Listen to “Power Of The Cross”
Exposed Vocals: How did you hear about Exposed Vocals? What made you decide to sign up?
Kathy Shipley: I saw a huge following on Twitter and was very curious about what you guys do.
Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
Kathy Shipley: I grew up in a small town called Louisiana Missouri. We had 2 groceries at one time, a hardees, Pizza hut and a few gas stations. It was so country if you stopped at the gas station and asked for a certain family the cashier, would literally say, “hang a left, blah blah blah.. I really started liking music when I got in my late 20’s but as an African American I liked the old 80s stuff Journey (my favorite) Dokken all that so a lot of my friends just thought that was hilarious. I remember in college going to a stevie nicks concert so awesome! So I grew into like almost all genres of music. But country, that is me, so most of the songs I sing will have that twang in it! 3 years ago started finding myself and God and really got into the Christian Contemporary side of things Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Kari Jobe, and Hillsong just love them! But I love my Gospel too! Tamela Mann is the WOMAN!
Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?
Kathy Shipley: It’s all about taking 2 STEPS Forward not 1, but 2 people say take a step forward, well you need to take a couple to arrive and I feel God has gifted me. My youngest son who is about to turn 21 inspired me as well. He has played football since he was 7 and the broken bones, and everything he had he never quit he got a scholarship to play college football at a small college, he really didn’t like it there transferred the next year and went to my old college and worked hard and walked on. He has just never given up. He has had hamstring issues the past few years and he still loves the game. He wants to be an NFL scout and I so see him doing that just a smart young man with a plan in life. I am proud of all of my kids they keep me driven for success.
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
Kathy Shipley: I think online music sharing is great! So many talented artists that will possibly never be heard so networking is key in the industry, because as quickly as you rise, you can fall so there has to be that huge support network. I really just started getting into doing my own stuff so quite honestly no. We as artists know that we deserve to be compensated for the hard work it takes to get to the next level. And it is hard to be found and get that break sometimes so being able to make money to re-invest back into your craft is key.
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?
Kathy Shipley: I am still a work in progress but the key is Network, Network, Network…And be humble all your friends and family may think you are the next best thing, but most of the time that really has no bearing on anything. But the biggest thing is PATIENCE. I used to manage a young hip hop artist that was very good got a lot of spins and it just didn’t work out. I also manage another Hip Hop Artist Travis Lenn and a DJ St Chuck, I don’t ask for money I just try to help them when I can. More or less they are almost like my little brothers so we are all family and if there is a gig I hear about or what not I just let them know. We have to help one another to grow in this industry
Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?
Kathy Shipley: I sing at church and I have slipped up and I just roll on. I do remember the first time I actually messed up and apologized as I was singing. After Church I told my best friend I can’t believe I said I’m sorry as I was singing. I learned one thing when I went to a workshop that Christian artist Paul Baloche held, at a church in St louis 2 years ago and he said, if you mess up don’t be hard on yourself, if you are truly singing for God he doesn’t care if you come in wrong or hit the wrong note, just enjoy what you are doing and really I do, I love it!
Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?
Kathy Shipley: My dream would be to just open for someone big, but humbly just to open for an artist is huge for me, and that is my goal, I am 49 and very driven and until God tells me to sit down? I am going to keep walking the walk..
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?
Kathy Shipley: It’s so weird, well maybe not it will just come to me and this first song it took me 45 minutes got the hook down and everything else fell into place. My other song that I will be debuting soon, This Tiny Little Chapel- about 20 minutes and it wasn’t rushed it was just in my heart to pen it. God is truly using me for good I know that because I feel it. I have 2 other songs I have written “Love the Lord” and “The next 30 days”
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?
Reverbnation – reverbnation.com/2stepsforward
Facebook – 2STEPS FORWARD
Twitter – DOMTREMAL
Kathy Shipley: I am excited that we are #4 locally as of today on Reverb and ranked 789 Nationally under the Christian-Gospel genre.
But regardless if anything happens with this for me, I am just excited to have the opportunities to show my love for music, and get interviews like this… its all a blessing..
Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?
Kathy Shipley: not embarrassing but funny to maybe some of my friends, Journey’s greatest hits, Toby Keith, Tim McGraw- I always tell people I am Country with a K…
Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?
Kathy Shipley: I would donate a lot of the money to some charities, Michael J Fox Foundation, help with the homeless shelters and food pantries. This past year I have been doing more volunteer work and such a need for families and especially young kids breaks my heart. Then just the rest to put away for my kids and of course my best friend who has always been there through the good and bad times. She has such a kind heart and I have learned a lot from her.
Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?
Kathy Shipley: My producer who is amazing Quentin E Stephenson (QBP Studios) he has an awesome studio and he really is like a just mastermind of making it all fit. He also sings on The POTC with me, as well as producing and arranging it. I guess that’s why music producers are so good at what they do, they put in the time to make things come to life. David Foster is one of my favorites…
Exposed Vocals: What can we expect in 2015?
Kathy Shipley: We are about to work on This Tiny Little Chapel. This will be a fun one, and I think it is better than The Power of the Cross. And you get to hear my Louisiana Mo twang… You can leave the country but it NEVER leaves you.
