Exposed Vocals Interviews Sabrina Petrini

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

Sabrina Petrini: I grew up in Helsingborg, Sweden and I remember being a kid watching a Michael Jackson music video and thinking; I want that, I want to do all of that.

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

Sabrina Petrini: It’s my birth name.
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
Sabrina Petrini: I think I just never really reacted to it. I don’t put my focus on it since it’s not going to change and we as artists just need to find other ways to make money. Unfortunately this is what comes with the internet. I have given my music away, especially with new releases, it’s a good way to sort of gain new fans and everyone likes free stuff.

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?
Sabrina Petrini: I don’t know how it is in the rest of the world, but in LA we have a lot of pay-to-play going on. And I remember doing it maybe once or twice, depending on if I was opening for a bigger band or not. But it’s the saddest thing I see when new bands are in to much of a rush to play legendary venues and paying for it and promoters use them. Spend that money on recordings and play smaller venues in the beginning, build your audience and go ahead and book one of those venues when you have more to say. You can always get a spot on that stage when you have more experience and it’s easier to get a better deal after that and actually enjoy those venues with a nice big crowd. With the airplay, you will get a bunch of emails from companies that promise you airplay and my advice, do not pay these companies. If you want to get on the radio, reach out on your own.

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

Sabrina Petrini: Yes of course, I laugh at it. I used to hate on myself because I’m a perfectionist, but once I realized art is free, art is what happens in the moment, I started to relax and was able to laugh at my mistakes.

Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?

Sabrina Petrini: I’m the most boring person on tour. I arrive, do my sound check, sleep, go perform, sleep, and move on to the next show. I’m just very focused and centered.

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

Sabrina Petrini: I spend a lot of time in my car, LA traffic will do that to you.. I hardly ever listen to the radio so a lot of my thinking happens while I’m driving. And my melodies and words come out and then I record the idea on the phone and once I get home I sit down by my piano and finish the song. My inspiration is mostly from overcoming obstacles and I believe my songwriting is my therapy. It makes me cope with what is going on and I always feel really good once I finish writing a song. It’s almost like once I finish writing the song, my issue is gone. It’s like the end to something and the beginning to something else.
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?

Sabrina Petrini: www.sabrinapetrini.com … I use soundcloud and reverbnation and you can get my music on iTunes and all other online stores.
Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?

Sabrina Petrini: Nothing, I love all kinds of music. No songs are embarrassing.
Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?

Sabrina Petrini: I would invest in my music and hire the perfect team. Other than that, take my family on a really nice vacation for putting up with me and my craziness and also most likely put money away. I’m not a big spender. Well and charity.. obviously.
Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?

Sabrina Petrini: I’ve been in the studio for over a year and recently released my album “I will. I can. I am.” Totally ready to go on tour.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?

Sabrina Petrini: Instagram and Facebook has worked the best for me and just word of mouth.
Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?

Sabrina Petrini: Wembley Stadium with Michael Jackson or Guns N’ Roses. Ever since I saw a video of Queen performing “Love of My Life” at Wembley it has become an obsession to set my foot there and sing my heart out.
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?

Sabrina Petrini: It’s a hard one. I love art, creating, I love editing, I love filming, Writing, producing, photography.. It’s just who I am. It’s hard to even imagine anything else because you grow in to this after years of putting all your focus on it. It’s that dream you’ve had since forever. When you make it your life plan there is no “If I weren’t”.
Exposed Vocals: Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What was going through your head?

Sabrina Petrini: I remember my first tape, it was Eros Ramazzotti. The melodies and the sound spoke to me. It just sounded like life.

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

Sabrina Petrini: I’ve never done anything else than this, I started working as a dance teacher when I was 16. It’s just become my everything. Teaching art. Playing music. I just am music. And whatever comes my way I just gotta deal with it. But there’s nothing else. It just has to work.

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

Sabrina Petrini: My album “I will. I can. I am.” Touring and a few music videos. I’m ready.