release a children's album and a children's book & CD which her daughter will illustrate.
Rosier plays the guitar, the 6-string baritone ukulele, and keyboards. Her husband, Keith Rosier, plays the bass, and they often work together. Between them they have songs which appear on network and cable TV shows such as "King Of Hill", "Soul Food", and "Supernatural".
Luna players out there making a difference always thrill us. Denise Rosier is a grand example. We asked her to tell us about her work with the Songs Of Love Foundation.
In Her Own Words
I joined the staff of writers for the Songs Of Love Foundation in 2006. Since then, I’ve written over 200 original songs for terminally ill, and special needs children. The way the process works is parents fill out forms describing their child’s interests, hobbies, family members, friends, etc. They can get these forms at Children's Hospitals, Ronald McDonald House, or through their Child Life Specialist. Once they complete the profile, Songs Of Love forwards it to a songwriter, and it becomes a song.
When I work on a tune, the track, and the vocals are recorded at my home studio. We have a 25 day turnaround to complete the song. When the song is done, I email an MP3 and the lyrics back to Songs Of Love, and Songs Of Love cuts a CD and ships it, free of charge, to the family.
Songs Of Love doesn’t want to leave a child out just because they don’t speak English so they will provide songs for kids in any language. I've written & performed songs in English, Hindi, and Micronesian.
Thematically, the songs are not “you’re gonna make it” songs, nor do they ever mention illness, or disability. Instead, the focus is on celebrating the specialness of the child, while incorporating the names of his/her loved ones, interests, and hobbies. It can be quite a puzzle as the songs must contain all names listed (that might be 10 family members), and most of the hobbies written in the profile. You might get a list like: The Wiggles, soccer, pink, woobie, 5 family member’s names, mom, dad, Fred (dog), Lucy (fish), wagon, San Francisco, and Sponge Bob .. There are a lot of fixed pieces to build rhymes and stories around. I never knew there were so many ways to say grandma: MeMe, grandma-grandma, beek-beek, etc. I’ve sung some pretty interesting names.
Stylistically, songs cross all genres: rap, country, big band, Latin, polka.. you name it.. I had a request once to write a song in the "Hooked On Classics" style. LOL! :o)
Kids listen to their songs over, and over, again. For instance, they might put their songs on their iPods and listen during chemotherapy, transfusions, or long hospital stays. I've written a few songs for special needs children whose teachers play the songs during music therapy. Little kids love music. They really love hearing their own names, being told how special they are, and being reminded of how much they’re loved.
The recipients are not the only ones who are touched by the songs. I received a note from a father a few years ago. He mentioned that his special needs daughter spent a lot of time feeling like an outsider, and thanked me for "making her feel valued”. The words, and emotion, in his note stayed with me. Having a small part in making someone feel valued is a such a wonderful thing, and I’ve come to recognize that writing for these kids is the most important thing I’ll ever do with my music.
As a singer/songwriter, I appreciate having an opportunity to use my skills to lift up another person. As a mother, I appreciate the example Songs Of Love allows me to be for my daughter. It's important to me that she knows she can be whatever she envisions for herself: an artist, a business woman, a mother - or all three rolled into one. But it's also important that she remembers to be compassionate, and to give back. Life can be crazy busy, there's always time to do good.
Me and My Luna
Kids love my Luna - especially the girls. I think, to them, it seems like more than just a musical instrument. They enjoy the song coming out of it, but they can't stop looking at it, either. It appeals to their girly senses, and that adds another layer of attraction. (I guess it works that way for me, too.
I have the Oasis in Cedar, and it's the only guitar I play now (besides my uke). Once I got it, I stopped using all of my other guitars. The Luna feels great, and sounds great - live, and recorded. The lower action, and lighter strings, makes it easy to play for long periods, and the size of the body is really comfortable to stand with & get my arms around. The best thing about it is it makes me want to play it. I've never felt that way about my other guitars. When I write, I'll usually work out the melody away from an instrument. However, I've actually composed songs on the Luna, which makes it pretty special.
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Thank you, Denise! For this and for all of your beautiful work. Listen to more of Denise's music on her website: deniserosier.com And connect with her on Facebook.
Songs of Love, Crafted On A Yamaha PSR-S900
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Songwriter Denise Rosier Writes and Records Original Songs for Terminally Ill Children on Her Arrang...Songwriter Denise Rosier Writes and Records Original Songs for Terminally Ill Children on Her Arranger Workstation
BUENA PARK, Calif. — When Denise Rosier sits down to write a new song for the organization Songs of Love, which provides recordings of custom-written songs to children with chronic or terminal illness, she has just about every instrument and style of music at her fingertips.
Songwriter, singer and instrumentalist Denise Rosier and her PSR-S900
Though her recordings sound lush and expressive, usually the only other instrumentalist on the tracks is her bass-playing husband, Keith. Every other instrument sound is created by the Yamaha PSR-S900 Arranger Workstation. Using the audio accompaniment feature, she lays down the basic tracks in her home studio, then overdubs individual instrument parts. She deftly uses the built-in harmonizer and taps the instrument's depth: one "song of love" features a jangling acoustic guitar, for instance. Another features a pumping dance beat and sound effects.
For some tracks, she also uses Cubase 4 music production software by Steinberg.
"People can't believe that these songs are created by a keyboard," said Rosier, who lives in Orange County, Calif. "It's an amazing instrument that lets me deliver great-sounding tracks to kids who really appreciate and need them."
In 2006, Rosier began writing one or two songs a week for the not-for-profit Songs of Love, based in New York City, after she saw an ad for children's songwriters. Since then, she has written dozens of original, one-of-a-kind songs personalized for each child. They generally appeal to the child's music taste and hobbies and also include names of friends and relatives.
"With the PSR-S900, I can write a soft jazz tune one day, an electronica dance number the next day and then a Disney-sounding song," she said. "For any project, I have exactly the right band."
In addition to her work for Songs of Love, which is done on a volunteer basis, Rosier also writes for other projects. She has released an independent pop CD "Only a Whisper Away" and is currently working on a new title featuring children's music.
She discovered the PSR-S900 while reading an article in Keyboard magazine detailing how Yamaha's Arranger Workstations can be effective and efficient aids to songwriters.
"I realized I had found the perfect tool for what I was doing," she said. "Not only do I use it for Songs of Love, but I also use it for making demos of my own songs. I can't imagine working without it now."
The PSR-S900 offers considerable bang for the buck and adapts several features previously found only on the Tyros2, Yamaha's flagship Arranger Workstation. In addition to modeled organ voices, a LAN Port and a USB for peripheral devices, the PSR-S900 includes Super Articulation for sonically realistic instrument sounds, which can include anything from a saxophone sound that includes the breaths taken by a human player, and a guitar part that can replicate the sound of fingers sliding across the strings.
It also includes USB audio recorder, video out, USB storage, 891 instrument Voices and a microphone input with automatic three-part vocal harmony. It also features 128 notes of polyphony, a color LCD screen and a broadband connection that lets users link the keyboards directly to the Internet, where they can download content.
"I knew that the range of professional features would make this a valuable instrument for a lot of performers and songwriters," said Mark Anderson, marketing manager, Portable Keyboards. "To be able to help people contribute something so positive, like what Denise is doing with Songs of Love, is wonderful."
For more information, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Pro Audio & Combo Division, Portable Keyboards, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622; telephone (714) 522-9011; or e-mail infostation@yamaha.com.
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