Exposed Vocals Interviews troubadour folk artist Jens Ottosen

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

[Jens Ottosen]:I early discovered that I had a knack for music and knew that if I practiced and worked hard at hard it I could make it my living. sometimes I feel like this profession chose me and not the other way around.

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

Jens Ottosen:it’s my given name

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

Jens Ottosen: I think it’s fine. it’s the way the business works I guess. Do I give my music away for free … hmmm … I think Spotify is pretty much giving it away for free 😉

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?

Jens Ottosen: I think that’s the hardest part of it myself. I guess it’s important to know what ones brand is and be prepared before dialing with what you’re gonna say to sell your product, which is you … you’re the product.

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

Jens ottosen: Yes, and the show must go on. you just gotta play it off and not make a big deal about it. And then keep working to make fewer mistakes or at least not the same ones twice. the more experience the fewer mistakes. you root them out from show to show.

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

Jens Ottosen:I have a few gigs around the country (Denmark) and a regular bread and butter gig in my current hometown, Herning. other than that I am mostly a recording artist. I have plans to tour the country next summer at the different festivals.

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

Jens Ottosen: I love walking around the harbour in Aarhus or in the woods around the parks in the city. That’s where I gather most of my inspiration.

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

Jens Ottosen: My web site is www.jensottosen.org . Besides that it’s all the usual suspects, Facebook, Soundcloud, Reverbnation and so on.

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

Jens Ottosen:I don’t have an mp3 player, but I’ve listened to some of the old crooners, like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Bing Crosby, which is normally more typical for my grandparents generation, except maybe for Frank – everybody loves “Old blue eyes” 🙂

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

Jens Ottosen: Travel, write and record in a state of art studio.

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

Jens Ottosen:I’m a Cubase man, so the latest of that

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

Jens Ottosen:I have yet to find that out. So far it’s been Facebook adds

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

Jens Ottosen:Madison Square Garden with Billy Joel! He’s a major influence and inspiration lyrically in my songwriting and one of my biggest heros. Doing a concert with him at his home turf would be awesome.

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

Jens Ottosen:I’m currently working on new material with my band. starting out with a couple of singles. Then we’ll see after that.

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

Jens Ottosen:I honestly don’t know

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

Jens Ottosen:The album I best remember buying is Don Henley’s “The End Of The Innocence” It wasn’t my first though. That was “The Final Countdown” by Europe, I think.

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

Jens Ottosen:I play at a local Piano bar every Friday and Saturday as my only source of income, which leaves me open the rest of the time to work on my original projects.

Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in the next year or so?

Jens Ottosen:3 great singles and an EP or album.