Music Review and Interview with Rhea Dean

Rhea Dean is a singer and songwriter hailing from South East London. She learnt her craft through studying and graduating from The Brit School. After winning the Live & Unsigned competition she has gone on to support UK star Katy B at Somerset House and dance act Faithless at Brixton Academy. She has also performed at Shepherds Bush Empire and the legendary jazz venue Ronnie Scott’s. Alongside her own music, she is also currently collaborating with a collective called KOTU.

Secret Lies is her first single and the lead track from her first EP which has been produced by StarClef. It is a mid-paced urban pop/RnB track with a stellar vocal performance from Rhea. She has a voice every bit as strong and versatile as her current UK pop contemporaries like Jessie J and Jess Glynne, and her training shows in her vocal control.

It starts with atmospheric synths and a spoken word intro before Rhea enters with ‘Why is it so hard for you to open up? You don’t make it easy…’. Her voice captivates from the first line, the track springing to life when the funky swinging RnB beat enters. It builds to a great pop chorus sung in octaves, aided by a pulsing synth bass: ‘I’m taking over if we can’t rewind we can fast forward with those thoughts in your mind…’. After the second chorus, there is a nifty backwards section which Is one of many excellent production touches that add to the track.

Overall, this is superbly performed and produced debut single that manages to be current and commercial but at the same time different enough from what,s out there to stand out from the crowd. It’s a great song to take to UK radio and Rhea Dean seems to have every base covered both creatively and commercially. I expect we,all be hearing this song in the UK top 40 in the near future.

Listen to Rhea Dean on Kiss 104.7 FM [Radio Play]

By Alex Faulkner

I’m 34 and a freelance music journalist, as well as a composer and producer. I’ve written reviews for UK newspapers and music websites. I run my own blog, reviewing the best new bands and artists . I’m very passionate and knowledgeable about music and that shows in my writing.

http://www.vevo.com/artist/rhea-dean

Exclusive Interview:

Exposed Vocals: How did you hear about Exposed Vocals? What made you decide to sign up?
>>>Artist:
I had seen a lot of things on social media about it, mainly interviews with interesting up and coming artists. It seemed like a good thing to do!

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

I was born and brought up in South East London and still live here now. It’s very much a part of me, and my music. I’m so lucky to have grown up around such diverse people and cultures, exposing me to different musical genres. I think you can hear this influence in my sound. I’m also so lucky to have been so close to The BRIT School a one of a kind school that offers a free education to kids wanting to study the performing arts and without it I don’t think I would have been able to study it full time. I studied musical theatre at The BRIT School as my mum had always sent me to dance and theatre classes as a child. I really developed my voice here and found my talent. When I left at 18 I realised that music was something I was passionate about and started writing my own songs.

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

It’s my real name lucky enough.

Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?

I think giving away music for free can be a great way of reaching new audiences, and allowing them to ‘try before they buy’ while keeping your current audience engaged, but only when this is allowed by the artist. I think when music is shared or reproduced unknown to the artist it takes away from all the hard work and effort they have put into making that piece of music.

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?

Get out there. Get playing, get talking and get interacting with the music scene around you. If the music is good and you work hard people around you will see that if you make yourself heard.

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

Yes of course we all do, we’re only human . If we were perfect all the time that would be boring and that’s what makes every gig exiting, not knowing what is going to happen. Whenever I make a mistake I always carry on. A lot of the time people wont notice if you carry on and if they do they’ll think it’s cool you’ve changed the lyrics or made something up on the spot. I used to get really worried and think that people are gonna be really judgmental when they watch a performance but I’ve learnt that everyone just wants to have a good time and if you enjoy yourself on stage they will too.

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

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

It can be from literally anywhere when I’m out and about living my life. From a single word someone has said or a performance I’ve watched which has stirred some kind of emotion in me. My iPhone if full of notes and voice notes with words or phrases that I’ve jotted down (I swear like half of my phone memory). I’ll then develop an idea later on at home in the studio or with other musicians. They also come in handy when I need a bit of inspiration.

Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?

I do, it’s rheadean.com but I also share my music and pics on twitter.com/RheaDean
facebook.com/MissRheaDean
instagram.com/MissRheaDean

Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?

Not embarassing as such because everything I listen to is a part of me and what I like. I guess if I think about when my ipod is on shuffle some songs play that I turn off quickly lol. I’m half German and I have German Schlager music on there. It’s ‘sing a long’ pop in German obviously people are a bit baffled when it comes on in the UK or USA but it goes down a treat at an uncles wedding lol.

Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?

I definitely wouldn’t change what I’m doing. I think I’d be able to work double the speed and everything would go back into my musical projects and my team around me. I’d love to tour the world with my music and make lots of music on the way.

Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?

I find social media the best way to promote music to fans. People really buy into you the person as well as the artist now so direct interaction makes fans feel included and like your passing your music directly onto them.

Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?

I would absolutely love to perform with Etta James. There’s rawness in her voice and performance that speaks so much. It has so much depth and honesty. I think back then singers like her really told a story from their gut with so much emotion and a lot of that is lost now or covered up by shiny stage sets.

Also Amy Winehouse. She had so much more to give and I would love to pick her brain and see where her songs come from as I think they’re all so deep and honest and I respect that so much about her artistry. Plus I think she would be funny to hang out with.

Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?

I’ve just released a brand new single called ‘Secret Lies’. It’s got a 90’s throwback feel to it with some soul and electronic influences that will make you want to move when the drums kick in! You can get the track from iTunes now. https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/secret-lies-single/id1014305603
Or watch the amazing video directed by JRFotography on VEVO. http://vevo.ly/hKClfF

My EP is also set to be released soon. I’ve worked really hard on it with StarClef Music who has produced the majority of the EP, with one of the tracks by Jay Jay Musika. It was such a pleasure to work with both of them and we’ve created something that is so personal and illustrates many different parts of me through music. I’m really passionate about what I write, as it is mostly based on my experiences. It’s an emotional EP that will take you on an atmospheric vibey journey with a bit of a punch. You can also expect a drum & bass/dance element and electronic beats to some of my tracks, as well as a cheeky bit of pop.

Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?

Something performance related no doubt. My dad is musical and my mum theatrical so it’s in my blood.

Exposed Vocals: Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What was going through your head?

Yes The Spice girls! Ha I think it was in HMV I went to buy it with my mum. I remember getting so exited that they had all the lyrics in the sleeve! Before then I used to write all lyrics to songs I liked that I had taped of the radio in a Backstreet Boys note pad I had. I loved that pad! Think it might have been the start of my own song writing.

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

Try to just get on with everything to the best of my ability. Sometimes things can get hectic but I just have to remind myself how lucky I am to be doing something I love while having such an awesome, supportive team around me.

Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2015?

My next single called ‘Reflections’ which is the title track off the EP, followed by the EP itself.
I am also working on some exiting collaborations with other artist’s.