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

Star Wars Music Minute

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

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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)

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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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