FOR R &B ACT DESTINY'S CHILD, 2000 WAS A'JUMPIN' ' YEAR (Continued from, page 5) that Destiny's Child experienced not Shortly after shooting the video this time around. and Roberson. They began attracting one, but two personnel changes in for "Jumpin'Jumpis," Franklin left 6 y i "They've grown immeasurably," a loyal local following after perform- Nr s less than 12 months-all under the the grto ,, he says.' And they're writing about ing throughout the greater Houston glare of media scrutiny. It also hap- " frankly, i was too much for +rlr, their experiences more than even. area, opening for such top hip-hop pened while the act trekked across her," Gayle She was completely i' They're going to let people in on what as Dru Hill and Das EFX. It was i acts the U.S. in support of 'The Writings overwhelmed by the sheer volume of these pact few years have really been during a gig opening for the SW V On The Wall," an album that has sold work and pressure." like for them, and that's going to real- that they drew the attention of 62 million copies since its 1999 was sad to it was °4i cut July "It see bergs, but ly open a lot of eyes to the depth of Columbia Records. Williams her I release, according to SoundSean. In partt of the processof m ak i ng Destiny'sny's , Destiny's Child. This is not a group of teeth on the Los Angeles music cir- addition to "" and Child the best possible group," says puppets. This is agroup with vision" cuit, touring and recording with such "Jumpin' Jumpin'," the project Matthew. Although the set has recorded artists as Arista ingénue Monies includes the 1999 multi- format hits Beyoncéagrees. "Now, Hook at this under the guidance of such famed has worked seemingly 1,01, IVIICOO110 ueyonne The group "Bills, Billa, Bills" and "Bug A Boo." and mason pos- group there's no to apolo- Knowles, and Kelly Rowlanft hip -hop producers as Rodney nonstop in an effort to hit every "It was a difficult time, to be sure," gize," she says. "Until now, we've Jerkins, Missy Elliott, and sible venue of exposure. Even as it says Matthew Knowles, the act's never been at the point where every oping an industry presence as a song- She'kspere, Beyoncé and Rowland prepares its next album, the act is manager and Beyoncé's father. "But member was a strong singer. From a writer for other artists. Although she have always penned much of the still interweaving days of magazine we did our best to remain focused vocal perspective, the changes have has yet to announce outside projects, material. "I think the hazard of being photo shoots, interviews, radio vis- and dm at all times. Being in Des- been an improvement. We don't have several high -profile ventures are in a young woman in this business is its, and TV appearances. tiny's Child is difficult. It requires to make excuses or apologies anymore. the pipeline. that people assume that you're being 'They never take a day off, or at quite a bit of sacrifice. What we've Overall, it's a good vibe now within the Both Beyoncé and Matthew insist led around by others- mostly men," least that appears to be the case," learned is that it's not for everyone." group. Everyone has the name per- that solo activity will not infringe Beyoncé says. "That's far from the notes Don Tenser, president of In February, group members sonality, which makes life so much eas- upon the future of Destiny's Child as situation that we're in" Columbia. "They know what it Lelbya Lockett and LaTavia Rober- ier. We're blessed that the fans have a fully fanctioning recording unit. "I She backs up that claim with writ- takes to be more than just an R8rB sonn were dismissed from the lineup been receptive to the changes." love being in the group far too much ing tunes like "Independent Women act with a big album. This is an act

due to "creative differences," imme- There's one more change that Des- to let it die," Beyoncé asserts. "And, Part I," the NO. 1 hit featured on the destined for superstardom. They diately after which Beyoncé and tiny's Child tans mn look forward to: quite frankly, this group has been soundtrack to "Charlie's Angels." want it. They deserve it. And fourth member the eventual solo outing of Beyoncé. through too much to go away That song is intended to be an they're going to get it, without a recruited singers Michelle Williams "It something that will happen, because I'm making a solo record." anthem to women who stand on their doubt" and Farah Franklin as replacements. without question," says Matthew. Beyoncé is currently locked away own two feet, without needinga man Beyoncé likes the sound of such "It was a bit 'We've never made a secret of that in a studio with Rowland and to hold them up," she says. 