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A Live-Style Recording: Collaborating with Michelle Willis
And on this album, “Pendulum” features the British-born, Canada-raised singer-songwriter Michelle Willis.
Uehara: “Pendulum” refers to a swinging motion, and it has a strong connection to swing (the kind of rhythmic swing that describes a curved movement). So, I wanted to incorporate a band and do it with a swinging, jazz-style beat. The feel of the English language itself has a strong swing, so when I thought about adding English lyrics to this song, I immediately felt that Michelle Willis would be the perfect fit. I absolutely love her voice and the world she creates with it.
What is it about Michelle’s voice that you particularly like?
Uehara: It’s bluesy and smoky. She has this allure that makes you think, “If I had a voice like that, I’d want to sing all the time.” There’s something so captivating about it.
Did you know her personally before?
Uehara: No, I first learned about her through the David Crosby album she participated in. After that, I started listening to her original albums, especially Just One Voice (2022), and I fell in love with her music. So, I reached out to her saying, “I’m working on a song like this, and I believe you’re the perfect person for the vocals. Would you be interested?” It was our first time meeting, but she was really excited about it. During the recording, she said, “This has been such a great day!”
How was the experience of working together in the studio?
Uehara: It was effortless, in the best possible way. We just clicked instantly, and the recording felt effortless too. We started with a simple “Ready, set, go!” and before we knew it, we were done! [laughs]
Did you give any specific direction on how you wanted her to approach the singing?
Uehara: Before we even stepped into the studio, we had already talked through ideas like, “Let’s put these lyrics here,” and “When the trumpet comes in, I’d love for you to sing it like this.” So when it came time to record, it was natural, almost like performing live.
The lyrics were a collaborative effort too, right?
Uehara: Yes, the original version of the song had Japanese lyrics that I wrote, which I recorded with Akiko Yano. When it came to the English version, I shared my ideas with Michelle—what words I wanted to include, and the message I wanted to convey—and she helped me shape it into English lyrics. Since Michelle is a native English speaker, her phrasing and flow were perfect for it.
