A while ago I had the opportunity of interviewing a very talented singer/songwriter, Michelle Martinez, who I discovered on Youtube whilst listening to my daily dose of covers.

This is what we talked about.

Hi Michelle, How are you doing today? Can you give the readers some background information about yourself?

Hello to all! It’s a beautiful sunny day, so I definitely can’t complain! A little bit about me, I’m a singer/songwriter from California working the independent artist route while balancing college and growing my online fanbase. I’m basically a little girl with big dreams.

How did get into music?

I’ve been singing since I was a little. It’s all I’ve ever really been passionate about. I’m an only child, so music got me through a lot of lonely times. Once my parents saw my talent, they offered to give me voice lessons. From that I did showcases, joined competitions and lived for the feeling of an audience’s applause.
Then I began wanting to create my own music and here we are today!

Can you tell us how you’ve been able to balance school with music, most artists would probably leave school and focus on just the music, what keeps you motivated not to stop school?

It’s not easy, I’ll tell ya that! Haha. I had no idea what I wanted to do in life once I got to college. I knew I wanted to be an entertainer, but my parents weren’t too thrilled about that idea. Back then, there were no independent artists or online sensations. So I never really thought I’d be able to live my dreams and decided to just go through with college.

But soon after, a Japanese record label discovered me on Youtube. Long story short, I dropped out of school and moved my whole life to Tokyo thinking I had hit the musical jackpot. Little did I know I’d end up right back where I started. Things didn’t work out and I was back home and really disappointed at my choices. But I decided to chase my dreams harder than ever now that I had gotten a taste of what it was like to be an artist. I also learned that nothing is forever in this industry and knew I needed a back up plan.

So I decided to re-enroll into college because I just didn’t want to end up living at my parents’ house forever as I chase my dreams. Haha. And that’s what keeps me motivated to juggle the two today. Music is my life, but I’m smarter to know that having a degree can only help me in case I need a fallback plan.

How did you get into posting covers on youtube? Were you nervous?

I hated the idea at first. I’ve been doing musicals, castings, competitions and auditions since I was little. I lived for an audiences reaction to my performance. And here were people posting videos of themselves from their bedroom becoming more famous than me! I was outraged! Lol. But that was just me being too stubborn to accept that new technology was opening doors for people like myself who would normally never have the opportunity to get this far.

I had a Youtube account just to watch other peoples videos, but I never intended to make it a channel. But I posted one video dedicating a song to a friend for his birthday since he lived so far away. After I saw the flood of positive comments and requests to post more vids I warmed up to the idea and I guess the rest is history.

How many opportunities do you think social media has brought into your career as a music artist?

I can’t even count how many opportunities I’ve gained through social media. I’ve done more amazing things with my music in the last 2 years than I had done in the 14 years prior to that. It’s such a blessing to live in a new world of technology.

Would you advice any artist to look in these avenues?

Yes and no. If you’re the kind of person who takes everything to heart, don’t post your stuff on the internet. People can be very mean. If I had a dollar for every negative comment I’ve received on a video, I’d be a millionaire by now. Lol.

But you just have to ignore the people who are intentionally being hateful. Criticism is good to improve yourself, but know that not everyone is going to love what you do. Now if you have thick skin and don’t care what people say about you, the internet is your haven. Have at it. Try it out and enjoy the opportunity to reach millions with your talent.

Were there ever any moments that you just wanted to give up on your singing dream?

If so, why? So many times. I’ve experienced rejection, people screwing me over, deals falling through, people discouraging me, haters, just all sorts of negativity. And every time, there was a moment where I was ready to throw in the towel. It’s hard to love something and want something so bad when obstacle after obstacle prevents you from reaching your dreams.

This industry is hard. It’s not for the weak, because it’ll eat you up alive. But if I let those things stop me, I’d never be happy with myself. I know nothing worth it ever comes easy.

Who has been your biggest inspiration and why?

I think my biggest inspiration is the other artists that I’ve been on tour with and gotten to work with. I look at them and know they came from the same place I did. Just someone who had a dream who decided to make their dreams a reality. They know what I feel and we’ve all built a special bond because of it. They keep me on my toes and we push each other to keep bettering ourselves and constantly create more content.

Another inspiration are the fans. Hearing or seeing them enjoy my music and what I do is a huge push to keep going. If I put atleast one smile on your face during my video or live performance, I will have done my job.

What is the best advice that you have ever been given? The steepest part of a mountain is always the hardest to climb, but that’s when you know you’re close to the top.

If you could open for anyone who would it be and why? Beyonce. I love her! Her energy, her style, her performance skills and confidence are something I strive for. To be in the same show as her would be a dream come true.

What advice would you give to other female singers that are trying to make it in the world of music?

Be yourself. It’s hard, I know. Media demands you to be a certain way to gain success. But break those stereotypes of what is normally expected from a female and don’t be afraid to be comfortable in your own skin.

What has been the highest point of your career so far?

Today is the highest point. Everyday I gain another fan, create a new idea, explore another avenue. Every new day will be my highest point because it’s another day I chose not to give up on my dreams.

Is there anything else you would like to share with your fans, and are there any new songs that they should keep an eye out for?

Yes, look out for a few music videos from my album, some awesome collabs and a new single.

If you weren’t a musician what would you do with all of your creative energy?

Well I’m a Broadcasting Major at school, I’d definitely focus more on the behind scenes of Television and Radio. I’m used to being in front of the camera, but now I’m learning all the aspects of what goes on behind the camera. Maybe after my singing career takes off the way I’d like it to, I’ll look into Television production.

