Exposed Vocals interviews The Bitter Lips

Exposed Vocals: How did you hear about Exposed Vocals? What made you decide to sign up?

Via Twitter! its good to get your music heard i guess so exposed vocals seems like a great site for that!

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

I grew up in between the Scottish Highlands and Glasgow.. i had always been quite artistic and was obsessed with writing stories/lyrics/poems from a young age, I used to go backstage to pop gigs at the age of 10 and felt so comfortable in that world. But i guess what got me actually interested in singing was when i was introduced to vocal coach Stevie Lange through a family friend. She taught me a lot and when i was 14 i moved to London. I started to take singing and songwriting much more seriously then and now its my main passion in life.

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

Its an abbreviation of one of our lyrics. “Bite my bitter lip to erase the kiss”

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

its a weird one, I mean when i was at university we studied a lot about copyright and illegal downloading. And on one hand as a musician i feel that its such a personal thing and you usually put your heart and soul into a piece of music and that has a certain value to it, However i also understand as a fan that you can’t always afford to buy music you love. So i’m divided in my opinion.. i’ll cross that bridge when it comes to it!

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?

I don’t think theres any particular formula, just work hard, “network”.. be nice to people.. DON’T give up x

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

Yeah of course, when i first started playing gigs i was 16 and i used to throw up before i went on stage from nerves! eventually though i became more comfortable with performing, I’m actually more comfortable on stage now than i am in daily life!  I just go with it and forget about any mistakes in a song its hard if your voice goes.. but i just try to make the next part of the song count.

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

What happens on tour, stays on tour ;).. Ha well I’m touring this summer just throughout the UK and Europe, so hopefully people will be into that.

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

Oh god! I don’t really have a process.. I’m not a very organised person.  Inspiration-wise i guess its just my experiences.. past and present..sometimes it’ll be in the most random places like when i’m on the tube and i’ll get an idea for a lyric or a melody and i have to rush to get it down.. Other times i spend days obsessing over the same idea..  changing it and reworking it.. and then scrapping all the changes.. it always seems to sound better when you first write/record it.

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

Just Twitter and SoundCloud right now guys! i’ll put the website up once i’ve confirmed gig and release dates.

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

Haha… Ummm the boy band Blue? lots of that. I like a lot of obscure industrial music like Throbbing Gristle and Cabaret Voltaire as well which would probably freak some people out..

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

Album. Tour. Repeat!..I would make an insanely good record then go on tour and put on an insanely good live show.

Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?

I’m using my home studio set up right now a lot which is quite basic, I’m using logic pro and sometimes just the inbuilt mic and sometimes the blue snowball microphone to record vocals. A lot of programmed instruments with far too many effects but i love it! Ha we are recording our single in a different studio atm and they use pro tools and have some amazing equipment. Its very exciting to work with. Production makes such a difference.

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

Just meeting people i guess, Social media is a good tool for marketing.. However i don’t want to ram any of my music down anybody’s throat. if people like it and enjoy it then thats fantastic  but as selfish as this may sound i’m doing this for myself not anybody else.

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

The list is endless.. But Marilyn Manson would be first on my list as he’s always been major inspiration for me. and i love every song he’s done. Also David bowie.. Patti smith.. Placebo.. They are just artists i really respect and admire.

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

Just the release of my Ep in May, Hopefully releasing it on vinyl as well as online..just have to wait until it sounds perfect production-wise.

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

I have no idea. As cliche as this may sound.. I wouldn’t be me its such an integral part of who i am,

I’d probably be in the gutter somewhere with no friends or life haha.. Nah i mean i’m interested in psychology so being a counsellor would have been ok perhaps.

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

The first album i ever bought for myself was The Golden Age of Grotesque by Marilyn Manson. I just remember being super excited. I think I bought the Eminem show at the same sort of time. Played both of those on repeat constantly.

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

I don’t.

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

My first single! and album. and the tour in the summer! Theres so much I’m excited about this year so hopefully people will be too.