Exposed Vocals Interviews “Ã¥MBe”

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

Ã¥MBe: I was born in Belgorod, it’s a small town in Russia on the border with Ukraine. Both of my parents are professional musicians: my father was a classical pianist and composer, and my mom was doing singing and playing piano professionally as well. That’s why it was natural for me to see myself doing the same thing that my parents were doing – music. I started to sing before I started to talk and walk. And as long as I’ve been aware of myself I have always wanted to be an artist. I started to learn the violin and piano at the age of 4. Then when I was almost 6 I was sent to a special music school for gifted children – a boarding school in Kharkov in Ukraine. Almost right away I started to compose some music and songs. When I was 7 I won the International contest of young composers in Kiev. So this is how everything has started.

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

åMBe: With the name it happened very natural itself. First I was performing under my official name Maria Brodskaya. Then I noticed that it sort of not easy for most English-speaking people to pronounce my name and surname. Then I made it just my initials MB. And then I just added the “a” at the beginning and “e” at the end, to make it read M like “am” and B like “be”.

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

Ã¥MBe: It’s a very tricky and sensitive equation for musicians. On one hand making music is hard work, and as any work it should be paid for, no questions. On the other hand, because of technological progress, now every one can (more or less) make and record music. We are not talking about quality, just about the possibility. It has done both: it has given a possibility to be creative to those people who would have never been able to afford it 10, 15, 20 years ago. But also, now, since there are so so so so many “musicians” and “music” out there it is too hard for a “musician” to be found and heard. It is much easier now to get sunk and lost forever.. So musicians are of course just ready to give their music away for free (not to mention even to pay sometimes!) to be heard. So there is definitely a problem with it, but I am not sure that I have come to any solution yet. Maybe one day. So, yes, I don’t make any exception, I’ve been giving away some of my music for free. I want people to hear me. And then, if they like what they hear, maybe they would give something back for it as well. Something like.. ice-cream?.:) Vanilla soft-served, please 🙂

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?

Ã¥MBe: Everyone’s way to any sort of success is different. You never know. I have only one advice. Knock all doors. Keep on working hard on both areas: making your “better-self’s” music, and getting it heard and noticed. Not just one of those areas, but both at all times.

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

åMBe: The more you are afraid to make mistakes, the more you actually do make them. Everyone makes mistakes. The better you know your craft the better the quality of your performance is, as well as your confidence. But we are only humans.. Well, more or less.. lol But still. If it happens I try to ether make it a special kind of deal (so everyone would think it was planned), or just to make it a part of a show. People like to know that you are “alive” and “real”. It makes what you do even cooler, allowing the audience to appreciate it even better, because music IS very hard labor.

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

Ã¥MBe: Last year I’ve spent basically self-locked in a studio, working on my music and videos. Now I’m starting to get the live show ready to tour with. Then I’m going to collect and bring you some cool and interesting road stories, I promise 🙂 We expect to be touring in November.

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

åMBe: The inspiration always comes from somewhere different. How one of my favorite Russian poets, Anna Akhmatova, said it was: “You have no clue what mess the poetry is growing from”. Sometimes inspiration comes from having “no inspiration” at all. The process can be different in every case. Sometimes a poem comes, and then you are trying to hear the melody in it. Or a melody comes and you are trying to hear the words there. Sometimes it’s a difficult and painful process, and sometimes you are just channeling it from above, simply writing in down.

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

Ã¥MBe: My official website is: http://www.ambemusic.com
You can find my music on soundcloud, youtube, itunes and basically all online music stores.

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

Ã¥MBe: hahaha…. let me think… let me actually check.. I just looked and now i am even feeling disappointed, since I didn’t find anything like this. I’m going to have to work on this though. Starting tonight. Ask me next time! (My producer says he has Chainsmokers… not sure how embarrassing that is…)

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

åMBe: First I’d ask for the other half. And then.. I’m not going to tell you so you don’t steal my ideas :))

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

åMBe: I think it’s best to promote anywhere and everywhere… online, in person, through friends…. Through enemies even. You never know where and when you can make a new fan.

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

åMBe: Michael Jackson. It has always been my dream, since I was a child. Where? I’d let Michael choose.

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

Ã¥MBe: We have a video coming out in the next couple of weeks, then a couple more singles and videos, leading to a full album drop on ADIM Records in late September-October. The name of the album is going to be “Enemy Of The People”. We also plan to start touring America and Europe in early 2017. And of course, writing the new album, making new videos, and getting ready to play bigger and cooler shows.

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

Ã¥MBe: probably writing.. and making movies..

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

åMBe: Of course it was Michael Jackson. Thriller. I didn’t buy it. I was too young to buy. But it was the first album I remember myself having. And I was in love with Michael. I still am.