Passionate Soul Singer/Songwriter devoted to the freedom and beauty of creation. Clay is an attentive vocal artist with a buttery, expressive soulful voice and a cleverly descriptive, pen. Currently I'm spending much of my time on the "Fresh101" project which is a one-year long music therapy service made available for every workweek day.
I am an NY based vocalist for hire as well as lyric and melody writer, specializing in high quality vocal recordings from my professional home recording studio. Equipped with state of the art gear, including a Shure Sm7B condenser microphone that captures my vocal tone, I am able to get just the right vibe for a vast number of genres!
Clients have described my voice as “alluring, sultry, buttery, expressive” with a “spiritually brilliant and entrancing quality.” I sing in many different styles including Pop, Jazz, Blues, Soul, Hip-Hop, Rock, RnB, Gospel and rap. Check out my instagram page @mrclayhaynes for a vast selection of tastes of my vocal styling, inflection and resonance.
* To receive your project within 48 hours, there will be an expedition fee of 20%.
* 2 FREE revisions for writing lyrics and demo vocals (Minor changes) . Any additional edits are subject to a fee (prices vary).
* Every job requires a non-refundable deposit (50% of the total) to cover time spent.
* Any additional edits after revision are subject to a fee (Prices vary)
* All jobs are completed within the order they are received (AVG. turnaround time of 5-7 business days)
* Vocal files will be sent once the balance is paid in full.
* Work for hire/buyouts (contact for pricing)
* Re-sing/Re-write whole song is an addl. $150 fee.
My only reason for joining sound better is to help.
Tell me about your project and how I can help, through the 'Contact' button above.
Languages
- English
Interview with Dirty Ball of Clay
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: I am and will always be proud of my Fresh101 creative journey. The amount of devotion and creative energy my project requires of me has been spiritually cleansing, an a honing modality for my skillsets. My role was/is Composer, Producer, Singer, Songwriter, Arranger, Editor, Mixer, Master.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Fresh101, a therapeutic musical message release. Music with a message for every weekday (m-f). I am currently fulfilling all of the creative and business roles to make this service available for the masses.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: No.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Digital, because the listeners are slowly having difficulty distinguishing between the two. And I'm all about the consumer.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: I will do the best I can to provide you with the results that you want.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: My ability to immerse myself in different types of music
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: How do you think you can help me? Answer: I can give you unique material that is tailored to you specific desired-results and my attentive nature will make our working relationship fertile.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: That all I do is sing and that I outsource for everything else(production, recording, mixing, composition, lyrics).
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What emotions were you feeling when you wrote this? Who are you targeting as an audience? Why are you releasing this material? Where do you want this music to be heard? How can I help you the most with your project?
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Please be clear about what you are looking for, that makes both of our experiences more satisfactory. Once we can agree on results, I can give you the best service I can provide and you can walk away satisfied!
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Guitar, Monitors, Mic, DAW, Laptop Computer(WIFI connected)
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I started out singing in church at an early age, but not the kind of church you're probably thinking. Then I got into heavy gangster rap which took me for a trip from about 14 to 20, lol. I joined the SJU Gospel choir from 2008-11 and learned much from the musical director there while singing lead for the years I attended. After graduation, I have been performing live in different venues, singing lead for reputable wedding bands, and recording regularly for clients and projects of my own. And now, here we are!!! STILL AT IT!
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Clever, cool, vulnerable and passionate. Funky, flirty, flexible, widely-ranged. Some 90's flavor in vocal approach and a deliciously layered chocolate cake of support vocals.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Robert Glasper. Because his way of thinking and approaching music has been influenced by many greats that I revere.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Listen to it everywhere, before you share it everywhere.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Soul, Hip hop, R&B, Conscious.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Interpretation. Assimilation.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: I bring soul, passion, a one of a kind timbre, and a smoothness in delivery. My willingness to interpret the emotion on the track effectively makes me an ideal agent in painting the right colors for the track. I also believe in honesty from a constructive/collaborative perspective to make sure that the artistic approaches are the correct match. Accountability for self is a huge key for me both professionally and creatively
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I take time to internalize the intention of the artist whose music I'll be working on. I immerse myself into the emotion, and apply all of my energies into providing the best, most relevant service to my client.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I have an acoustically-treated home studio, with an MXL Genesis tube microphone, digital interface, monitors and headphones for editing. Logic Pro X: DAW, Mac OS
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Bill Withers Prince The Blackbyrds Timbaland Bilal Robert Glasper Marvin Gaye Common Nas Biggie Smalls
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: The most common services I provide are: Vocal recording. Vocal comping. Songwriting. Lyrics.
I was the Singer, Writer, Producer, Composer, Arranger & Engineer, in this production
- Singer - MaleAverage price - $250 per song
- Vocal compingAverage price - $100 per track
- Songwriter - LyricAverage price - $250 per song
- Songwriter - MusicAverage price - $250 per song
- Beat MakerAverage price - $200 per song
- Top line writer (vocal melody)Average price - $150 per song
- Time alignment - QuantizingAverage price - $100 per track
Rough Draft of a vocal recording w/effects for reference.
2 free changes if the draft isn't to your liking.
All tracks delivered in either mp3 or .wav format
Typical turn-around time: 5-7 days
- Marvin Gaye
- Maxwell
- Common
- MXL Genesis Tube-Microphone. Waves (Diamond Bundle). Logic Pro X.
20% off for all New-comers until December 2023
