It was a beautiful spring day in the burbs today and I was listening to my ipod at work when I was inspired to put on Tranny Hooker. I was transported back to when I recorded the song and how great I always thought and still think it is. It's a solid recording that screams for a good video and heavy rotation on radio and Mtv J 

Flashback to 2005. I was well into the production of the So Unreal CD single. My producers, the Super Buddha team [Barb Morrison and Charles Nieland], had already put the finishing touches on the Super Buddha mix of So Unreal and Skye Nash, 'DJ Dark Jedi' and 'Some Stranger' were finishing production on their mixes of the title song. I initially thought Barb and Chaz would come at the song from a different angle and create another amazing mix of So Unreal for a 5^th cut. This, they told me, did not really interest them. They both agreed and convinced me that another session in the studio would be best put to use creating a new song. So Unreal was written and originally recorded by my friend Kendall Kelly so, the idea of creating a tune of my own was definitely exciting. I had written some lyrics and ideas for songs and came armed to our next session with my journal of ideas. It was a spring night in the Brooklyn studio and out of all my ideas; Tranny Hooker was the most developed with still a lot of lyrics to write. The idea of Tranny Hooker as a song was born a couple years prior when the term just seemed kind of melodic to me. It sounded like it would make a good 'Prince' tune. I could just hear it rolling off of his lips. I wrote it down and scribbled out a few ideas for lyrics. 

I can't remember exactly what time we started; it was usually around 3-4 o'clock in the afternoon. We'd order dinner and then work through the night 'til about 3am.  They promised me we'd get as much done as possible but, may have to spend another session mixing. Already worried about my budget for the project, I was hoping this wouldn't be the case. Along with my lyrics, I had brought in a couple songs for inspiration. I was loving Prince's Illusion, Coma, Pimp & Circumstance from his Musicology CD and Gorillaz Feel Good Inc. This is what I wanted to mix in with the already incredible Super Buddha production style. Barb and Chaz asked me about the rhythm of the lyrics, how they would be spoken or sung. From there, Chaz worked like a madman banging out beats and laying down chords and sounds. I sat back writing lyrics, completing some half thoughts that I had started earlier. When I would come to a part of the song where I would get stuck, Barb would give me a guide as to what we would see next in the song or where we might want to resolve something. Barb would hear a bass line in her head and start playing it on one of the synths while Chaz was looping beats or chords. When we got to the chorus, Barb sang me the outline that I would need to fill in. "Tranny Hooker da da da da da da, Tranny Hooker da da da da da." It was one of those sessions I've always read about when an artist is asked how the song was recorded… how it came about. It was a real stream-of-consciousness session where everything just flowed. 

Before I knew it, we were ready to record vocals. I did a few takes getting use to the flow of the words, taking note where I was tripping up so I could insert a breath in the right spot, etc. Barb is well versed in the studio and is in tune with what harmonies will work for a song. She would lay a quick guide vocal and I would hop in to sing over what she just did.  She would jump back in with Chaz as they created the beautiful cyclone of music surrounding the song. A few tweaks were made as a group decision. Did we want this sound to be distorted or not? More effect on the vocal? Etc. 

As the early part of the morning wore on, it was becoming apparent that we could have a finished track by end of session. I was happily spent and elated at the same time. As the final mix pumped through the speakers, I heard the edgy Super Buddha sound embrace this almost 'Gorillaz meets Prince' funkiness. Mission accomplished. I had always wanted to record a song with falsetto on the lead vocal and it happened here first.

Just back from a wonderful vacation in Australia. Stayed a few days in downtown Sydney, up in Darwin and Kakadu and finished up in Bondi. What an amazing place and great vibe. It could be very easy to live there. Took along 20 promo copies of the CD single to give out and put some smiles on some faces. I hope the music lovers in Oz all enjoy it.

Sorry for the neglect here at Myspace. I updated the full version of "Tranny Hooker" tonight from the CD single. This 'would-be' b-side has actually gotten the most attention because of the content and the groove. It's really a fun gem and I hope you all enjoy it so much you want to buy the CD single! ;) Skye Nash did a nice alt-pop mix of the tune which I uploaded as well. Skye's mix is available as an MP3 download at my website davidmanley.com. A review was done in the December issue of the Tampa Gazette which I have still yet to get my hands on but, rest assured, I will post it when I get it. A wonderful holiday season and happy new year to you all. With PEACE ~ David

Hudson Valley's alternative press, the Chronogram printed a great article this month on my release:

Friday, July 22nd, I will be the guest on a GLBT radio show called "Legacy" on WTBQ AM [Florida, New York] promoting my single "So Unreal". The show airs from 1:30-2pm [Eastern] and can be heard in a streaming Windows Media simulcast on their website at wtbq.com. Just click on the "Listen Live" link on the top right of the page. For those without Windows Media, I will try to have the show archived and make it available on my website davidmanley.com as a streaming MP3.

Hope some of you can tune in and better still, hope I don't make an ass of myself ;)

The artwork for the CD single of 'So Unreal' has been posted to my website blog dated June 14, 2005.

http://www.davidmanley.com/blog.htm

I'm making the original (demo) mix of So Unreal available since it will not appear on the cd single. The disc was mastered yesterday at Jigsaw Sound in Manhattan and I will be taking it in tomorrow to be duplicated.

As with any demo version, it's much more stripped down but, with euro-dance vibe in tact. Sounds great for an early incarnation if I say so myself.