Exposed Vocals Interviews Seren Skies
Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
Seren: I grew up on a cane farm near Bundaberg and still live there. It is in Queensland, Australia and Yes it is the home of the famous ‘Bundaberg Rum’. I had always wanted to be a singer, I always felt an affinity with it. I started singing at 3 to my mums records and kept going from there. I wrote my 1st song at 8yrs old and at primary school I was involved in school concerts, then High School I was in Choir & Musicals. At 17 I was accepted into the local ‘Playhouse Theater’ where i participated in a few musicals as well.
Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?
Seren:Â I had originally just called myself ‘Seren’ but I received an email from a band in the USA stating I couldnt use it as they had it trademarked unbeknownst to me…so I sat and thought about what I would do..Now I had chosen ‘Seren’ as it means Star in Gaelic so it seemed appropriate that I add ‘Skies’ to it to avoid confusion and lawsuits…obviously now it means ‘Star Skies’.
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
Seren: I only rely on self promotion as do most artists and I find sharing links online to be the best way to get a track heard…I do limit what I give away however. I have 2 sites where free downloads are available for certain tracks but if people want them all they then need to buy the album, after all we artists do this for a love of music but we do still need to eat to lol. I also have free downloads set up with my Merchandise on Dizzyjam http://serenskiesofficial.
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?
Seren: Keep asking! They may say no today but tomorrow/next week you may get a different answer. Persistance is the key and also having a sound knowledge of promotion/marketing. Scour the internet for Internet Radio Stations that accept submissions on their actual radio page, send copies of your CD out to stations where the listening geographic is the same genre as your music. A site I found very helpful is Music Xray however you do have to pay for submissions. Also Twitter can be very helpful, build a decent social media following and you will be surprised at what offers come in on there…for instance I am now part of the Artist Reach Family which helps me with promotion via Twitter and puts my music in to NBC etc. Also build a local following..get people in your town to wear your band shirts display stickers etc, it all helps!
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?
Seren: From life in general…Obcurity was written about Depression, Bipolar when I was suffering from a rather low moment because of those conditions..I wanted to somehow make people aware of how we actually feel inside sometimes because of it. Hide Or Fight was written about Terrorism and War on the day of the Sydney Lindt Cafe siege. Become A Display is about how life in general is a display for all the world to see…I gather inspiration from everyday situations as I feel people will relate to this more than ‘I own a mansion, I own a Ferrari’. I actually write ‘back to front’ I’ve been told as I can’t write music…I write my lyrics to the melody I have in my head then sing a vocal file and send that to whoever Im working with at that time for them to compose the music, from there we work out what fits and what doesn’t.
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?
Seren: My band website is – http://serenskies.
I also use Twitter – https://twitter.com/Seren_
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/
Number1Music – http://www.numberonemusic.com/
Soundcloud – https://soundcloud.com/seren-
Deezer –Â http://www.deezer.com/artist/
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/
iTunes –Â https://itunes.apple.com/au/
Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?
Seren:Â Set up my own recording studio and offer affordable rates to other Unsigned Artists, get lessons on a few different instruments to be a better musician myself and write as many songs as possible…and I would also want to donate $20,000 between various charities.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
Seren: I utilize most social media platforms to get the word out..I find Twitter to be the most responsive and Number1Music to be the most interactive. Also just talking to people in general, telling them what I do and where they can find it. Online competitions ans Awards can be helpful too.
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
Seren: I am currently working on my 2nd album with 2 of the singles already out – Hide or Fight & No More (Finally Free) and in the process of working out the 3rd single which will be something different to my normal style. Currently in between Producers though so I am on the look out for another to work with,
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
Seren:Â I couldn’t imagine doing anything else to be honest…singing was all I have ever wanted to do…It would be safe to say I would still be involved in the Industry one way or another.
Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?
Seren: Ahahaha you’re having a joke now aren’t you!? Its a constant battle lol I have 3 kids at home (15, 12 & 5) I do most of my promoting at night between 8pm-4am then i record vocals through the day when they are at school. Plus I have also just been appointed Head of Operation-Australia for Music Meister Media, Jellybean Records & Jellybean Distribution so yes its more than a juggling act lo
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2016?
Seren: Anything and Everything! I am not a predictable Artist lol Definitely a new album out before end of year and I am contemplating putting a band together to back me instead of just being a solo artist and maybe even looking at touring locally for now…One thing is for sure its going to be a busy year!