Singer

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

A: Other than my own personal project, I worked on a musical with Steven Rodgers it was fun and I was proud of doing that work in the studio. I was one of the minor character singers, a forest muse.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I am looking to serve clients needing vocal services. I am working on funding 5 projects currently. My link tree will give a better picture of the work I am doing now, everything else was in schools and I didn't keep a record of it. https://linktr.ee/empressjuana

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

A: I am sure I know more people but Cory Clark is the most recent musician who helped with realizing a project. He was very polite and easy to work with. Great musician. Of course I would recommend Sefi Carmel and this guy named Moshe.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Either, they both have great qualities but I do like analog.

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

A: I will absolutely make sure your piece in is tune, with clean good vocal tone.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Well, which job? If I had it my way I would do just music related jobs if I could sort out how to make the desired salary doing so. When it comes to music jobs, I like the process of practice. It's like a mediation the repetitive nature. The creation aspect I enjoy getting lost in the sounds, colors and imagery of music. The singing aspect, I enjoy because well one cannot sing well unless they relax and I like relaxing. The performance aspect it's just fun.

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

A: Well, this is my first time on this platform so I don't know yet. But, for live events it usually "can you sing this can you sing that" I can sing most things and my range is mezzo soprano.

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

A: I have no idea, and I don't really care. Why should I care? Life is too short.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What kind of singers sound do you like and can you give me two contrasting samples? Any special tech stack or gear you want me to work with? What is your budget and turnaround time?

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

A: Please give me much notice to help with your project. I currently juggle several jobs and so I can't move that fast on things.

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

A: Blue mic, newest macbook pro with pro tools or logic, a tea kettle w mug + tea, newest iphone, digital metronome/tuner for all instruments.

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

A: My career path has been a mess honestly, the goal was to teach for several years while I built up a body of work. However, I was laid off at the start of my career which caused much mental suffering and panic attacks when trying to go back the classroom to teach music. I ended up losing everything and was literally living in an airport for about 5 years. So, I'm just getting back around to trying again since it took about 5 years to get to a somewhat stable situation after getting a roof over my head. I am still rebuilding. That may be TMI but I feel its relevant, since it affected my vocal development. I suppose if I had to quantify, 5 years at Uni., 3 in the classrooms, 3 on my own, plus years of high school and church musician work, for about 15+ years.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I truly don't know I have heard I people say I remind them of many artist including Tori Amos and Janelle Monae. I suppose they mean my vocal timbre. Some people say I give them Lisa Bonet vibes but I know nothing about her so I don't know what that means, yet. I'll let you decide for yourself. Come get to know me. https://linktr.ee/empressjuana

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

A: I'd love to work with anyone who is kind, professional (as in you do this full-time/part-time and your reliable and prompt) and has a large audience because I need traction, a lift up and I don't want to work by myself. The larger the audience the more traction I can get to handle my responsibilities and thus have more time for what I'd like to be doing. That being said, singing back-up for J-Lo would be pretty cool, her story resonates with me. At least I think so from the snippets I see in passing. Believe it or not I am not a super fan of any one artist, I don't have a favorite and I appreciate so many different types of music.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Breathe in the vowels and try to keep the breathe silent unless it's stylistically appropriate.

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

A: I have worked on music from a wide range of pop, rap, country, folk, and jazz.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Technical singing

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Wealth of knowledge about how to use the voice, a good ear,

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I get a job request, I look over the music and decide if my voice is a good fit. After I accept the job, I get the sheet music, audio or both and meticulously practice and memorize the music (if live). I take rough recording and listen back to identify areas which need to be improved make the changes, then record and submit a finished polished audio recording.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I don't have a studio right now, I have to borrow space I have got a mac pro and a snowball usb mic and garageband. However, my computer makes this horrible fan sound that I cannot get rid of now and it ruins recording with the mic.

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

A: So many... Selena, Jennifer Lopez, Angel Taylor, Ingrid Michaelson, Norah Jones, Mariah Carey, Cheryl B. Engelhardt, ....it would be silly to keep this list going, it wouldn't end.

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

A: Studio Session Work Live Weddings so far