'That's words. "Like I said," she concludes, Cary," Beyoncé being a goal." He adds that the plan is Williams, laying down tracks for a where we're coming from." "this year could have ended on a dif- says. "But we for each of the group's members to get new Destiny's Child album, due for Where Beyoncé and Rowland ferent note. We never forget that, refused to let a chance to record solo. "It's a natural release in February. Its tone and come from is Houston, where they especially on the days when we get our differences evolutionfor a group wherein you're direction are being kept under tight were childhood friends. Working tired. Instead, we use that as the fuel with LeToya and dealing with strong vocalist." wraps, though Matthew says it will under the watchful eye of Matthew, we end to push on and work a little LeTavia breakup Beyoncé will also beat work devel- display more of the act's writing skills the two joined forces with Lockett harder. the group. As a Ieaes music fan myself, I hate to see my favorite groups dissolve because STUDIO MONITOR (Continued front page 54) of one or two changes. I prefer to see what will happen when they improving in power and flexibility for Greene Street Recording. "You mn Although bookings at Ocean Way things that are going to happen. I'm try to keep things going." many years. The revolution spawned buy a24-track digitalmachine nowfor Studios in Nashville are strong, says already starting to see a lot of it." Despite her trepidation, the act by modular digital multitrack four grand. It's insane! And combine Sharon Corbin. all is not well in Likewise, Abmsh is resolute, giv- forged on. In fact, Williams and machines, led by the Alesis Adat, that with all the plug -ins for comput- Music City. ing assurance that Kampo will adapt Franklin found themselves on a resulted in a whole layer of studios ers that represent real things." "A couple of months ago I was alit- and weather the storm net for the single "Say being erased from the map. Indeed, the third -party plug-ins, tle freaked out, because I was hear - "Our plan is to work with the My Name" within hours of joining Today, however, digital audio performing every task from reverb ing so much negative feedback from changes that are taking place in the Destiny's Child. workstations, in particular Digi- and compression to amplifier and so many people," says Corbitt. "One business," he says, "rneaning working "They were consummate pros," design's Pro TYbols, are creating anew instrument modeling, are enormous- positive that we have at Ocean Way with Pro Tools systems. Anybody Matthew says. "It had to be frighten- Brain recording. With the addition of ly popular. As Abraah says, the top- is that we're not dependent just on that is recording an album in their ing, but they just relled with it and did the ProControl work surface, Pro to-bottom, comprehensive solution the country market" bedroom haste eventually mix. Some amazingjob." Tools is a recorder, a console, infinite offered by Pro Thols cannot be over- Ocean Way, located in a church dat- will try to mix in Pro 7bole, but a lot anStephanie Gayle, senior director of racks of outboard equipment -the list stated. The debate over the sonic ing back to the mid-19th century, fea- of people are still going to mix in a stu- marketing at Columbia, agrees. "It goes on. The equipment, the conven- characteristics off digital, furthermore, tures an enormous live room, which dio, when, of course, record compa- was truly a tense time,"she says"Wc tional wisdom says, is so good now- is fading, although many still consid- is popular for orchestral sessions as nies are going to pay for them. My had worked no hard to get to this and no comparatively inexpensive- er modeling software lacking. But the well as country and pop project, Car- [Solid State Logic] Axiom room is moment in time. There was no much that it raises a question: Is the question of whether modeling soft- bitt explains. very at stake and so much riding on the commercial reeds-dingstudio obso- ware sounds as good as the real thing 'We're OK," she says. "But I hear aybe the key operative word is shoulders of these young women. We lete? is moot, says Harrington. a lot of gloom and doom from other 'diversification; "he adds. 