Barbara Kiss is a singer hailing from Budapest in Hungary. After a childhood filled with singing and dancing in various forms, at the age of only 18 she received an Entertainer certificate from a professional music school lead by well-known Hungarian singer Maria Bournemissza. She has a deep interest in American culture which is reflected strongly in her music.
This song, Catch Me, shows her love of American music and singers, being an upbeat slice of rock/pop in the style of Kelly Clarkson and Katy Perry. The overall production is excellent and Barbara has a powerful voice with a large range, every bit the equal of the stars whose success she would like to emulate.
After an intro and verse comprising of chugging electric guitars and driving drums the music builds to a super-catchy chorus (that I soon found I was humming to myself walking round the house). Lyrically, it is about the sensation of falling for someone and hoping the feelings will be requited, something we can all relate to.
Overall, this is a perfect choice for a single that seems tailor made for radio, especially in America where a mixture of rock and pop is extremely popular. With her interesting backstory Barbara has a good press angle to go with a great song, and these are the ingredients for success in the modern music industry, which I’m sure she will achieve with more strong tracks like this
By Alex Faulkner
I’m 34 and a freelance music journalist, as well as a composer and producer. I’ve written reviews for UK newspapers and music websites. I run my own blog, reviewing the best new bands and artists . I’m very passionate and knowledgeable about music and that shows in my writing.
Exclusive Interview:
Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you
decide to become an artist?
I grew up in Hungary, in Eastern Europe where I was born. I moved to the capital Budapest when I was 18 years old.
I was always surrounded by music and I started music school and dancing at the age of 6 and it’s been with me ever since. I think I was about 10 years old when I saw Britney Spears and I thought to myself ’Wow, I want to be just like her’ and I decided to become a pop star. That child’s dream is still a driving force in my life.
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever
give your music away for free? Why?
This is a very hard question. In a way it’s good because you have instant access to your favorite singer’s or band’s music and that is something we didn’t have especially in Hungary. Sometimes we had to wait weeks or months to get a CD, but nowadays it’s much easier.
As a working artist it’s a different thing, since artists lose money over free download, but for me as an aspiring artist, I have to look at it as another way of promoting my music and getting my music to the listeners. These days it’s not even about downloading the music but more about listening online, or watching it on youtube. I like to put up my music to my website and also on youtube so that people can listen and share.
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?
Well, it’s a hard thing to give advice since I have so much to learn myself. But what I can say with absolute certainty is that you have to take every gig that comes your way, even if they don’t pay, because that’s how you get to know your fans and get new fans as well. And always be grateful if a radio plays your music, you never know who might be listening.
Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you
handle that?
Everybody makes mistakes, that’s just the way it is. I sometimes forget the lyrics and I come up with something new on the spot. It happens when you accidentally get out of it and lose the momentum, you just have to get back and only concentrate on the music. You shouldn’t worry about it, because the more you worry, the more the mistake will show. Just be cool. J
Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?
Unfortunately I haven’t been on a really big or long running tour, that’s yet to come. But it’s always a new adventure when you go to perform at a new place. I had to perform at an event where there was so cold, it was middle of winter and no heat. It was very difficult to sing.
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is
your usual songwriting process?
It’s really hard to say where the inspiration comes from. It can come from a memory, a very good or bad experience or just a feeling. For my first album I wrote mostly from past memories and feelings. Now I feel like I want to write about important things, more universal. But we’ll see, you never know what the music tells you when you write it.
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use
to share your music?
Yes, I have my own official website at www.barbara-kiss.com and I also have facebook (www.facebook.com/barbarakissmusic), twitter (www.twitter.com/barbara_kiss), instagram (www.instagram.com/barbarakissmusic) and youtube (www.youtube.com/barbarakissmusic). These are the platform I use mostly for sharing photos, music and videos.
Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find
on your mp3 player?
Hmmm… I don’t know if I actually would be embarrassed about any of it because I always stood up for what I liked. But it’s very eclectic. You would find Backstreet Boys on my playlist (I’ve been a fan for 20 years) but also some Nicki Minaj. I love Sam Smith and also Maroon 5 and One Direction. It’s a very pop driven playlist actually. J
Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off,
what would you do? How would you spend it?
I love making music so much that I don’t know if at this point I could go a year without doing that. J So I guess I’d probably find amazing producers and songwriter to work with, go to exotic places to shoot videos and stuff like that.
Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?
I just finished 2 new song recently called ‘Speed of light’ and ‘Runaway’ which is one of my most favorite songs I’ve ever recorded, so I’m happy with that. But I would like to record at least 2 new ones and maybe release an EP soon. But nothing’s set in stone yet.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
I have a great record label called Roadhouse Records and they have a great team of people who are working on promoting my music all over the world. I keep track of the radios that play my music and I like to thank them personally for the kindness. I also share my videos on my media platforms as much as I can so if any new fans are on my site, they will know what kind of music I do. And also performing any chance I get is another important part.
Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?
There are so many artists who I admire in the business, who helped shape my style so it’s a very hard question. But if I could perform anywhere it’d probably be Madison Square Garden. It has an amazing history and significant role in entertainment history as well. And the artist who I admired the most is the king, Michael Jackson. So if I could pick anyone, it’d be him and we’d be singing ‘I just can’t stop loving you’. LOL
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to
talk about?
New songs and a tour is what’s coming next, so everyone keep an eye out for the updates. I’m always thinking about doing new photo shoots and videos, so that can happen anytime as well.
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
I think I would be in fashion somehow, designing or doing the business part of it. I love the creative nature of fashion and I love how you can express yourself and your feeling with an outfit. Or I would be a kindergarten teacher because I love to be around children.
Exposed Vocals: Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What
was going through your head?
Oh, I remember. My first album that I bought from my weekly allowance that I saved up at the time was the first Backstreet Boys album that only came out in Europe. I bought the cassette. I still have it to this day. I thought that it was the coolest thing ever to get the album first hand. There was a market every Sunday in my hometown where they sold new releases and I thought nobody else knew about it, so I was the coolest for getting the album first.
Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?
It’s not an easy job but my music career has always been number one for me. No matter what kind of job I had to do on the side, I always put my music first. I saved up my vacation days to go perform and to go to the studio. For years I didn’t go on a real vacation because every time I was off from work I was working on my music. But you know what, it was all worth it and it still is. I could never give this up. I love music and performing and creating too much to ever let anything come before it. I’m trying my best to get the work done wherever I go, but my heart lies with my music.
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2015?
New music, new videos, radio plays and a tour. Keep checking my official website for news at www.barbara-kiss.com
