Vocalist/Songwriter/Topliner

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm a full-time songwriter in LA. Currently I'm doing a lot of writing sessions with artists and producers in the LA scene. I have a bunch of songs coming out this year that I'm excited about! I'm also doing a lot of toplining and vocals in the K-Pop space and Sync as well!

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

A: Clients often ask me how long it will take me to complete the project and my answer is between 1-3 weeks depending on my availability. They also usually ask me what I need from them, and I always ask for: the track as a .wav file preferably, the tempo and key of the track, and any specific references or ideas that they have!

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

A: Sometimes people reach out to me for 'vocals' for their track, but what they're really asking for is songwriting *and* vocals. I think there's a misconception around how much talent/skill, work, and energy it takes to write a topline (melody & lyrics). It's much more time consuming than just recording a vocal. Writing is a completely different skill than singing. So I think it's good if people keep that in mind when it comes to fair compensation for that service. Songwriting/ toplining will always cost more than just vocals, because there's a lot more work and expertise that goes into it - and if it's a full buy-out, you're paying for intellectual property.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: It depends on the project but if it's a topline + vocals for example, I start by listening to your track a few times just to get familiar with it. Then I start coming up with melody ideas, and I also look through my lyric concept ideas to find a concept/title that matches the feeling of the track. I usually write the chorus at this point, and once I have something really strong and catchy, I move on to the verses. Once the whole topline is written, I then record the lead vocal (on Pro Tools). Then I comp (edit) the lead vocal. When I have a solid lead vocal, I start recording doubles and harmonies, then adlibs. The final step is editing and mixing everything, and then I bounce a reference mix for my client to listen to! After that, if my client is happy with the song, I'll bounce stems for delivery! :)

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: The variety of writing & singing all kinds of songs across many genres!! I have a lot of fun switching it up.

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

A: I started singing and working with a vocal coach when I was about 10 years old, but I started playing the guitar and songwriting when I was 13. I wanted to be a Country/Pop artist. I performed at several festivals like Canadian Music Week, had some of my songs on radio, was on a national TV show in Canada, and by the time I was 17 I released my first album as well as several singles. But a few years later I started traveling to Nashville frequently and realized that my true passion was songwriting, and that I wanted to just focus on that. That's when I started co-writing a lot, and meeting with several music publishers. I finally moved to Nashville in 2017 to pursue songwriting full-time. I spent 3.5 years there writing and working on my craft, and then I moved to LA in 2020!

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

A: Some of my biggest influences include Kehlani, Ellie Goulding, Rosalia, SZA, Alison Krauss, Kacey Musgraves, Emily Warren and Ali Tamposi.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill is coming up with catchy melodies & unique lyric concepts.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: It depends on what the project is. If they're wanting me to sing a vocal, or write a top-line, I may ask for references (i.e. songs that have a similar vibe to what they're going for). I try to get as many details and as much direction as possible so that I can really help achieve their vision.

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

A: Be detailed about what you're looking for. The more direction you give me, the more I'll be able to help you achieve your vision.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Musically, I tend to lean towards Pop/R&B, but when it comes to lyrics, I'm all about story-telling and painting a picture (which is more typical in the Country and Singer/Songwriter genres).

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

A: Pop, R&B, Country/Pop, K-Pop, Dance/House. I'm pretty all over the map!

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring creativity, passion, interesting melodies, and my soft/sweet sounding voice. I'm all about interesting hooks that say things in a new way.

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

A: The most common type of work I do for my clients is top-lining, writing lyrics, and recording vocals.