Brandon Twp.- Amanda Halula has learned how to dream again.
The Brandon High School senior is about to graduate, a time when many young people have goals and dreams. But Halula is heading in a different direction than many of her classmates and she couldn’t be happier? she has a recording contract and her own CD, ?42.?
‘You get into the whole gotta go to college, get a degree, get married and have kids,? said Halula. ‘The whole stereotypical life. Getting the cd taught me to dream again.?
Halula has sung ever since she can remember? and loudly. In choir, the mezzo had to be told to quiet down, since she drowned out everyone else. She never had voice lessons, but was always in choir and has been in school musicals since elementary school, beginning with ‘Alice in Wonderland? where she was the Cheshire Cat and had a solo.
In fifth grade, she and her family moved here from Ohio and two years ago, began going to Bridgewood Church in Clarkston, where she also sang? and where events were set into motion that would change her life.
Halula told her father she wanted to make a CD. They spoke to the pastor at church, who told them about Ric Viers and Gary Allison, music producers who have worked with singers Eminem and Kid Rock and have done sound work for MTV. Halula soon went to their studio in Utica, the first time she’d ever been in a recording studio, where she sang a capella and was taped.
Allison told Halula she had ‘wilt? in her voice, a texture or trait that is psychologically soothing. Most importantly, he told her it is something that sells records. They signed her with Orca Records.
Halula writes her own lyrics, but to put music to her words, they brought in Aaron Golematis. He and Halula ‘hit it off? immediately and in October, they began recording her cd.
‘I was super, super excited,? says Halula, describing the songs as pop/rock and inspired by her relationship with God.
She put in long hours for two months? going to school at 7:25 a.m. and leaving at 2:25 p.m. to come home, do homework, eat a salad and leave the house by 4 or 4:30 p.m. to go to the Utica studio. She would start recording at 5:30 p.m. or 6 p.m. and get home at 1 a.m. Her only days off from recording during this time period were Wednesdays and Sundays.
‘I was having such an amazing time it didn’t even feel like work,? says Halula, who was also sick with a throat infection while she was recording the cd, but didn’t allow the illness to stop her. ‘As long as it sounded good we just went with it.?
During Christmas break, the CD was finished. After receiving approval, Halula’s entire press kit was recently sent to Virgin Records in England and also to Universal Records in Florida in an effort to get her a record label so her CD will be available in stores.
Halula received a special invitation to sing three songs from ?42? at Brandon High School’s spring concert, 7 p.m., May 16 in the auditorium, 1025 S. Ortonville Road. She will also sing ‘Dream Maker? during Brandon’s commencement ceremony, 2 p.m., May 29, at Meadowbrook Theatre on the campus of Oakland University. Her cds will be available for purchase at these events.
Halula says she is ready to graduate and hopes to have some touring opportunities this summer. For now, she is ‘rolling with it.?
‘I’m waiting for doors to open, because I know they will,? she says. ‘This is pretty much my job right now? this is everything.?