Vocalist, Pianist, Lyricist

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

A: I would have to say the first release I ever did with my duo Artax. I only joined Callum and Artax at the end of last year, working towards releasing an album and my first release with Artax as well as my first ever releases ever! I worked really hard on the lyrics and vocals for this release, all very personal and wasn't sure how it would all work out and come together with us both coming from different musical backgrounds but I'm really proud of how it turned out.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I am currently working on my forthcoming EP, which will be a 4-track release with the single I released in July, Blue Roses as the title track. The EP will focus on mental health and my personal struggles and battles with mental health including depression, social anxiety, OCD, self-belief and worth and motivation. Each track will take you on a personal journey into how I have struggled with mental health and how it's affected myself as an individual and my life from day to day. I am also working on some other collaborations with other musicians/artists and have some plans with my duo in the pipeline too.

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

A: Unfortunately not yet but hopefully I'll come across someone awesome and be able to recommend them!

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital personally-this is what I'm used to and have always worked digitally.

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

A: That I will always deliver to the highest standard and in a quick turnaround. To also be as creative as possible and provide as many options as possible.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: The chance to be creative and versatile. To try out new styles and genres. To never do the same thing twice. But most of all, to be able to help someone out, meet new people and create music!

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

A: Usually things like; -Would you be able to write lyrics for my track? -Can you write a vocal melody using these lyrics or vocal melody provided? -What themes do you usually write about? -Etc.

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

A: I think perhaps maybe some people think I mix the tracks fully myself. I can only do a basic mix but I couldn't do a full mix. That is something I've been wanting to learn how to do properly.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: Usually; -What direction they want the lyrics, vocals, track do go in musically and lyrically -What preferences they may have in terms of how creative they want me to be -Any clarification I need on any aspects of the track -If something hasn't been mentioned that I would need to know, I'll enquire so I ensure I have everything I need to begin with

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

A: If you're wanting anything done in a specific way, please do let me know from the outset. I've completed a few orders on Fiverr before where some people haven't been clear from the outset and it's meant I fulfil an order thinking I've done it correctly but the person then finds it's not been done in the way they would have liked. For example, if you would prefer the lyrics to be sent to you before I record it, please do let me know so I know to do this.

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

A: Oh good question! Definitely my Rode mic, Mac, interface, piano and probably my guitar or loop pedal.

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

A: I have been doing this for a long long time. I have multitudes of performing experience whether as a soloist or as part of a band. In school, I was the vocalist for the school's jazz band as well as also playing trumpet. I also played trumpet in the senior wind band. Both bands participated in several competitions/contests all over Scotland and even down south and won multitudes of awards from Silver to Platinum. With both bands, we performed all over Scotland for multitudes of events, concerts and ceremonies. The wind band also played a few events during a Paris band trip. During my school years, I also performed as a solo vocalist in competitions/contests/events and would also perform with my old church worship band. Once I left school, I went onto study a HNC in Musical Theatre at New College Lanakshire in Motherwell. Gaining more performing experience, learning new skills, techniques and knowledge and also performing in a few shows. I also studied music for 2 years at the Academy of Music and Sound and have, over the years, worked in a variety of music related roles, tutored with several different organisations and as a freelancer, collaborated with a multitude of people, built up a steady bank of recording work, gigged and performed as a soloist and in a band whether it was a wedding, function, event or a gig of some sort. I have also now released music under my artist name Ceiti and also my duo, Artax. Over the years I have gained a lot of experience, skills, knowledge and techniques that have made me into the musician I am today. In terms of years, probably around about 15 years or so.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I personally would describe my style as a modern day Stevie Nicks but taking vocal inspiration from the likes of Adele, Norah Jones, Stevie Wonder, Ariana Grande, Hayley Williams, Chris Cornell, Amy Lee, Taylor Momsen and Billie Eilish. Piano inspiration from Ludovico Einaudi with lyrical inspiration focused on current issues including mental health, nature, human tragedy using symbolism and imagery etc. I take inspiration from many artists such as the people mentioned above but also Fleetwood Mac, Queen, Foreigner, ABBA, The Beatles, Thrice, Alice in Chains, Slaves, Bring Me The Horizon, Nothing But Thieves, Foo Fighters, Alter Bridge, Aurora, Avril Lavigne, Royal Blood, Dua Lipa, CHVRCHES, The Civil Wars, The Sweeplings, Kodaline, Ben Howard, Killswitch Engage, Ghost, Kelly Clarkson, Lady Gaga, London Grammar, Muse, Paloma Faith, Puddle of Mudd, Taylor Hawkins and more.

