
Recording Vocals With HypeMiC. Meet Singer-Songwriter Marian Carmel. Singer-songwriter and vocal producer Marian Carmel has been making waves in the industry with her indie-pop sound. Her latest EP, a testament to her growth and artistry, was largely recorded in the comfort of her home studio, utilizing our very own Apogee HypeMiC. In this exclusive interview, Marian shares insights into her creative process, her journey on writing the EP, and how the HypeMiC has become an indispensable tool in her arsenal.
Introduction Hi! I'm Marian Carmel, I'm a singer-songwriter, vocal producer, and visual artist based in Singapore and The Philippines. I make story-driven indie-pop music for hopeless romantics! Every song I put out is like a chapter in my life, and they mean a lot to me. I started writing music at 11 years old (after watching Camp Rock), and dabbled in production as a teen. I've been releasing songs for 6 years but I only started vocal producing in the comfort of my bedroom at the start of 2022.
That was after recording my first album to you, to me and learning what I could from watching the amazing vocal producers I worked with, Leo Goh from Soul Dot, and Jason Gelchen from Homeground Studios. I didn't intend to become a vocal producer, but in recording demos and guide vocals before going into the studio, I realized that I tend to get the best takes at home!
alt=Marian Carmel singing into HypeMiC at her home studio. class=wp-image-269850 data-lazy-srcset=https://apogeedigital.com/app/uploads/2024/11/Image--1030x579.jpg 1030w, https://apogeedigital.com/app/uploads/2024/11/Image--300x169.jpg 300w, https://apogeedigital.com/app/uploads/2024/11/Image--768x432.jpg 768w, https://apogeedigital.com/app/uploads/2024/11/Image--1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://apogeedigital.com/app/uploads/2024/11/Image--450x253.jpg 450w, https://apogeedigital.com/app/uploads/2024/11/Image-.jpg 1920w data-lazy-sizes=(max-width: 1030px) 100vw, 1030px data-lazy-src=https://apogeedigital.com/app/uploads/2024/11/Image--1030x579.jpg />Photo by Khairul Ameer
Working on What If Nobody Kisses Me EP What was the overarching theme or narrative you aimed to convey with this EP? I wrote the EP about learning how to love in my early twenties, getting my heart broken over and over, but getting up and doing it again anyway. It was my way of poking fun at the mistakes I've made (there were so many falling for a friend, talking to my ex as friends too early, never being able to forget a summer fling, etc) but at the same time, honoring the lessons I've learned. I started writing it in 2021 and recorded most of the demos in 2022 with my producer Charlie Kurata when I visited him in Paris.
I took a break from the EP in 2023 and released some collaborations, and then picked up the project again at the start of this year. Revisiting it years later made me realise that I had grown a lot as a musician, and I don't think I would have been able to record, arrange or produce the vocals the way that they are now if not for the break that I took in 2023!
How did you meet Charlie Kurata whose the main producer on the EP? Charlie and I had no idea that we were neighbors and schoolmates until our last 6 months in College. We met on Twitter as chronically online musicians do, and only realized that we were schoolmates after I posted a photo of me in school. We've been close friends and have written many songs together since, online and in person.
He moved to France after we graduated in 2021, and I bought his desk set up and gear from him because shipping a huge table and monitor across continents wasn't ideal. That really propelled my journey in vocal production and I'm still using the same set up today! The old interface I got from him isn't working very well anymore though, so I borrowed my friend's Apogee HypeMiC, and now I use it for all of my recordings.
alt=Front of HypeMiC in front of Marian Carmels bedroom studio. class=wp-image-269848 data-lazy-srcset=https://apogeedigital.com/app/uploads/2024/11/IMage-4-1030x579.jpg 1030w, https://apogeedigital.com/app/uploads/2024/11/IMage-4-300x169.jpg 300w, https://apogeedigital.com/app/uploads/2024/11/IMage-4-768x432.jpg 768w, https://apogeedigital.com/app/uploads/2024/11/IMage-4-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://apogeedigital.com/app/uploads/2024/11/IMage-4-450x253.jpg 450w, https://apogeedigital.com/app/uploads/2024/11/IMage-4.jpg 1920w data-lazy-sizes=(max-width: 1030px) 100vw, 1030px data-lazy-src=https://apogeedigital.com/app/uploads/2024/11/IMage-4-1030x579.jpg />Photo by Khairul Ameer
Which track from the EP resonates most with you in terms of it's lyrics or message? I can't decide! All of them have a special place in my heart, and are about very different things. But if I had to pick, an evergreen song that I can relate to at every point in my life is we're gonna die anyway!!! . I wrote it with my best friend RENE, who is an extremely talented singer-songwriter-producer. RENE and I performed it for the first time for Pink Dot 2022 (Singapore's Pride protest), and that was when people really started to listen to our music. I really love the song because it's an honest recounting of queer people's lived experiences in Singapore, in the flavour of indie-pop with a sprinkle of optimistic nihilism. The song is a great song to dance and scream to, and we usually end our shows with it!
