Cover Songs
Piano, vocals, & more
Piano was my first musical love. In many ways it’s the language my brain speaks most fluently. Voice is the next instrument I know best, and I’m often drawn to songs with lyrical and expressive melodies. I also spent a significant amount of my formative young-adult years (undergrad and early 20s) training as a classical vocalist before turning more toward jazz and singer-songwriter. I’m a self-taught guitarist, bassist, and banjo player, which allows me to use those instruments creatively to enhance my various song projects—though not necessarily in the ways that a formally trained player might.
Multi-track vocals
As a choral director, I live for vocal harmony. I’m partial to a cappella or lightly accompanied songs, especially those that address topics such as racial inequity, mental health advocacy, women’s rights, or other social justice issues. I find that some of my favorite songs to sing are those that I have taught or will teach to my students—and that the songs that work well for my students are, in fact, simply great songs.
Spire (from iZotope on iOS mobile platforms) is my preferred multi-track recording app.
Solo vocals
I recorded many of these songs for my students to use as backing tracks when they recorded their performances for the 2020-2021 school year. I used Spire to import the instrumental track created by my friends and colleagues and then recorded the vocals on separate tracks.
piano: Tabb Dendy
WORKING tracks | piano: Tabb Dendy • guitar: Spencer Lutvak & Michael ‘21 • drums: Aaron ‘21 • instrumental audio editing: John Otten
Banjo covers
One of my favorite musical endeavors is learning a new instrument. A few years ago, I picked up the banjo and fell quickly in love. I find great joy in making banjo covers of songs that have no business being played on a banjo.