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

A: Personally, I would love to work with either Stevie Nicks or Dave Grohl. Stevie's amazingly profound and story telling lyric writing, her incredible unique vocals and her bohemian but freeing performances, I think would be amazing to take inspiration from up close-I think working with her would be an incredible opportunity in how to learn to write and perform in a different way but also to work with such a legendary female musician and songwriter. I would LOVE to work with Mr Grohl as I've always been a massive fan of him as a musician but also as an individual. He comes across as a really cool, down to earth, friendly and engaging individual with lots of energy and passion to bring. I believe I would learn a lot from him as a performer and musician but I believe with his ability to be versatile in his songwriting, we could write something really cool!

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Never leave the monitors on when recording vocals, I've done that so many times, totally forgotten about them and my mic has picked up the external noise haha!

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

A: I can work on any style of music. I am open to any genre/style and pride myself on my versatility and ability to adapt. I personally prefer working on dark ambient and atmospheric alt-pop, grunge, heavy rock/metal, synth wave, soul type style tracks.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I believe my strongest skill is my ability to be versatile. Over the years, I have worked on expanding my repertoire and skills in terms of genres/styles and vocal abilities and feel that I am able to adapt to any style/genre. I feel that I have broadened my vocal range technically, ability and style wise and therefore have become a much more versatile vocalist, musician and performer which means that I can work with not just one style but many.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I will bring as much creativity, passion and versatility as I can muster! I love to be creative and try new things, lyrically and vocally. I don't like to put myself in a box with anything and will try my hand at any style/genre and can adapt pretty quickly. I tend to give everything 100% and will work to the highest standard I possibly can!

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Depending on the order; -For just lyrics, I typically write from a chosen theme whether that's your chosen theme or my own. I'll choose a song structure to work with then write from there. I'll use imagery and symbolism to convey the theme of the lyrics/song. I'll write lyrics to a vocal melody, if provided if not, I'll write lyrics to a vocal melody I feel suits the flow of the song. I'll then put it into a PDF and send over. -For lyrics and vocal recording, I'll do the same above for lyrics. I'll then record the lead vocal line to the track provided-always dry. I'll record another lead line. Then if necessary, any harmonies-usually higher and lower. I'll then bounce down the stems and an MP3 demo and send over. -For the full track, I'll do everything above. I'd start off with the lyrics, then by following the structure of the lyrics-write a full instrumental track dependant on what instruments have been chosen to record it. I'll record it one instrument at a time, all programmed with my midi keyboard aside from piano. I'll record to a click and record a few times if need be. I'll then mess around with the volumes to get an idea of how it all comes together. I'll then add the vocals (dry), then bounce down all stems and a full MP3 demo to send over.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I use GarageBand mainly to record. I tend to record everything dry using only a noise gate due to external noise. I work quickly but do everything to the best of my ability. Equipment includes; -MacBook Air 2017 -GarageBand Software -Scarlett Focusrite 2i2 2nd Gen Interface -M-Audio AV32 3” Active Studio Monitors -Rode NT1-A Condenser Microphone with pop shield, foam isolation shields etc. -Alessis Q49 Midi Keyboard -Novation Launchpad MK2 Mini

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

A: A lot of musicians/music production professionals inspire me. Musicians such as Stevie Nicks and Stevie Wonder, Dave Grohl, Nita Strauss, Anika Nilles, Chris Cornell, Freddie Mercury, Lzzy Hale, Amy Lee, Adele, Myles Kennedy, Marc Tremonti, Paul McCartney, Billie Eilish, Howard Jones (Killswitch Engage), Lady Gaga, Lizzo, Hayley Williams, the guys from TOOL and TOTO. Producer and wise, I am inspired by people like Xylo Aria. I am inspired by many of these people's musical talent, ability, skills, professionalism and personality.

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

A: I usually write lyrics and record vocals for most projects. Most clients send me an already written track for me to add lyrics and vocals too. However, I do get a good few orders to write a piano track as well as lyrics and vocals too.