Exposed Vocals Interviews CC Lamondt
CC Lamondt is a singer, songwriter, poet, businesswoman, wife, and mother of two teenagers. CC was born on a tobacco farm in South Africa. CC wrote and performed her first song at the age of 11 and won numerous music competitions in both writing and singing while still at school.
In her first year at University she was discovered as an artist by one of the executives from Sun International and was immediately given the opportunity to perform at their venues across the globe. CC not only prefers to write her own music but also writes for other musicians. Her lyrics are direct, topical and have an honesty that sometimes cuts to the bone. CC’s voice is a mezzo-soprano but with a broad vocal range and allows her to write and perform in most genres. When CC, or Cat as most of her friends call her, is not on tour, she enjoys writing biographies, recording or writing music, painting, cooking or spending time outdoors with the family and her two Yorkshire Terriers.
CC completed her education in The United Kingdom as a Forensic Psychiatrist prior to travelling the world as a musician while using South Africa and the United States as a home base. She continues to write music for other international artists, jingles for adverts, theme songs for television programs and songs used in musicals and Television series. She has also studied Publishing, Music Marketing, Export, and Copyright Law at Berkeley University of Music.
While living in Kenya CC became the first ever white female to be featured in the True Love magazine of East Africa and she and her family were the only ever white family to be featured on the front cover of the Parents Magazine of East Africa.
CC is the owner of Lamondt International Records and Ngong Hills Music Publishing that has offices in South Africa, Kenya, and the USA.
CC is an avid supporter of African music and has sponsored several radio programs to showcase African artists. She also believes in developing young talent and sponsors at least one artist per year to introduce them into the industry. She continuously supports charity projects and contributes actively through fund raising performance shows. She has the tendency to disarm prejudiced attitudes with humor. She is well known for speaking her mind, standing up for what she believes in and fighting for the less fortunate.
CC and her family are immigrating to the USA later in 2016 specifically to promote songwriters and artist from Africa in America, UK, Canada, and Europe. She publishes and promotes artists in the country, blues, jazz, rock, gospel, RAP, R&B and Folk genres. CC has three albums in the market, “Waking in a Dream, It’s Personal and an Afrikaans album called “Ek skryf die Woorde”. She is also releasing two new albims this year.
“There are numerous things that we can get back in life, we can make money again, replace articles but the precious time we have with loved ones can never be substituted or replaced by anything in this world.”
CC is well known for being a proud African. She just returned from a business trip to America and again in May to Canada music Week to promote the songwriters she present and promote Africa in the International community of songwriters and publishers.
CC’s company Lamondt International has arranged the first ever Boots & Hats Country Festival in Kenya to coincide with the launch of her new album and the 30th anniversary of the Band Rocking Horse’s first album, which were the main act at the Festival on 14 March 2015 at the Ngong Race Course.
Lamondt International sponsored artist for this year is Christina O from Kenya. Christina’s R&B album will be launched and released in October 2016.
CC’s philosophy is: There is no dream unreachable, no obstacle too great to fulfill your destiny. Find something to laugh about every day. Don’t ever let a chance to say, “I love you” go by. Forgiveness doesn’t make the other person right but it sets you free. No person is ever too insipid to care for. Rather hurt someone’s feelings by being honest than lie to them. If you touched one person’s life in an audience, it was a successful show. Always remember to say thank you, no matter how small the gesture. Memories and special occasions are created; they don’t just happen by themselves. Never give with the idea of expecting something in return. Your worth isn’t calculated by the amount of times you’ve failed but by the times you’ve had the guts to get up again. Family is everything and should always be a first priority. Always remember that life is a gift! If you concentrate on the past or the future too much, you miss the journey.
“We love and are influenced by so many people, but may we do this passionately, single-mindedly, and genuinely for now and forever.”
Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
CC Lamondt: I grew up a farm girl; I was born on a tobacco farm in the Mpumalanga Province in South Africa. Both my parents were musicians and even though they insisted on me getting a degree, I always ended up writing and singing wherever I had the chance. When my songs started getting recognition, I decided to become a full time artist.
Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?
CC Lamondt: Music runs in the family, both my grandmother and my mother performed under Lamondt, so its tradition in my family and CC is my initials. In South Africa, we have many names, so people eventually shortened it to CC or my family usually call me Cat.
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
CC Lamondt: I’m a Publisher as well, so to me it is a matter of copyright law. If I do a cover song, I pay the license for the privileged to use somebody else’s song. I do give music away for free if it is part of my promotional campaigns but artists and songwriters male their living from their copyrights and people don’t always understand that. With downloads, streaming and Internet Radio our control gets less and less but luckily if you do your paperwork right, copyright law, publishers and the PRO’s like ASCAP, SAMRO and CAPASSO protect us.
Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?
CC Lamondt: The most important thing is to have an Internet presence. Make sure to be on Facebook, CD Baby, Reverbnation, iTunes, Pandora, Instagram, Twitter and everywhere else in your country that is your biggest social media platform. Keep the information, photos, and press kits consistent. People need to get to know you, so if you feature a single, feature the same single on all your sites with the same picture. Keep in contact with your fans and make an effort to talk to them and tell them what you are doing. I am not saying send instagram every 5 minutes but keep them up to date of where you will be performing and what is important to you. Your fans are your lifelines, respect them.
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?
CC Lamondt: People are my greatest inspiration. If you listen to people talk to each other on the street, in restaurants, on the bus, at the airport they don’t even realize that they share their lives with you, especially when they talk on their cellphones J I write around a title or a hook line. One catch phrase that will stay with the listener. Sometimes the lyrics comes first and then I put melody to it, sometimes they come together and sometimes I collaborate with other artists and songwriters.
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?
CC Lamondt: My band is called Cat & The Knights, but because I travel a lot, the band members differ in various countries. So I have a website, www.cclamondt.com and we use Facebook a lot. Our music is also on iTunes, Amazon, Soundcloud, Reverbnation, Pandora, CD Baby and many more.
Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?
CC Lamondt: I would get on the first plane to Zanzibar Island and take the time to finish my book, write 4 new albums, swim with the dolphins and whales and read all the Terry Pratchett Disc world novels that I haven’t had time to read yet.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
CC Lamondt: I believe in creating my own opportunities. Last year I arranged the Boots & Hats Country Festival, we do a lot of charity events and we always get asked to do paying gigs after that, but I love my people and it is important to me to give back.
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
CC Lamondt: Yes, lots! We’ve just started the South African Songwriters Association, we are arranging a tour to Canada for 2017 to perform at the country festivals, I have two new albums that are being released this year and then my sponsored artists of the year Christine O’s, from Kenya’s album will be released in October 2016.
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
CC Lamondt: Probably writing, painting, sculpting or arranging festivals and manage other artists. I’m not one for sitting around doing nothing.
Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?
CC Lamondt: Planning! My diary is my best friend. I have lists for everything and I do the stuff that I don’t like first so that I can take my time doing the things I like most. It is important to work with goals and time frames, that is the only way you get things done.
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2016?
CC Lamondt: Big changes in the South African Music Industry. We are upping our game! Lots of new albums, music videos, and singles and then off course, like I mentioned the release of Christine O’s debut album and my new albums.