Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
Shakespear: I was born and raised in Johannesburg city I spent most of my child hood years living in the north of Jo’burg, then when I came back from Australia my mom and sisters had moved to the south of Jo’burg. Before I actually became an artist I was the resident beat boxer at school cyphers then one of my friends saw me writing and encouraged I rap at the next cypher and the artist in me was basically born.
Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?
Shakespear: I didn’t want anybody calling me by my actual name I was known as William so my friend’s would clown me by calling me Shakespeare then it kind of just stuck I dropped the “e” and ran with it.
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
Shakespear: I think online music sharing is great cause people from all over the world get to experience something new and fresh, it also provides a platform to collaborate with artist on the grind such as myself. I have and still give a track or 2 away for free, reason being I’m still an indie artist it doesn’t make sense for me to record +-30 songs and keep them for my ears only. Having the freedom to just make music and giving it out to music lovers is the best without worrying about how well or badly it does.
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?
Shakespear: Build your brand, if you’re an artist get your music mixed and mastered professionally for radio, get a logo done, image is key, if you’re a label learn about the business learn all their is, if you’re looking for gigs be persistent a no at 1 club is a yes at another.
Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?
Shakespear: So far I haven’t made any mistakes yet but I think the biggest concern I have is forgetting my lyrics I have bad memory, so I put the time in on rehearsals for any gig big or small. practice prevents poor performance
Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?
Shakespear: No tour yet been doing a lot of club gigs recently I performed at the WeChat TurnUp Music Launch as well as the iTunes album launch along side Dilaman Watts we have a collaborative project together.
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?
Shakespear: My inspiration comes from listening to other music, its a twisted process I can’t listen and write to the track I’m supposed to be on
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?
Shakespear: You can find my music on sound (SoundCloud.com/is-muzic) and iTunes (search for shakespear against all odds)
Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?
Shakespear: Honestly none everything on my mp3 player/phone is music I listen to for inspiration.
Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?
Shakespear: Invest, invest, invest
Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?
Shakespear: I’d upgrade my PC everything else is superb the studio’s equipped with Samson Resolv se monitors forgot the size though, Presonus Audiobox Sound Card and SE Magneto microphone.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
Shakespear: The only way I see for any artist promoting their music is going out and interacting with people the internet is cool but limited.
Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?
Shakespear: It definitely be with 2 PAC it won’t matter where, just watching him on YouTube performing is inspiring I always imagine how it would be if he was still alive.
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
Shakespear: Right now I’ll hold off doing any projects, we busy promoting my solo project and the collaborative project.
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
Shakespear: Probably wasting away at some dead end job
Exposed Vocals: Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What was going through your head?
Shakespear: The 1st album I bought was by Eminem the Slim Shady LP. I was just amazed when I heard “My Name Is”
Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?
Shakespear: Everybody in my life knows my music everything and they willing to help out and assist me where they can having that support system is key I get to focus on my next move
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in the next year or so?
Shakespear: See what Drake is too OVO Sound is what I want to be to my label I S Muzic.
