Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
Professor Solo: Throughout the first 10 years of my school life, I was in a school for Autistic children because I was diagnosed with a severe(?) form of Autism, but as I got into my last year of primary school (10-11 year olds in the United Kingdom), I transferred to mainstream education and this big bridge that I climbled from my parents being told I would never ever love them at the age of two to moving to mainstream at the age of 10, inspired me to believe I could climb up great heights and do great things.
From the age of 7, I used to be in choirs and my town’s choir gave me solos quite a lot. I did my first solo thing when busking at 11, just before I left primary school and I raised £600 in two hours somehow, and this was for charitable purposes to invest in my first school’s music equipment, since that’s where my roots came for.
Straight after that, I left choir, and I learned how to release and produce my own music after two years and I wrote this pop-rock, Queen-inspired song in November 2013 called “Another Day”, and released on some platforms in February 2014. I didn’t like the mix, so I re-recorded it and re-released it on February 2015 (exactly a year after the first) on all platforms I can think of. My EP followed the next month, but it’s not up there anymore.
In March 2014, I found an interest in rap music and I wrote this self-titled Queen-inspired hooked song, and it’s on Windows Music (whatever the Microsoft version of Spotify is). And I started from nothing (I was 12 too). But this year I’ve found my footing in music and I’ve recorded and released some tolerable noise (haha). I put dance-tracks “Sunbathe” and “The Last Night” with Ashley Paige and none featured vocal contributions from me. But my first rap songs I recorded this year “Money Money” and “This My” are my best work so far.
Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?
Professor Solo: People have told me that I’m quite a smart person, so that’s the “Professor” bit cleared up. The “Solo” comes from my willingness to go on my own paths in life, not letting people decrease my potential.
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
Professor Solo: Online music sharing is something everyone can access as both creators of music and listeners of music and I think that’s a good thing for people who aren’t the best with promotion, like me. I don’t give my music away for free and that’s just because music is a business. It is, it’s why iTunes exists, why promotion of music is a thing. As an owner of my brand, I need my bit of earnings. I do open many opportunities for people to stream my music.
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?
Professor Solo: I think I’m still at the stage, so honestly, no.
Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?
Professor Solo: If I’m ever singing, I squeak out sometimes. I don’t know why, I don’t even sing that high. I just laugh in my head. But before when I rapped “This My” at a show the music stopped on the second verse and I was like “People aren’t here to watch me just stand there,” so I just stand there and say “hi” and people laughed, and it gave me the confidence I’ve not had before as people actually listened to me.
Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?
Professor Solo: I’m too young for touring, with a lack of opportunities. But I’m definately interested. (I’m 15 by the way)
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?
Professor Solo: Usually I start by writing a beat and then the lyrics, but recently I’ve been writing lyrics then the beat, because I feel more freedom to say what I want. I wrote a song about the issues of feminism and this idea that if you disagree with one then that’s harrassment, rape apologising, mysogony, etc, and I don’t think I’ve wrote something quite individual of me, in terms of music.
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?
Professor Solo: I don’t have my own website but I’m on many platforms, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Spotify, iTunes, Soundcloud, Reverbnation.
Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?
Professor Solo: Another Day is still on Spotify
Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?
Professor Solo: I don’t know, probably investing in music, but also holidays, nights out.
Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?
Professor Solo: I have a touch screen computer, FL Studio 12.3, Fabfilter plugins, Auto-Tune (lol). I use that to make my beats, but I go to another place to record my vocals, it’s where I get drum and piano lessons from.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
Professor Solo: I don’t, Twitter spams me with these kind of messages and I’ve got my own bank card so I just use it.
Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?
Professor Solo: Nicki Minaj, I see something that not a lot of people around me do and that’s her use of metaphors, punchlines, and her colourful personality. She has a nice voice too, she should use it more.
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
Professor Solo: I’m trying to make an album. I would also like to film my first music video this year.
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
Professor Solo: Everything I’m doing now, except for making music. I have to study anyway. I’m studying German and French GCSEs in my last year of school and I’m hoping to them at A Level’s with Further Maths and Maths.
Exposed Vocals: Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What was going through your head?
Professor Solo: Lady Gaga – The Fame it was 2008 and I think I just liked it, I was only 7.
Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?
Professor Solo: Honestly, I don’t know.
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2016?
Professor Solo: I don’t know, an album, maybe. Definately another single.
