Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
TCruise : I grew up in a small town called “Dundonald”, Mpumalanga, South Africa. I have decided to become an artist by 2014, when I was doing my eleventh grade, because I always composing and I did not have the recording equipment. Then by 2014, I started recording my own music, regardless of the fact it was poor in quality.
Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?
TCruise : This name “TCruise” was inspired by my dream of travelling and seeing different places on a cruise ship, that’s what the word “Cruise” came about. Letter “T” just represents my first real name – Thabang. In other words, it’s Thabang and his dream that he should live in the near future LOL
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
TCruise : I do give away my music for free…… currently, because all along I have been doing demos – downloading beats or instrumental from the net and then use them. But if ever all along I was working on original work, I wouldn’t give it away for free, I would rather get perfect production and submit to radio stations.
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?
TCruise : For an artist to receive gigs, the artist must have a business manager or management, because I know most artists are not business-minded – so it’s best for an artist to have managers. I won’t mention much about airplay – the artists should look presentable when they approach a radio station, or they must abide by the terms and conditions that they have read from the radio stations – like quality mastering, registration numbers, etc.
Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?
TCruise : Yeah I do, I mean we all make mistakes LOL. I make sure that I get everything planned so that whenever an event comes, I don’t commit mistakes. We once did our own shows or performance events at some high school. We did so many mistakes, so uncountable. Honestly, I have never performed in a gig or a big music concert, so I can’t talk as if I have experience, y’know
Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?
TCruise : Just like I said, I’ve never been to national tours, so I don’t tour yet. I know people out there I tour. AllI I can say is that I made my own shows but if people want to hear more of that, better luck next time LOL
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?
TCruise : I gather inspiration from the artists I work, from the hardships my family is going or has gone through, and I also draw inspiration from me, and bit of inspiration from the surroundings. The technique I use for songwriting is texting with my phone on the memo. I write my hooks, my bridges, everything I want, and most importantly, I write the names of the effects that I’m willing to apply to the track I’m gonna record, y’know
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?
TCruise : No website is at my possession, but I share my music on free hosting sites such as Tinyupload, Datafilehost, megaupload, even SoundCloud, for the people to listen and give certain feedback.
Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?
TCruise : LOL, Oh Well, Uhm… there are mixtapes I released a year ago, so when I compare to my new mixtape I released this year, the previous mixtape……. you can find it embarrassing LOL
Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?
TCruise : Wow! A Million Dollars! I would travel back to South Africa and Open up my own record label, with recording equipment and soundproof walls. Plus, what is record label that has no artists LOL? I could also put all the artists I have started with on. The rest of the money would maybe go to my other expenses, buy myself a House, buy a car because cabs are expensive LOL, and have a trip with my whole family.
Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?
TCruise : Uhm, as we speak, I’m currently working on my breakthrough song, titled “Turn Up”. It’s currently in mastering, then after that, I submit it to various radio stations.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
TCruise : Networking is key to me, man. Uhm, Social networks are the platforms were I connect with those few fans I have or……. Do reproduction (hard copies) and distribute manually. Networking is the best for me. The Best!
Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?
TCruise : LOL, I would bring you the greatest performance if I was performing with Kendrick Lamar, Jermaine Cole, Drake, Travis Scott, Logic, Wale, and also…… Daft Punk with Pharell on the side. The place I wanna perform at is, any world stage that occurs each year, but in the US, I’d like to perform at Madison Square Garden or at the BET awards. My dreams are big! And I’m willing to achieve them all
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
TCruise : As I said, If my breakthrough song Turn Up generates some cash for me, I could get a studio and producers so I can start working on my debut album titled “Benedictory”, which is inspired by my second name and I found out that it’s related to a giving of a blessing. A song like Turn Up is part of this project, so that’s why I want this song to reach its full potential, y’know
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
TCruise : Seriously I could be a CON artist LOL, I’m kidding. Uhm, I could be doing IT and maybe get groomed in being a marketing manager.
Exposed Vocals: Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What was going through your head?
TCruise : My upcoming project will be my first album and I never bought someone else’s album, coz I was more into video games.
Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?
TCruise : Sometimes my parents are giving me hard times, trying to make me someone I don’t wanna be. Other than that, I’m still young and in my parents’ shoes.
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2016?
TCruise : An album, and a few singles before the release of the debut album. Other things….. I don’t wanna reveal them as yet.
