Feature vocalist/lyricist

Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?

A: People sometimes underestimate my accuracy/natural ability. I've been offered more than once, before even starting a project, to have a timer/metronome and guide to help with timing and pitch - which I don't need.

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?

A: There are so many. I'm proud of everything I work on, because I don't stop doing something until it's right - to how I hear it, or to how the client wants it. Of course there is a limit to how many free edits a client can ask for, but this usually doesn't happen. I'm fairly accurate as long as I'm given enough information before starting.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Three songs - including one which requires me to sing exactly like the original vocalist; it's a cover of the song that the client wants to remix, so naturally he wants to have a vocal that sounds like the original.

Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?

A: I don't know anyone. Yet!

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: I have no preference. I just want to create music. As long as it sounds authentic to whatever style it's supposed to be, I'm happy with that.

Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

A: To provide vocals comparable to/better than the demos I give you (if you ask for a demo and that's why you choose me as your vocalist). I am dedicated. You'll have 100% of my effort and skill put into the track. Sometimes I spend hours on one track which can take me into the early hours of the next day. In one particular instance, I had half a song to finish and started working on it at 9pm. I didn't stop until I was finished, which was 8am the next day.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love to sing, first and foremost, but with it being my job, I absolutely love creating something with a producer or other songwriters that touches people in some way; is uplifting, heart-rending, etc.

Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A: - Q: Can you sing x-style? A: Please provide a sample (i.e. usually a link to a song on youtube) and I'll give do a demo in that style. - Q: Can you add some more harmonies? A: Yes. - Q: Can you finish this in x-amount of time? A: Yes (if I can't, I don't take the job, though this is rare). - Q: Can you send the WAV files via WeTransfer? A: Sure (if the site I'm working on doesn't facilitate sending WAVs)!

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: Questions that I ask of prospective clients usually center around: - What sort of vibe (emotion) are you going for? Party? Sad? Fun? - Do you have a structure for where you want the vocals to be (i.e. what time the verse starts and ends, etc)? - What vocal style do you want to hear (EDM, pop, country, RnB)? Other questions typically branch off from whatever answers are given to the questions listed above.

Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A: Make sure you know what you want. Sometimes this is hard, because occasionally you may not know what that is until you come across it. Know what you -need-, have a couple of basic questions ready to ask the provider.

Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?

A: A desalinization machine (to turn ocean water into drinking water), a knife, a tarpaulin,

Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?

A: My career path is to be a professional vocalist touring the world, sharing my music with everyone. I love to perform for people, lifting their spirits or reminding them fondly of a loved one they lost by singing 'their' song, etc. I've been singing since before I could talk. Born in South Africa, I was taught a Zulu song by my nanny, and under the age of two, I was able to sing this completely foreign (to me) language to all the Zulu people in my local area. As far as doing music professionally, I've been a freelance vocalist for about four years (since 2015).

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: My natural style is best described in all the older pop-ballad superstars. Celine Dion songs are my strong point. I taught myself to sing by singing to her albums from 'Colour of My Love' through to her newer, EDM-inspired songs today. I also have country influences (I grew up singing to Shania Twain and Faith Hill as well). Despite this, my voice is versatile and I can adapt to any style.

Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

A: John Legend - his voice is gorgeous, warm, emotive, and I feel like our styles would complement each other.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: The vocals and music have to be balanced, though it depends on what kind of music you're producing. If it's an orchestral piece with choir elements, then the music can be a little louder than the vocals. If it's a pop song with a typical verse, chorus, verse, chorus-type structure, the vocals need to be up the front - but I'm sure music producers know this. :)

Q: What type of music do you usually work on?

A: EDM, mostly trance tracks, though I'm historically a more 'classical' pop singer-- i.e Celine Dion, Christina Aguilera-style vocals.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Conveying emotion through the tone/inflection of my singing. I have a powerful voice with a wide range.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Pitch-perfect vocals, passion, energy, emotion, storytelling. A versatile voice with a large range, attached to a person who has a deep, indescribable love of music.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Typically, I will be contacted by clients (or put forth a proposal). If the client is interested in hearing more, I'll offer links or MP3s. I can also provide a demo of the client's song (usually just four lines/one verse) in a particular vocal style if requested. When things are confirmed, I'll usually record one verse and maybe a chorus, and send that off to the client for feedback before continuing. I don't want to spend hours and hours finishing a song only to hear back that it is completely different to what the client wants, so this half-song method ensures that not too much time is lost, and we are on the same track. So to speak. :)

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: AKGC414 condenser microphone Focusrite Scarlett Solo preamp Pro Tools

Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?

A: Celine Dion, Nobuo Uematsu (Japanese composer), Harry Gregson-Williams, Hans Zimmer

Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.

A: The most common type of work that I do for clients is full-song vocals, which almost always includes lyrics and topline creation. Occasionally, a client will ask me to provide vocals for his/her song, which already has lyrics and a topline.