Exposed Vocals Interviews Abi Rose – talks EP, ‘Dilemma Of Expression’
Exposed Vocals: How did you hear about Exposed Vocals? What made you decide to sign up?
I heard about Exposed Vocals through Twitter. I followed Randy and he sent me a message. 🙂
Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
The beachy, oversized country town of Perth Western Australia is where I grew up. At the age of nine, I started playing drums as I had too much energy and a good sense of rhythm. From there I started playing bass and just loved singing and writing songs/poems. Church was somewhere I developed my musical skills before going on to sing and perform in various cover bands in Perth. I attended the WAAPA in Western Australia where I did my first EP which was a rough jazz, funk, soul kind if album but I loved it. It was pure and real.
Moving on from there I flew across to London, (I am half British) and began a whole new artistic journey of developing my songs, me personally and my skills as a musician. Currently I am completing my music degree at the London College of Music in Ealing as well as preparing to go into the studio with brand new songs!
Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?
The name for my EP, ‘Dilemma Of Expression’ comes from me personally feeling as though, it has taken me a long time to truly find who I am as an artist and my official direction. As a songwriter I write many styles ranging from jazz to punk rock. For me it was about finding the genre where I felt most comfortable and could express myself and my songs best. That is pop music and I’m loving it!
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
With the internet and things in the industry going so strongly in a DIY direction, managers, producers and labels are looking more and more at sites like soundcloud and bandcamp, exposed vocals amongst others. I have given away some of my music for free yes. It is a matter of exposure at this point and letting the world know who I am and what I am doing. If people love it, they’ll come to shows, buy the merch and get involved with what I’m doing and money shouldn’t be an issue so yeah, I’m happy to give some music away.
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 consider myself a start up so all I can say is… have a very strong press kit with professional photo’s and a very clear direction of where you are heading. That is the basis for everything. If people can see how you can be marketed and the direction you can go, they will be much more likely to want to get behind your cause. Answer emails and phone calls as soon as you can, always be on time and work really, really, really, really hard!
Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?
All the time. It is a matter of just pretending that you didn’t. Haha. Keep going, keep smiling and most often nobody will notice. Things are always going wrong on stage, you have to roll with it and be flexible enough to keep going. The show must go on! 😉
Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?
So far, I haven’t toured much. All my energy has been in developing my songs, a lot of time in the studio and local London gigs. Gearing up for a tour of the UK in 2016 however, with the upcoming official EP launch for the Summer. I am excited to tour with my band. It’s something I’ve only heard about but I am a pretty laid back chick from Aus so if it is in the back of a beat up bus, eating 2 for 1 Macdonald’s cheeseburgers along the way then so be it…
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?
My songs come from whatever I’m going through and feeling at the time. Writing songs for me is a ‘need.’ Writing helps me express all the emotions I feel on a day to day basis and helps keep me functional. Most often, I will get a lyric in my head and I naturally hear it accompanied with a melody. Recently I have been writing on the piano so the new album is my music as well as lyrics and top line, which is a step up for me.
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?
At the moment I have my demo’s on soundcloud and I promote most of my music through Twitter.
Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?
Wow! Loads of them. Here are a couple… Mmmm Bop by Hansen. Love that song. That’s what makes you beautiful by One Direction and I think my all time fave is Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepson. Hehe.
Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?
No doubt, I would be in the studio every single day from 6am producing the album I could ever wish to share with the world. I’m thinking a weekend in Spain might creep up in there somewhere too tho. I haven’t been there yet. lol
Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?
Right now I create my demo’s on logic at home in my bedroom and then send them to my musicians and or producer. Then we work together on developing them. Pro Tools is what I’m aiming for next and actually, I would love to set up my own studio somewhere with an amazing Tama drumkit with Babinga wood!
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
Still working on that. In all honesty, I’m right at the beginning things. I’ve taken a lot of time to get the music and message right and now I am looking for avenues to get my music out there.
Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?
Christina Aguilera. She is my idol and has always been. Also, I have a lot of admiration for Jessie J and the way she has worked her way up and demanded that the world pay attention. Would be great to perform with Katy Perry, another super cool chick and one more… Those were alive artists, dead ones. Ummmmm, Michael Jackson easy. Whitney Houston, Elvis for sure.
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
All my focus now is on the upcoming ‘Dilemma Of Expression’ EP which will be my first official launch in the UK. My aim is to come out with a bang, and show people what I’ve got, At the moment I’m leaning towards the single being a ballad called ‘Stone Cold’ which yes, it a story of heartbreak for me and a song I’m incredibly proud of. There is nothing held back at all.
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
I love people. They interest me so much. Think I would be studying anthropology or psychology and maybe be a counsellor or something. Pretty different eh? Also, I love writing so possibly a fiction author. Romance novels. lol
Exposed Vocals: Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What was going through your head?
My first album was a Jive Bunny album. I remember playing it over and over and over and pulling some pretty sweet dance moves to those cool, old songs!
Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?
This is a tough one I must admit. In all honestly, I work really, really hard. It’s like having two jobs and I don’t have much time to go out that much. Most often you’ll find me in the studio or writing a song in my spare time although, I do have fun too. Hehe. I love red wine and a good medium rare steak. Also good coffee. Love chillin out with a good coffee.
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2015?
My fans can look forward to a very honest EP from me with Dilemma Of Expression. They will really get to know who I am with these songs and feel the journey I have walked. Feels like my fans have been walking it with me to be honest. Without the support of my core fan base, the encouraging messages I don’t know if I could have kept going. But I have and I can’t wait to share my music with everybody and encourage other people as well that yeah, you can absolutely live your dreams. Just don’t give up and be prepared to work harder than a lot of other people around you.
