Read about my busy life style, how I got into music and a particular embarrassing incident on the escalators.
Lets find out about.....
...melodies, lyrics and all the rest
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My songs always start with a melody in my head.. if I like it, I sit down and play it out on the piano. Once the song's melody and structure are in place, I start to draft an arrangement and add instruments. Lyrics are the last thing I write, they don’t come as intuitive as the melody does. They take a little longer to finish because I need to think about them more. Probably because English is not my first language!
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...my much-loved studio days
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Studio is the best time ever for me. I would take leave from the office or spent my weekends there to record. I am lucky to work with two fantastic producers who always really understand how I envision a song. Although I spent a lot of days in the studio, every day I am amazed and excited again on how the songs slowly shape up when we work on them, starting with the drafts that I bring in until they are all recorded and polished and sound just like I imagined them to sound.
It’s the most happiest and satisfying feeling for me to listen to finished work.
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...gigs and stage fright
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I used to get nervous at first.. But fortunately it’s getting better with practise! And I’ve been on stage for a while now. I used to sing in choirs... later supporting another band with backing vocals. On my first solo gig I was absolutely terrified! But now I love performing live, it’s so much fun to go up there and sing, especially if it's a good crowd that goes along with it!
I still prefer smaller and intimate venues where I can actually see and connect with the audience. I have been on larger stages before but I feel a bit alone when I cannot see anyone through the spotlight..
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...slip ups
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Yes, they have happened! In all sorts of shapes and sizes, such as forgetting lyrics on stage, starting a song in the wrong key or saying something really stupid to a journalist in an interview (fortunately, it wasn’t printed!) It’s part of the game so I just try to stay cool and get on with it, and have a laugh with my friends afterwards if it was really bad. I try not to obsess about all the little mistakes because it would just pull me down or take my confidence away.
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...songs and gigs.. is this all?
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Of course not! This is just the part that you get to see and hear. There are so many other things I do that all evolve around my music. I don't just want to lean back and sing, I like getting involved in all other aspects. I contact promoters, book and advertise gigs, have rehearsals, design and update my website (and all the other social network sites we need nowadays..), arrange photographers and videos, create flyers etc. It’s a lot of work and it never ends! Fortunately, I have great friends who are really motivated and help and support me a lot.
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...where I fit it all in
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I am often being asked that! I’m still working full time to pay my bills so all the music activities take over my evenings and weekends. Sometimes I get tired and it’s hard to motivate myself, but most of the time I really enjoy working on it. I am a bit of a workaholic, anyway. I have a lot of determination and if I set myself a goal, I am happy to put in the work to achieve it.
It doesn’t help that I’m a little of a perfectionist.. I always want to give it 100% when I do something so it always takes a little longer. But also, I enjoy it. Its very satisfying to see the results, see things shaping up slowly.
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...the budget question
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This one I am being asked a lot as well! I don’t really want to talk about money, but lets just say studio time, CDs, photographers, flyers, a website etc aren’t cheap. I am very lucky to have a daytime job that supports my expensive hobby!
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...my big break-through
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Ok, this was a joke of course!
Musicians always say “it’s all about the love for the music” and the phrase is really over-used, but it’s still true. I like where I am because there is no pressure and I can decide for myself what I want to do.
I still know where I want it to go, though. I have just completed “Bright Outlook” which was the biggest milestone for me so far! Next, I want to focus on giving more live performances and getting my songs heard by more people. It would also be nice to add one or two more people to our little band. And I already have plenty of ideas for a new album… but one thing at the time! Most of all, I just want to enjoy what I am doing, and if others enjoy it too, even better!
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...Hamburg and London
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I have settled in quite well here and really love the London life. I do miss my family and friends from over in Germany of course. I try to go over several times a year, and we speak a lot on the phone as well. I am very close to my family. I also miss small things from Germany sometimes.. Snow and cold crispy air in winter for example, London just doesn’t get cold enough! Or sitting at the lake with a shandy on a sunny day and watching the sailing boats glide past. Hamburg is a really beautiful town! Sometimes I crave a special German food that I cannot get over here... so I try stock up on those things every time go over!
