Hot new interview with Tra Cee

Exposed Vocals: How did you hear about Exposed Vocals? What made you decide to sign up?

Tra Cee: I was referred to you all by our Marketing Consultant Peter Groves. I looked up your site and saw the great work that you are doing by leveling the playing field for us independent artists and helping us to be heard by the masses. I think what you all are doing is great.

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

Tra Cee: I grew up in Chicago, and I moved to Indiana a little over 10 years ago. I have been singing as long as I have been able to speak, and I entered and won my first talent show at the age of 6. I sang Love Come Down by Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King, and after that people would just come up to me and ask me to sing songs that were popular on the radio. I learn songs pretty easily, so I kind of ended up always singing. 🙂 It just kinda blossomed from there.

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

Tra Cee: Well, my given name is Tracy, so it seemed simple to just stick with a name that wasn’t hard for people who already knew me to know it’s me, and easy for me to know who people are talking to when they call my name! Lol! It allows me to be me…just the artist ‘me’.

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

Tra Cee: I think that it is unfortunately unavoidable. Music sharing will always happen, online and off – the burning of cds and the like, but I do feel that it takes money out of the pocket of the artist. While that may not be the only source of income for artists, it still matters. Now if an artist voluntarily releases a song for free download, that is different. I have given my song away for free – it is good marketing, and it is appreciated and sometimes necessary. However, that does not happen often, for as much as I love what I do – I would sing for free – I would like to be able to make a living doing what I love full time, which would free me up to make more 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?

Tra Cee: Hard work is what gets you where you are going. Investing time, creating a quality project, networking, marketing, making sure you are marketable, getting in front of as many people as possible, those are the things my label, Terror Records, Inc., does. Nothing worth having comes easy, and no one is going to purchase your product if they don’t know who you are.

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

Tra Cee: Oh yes! I have forgotten and mixed up lyrics, I have missed notes and there have been times when my track has skipped, paused or just stopped playing behind me. One thing I have learned is that you never stop singing. The audience oftentimes doesn’t know that you made a mistake unless you let them know that you made one. So, I don’t let them know, and, above all, I remain as poised onstage as I can, even if I am secretly panicking on the inside.

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

Tra Cee: I am getting ready to drop my first single, and so the tour lifestyle is getting ready to begin for me. I have been performing in various venues around Chicago and Indiana, often at several events per weekend when I am free. I have met many interesting and talented people from all genres, and I am getting ready to go to London in February to perform at a cancer research fundraiser. There will be several UK celebrities and performers there, including contestants from X-Factor UK and Britain’s Got Talent – that is going to be exciting!

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

Tra Cee: My songwriting inspiration comes from my life experience. Situations and circumstances also lend themselves to my songwriting. Sometimes lyrics just come to me, and other times I will put on a track and listen to it over and over again until the lyrics come.

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

Tra Cee: Yes we do! My label’s site is www.terrorrecords.co – and you can find my page on the site, just use the drop-down menu. We can also be found on FB at https//:www.facebook.com/terrorrecordsfans. My personal pages are: https://facebook.com/traceetr, www.reverbnation.com/tracee8, www.instagram.com/tra_ceetr and on Twitter @tzlewis73. We do also have our videos on YouTube.

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

Tra Cee: Well…I actually like a couple of songs by Nickelback, but I don’t currently have any of their songs in my playlist – I used to though 🙂

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

Tra Cee: I would take the time to make more music and work my brand!!! I would pump money into marketing and promoting and all things music related. My goal would be to double that money. I would buy a few things though – I love gadgets and computers, so I would have my very own music studio/BatWoman Cave! My entire basement wall would be monitors!

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

Tra Cee: New microphones! What we have now is fine, but you can never go wrong with great studio mics.

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

Tra Cee: Lots of online marketing. FB, Instagram, Reverbnation, and Twitter. Live performances, we throw a monthly Open Mic event, we call it the Control The Mic, word of mouth, flyers, pluggers, interviews, radio airplay, whatever we need to do to get the word out – it all works. Online is best, I think, because so many people are connected and we can reach them in so many different places – local and international.

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

Tra Cee: I would love to perform right here at the Chicago Theatre with Peabo Bryson or Patti LaBelle – they are two of my biggest inspirations and I would be honored to sing a song with either of them. They are definitely masters of their craft.

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

Tra Cee: As I stated earlier – I am going to London in February, and when I come back we are dropping my first official video and single – Favorite Song ft. Da General, one of my label mates. That is what we are gearing up for, and I am really excited about that.

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

Tra Cee: Wow..that’s hard. I love to read, and I love to write – I think I would be an author. But I would still be singing while writing. I don’t think I could ever not sing.

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

Tra Cee: I do! My first cassette was actually a single by Peabo Bryson, the song was Can You Stop The Rain. I just loved his voice, and it was the first thing I bought when I earned my first check from my first full time job. The first whole album I purchased was by Boyz II Men – Motownphilly. I loved their voices, and the harmonies were outstanding. And it was a great album.

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

Tra Cee: I don’t sleep much. Between church, work, my kids, my label and my music – sleep is secondary. This is something that requires time to get this off the ground and out to the masses. So organization is necessary, and calendar reminders are needed sometimes, but it is all worth it – because I know the day is coming when I will be able to do what I love full time.

Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2016?

Tra Cee: Look out for Terror Records, Inc. We are about to hit the scene – DA Smart – CEO of TR and Hip Hop Artist, Da General, Mz. Lady, Tae Bae, Lucaine, Rell, Tobar, T-UP, Blaq Ice and myself – we are about to give you guys some good music to listen to – stay tuned!!!