Breathing, Bright Lights, and Blind in Texas | Weekly Studio Update
This week in the Devil’s Horseshoe studio felt like a big step forward. I tackled W.A.S.P.’s “Blind in Texas,” which has always been one of those songs that hits like a freight train straight out of the gate. It was a blast to perform and definitely pushed me in a few new ways. Every week I come out of the studio with a fresh lesson, and this time the big takeaway was surprisingly simple: breathing.
When I get into a performance, I tend to lock in with intensity. That can sometimes shift into tension, which then sneaks its way into the vocal. When the breath stops flowing, the pitch starts fighting back, and everything gets a little shaky. Working through “Blind in Texas” reminded me that breathing is not just something the lungs do in the background. It is a direct part of tone, confidence, and control. Keeping air moving supports the rasp, the grit, and the energy without pushing too hard or tightening up. The better the breath, the more in control I feel. So that is lesson number one for the week.
Lesson number two happened on the video side of things. I have been experimenting with lighting to keep the visuals clean, bright, and ready for color grading in post-production. When the lighting is too dark, any effects I add later can drown the image and make the whole shot look muddy. With more light in the space, the picture stays crisp and holds together better once I add the final touches. Every detail counts, and each shoot helps me dial in the look more and more.
Props got an upgrade this week too. I have been slowly building out the stage setup to make the room feel more like a performance space rather than a practice spot. It is still a work in progress, but every little tweak helps sell the moment. Sometimes I forget that the performance is about the entire atmosphere, not just the notes and riffs. It is about stepping into a persona, a world, a show.
One challenge I realized is that I might be trying to jump between bands and styles too fast right now. There is a lot to learn in each genre, not just musically but vocally. Instead of racing ahead, next week I am trying something different. I will be sticking with the same artist for two songs in a row, giving myself time to adapt and focus on consistency of style. The plan: Ozzy Osbourne, “Over the Mountain” and “Flying High Again.” Both will push me deeper into my mixed voice rather than relying on my lower register. It is going to be intense, but I am ready.
On the filming side, Emmy is operating like a champ. Camera work is running smooth, and we are both getting more comfortable with the workflow. The only thing that stood out from this week’s video is some visual clutter in the background. We will be tackling that cleanup for the next shoot so the focus stays where it should be.
Progress never comes in one giant leap. It builds through small changes, small wins, and lessons learned song by song. This week felt like one more step toward the Devil’s Horseshoe becoming the real deal.