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...my non-music evenings
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Sadly, they are a little rare.. but in my non-music evenings, I like to just spent time with my friends or family. If I take time for myself, I like reading. I can go through a book in a matter of two or three days if it’s really good! I also like going to the gym or running in the near by park when the weather is good, and I like Badminton and Salsa dancing.
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...the perfect night out
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When I go out, I just want to have fun... I prefer places without the big fuss. I like to have my friends around, dance to cheesy party tunes and just let my hair down. Spontaneous nights are often the best! And of course, Chinese take-away on the way home is a must!
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...the perfect holiday
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I like my holidays sunny! I am not a thrill-seeker, but I do like some activity when I go away.. such as skiing, horse riding, hiking.. or just sight seeing. I like beach holidays but after a few days of lying around I get bored and want to do something.
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...another fact you don’t know yet
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I travelled South America when I was 16! I spent nearly a year in Uruguay, and also went to Argentina, Chile, Brazil and recently to Mexico. I have a weak spot for this continent, and I think it is also where I picked up my passion for salsa! I am fluent in Spanish.. well, I was back then at least..
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...the embarrassing situation
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Ah yes, I have not forgotten about it!
It was one time in Hamburg. It was summer and I was wearing a floaty, light skirt. I was standing on an escalator moving up, when a gush of wind caught me from below and wrapped my skirt around my head. My naked behind was on display to anyone below on the escalator! I just wished the ground had opened up and swallowed me whole.. I was so mortified!
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2010 - 2nd Place Orpington Competition
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I won the second place in the Orpington Talent Competition, performing my song "Promise me".
This was a local talent competition organised by the Orpington town centre management, the management of the Churchill Theatre and the Bromley Newspaper (Newsshopper). The acts ranged from singers to bands, gymnasts and dance groups. The competition was held in Orpington market square, where 14 finalists were performing in front of the judges and a large crowd of shoppers and visitors.
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2010 – Bright Outlook
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My first album Bright Outlook has been completed and released.
It has ten of my latest songs on it that I have written and recorded over the past year, ranging from more upbeat jazzy pop-songs to emotional piano ballads.
It is available via my website, where you can also listen to the tracks.
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2010 – 2nd Place Bromley Festival (Medal)
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I won the second place in the Bromley Festival of Music and Speech, performing “Summertime” in the category “open choice”. I also won the 2nd place in the category “Italian Aria”, as well as the 3rd place in the category “musical”. The Bromley festival is a local event here in Kent, where participants perform classical, musical and jazz works in a variety of categories over several weekends.
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2009 – Songwriting Finalist
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I have been named as finalist in the UK Songwriting Competition with my song “Stronger” (category Rock/ Indy). This is the biggest national songwriting and composing competition with more then 6,000 entries per year across all categories, and only ~ 20 songs make it to the final! Six of my songs where also in the semi-final, most of them with top scores for the level. Songs have been assessed with regards to melody, arrangement, lyrics and originality by an industry panel.
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2009 – Open Mic Regional Finalist
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I made it into the regional finals of the open mic UK singing competition.
This is a national competition with nearly 10,000 entries in 2009. It is searching for the best songwriters, rappers and vocalists of all genres who perform covers or original material. I was performing in the big regional show in the Bedford Corn Exchange Theatre in front of an audience of ~600, singing my song “promise me”.
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2009 – 3rd Place Beckenham Festival (Medal)
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I won the 3rd place in the Beckenham Festival in the solo category for opera. The Beckenham Festival is one of the largest amateur competitive performing arts festivals in the south-east of England, with medals, cups and trophies to be won for performances in music, speech, drama and dance.
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2008 – Honourable Mention Billboard Contest
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I received two honourable mentions in the Billboard world song contest for my entries “Rainy day” and “Secret”. The mention demonstrates “talent and dedication to write a hit song” and shows that my songs have been among the top entries for the year.
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