Exposed Vocals Interviews Drew South
Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
Drew South:
I grew up with my family that consists of my younger brother and my older brother, so in all 3 boys in a house that is raised by mother and grandmother. What made me become an artist today simply started way back when I was a kid at a very young age playing action and sport video games where there would be a songlist that would consist of bands like Slipknot, Chevelle, or just any type of rock and metal based genre. I loved the whole idea of rock music since I was a kid because it left more of an impact on me than rap did, although I still do listen to some rap every now and then, my music playlist is practically 95% rock and metal.
Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?
 Drew South:
I do not have a stage name or anything I would like to be called other than my real name…. So that is that.
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
Drew South:
I like the idea of online music sharing. It has given me a way to show what I can do besides just go to school and play football. I am very happy that there is such thing as internet in today’s world where it is easier to get by in the music industry than it was when internet and computers were not around. And no, I do not give my music away for free…. Yes, l do post all of my songs on my Youtube account and some on my Reverbnation account but I wouldn’t consider it meaning that I “give my music away”. If I had a definite way of selling my music, I would. But as of now, I can’t.
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?
Drew South:
I can’t really give absolutely amazing tips like most of the pros give because I have only been at this music thing for approximately 8, almost 9 months but I can give a very general piece of advice, when you are just starting out, go all out and it’ll reflect on how great you could be in the future.
Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?
 Drew South:
I have never performed in front of a live audience before but I am sure the first, second, or maybe even the third time of doing so, I would probably mess up a couple of times but when I mess up I will make up for it next song or next gig by not making mistakes.
Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?
Drew South:
No, I do not tour. Although I do think it would be a fun experience.
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?
Drew South:
My songwriting inspiration usually comes from the ideas of either old stories about crimes or just personal experience like most people. And as for my usual songwriting process, I would record instrumentals before my vocals just to get an idea of how the lyrics may fit into the song, and not too many artists do that but it is just what I personally prefer. I would listen to the instrumental over and over trying to come up with distict lyrics that makes since and would be the best choice of words for the song. Writing lyrics for me could take a couple hours to at most a full day depending if I have writers-block or not.
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?
 Drew South:
I do not have a band website that I have an actual domain name under. All I use to gain popularity in my music is just Youtube and Reverbnation.
Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?
 Drew South:
 Believe it or not, the most embarrassing song on my music playlist would have to be Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love”. I’ll admit, it is a pretty good song in my opinion but everything else on my music playlist is more heavier.
Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?
Drew South:
 I would split the money with me and my family and just buy nice things no matter what it is, just anything that seems cool since its half a million dollars. But one thing I would want to spend it on is a truck and for sure max out the truck with every good-looking interior and exterior part there is. And I wouldn’t know what to do with a year off. I mean, I could be doing anything like relaxing but I am an athlete so I need to watch my limits on that…. So I would more than likely be doing everything as usual with the exeption of music if I had a year off.
Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?
Drew South:
Yes, I am planning to get a better microphone than the one I already have, buy a pop filter, and maybe a better music editing program. I use a really high quality mixer and record my music from that, plug it up to the computer and edit it on Audacity. After the editing process is complete, I upload it.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
 Drew South:
 I have found that Reverbnation is probably my best bet at getting noticed by some professional recording studios. I have promoted my music through Youtube, Reverbnation, Facebook, and Twitter so far. I am thinking about Spotify but I don’t want to get into spending money on promotions just yet.
Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?
Drew South:
 As cheesy as it sounds, I think it would be cool to perform during Oscar Night at my highschool with musicians like Mitch Lucker (Suicide Silence’s vocalist) and Bruce Ben (Asking Alexandria’s guitarist).
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
 Drew South:
 I have been working with my friend A.J. Prier with a couple of songs that we are trying to fit in an album. We got him producing, playing all instrumentals, and me at vocals. I think its a good mix with him at drums, guitar, and bass because he knows more riffs and drumming techniques than I do. And with me at vocals, I think its an amazing mix.
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
Drew South:
 If I wasn’t making music I would still be playing high school football but I wouldn’t be getting any comments from my friends like they say, “so how’s the music going?”…. So I really do not have a definite answer for this one.
Exposed Vocals: Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What was going through your head?
Drew South:
 As far back as I can remember, my first album I bought was an Aerosmith album. I am not sure what the album was but I think it was titled “Greatest Hits” or something. My emotions when I bought that album were just sky high. Like I couldn’t wait to play my first ever bought album in the car on the way home.
Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?
Drew South:
 My daily routine always starts with either school or music. On weekdays, I wake up and go to school, practice until about 2:40 or 4:00 pm (depending on coach’s time decision), and then I go home and either play music or record music. Weekends are much more sorted out though.
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in the next year or so?
Drew South:
 My fans should look forward to much more complex type of music, being that I wasn’t as complex or as good 8 or 9 months ago as I am now. I still have friends going back to one of my very first songs and criticising it because I was unexperienced, but hey, that’s gonna happen. I just sit back and laugh with my friends when they do that because it gives me an insight on how far I have come music-wise. My fans should also be looking foward to me and A.J. Prier making music together and posting it on our Youtube channels. 2017 will be probably a big year for me if I am committed enough to where I want to be in the music industry and I really want to surpass what others haven’t even invisioned of doing. But I don’t really want to make this a novel about my future so I will end it here and just let my fans watch what will happen and what music I will be coming out with in the future.
-Drew South
Youtube-
https://m.youtube.com/#/
Twitter-
https://twitter.com/
Reverbnation-
