Exposed Vocals interviews 212i Lestat

Exposed Vocals: How did you hear about Exposed Vocals? What made you decide to sign up?

212i Lestat: Exposed Vocals is popular in our Official Twitter account. We decided to sign up because we want to be a part an online community where artist are given an opportunity to be discovered and be known worldwide.

Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?

212i Michael: We are a local Boygroup from Santa Barbara, Iloilo Philippines. We were organized by our Manager Alfie Zulueta Gonzaga, RMT.

212i Janpaul: The four of us did undergo difficult trainings and challenges.

212i Gabriel: Janpaul is a singer since he is a child and with that he helps his family on his winnings on amateur contest. Michael is from a poor family, Lestat is a son of an Overseas Filipino Worker and me Gabriel is passionate to be an artist.

212i Lestat : We decided to be an artist because we want to be an inspiration towards our fellow youth and it’s our passion.

Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?

212i Janpaul: We come up with the name 212i since for us it means “Together as one!” Our inspiration is our team since we believe that we can’t be great without each other. We are not brothers by blood but our hearts are.
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?

212i Lestat: Online music sharing is a good chance for undiscovered artist like us. We are given opportunities to be heard and for anyone to appreciate our music.
212i Gabriel: Yes, we ever had given our music for free. We want our friends and other people around us are proud of what we are doing.
212i Michael: It’s a fulfillment!
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?
212i Lestat: It’s very hard to give out advices to those who are still starting like us. Well what’s on my mind is that they focus on their career. Have a good song and have plenty of quality rehearsals for a superb entertainment.

212i Janpaul: Having a good track is also an advantage.

Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?

212i Michael: Yes, we all did. I once didn’t hit the notes of the song. I do it as if I am doing it right and I think the audience didn’t realize that I did it wrong. I deviated their attention on my moves on stage.

212i Janpaul : A lot of times specially with the song lyrics. I mispronounced the words sometimes.Like Michael I give our audience a warm smile.
Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?

212i Gabriel: Yes, we have a tour last December in a far town next to ours. It’s a Christmas celebration. We were singing for 2 sets and when we are about to end, the crown insisted to have more songs from us.

212i Lestat: It’s our first tour and it’s very exciting. We are clueless of what the people might react on our group. It’s very memorable.

Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?

212i Janpaul: Our songs are collaboration of ideas between us the 212i and our manager and songwriter Alfie Zulueta Gonzaga. We gather inspiration from current youth situation and we use words that are new to suit our generation. We have first our lyrics and we build the melody. We then have our master arranger and instrumentalist.
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?

212i Michael: We don’t have our band website since the group lacks enough funds to spend for that. We just ride on to social media sites. We have our debut single already uploaded in Soundcloud.
https://soundcloud.com/212i-azg-ensemblesentertainment-production/lets-make-it-up-212i-azg-ensembles-entertainment-production
Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?

212i Gabriel: All songs are created different no matter how the melody might sound alike. I think we should not consider any song embarrassing.
Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?

212i Lestat: Wow that will be great! We will continue our passion and we will produce our album and tour around the world to promote our music!
Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?

212i Janpaul: We aim to have more songs. Right now we are working to have another hit song or maybe a ballad song that everyone can relate.
212i Michael: Or maybe we can record an inspirational or a heart broken themed song.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?

212i Gabriel: Youtube is the best music promotion tool for us. We have more than 2000 views after 2 weeks from its publishing date. I hope that many more people might want to see our videos in Youtube.
212i Lestat: It’s our official official Music Video entitled “Let’s Make It Up”. We shoot it one day and another day editing. Our manager did it all alone.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utyQtPiYj3k
Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?

212i Janpaul: We want to perform with Westlife in the Santa Barbara Football Field so that our families can see them also.
212i Michael: Me, I want us to be with One Direction. It will be amazing. Same place as Janpaul wanted.
212i Gabriel: Hmmmm, I want Taylor Swift to sing with us! She is so amazing. In school since I want my schoolmates to have a lot of entertainment.
212i Lestat: Performing with Adele is a great kick! Wew! We want it to be in Araneta Colisuem. The Filipino fans will go wild!

Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?

212i Janpaul: We will promote our single and hopefully we can have more songs for us to have an album.
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?

212i Lestat: We are still students and maybe addicted to online games!

Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?

212i Lestat: We have a lot of activities in school and in home. We still can comply towards our Boyband career by having time management. Setting up things and goal in a timely manner.
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2016?

212i Janpaul : We are a new Boygroup from the Philippines and 2016 will be a good start to us.
212i Michael: We promise to give you nice music and we will remain an inspiration towards our fellow youth.
212i Gabriel: 2016 will be a challenging year and we hope that we can have more supporters to help.
212i Lestat: Together as one! We can me it this 2016! TY!