Exposed Vocals Interviews Cybool

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

Cybool: I grew up in France, in the east first and then in the suburbs of Paris. Also in Bulgaria as both my parents are Bulgarian and I would spend every summer with my family in Bulgaria.

It wasn’t really a decision to become an artist, I think it was something that my parents saw really early as a potential so they helped me develop it, by sending me to music school, dance classes and acting classes. Then after spending so much time listening to music, studying and practicing it, it kind of arrived one day under the shape of lyrics and I discovered I loved writing and rapping so I just kept on going.

 

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

Cybool: My stage name used to be my first name Cybele. But then I started uploading my music online and I discovered there’s a couple of Cybeles already and I wanted to be found directly to make it easier for listeners so I just switched Cybele to my nickname given to me by friends and family which is Cybool. So I guess the inspiration behind it is just being practical and also it makes me feel at ease when people refer to me with this name, like we already know each other. Cybele is very official and in french it kind of means « So beautiful » (Si-belle) and I don’t especially like that.

Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?

Cybool: I do give away some of my songs for free. I believe music is made to be shared in the first place, not to be made money out of. But then I obviously started investing my own money to record, mix, and distribute it so I think maybe people should pay whatever they want for it. Even if it’s just one dollar. Also, I’m trying to convey a message through my songs and so I want to spread it as much as I can; online music sharing is a great tool for it.

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?

Cybool: Hmmm I have two tips to give : the first one is believe in yourself, you will improve. And the second is you have to learn to « sell yourself » in the sense that you can make your music in your little dark room but it’s made to be shared right? So you have to learn to promote it even if you don’t like it in the first place. It’s part of the talent to make yourself heard.

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

 

Cybool: Songwriting inspiration is basically the state of mind I’m in because of where I am, what my thoughts are about life and the world, and also very much the melody of the music I am going to write my lyrics on. I have never composed an instrumental beat myself, I’m thinking of it though. My usual songwriting process is : I listen to the music hundreds of times – or less if I’m inspired – and then I start writing what comes to my mind.

Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?

 

Cybool: I have my music on Soundcloud – https://soundcloud.com/cybool -, YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnyFI-p0_7-cUTqaRz_qjBw – and Spotify, not my own website, I don’t really see the use of it actually because when I search for music I just go on those platforms I just mentioned, I never go to the artist’s website. Maybe I should make one though I don’t know.

Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?

 

Cybool: Wow okay, if I was given half a million dollars I think I would make a movie! Oh but wait half a million isn’t that much to make a movie. Hmmm I’m not sure, I think maybe I would buy a cheap house somewhere, rent it, and then go do some humanitarian work. Yeah that’s what I would do. And then go surf in Bali haha!

Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?

 

Cybool: That’s a good question. I guess the best way is you put up your songs online, print out some cards with your name on it, maybe get some CDs made and then go perform at live gigs and give out the card and CD. Also if you can get on the radio that’s a really good trick because people will listen to your song a couple of times a day which is what they/we need to get used to a new artist. And yeah having as much promotion as possible through interviews,

and just fans who make their friends listen to your music.

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

 

Cybool: Yeah so my first album is jazzy rap and lately I’ve been doing more reggae dub kinda sound so I guess the next step is an album which will be reggae like. Yeeeeyyy!

Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?

Cybool: Writing books I think.

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

Cybool: That’s a really good question too. Well I’m not going to lie, it’s difficult. If you’re working full-time during a long period of time, usually what happens is you don’t have the time or the energy to be creative. What I try to do is always make time for it so I will find a part-time job, unless I am really running out of money, in which case I can take two jobs and spend a 65hours per week of work.

Also I have to say I am lucky to have a boyfriend who is happy to earn money most of the time and share a little with me which is a total relief because that way he makes me feel like I can completely focus on being creative. It works both ways because he makes music as well and he wants to work in film also so I will find him gigs or promote his songs during my free time; we help each other a lot. I think when you’re trying to achieve something in the creative industry you need support. I would say it’s really, really hard to only do it on your own : look at Jimi Hendrix, he was living in the streets for a year until he started being recognized for his music. And he’s not the only example.

Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2016?

Cybool: They should look forward to more singing music, more concerts and a reggae-dub album!