Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
ESMA: I currently reside in Toronto, Canada I moved across the country in order to make my career goals happen. Everyone’s eyes are on this city due to the immense talent that has come out of it. Drake has done so much for the hip hop music scene here and there have been so many other trail blazers before him, but Canada didn’t seem to get the recognition until recently.
I knew I wanted to be an artist at the age of 4 when I saw Michael Jackson for the first time on T.V. I feel like this is just what I was born to do, I can’t do anything else and I won’t do anything else.
Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?
ESMA: My name is a shortened version of my full name, Asmahan but pronounced Esmahan. Friends called me ESMA for short and it stuck. I was also named after a legendary Arabic singer, so I honestly believe this is my destiny as cheesy as that sounds, haha.
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
ESMA: I think that the more people that hear my music the better, so for me I don’t mind. It is on sale on iTunes as well if you want to support, but the more exposure for me the better. It is odd though, we live in a world where there is a mentality that art should not be paid for, yet without art no one in the world would be able to “LIVE”. Artists in general on the come up, don’t get paid what they are truly worth or they are given opportunities for exposure. This would NEVER happen in any other industry. Also, there is less respect for the art if it has not hit mainstream yet. This is something that needs to shift.
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?
ESMA: If you are just starting out, know what you are getting into – if this is not the only thing that feeds your soul then this is not the road for you. In order to gain success in this industry you have to be willing to work harder than anyone else. You have to be honest with yourself, put out music that is really great and original. Know where your fans are, I was told that if you don’t make it in your own city then you can’t make it – this is so not true. Your city may not be where your music fits, where your fans are. Practice so your live show is great, that is how you gain respect and fans. Lastly, don’t go to radio unless you are absolutely ready or you are waisting your time and money. You need to have things going on and your music needs to fit – remember you are competing against international signed artists.
Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?
ESMA: If I did you would never know and I would never tell, haha. That is what being a true professional is – never showing the audience anything is wrong on stage. I just had a show where I could barely hear myself in my monitors, but nobody knew. You are there to tell a story and you are there to entertain, you need to know how to deal with any situation and this is where gigging a lot and rehearsing a lot comes from.
Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?
ESMA: I have done shows internationally and across Canada, I have opened for many well known artists as well. I opened for Sisqo and Dru Hill a while back and after the show we chilled for hours just listening to each others music. It was cool to have the inside scoop from Sisqo and him telling me “I will see you on the other side” was dope. I am working so hard to get to the other side, but I know I will – it is inevitable.
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?
ESMA: Inspiration can come from anywhere, getting on the streets and just watching people is a really good way to gain inspiration. Also, my own experience, other artists, friends stories, etc. There isn’t really a process to the madness, I just write lyric/word ideas and sing into my iPhone melodies. When I am collaborating with my music partner and producer KAGE, I vibe off the beat and I either instantly get an idea of what I want to say – it is like the music speaks to me. At other times I go through my massive list of ideas and something just goes together. I also feel the urge to have to finish within a day or 2 something I have started, I may go back to tweak it but the initial story and feel needs to be there when I get. Do not doubt yourself, do not procrastinate because the inspiration is a blessing that should not be taken for granted.
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?
ESMA: Website: esmarhythm.com
Instagram: instagram.com/esmar
hythm Twitter: twitter.com/esmarhythm
Facebook: facebook.com/esmarhythm
Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?
ESMA: Hmmm I like the Backstreet Boys and Spice Girls… I ain’t embarrassed to say that – I also love Tupac – you can’t be scared to listen to all kinds of music – inspiration comes from everywhere.
Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?
Artist: I would invest ALL of it in my music career and I would take the year off to work on music – that is my paradise. That was definitley the easiest question to answer.
Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?
ESMA: I have an in home studio, every artist needs one, but there are definitley times where I go to a state of the art studio and lucky for me there are a lot here in Toronto. I have learned over the years though, if the music is good – it is going to sound good no matter what studio you are in.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
ESMA: Using social media, Instagram at the moment is my favourite, it is important for me personally to connect with my fans. Obviously my label, team, publicist, online marketing and hired companies for the marketing help a lot, but to truly connect with your fans you need to show them the real you through your socials.
Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?
ESMA: Michael Jackson – Madison Square Garden – another easy one. MJ is the reason I am an artist, he was my first inspiration and inspires me to this day and it is pretty obvious why – he was an innovator – he was to his core himself on stage. I think every performer dreams of performing at Madison Square Garden, just because of the magnitude of what it means – you would have reached the pinnacle of your career.
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
ESMA: I am promoting my New Music Video and Single “Bass” for the next couple months, and then I will be dropping a second single called “City Lights”. All these singles are off my upcoming album called “ESMA UnKaged”.
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
ESMA: Looking for Aliens.
Exposed Vocals: Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What was going through your head?
ESMA: I think my first physical purchase myself, hopping on a bus and heading over to HMV was for a Jennifer Lopez Album. I love that girl, she is an amazing performer and her songs are so great to dance to. I have a dance background so I definitley grew up dancing to her tracks. I was so excited to have the physical copy in my hand to look at her photos and read the lyrics. It just isn’t the same feeling when you get it online and download it.
Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?
ESMA: I know a lot of artists say they don’t sleep or they sleep 3 hours a day…but I do not know how that is possible. I definitley sleep because it is so important to recharge and take care of your health, I learned that the hard way. It is not easy being an independent artist, but you have to learn to take it day by day instead of feeling like you are in a race – that can be detrimental to your health.
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2016?
ESMA: A sound that is all mine, finally. It has taken me years of creating music and collaborating to know that I now truly found my sound and am putting out my best art. Not to say that people don’t evolve, but there is something different about this new music – it is like I had to go back to basics in order to find my true sound. A huge reason is due to my collaborator, KAGE. We just vibe, we get each other, we have the same goals and passion for music.
