Portfolio V - FSO 2025 - Kaili L Baker

Product/Services 

Song – “Fix You” Coldplay COVER by Kaili L Baker

My first initial developed thought about starting this project was divided on hoping to be allowed to cover a song that was both soft enough for my voice and ukulele skills to settle in and reach a comfy space in my time. It was my Portfolio III class project. I chose this song because it was a beautiful interest and simple design to recreate in my comfy zone. It is cut short but I think it sounds prettier with the made up ending I created and beautifully developed through weeks of thought. I do believe it needs some extra care and edits but overall is some of my better work. 

Ukulele – Creating the main repertoire and ending.

I first began with the creation of the ukulele parts. I studied videos on how to do the song in ukulele compared to the finished version that Coldplay presents. Instead of a repeating a giant verse to create a longer than two minutes audio, I created a shorter but sweeter version to the song. I recorded my ukulele tracks with a dynamic microphone. Utilizing a Scarlett 18i20 as the sound board to connect the mic to the computer. 

I initially knew I needed to require a beginning organ part to the song because that’s what the original song had. But towards the end it stops and the ukulele becomes louder and a different play on strings. Ending with a soft chord strum.

Creating the cut version of the song being a mainly acoustic version of itself, was a play on ears in my own image. Creating the sound I needed to become a stronger edited version was a challenge. The development of the chord progressions were recorded separately and pieced together by ear and bar measurement. I think my favorite part of development was the ending. Creating that perfect ending strum and the break between lyrics really sold the end to the track. I used pro tools to develop the structure of the chord strums and continuous flow. Its more original than it is edited. 

Vocals – The beginning, middle, and end.

My vocals were recorded on a dynamic microphone although I wished I used a condenser microphone as I may have misplaced it that week of recording and made do with the other one. Having the echo and surround sound the condenser mic creates gives me the impression that my voice sounds better when used. Versus using the dynamic microphone. I wouldn’t go back and change the vocals they’re spot on for most of the recording. I listened to the song with my headphones while recording my vocals into the microphone. I also edited some of the verses with my pro tools software. 

I listened to the song for three weeks before I was confident enough to sit and record vocals in my room. Creating the finalized versions of the song took time and repeated attempts. I made the music on two voice recordings I settled on. I also did multiple versions to the very ending when I sing “Fix You” as an ending line. 

The lyrics are by Coldplay but I changed the song structure a bit to match my needs in a completed sound track cover. Enough to share what the original song had to offer but also to create a simpler and softer version to the song. Using the ukulele to create my mocking bird acoustic version of the original song was a beautiful and fulfilling experience.

Keyboard – Organs and moderate piano.

I utilized the software’s ability to create an organ beginning and continuation throughout the song that the original song portrayed. Creating the taunting piano verse was inspired by the original song as well. Ending the midi keyboard organ noise creating a solo sound of ukulele made it more beautiful and accepting of my overall tracks fates. 

Mastering – Simple and Noted.

Throughout the creation of my media or cover song, I endured struggles of liking the finished portions to the music and found it tough to keep up with the recommended strumming I learned watching YouTube videos on how others created ukulele covers with single vocals. I didn’t do a whole lot of changes to the song I wanted to keep it a little bare and would love to smash with another musician that also mixes and has a better understanding of how to modify vocals. I am always looking for new friends to share musical ideas and dreams with. 

Utilizing My Songs Potential VS. Future Goal Settings

While developing the future goals of my production team in creating a studio or space for practice and growth. This song represents some of the best work I have created throughout the years. Although I haven’t made many whole songs, I have recorded previously vocals of covered songs by other artists such as Foxes, Marceline (Adventure Time), and Halsey. I have had the opportunity to study for audio production at Full Sail this last two years and plan to graduate in November 2025. 

Creating music for myself but also others that may find it beautiful is a very important goal to me. I hope to reach many within creating covers of songs that I really enjoy and may think have important roles or stories to tell about us as a whole society or human bond. 

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YouTube LINK (AUDIO Product/Service Example): 

“Fix You” COVER by Kaili

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaDH3zFqwrA