'The best at Columbia will always be impressed It isn't, of course. There will always "Whether it does or doesn't," he folks. My heart goes out to everybody, advise I can give is to try to branch with how well they handled the tran- be, in the words done studio manag- says, "as long as they think it does, because it is a really confusing time out to other things. The whole idea is, sition." er, the'tecordingstudio/Ritz Hotel," why come to a studio and use [the red right now What you're seeing is a lot you have to stay optimistic in any They did more than merely handle because top-selling artist ran afford thingl? If people hear it enough timm, of people running scared, and a lot of business. There are good times and the situation: Destiny's Child began to book such efacilty for months at a it wont matter. It's not bitter grapes, confusion es a resit" bad times, and you have to keep a pos- evolving toward being an act with a time. But below that top tier, what it's just reality." None of this is to suggest that stu- itive attitude. We've already made more distinctive image and creative will remain? A multi -room facility On the WestCoast, the experience dio personnel are placing blame on some changes, including diversifica- focus-thanks largely to Beyoneé represents a multimillion -dollar is identical, according to many pro- Pro 'Pals. On the contrary, the plat- tion into post-production, film work, becoming the act's undeniable leader. investment, regardless of its status in fessionals. form is ubiquitous: Rare is the pro- and surround sound. Even though "In situations like these, an act will the community. Can these studios 'There's no doubt that the majori- fessional project thatdoes not employ surround, at this point, is a marginal either fold, or it will come back survive when music is increasingly ty of studio owners will agree that it at some point Still less common is business, I expect there will he stronger," notes Gayle. "In the ease created in homes and offices? there was a slowdown,' says Marty the engineer who does not marvel at growth in that, and I'm already posi- ofDestiny's Child, they became more "I don't want to be the purveyor of Eberhardt of Sound Image Studios its power and flexibility. But the tioned for it. powerful and tighter as a unit. And doom and gloom, but I think in the in Van Nuys, Calif. "If you were for- changing methods of professional "You have to take ahard stand and Beyoncé showed that she has the next year you're going to see a lot of tunate enough to pick up enough recording are frcingbothevaluation say you're going to weather the stuff to be a great leader-not that places close," says Alex Abrash, stu- projects, like we've been able to, and evolution in the industry, which storm," Abrash continues. "I'm going Kelly or the other girls aren't strong, dio manager of New York's Kampo you're still staying pretty healthy, but is liable to be painful for some. to expand my post business and try gifted women, because they are. But Studios.'When Pro Mots went 24 -bit, certainly you can't be naive or "I truly feel that there are some to feed into Pro 7bols users You rant there's no denying that Beyoncé that's when something fundamental- unaware of Pro Toole. If you have a very positive changes that are going get access to the amountof hardware stepped to the plate in a major way." ly changed. Pro Tools is fundamental- big desk, the Studer 827 [analog tape to take place," says Corbin "When a end the kind ofacoustic environment The new lineup had little time to ly different [from the Adat revolu- machine], and the Sony digital [mul- forest catches fire, you have death, and consoles that we have here. You sharpen its chops. The girls spent tion], because it replaces the studio titrack tape machine], you've got a ton but there's also birth that mines from can't re-create that yet. We're going much of the spring and summer on from top to bottom. Recorde today of money invested. If clients are just it. I think that's what we're seeing. to use every bit of creativity we have the road, touring with Christina an be built around a lot of intense going to wheel in their Pro Tools, What we have to do is get together to weather this. I think there have to Aguilem and TLC. "We thought we production work and a lot of plug-ins." they're not even using the tape anddiscuss what's going to grow horn be some clouds lifting at the end of the were chillin'," Beyoncé says with a "It's the culmination of stuff getting machine. It's a pretty expensive piece that. Even though I've been con- storm. Perhaps the places that can laugh. "But the drama wasn't over no high- tech," says David Harring- of equipment to have sitting there not cerned about a lot of my colleagues, I weather the storm will benefit from yet" ton, studio manager of New York's getting used" do feel like there's a lot of positive it, But we've all felt the pinch."

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