Exposed Vocals: How did you hear about Exposed Vocals?
Randy Morano hit me up on twitter and asked if I was interested in being interviewed for the site and some potential exposure
What made you decide to sign up?
I decided to sign up because this website is a great way to help me get my name out there
Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up?
I was born and raised in the Bronx New York then later moved to North Eastern, PA.
What made you decide to become an artist?
I decided to become an artist because I have always had a deep love for music. Its a feeling that I can’t explain. When I hear a certain song or a certain sound in a song, I get this chill up my spine and this feeling that I can not explain. It just comes over me and I get lost in the rhythm. My mother used to tell me that I would sing on the train (subway). One time when I was 6 years old, i sang with so much passion and talent that I got everyones attention that was on the train and by the time my mother got me to sit back down, I had an audience giving me a round of applause. I always had a passion for music.
Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name?
The origin of my name came from my uncle Marshall. When I was a kid he would always call me shak because my full name is Shakiem. From then on everyone called me shak. The entire alias came into full effect when I took my first hit of sour deisel while freestyling at a party. I used the name in a line that i said. From then on I went by the Alias of “Shak Deisel”. Deisel is also an acronym, that’s why it is spelled different. It stands for “do everything I should especially live”. Meaning, “life is too short to do anything but live life to the fullest. Before you know it, time will have passed and you can never get it back so do not waste your life.
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing?
Online music sharing is great because that’s a large network. It is hard to get recognition because everybody raps but what sets you aside from all of the other artist all depends on how you sell yourself, how you promote yourself, how you expose yourself, what your message in your lyrics mean and over all talent.
Do you ever give your music away for free? I do
Why? Because I would rather people hear my message for free than pay to have their brains melted by some of the mainstream nonsense that people call music.
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?
Be yourself. Be good. Be confident. Never forget why you do what you do.
Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? No Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?
No but if I was I would have the craziest tour bus parties
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration?
From the way i feel due to certain situations that im going through at that time. It could be a sad time, a great time, or it can be a time where nothing is going right and i just get frustrated about the situation and channel it into my lyrics. 80% of the times i just think of cool stuff to say and let the talent take over.
What is your usual songwriting process? Marijuana and alcohol help a little because they get the talented juices flowing but I usually am either in the mood or not.
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website?
Yes you can find me at-
http://www.reverbnation.com/sterry
http://soundcloud.com/shak-deisel
http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/deisel/profile/
http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/deisel/song/popular/
Instagram: DeiselAlmighty
Twitter: @ItsYaBoySTer
What online platforms do you use to share your music?
http://www.reverbnation.com/sterry
http://soundcloud.com/shak-deisel
http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/deisel/profile/
http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/deisel/song/popular/
Instagram: DeiselAlmighty
Twitter: @ItsYaBoySTer
Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?
My boo by Alicia keys and usher
Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do?
I would pay every bill that i owe. Pay my parents bills. Get my mom dad and sister all new cars. Buy a house in malibu and stash the rest in stocks and off shore accounts. I would spend it like I knew what I wanted to buy for years.
What are you working with now? Right now I use an mxl 990 vocalist mic with a phantom interface and mixcraft 6.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music?
Twitter is the best way. Honestly, they find me and ask me if I want to promote my music.
What works best for you? Posting my songs on all of my social media accounts.
Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with?
I would perform in miami with all of the local artist I came up with, such as, “Visto, Neeq Sparks, Froz, Pint, Trevone, Paco and anybody else that I forgot. I would have a major artist open up for us!
Why? Because what’s the point of making it if your friends ain’t with you.
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about? I am actually working on a few projects right now that should be finished by early summer, late spring. Be on the look out for that.
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
Wasting a god given talent by not using it.
Exposed Vocals: Do you remember buying your first album? Yeah
Who was it? It was bow wow
What was going through your head?
I thought to myself, this shit is hot and I was like 11 years old.
Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?
One thing at a time
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2015?
The uprising of a tyrant named “SHAK D.E.I.S.E.L.”
