Exposed Vocals Interviews Shawn Da’bgla King
Shawn Da’bgla King whose official names are John Kapeya, was born in Lusaka, Zambia on 31st March, 1993 as the third child in a family of 7.
Being a music lover since childhood, Shawn began to explore a whole new dimension of writing his own songs in 2010.
Inspired by the music, Shawn wrote songs that express how he feels about the world today,sharing opinions and a different perspective with the hope inspiring people’s desire to be different. His debut song “I Wanna Know” officially released in 2011, he goes on to release “All about me” in 2013 showing the level of maturity attained in the industry.
Shawn Da’bgla King as a name sums up what high opinion he has about himself, the BGLA King “BGLA stands for Born_Great_Live_To_Acheive” and wishes to start a movement #TeamBGLA with a view of appraising everyone and remind people that we are all born great and no one can take that away from you.
Exposed Vocals: How did you hear about Exposed Vocals? What made you decide to sign up?
Shawn Da’bgla King: I got a twitter follow and immediately gave a follow back after reading what Exposed Vocals was all about more so because it exactly what i needed for my music.
Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
Shawn Da’bgla King: I grew up in Lusaka, the Capital city of Zambia and i decided to pursue music soon after i graduated high school in 2009 after discovering the talent within. I basically grew up listening to all sorts of music but eventually fell in love with hiphop and in that i found true happiness.
Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?
Shawn Da’bgla King: Well Shawn is my other-other name and just decided to go with with. BGLA for (Born_Great_live_to Achieve) (the B_G_L_A King) however is something i came up with for the greater good i saw in people. Inspiring the youth that we all born great and have the potential to be greater gives me that taste of accomplishment.
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
Shawn Da’bgla King: Online music sharing brings the audience to your finger tips and enables the artist to reach even the furthest person in an instant. Do i give music away for free? Yes most of the songs i have done to date are for promo purposes and are meant to expose the hidden talent by enabling anyone in the world to have access to.
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?
Shawn Da’bgla King: Keep the fire burning…don’t let anyone ever tell you you can’t achieve greatness. quitting just proves that you a failure which is why i like to quote “Winners never quit and quitters never win”
Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?
Shawn Da’bgla King: Mistakes are part of the bigger picture. A creative artist will turn a mistake into a new style
Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?
Shawn Da’bgla King: I haven’t done tours yet but its definitely coming to the town near you and you can watch the BGLA King set the stage on fire.
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?
Shawn Da’bgla King: I like my space…in the lonely hour, i gather a lot of inspiration to write about the daily processes of life. I don’t have a usual writing process, its coming when its coming kinda writing. But i have written a couple of songs in studio with my headphones on, if i am not writing on my phone that is.
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?
Shawn Da’bgla King: I think i have put my on everything out there trying to get a voice out there. Reverbnation “www.reverbnation.com/tlshawn“
Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?
Shawn Da’bgla King: hahahaha its crazy…i think i have some Celine Dion somewhere there.
Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?
Shawn Da’bgla King: I think i would open up a fully equipped studio and spend my time helping kids with potential realize their dream because i know how hard it can be without the necessary support or i would take my girl on vacation to a cool island, Hawaii perhaps.
Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?
Shawn Da’bgla King: No, not right now. big plans for long term but as of right now i only work with what my people have.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
Shawn Da’bgla King: Basic online sharing and radio submissions but online sharing kind of works well as of right now.
Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?
Shawn Da’bgla King: Everybody dreams of Madison square garden….definitely be John Legend or Pink.
These two artists know how to relate music music to their crowd. i am inspired by how they spill their emotion in music form.
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
Shawn Da’bgla King: 2016 around the corner…I will be dropping two singles in January and after that its back to the drawing board. Working on something big but i am not going to tell you what it is, keep it locked.
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
Shawn Da’bgla King: I think i would pretty much be doing more of what i am doing now. I am a Chartered Accountant so i would probably be doing that and more.
Exposed Vocals: Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What was going through your head?
Artist: The Game – Documentary…worth every penny i just had to play it
Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?
Shawn Da’bgla King: I think i do that quiet well so far, i have graduated college and i’m now a Chartered Accountant and i am happy to say i am doing well on both ends. Its not easy but gotta make it happen and time is never enough.
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2016?
Shawn Da’bgla King: Got massive songs in studio right now so to my fans i would like to say, 2016 is going to be huge…keep a look out.
and to everybody else, we gon turn non believers into belivers.