Carmel Dean’s second Broadway song blog

Western Australian expat Carmel Dean has been living and working as an arranger, composer and musical director on Broadway for ten years. Recently, the WAAPA graduate and proud red head from Perth (who also happens to be the musical director of the acclaimed Broadway musical American Idiot) has been prolifically composing her own pieces, and recording them with Broadway stars to post in an online ‘song blog’.

Song Blog is a YouTube series with established Broadway performers singing brand new musical theatre songs composed by Carmel as well as other up-and-coming writers.

We featured her first song blog a few months ago in an article about Carmel’s last 10 years on the Great White Way, and today we bring you the second instalment.

Project Song Blog #2 – Here A Captive Heart

Featuring Alysha Umphress (American Idiot)

Now, as you watch this Song Blog, take note around 2:24. The high note Alysha sings on the word “busted” is close to the top of her “belting” or “chest voice” range, and therefore she’s able to convey an amazing emotional intensity on that note. Then she riffs down to the lower end of her range for the end of the song, allowing her to capture sorrow and emptiness on the words “no more.” So my final decision of what key to write this song in was based on where Alysha would sound best singing those two phrases – and for those who are curious, it’s in A minor! –  Carmel Dean in the Huffinton Post