Recording Process and Equipment Could you elaborate on your home recording setup and equipment you primarily use? I use Logic Pro on my MacBook, that's connected to the monitor that I bought from Charlie. I also have a pair of M-Audio BX4s for listening to mixes (they're great for movie nights too!). But when I'm recording, I plug in my Audio Technica ATH M50X directly into my Apogee HypeMiC since it provides ze
More from Apogee
31/05/2025
The Complete Beginners Guide to Using Desktop Audio Interfaces Everyone comes to recording in different ways, for some of us the goal is just to write songs and...
26/05/2025
Apogee Price Increase Bulletin A Note to Our Apogee Community: Upcoming Price Increases At Apogee Electronics, our mission has always been to deliver the highes...
12/11/2024
Recording Vocals With HypeMiC. Meet Singer-Songwriter Marian Carmel. Singer-songwriter and vocal producer Marian Carmel has been making waves in the industry wi...
19/10/2024
Freddie Ravel Records His B sendorfer With A Duet 3 Discover the inspiring story behind Grammy Nominated Pianist, Composer, and Global Keynote speaker Freddie R...
03/08/2024
Meet Louie Valentino
Would you mind introducing yourself and telling us how you got started with music? My name is Louie Valentino, and I am a multifaceted ...
01/08/2024
Symphony Mk II Trade-In Program
Trade In Your Legacy Gear and Step Up to Symphony Mk II Are you ready to take your audio to the next level? Apogee is excite...
28/06/2024
Share this article
width=32 height=32 data-lazy-src=https://apogeedigital.com/app/themes/juniper-theme/src/img/icons/facebook-purple.svg />
width=32 height=...
08/06/2024
data-object-fit=cover data-lazy-srcset=https://apogeedigital.com/app/uploads/2024/06/Drums-Blog-.jpg 1440w, https://apogeedigital.com/app/uploads/2024/06/Drums-...
04/06/2024
Share this article
width=32 height=32 data-lazy-src=https://apogeedigital.com/app/themes/juniper-theme/src/img/icons/facebook-purple.svg />
width=32 height=...
16/05/2024
Share this article
New Bob Clearmountain's Domain Presets Unleash Sonic Mayhem
Introducing a transformative update to Clearmountain's Domain, the inn...
07/05/2024
Share this article
macOS Ventura Compatibility Information
Apogee is pleased to announce that all products are compatible with macOS Ventura. For the followi...
15/01/2024
Share this article
width=32 height=32 loading=lazy data-lazy-src=https://apogeedigital.com/app/themes/juniper-theme/src/img/icons/facebook-purple.svg />
wid...
15/01/2024
Share this article
Women's History Month with Apogee CEO Betty Bennett
This Women's History Month, we celebrate women who inspire us, women whose con...
15/01/2024
Share this article
width=32 height=32 data-lazy-src=https://apogeedigital.com/app/themes/juniper-theme/src/img/icons/facebook-purple.svg />
width=32 height=...
15/01/2024
Share this article
width=32 height=32 loading=lazy data-lazy-src=https://apogeedigital.com/app/themes/juniper-theme/src/img/icons/facebook-purple.svg />
wid...
15/01/2024
Share this article
Get Ableton Live Lite with Apogee Duet 3
With Duet 3 and Ableton Live Lite, you have a powerful pairing of premium audio hardware and insp...
15/01/2024
Share this article
How Paul Barton Records Piano With A Stereo Pair of HypeMiC
Paul Barton is an incredibly gifted pianist. Originally from Yorkshire, Englan...
15/01/2024
Share this article
Apogee Control 2 iOS Available for Duet 3
With the release of Apogee's Control 2 software for iOS, Duet 3, Apogee's latest USB aud...
15/01/2024
Share this article
Introducing Duet 3
In 2007, the original Apogee Duet shattered the expectations of what a home studio interface could be. Professional, pe...
