Pop Vocalist/Singer

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

A: My Idolatry EP that I am busy micro-dosing the singles out to the public. I was the singer and the main songwriter (if not the sole songwriter) on all the songs (and sometimes producer). The entire EP is my brain child, I created these fictional gods, made art for them, described their intentions and personality, I made Spotify playlists for each god to be able to present to my co-writer with the kind of energy this specific that we were writing for had. I created all the art, except the final EP cover art, and I got to learn DIY promotions and marketing techniques, creating a brand and persona profile, etc. It was the most liberating and free expression of my creativity and soul that I have ever experienced. I loved the creation part, not so much the releasing and promo part.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Children's EP for a company, in the midst of my releasing my own EP's singles, just finished a K-Pop demo live recording session, working on my own productions in between.

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

A: Not that I am aware of.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: I want to say the sound of analogue, the warmth and authenticity in it specifically, but the ease and convenience of digital is just so brilliant.

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

A: I won't rest until I feel I gave it my best, and I will always serve the song, even if that means suggesting a different vocalist.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: The process of creation, it's the most satisfying thing in the world

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

A: What is my process? See answer in previous question.

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

A: That I'll be offended if the client doesn't like something I did, or wants me to do something differently. I take pride in my work, and I want you to love your song at the end, it's not about me anyway.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: Who is the song for? What's the intention/purpose of the song? What is the emotion you want to capture? What do you want to convey to the listeners? What's the BPM and key? When do you need it? Do you have examples of what you want the vocal to sound like? Why do you think I'm a good match for this specific song?

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

A: Be clear and honest with what you want and it's okay to change your mind. We are all just musical puzzle pieces, sometimes we fit and it's okay if we don't. There are always more puzzle pieces to try and do your song justice. It might be me, it might not, and it's nothing personal, we are all just serving the song.

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

A: My MacBook Pro, my Rode NT1-A setup, audio interface, a midi keyboard and my Audio-Technica ATH-M50x headphones.

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

A: I have been singing since before I could talk. I have been classically trained, and I also have grade 1 in Music Theory and have been taught the piano growing up. I have been performing since I was a child, and competed in National Performing Arts Championships, I was almost signed to Universal Studios at the age of 15, but ended up having to decline the offer for personal reasons. I taught myself how to use a DAW while still at school, and then taught myself how to play bass guitar. I started a band soon after declining the offer, and met with family friend Deon Maas (local South African music industry veteran) to discuss the future of the band. However, the band disbanded due to differences. During all this, I attained a bachelors degree in Psychology and Criminology, and worked as a volunteer in a hospital and daycare in poverty stricken areas of South Africa. I lost hope of being able to make music full time, and started studying Chartered Accountancy, which I enjoyed and was later hired by the University to tutor new students. However half way through my BCom Accounting degree, I was diagnosed with cancer and had to received chemotherapy. I still attended university, and tutoring when my body allowed it, but I spent most of my time in bed for that year, so I taught myself the ukulele. I ended up dropping the Accounting degree due to side-effects of chemotherapy on my brain, and focused on recovery for the next few years. I still played around in DAWs, but never released music. Finally, in 2019 my health was mostly back to normal, and I could finally do some real work or finish my studies. However after my brush with death, I decided that if the cancer were to return, I want to have spent my time doing something I love, so I decided to invest in my music. I joined The Songwriting Academy and received guidance and mentoring from their very successful faculty. I refined my songwriting skills, and learned how to use Ableton for the first time, and started writing and recording with so many different people. I would do any song, just because I was so excited to be making music. I have financial freedom, so I make music full-time and pressure-free, just for the joy of it. I have had interest in a song from the K-Pop group, EXO and that was very exciting, I got to chat with my heroes in music, and now I'm making music, playing with marketing and art, every day. I hope to be back on stage in the near future, because I really love putting on a show too.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: If Pink, fluffy, bubblegum combat boots, were music, that's what my style would be. My style is actually, genuinely unique and good according to Rob Wells (the Canadian Producer) and other multi-platinum mentors of mine. So I think it'd be easier to describe my influences rather: K-Pop: K/DA, BlackPink, Twice Electronic Pop/Hyperpop: Grimes, Hannah Diamond, Tommy Genesis Pop: Britney Spears, Hilary Duff, Lily Allen, Hayley Williams Chamber Choir: Verdi, Susan/Cameron LaBarr, Joshua Shank Opera/Musicals: Phantom of the Opera, Sarah Brightman, Die Zauberflöte, Sweeney Todd Other: Edith Piaf, Linkin Park

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

A: Grimes. I admire her body of work and her relentless passion for being a self-produced artist and being authentic even when they whole world disagrees with her.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: You'll know you got the sound/thing you wanted when you feel excited after hearing it/signing it. Don't doubt it.

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

A: Hyperpop, Children's music, K-Pop, Musicals, and I used to be involved in choral/chamber choir music too.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My hyper-empathy, synethesia and passion. I am autistic, and music is my special interest. I am highly intelligent and tenacious when it comes to thing that are important to me, such as my dreams and my music. My autistic brain makes me hyper-focus on music and helped me learn Ableton (with Melodyne and vocal chains) in 2 months. My hyper-empathy helps me to feel what other people feel, because of my brain's wiring, I can literally experience other people's emotions or physical sensations, aka Mirror-Touch Synethesia. This makes me able to tap into the emotion behind lyrics and deliver an authentic performance. I want to also mention the fact that I had the opportunity to do whatever I want to do (career-wise), and I chose music, win or lose, I'll be here everyday, making music. I am financially taken care of, so it's not about money, I am here for the love of all things music, especially singing.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring spirit and passionate energy, empathy, awareness and fun! I am financially secure, and I make music for the joy of it, though being paid for this endeavour is such a big bonus, because I love collecting plugins. I am really aware of the energy I bring to the song, and won't record when I'm not in a good place emotionally ( which doesn't happy often). I believe the best songs are made without effort and forcing, and in a spirit of passion and fun, I also believe that the listener tends to vibe more with a song when the people who created it were in a great place when making it. I am also shameless and will do weird things, put on weird voices just to see what sounds I can come up with. I like channeling/impersonating different singers during different takes to capture a variety of different styles and energies.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I have a video call with a client to discuss the song, listen to it, see if we both feel right for said song. Then we discussed what kind of direction they want for the song, what style of singing, how many takes and the time of delivery. I would then either arrange a live recording session over Discord or Zoom, or I would start the recording process. My recording process includes vocal warmup, I record standing up always, and then I'd do a lot of takes until I'm happy with it. I'll record full takes and separate sections. I might use a vocal chain with an EQ, and compression, and if required I might remove the breaths or noises in Melodyne 5 Studio. This is all negotiable and stems can be sent completely dry and unaltered. I update the client throughout the process as I think necessary, and might ask additional questions if I require more clarity. When I have finished my part of the project, I send a wetransfer link to the client. Whereafter the client can message me with changes. And the process repeats. Until 2 alterations sessions are reached or the client is happy.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have a MacBook Pro M1 Pro (2021) (OS Monterey), Rode NT1-A (with cradle and pop filter), Focusrite Scarlet 212i, Akai MPK mini MK3, Audio-Technica ATH-M50x headphones, Ableton Live 11 Suite, Melodyne 5 Studio. I am busy emigrating, so I record in clothes cupboards or against a hotel mattress or whatever, to get a clean recording.

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

A: Grimes, Britney Spears, Hannah Diamond, BTS, BlackPink, Spice Girls, Lights.

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

A: Recording vocals