15/01/2024
Share this article
macOS Monterey and Apple Silicon Compatibility
Apogee is pleased to announce that all current products are compatible with macOS Monterey ...
27/09/2019
iOS 13 Compatibility Info
September 2019...
30/05/2019
Apple launches UK Behind the Mac video featuring HypeMiCYou are here: Home1 / Blog2 / Announcements3 / Apple launches UK Behind the Mac video featuring Hype...
17/05/2019
The AMBEO Smart Headset from Apogee and Sennheiser now connects to Mac and iPad Pro using the new Anker USB-C to Lightning Audio Adapter...
26/11/2018
Apogee News...
26/11/2018
FOR A LIMITED TIME
Purchase Apogee Audio Interfaces, Get Apogee FX Rack Plugins Free!
Buy an Ensemble Thunderbolt or Element Series Interface and get ModEQ 6 ...
22/11/2018
Apogee FX Rack Native Plugins
Now Available To Ensemble and Element Series
Customers In Limited Release...
25/09/2018
macOS Mojave and iOS 12 Compatibility InfoYou are here: Home1 / Blog2 / News3 / macOS Mojave and iOS 12 Compatibility Info
macOS Mojave and iOS 12 Compatibilit...
20/07/2018
Apogee FXRack July Update, Los Angeles, California, July 19, 2018 At the 2018 Winter NAMM Show, we previewed our DualPath FX Rack software Now called Apogee...
17/04/2018
FOR A LIMITED TIME
FREE Apogee Control Hardware Remote
when you purchase Apog...
24/01/2018
Winter NAMM, Anaheim, California, January 24, 2018 At the 2018 Winter NAMM Show (Booth #17901), Apogee will preview their all-new DualPath FX Rack software. ...
24/01/2018
Apogee Introduces New Special Edition 2 6 I/O Module for Symphony I/O Mk II...
10/01/2018
Apogee Symphony I/O Mk II for Waves SoundGrid Now Available Santa Monica, CA, January, 9 2018 Symphony I/O Mk II, Apogee's flagship AD/DA converter, is ...
14/11/2017
November 14, 2017, Santa Monica, California Apogee is pleased to introduce their new MiC Plus, professional quality USB microphone for iPad, iPhone, Mac and P...
10/10/2017
Apogee Announces Windows 10 Compatibility for ONE, Duet and Quartet Audio Interfaces...
26/09/2017
macOS High Sierra and iOS 11 Compatibility Info
September 2017...
27/07/2017
Apogee Ensemble and Element audio interfaces integrate with Logic Pro X to Easily Eliminate Latency...
27/09/2016
Santa Monica, California, September 27, 2016 As they celebrate their 30th year of award-winning digital audio recording products, Apogee is excited to announc...
11/08/2016
Santa Monica, California, August 11, 2016 Apogee Electronics is pleased to announce MiC 96k for Windows and Mac. MiC 96k is a professional 96kHz, 24-bit USB m...
06/04/2016
Symphony I/O Mk II HD Now ShippingModular Audio Interface for Pro Tools HD
Santa Monica, California, April 6, 2016 Apogee Electronics is pleased to announc...
05/04/2016
Apogee Announces New Special Offers
on Waves Plugins Santa Monica, California, April 4, 2016 Apogee Electronics is pleased to announce their ONE, Duet, Quart...
05/04/2016
Santa Monica, California, April 5, 2016 Apogee Electronics is pleased to introduce a new member of their ONE audio interface family, ONE for Mac. ONE for Mac ...
18/01/2016
Audio Interface for Thunderbolt, Pro Tools HD and SoundGrid
Anaheim, California, January 19, 2016 (Winter NAMM Show) Apogee Electronics is pleased to introd...
25/11/2015
Apogee is a Certified Green Business
Continuing a commitment to protecting the environment, Apogee Electronics has been re-certified by the City of Santa Monic...
17/11/2015
Apogee Supports Global Fund for Women
The Global Fund For Women is an organization that focuses on the human rights of women and girls. They find, fund, and am...
03/11/2015
Apogee and Waves Offer up to 60% off Popular Waves Plugins...
15/10/2015
Groove Press Reviews...
25/09/2015
Apogee Receives 3 Nominations for 31st Annual TEC Awards...
04/08/2015
Ensemble Reviews...
29/07/2015
Apogee Electronics Supports MusiCares
MusiCares provides a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need. MusiCares' services and res...
19/05/2015
Santa Monica, California, May 19, 2015 Apogee Electronics is pleased to announ...