Any final words to your suppporters?

A big thank you to those who’ve been following my journey. There’s a lot to come from me and I appreciate your support. I would be no where without you guys! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE YOU!

How do you want people to describe you ten years from now?

A legend.

LATEST COVER: How to Love – Lil Wayne (COVER) Michelle Martinez

Connect with her:

Youtube
Twitter
Facebook
Personal Website

Don’t get to get your copy of her new album “ADRENALINE” now on iTunes & at

Why do I want to start a business? Why wouldn’t I is my answer. There are so many opportunities for new businesses to start up; if i don’t make the most of them, then I’m sure someone else will.

I grew up as a musician- I studied music throughout my academic life. It’s a passion I have that I hope will never stop. However, I never thought of combining my passion for music with business. I never used to think about or even begin to comprehend the word ‘business’. I was certain that I possessed neither the confidence nor the brains to make it as an entrepreneur- so aimlessly I carried on without really knowing how my career path would unfold.

However, all this changed when I attended a Music Business lecture at university. It really changed my thinking; I started to believe that actually anyone with just a bit of common sense, grit and determination can make something of themselves. I had always revelled in the possibility of turning a vague idea into a reality- however, this time I was going to take control and actually do it.

So this is my first business: ‘HispaTune’. It’s a website where people can go to find teachers in Latin genres of music (Salsa, Bachata, Tango etc). After the student chooses their specific music teacher and both parties have agreed a mutual meeting time, the teacher and student then engage with lessons over Skype.

Conversely, I believe the website is about more than just the Skype lessons. Without sounding too pretentious, it’s also about establishing an online community for Latin musicians. The reason why I decided Latin music was the way to go was because there is so much more to Latin music than the music itself; there’s the dancing, the style, the celebrations and the whole social aspect which are all as equally important as one another. The sense of spirit within the Latin community already exists; it’s now just a matter of creating an online platform for it to flourish and reach a wider audience among the western population.

I have many plans for the future of the business. Hopefully I would like to branch out to other music genres. Portuguese Fado music for instance really has a strong presence across the world and I believe there is a need to make full use of the musical talent that Portugal has to offer. As well as this I would like to produce Tuition DVD’s and other products which students can really benefit from.

What is known for sure (well, almost anyway) is that all of this expansion will be self-funded. The money made will be utilised to propel the business forwards, without the need of external funding. One of the main reasons why I wanted to be self-employed in the first place was to gain financial independence, which is a decision I intend to stick by.

I have paid for the business so far with purely my own cash (through part-time employment) and nothing else at the moment could give me the same sense of satisfaction. That isn’t to say there aren’t plenty of opportunities out there, especially for young people. Perhaps even one day the situation will arise where a loan or grant will be the only way forwards, but for now I will continue with what I believe is a much more natural progression of business.

Anyway whatever happens, however successful (or unsuccessful) the business will turn out to be, at least I can say now that I’m giving a real go at it. Best of all I’m enjoying myself and ultimately, regardless of what industry you’re in, that’s the main point of it all. The financial reward, in my opinion, is nothing more than a convenient bonus. What I really want to do is create something that people get pleasure from and to maintain a career that I can relish in.

If I had to sum up what it means to be an entrepreneur, I would use these three words: independence, freedom and enjoyment.

Fresh off her trip to Thailand, i had the opportunity of interviewing the beautiful, talented singer/songwriter – Lisa Lavie.
Here is what we talked about.

I know you’re currently on tour right now, how is that going?

I actually just got off tour with Yanni last week & then went straight to Thailand for 2 of my own shows with my band. It was GREAT! Such amazing experiences on the road!

For anyone just hearing about your for the first time, can you give some background information about yourself?

I’m a Singer/Song-writer from Montreal, Canada currently residing in Los Angeles chasing my dream, hehe!

How did you get into music?

I’ve been into music ever since I could remember. I started singing when I was 10 years old. My brother ‘Danny’ is a Hip Hop Dj (Dj Devious) and growing up listening to his music everyday blasting in the house definitely pushed me towards my career in music. I then started touring as a background vocalist at the age of 16 with a hip hop group called ‘Dubmatique’. We toured across Canada. After that tour is when I really started taking my singing career seriously.

How would you describe your (musical) sound?

I would say I have an R&B sounding voice with pop elements. My first album was geared towards a lot of pop ballads but this next album is going to have a lot more flare & radio friendly songs.

Why did you decide to start uploading videos on youtube, what was the story behind that?

I decided to start uploading videos onto YouTube 4 years ago when a cousin of mine introduced me to it. I was fascinated by the site and thought I’d upload one of my originals to see what people thought about it, I wasn’t sure I’d even get anybody watching it but before I knew it, I had hundreds of comments which turned to Thousands and then millions of views. I feel so blessed to have this amazing vehicle to reach the masses with my music!

What opportunities would you say it has brought you so far?

The opportunities have been countless. I’ve met so many amazing people through youtube & have performed at so many events through youtube alone not to mention that I’ve been able to build an online audience to which I could then share my music with. It’s really hard to get out there with your music unless you want to sign everything away to a major record label and that’s not my route, so this avenue is perfect for me.

Is this something you would advice any aspiring musician to look into?

I would say that you can’t give up, A lot of artists try for a couple of years and then just throw their aspirations aside. You gotta keep on going no matter the obstacle. I’ve had countless of obstacles & I still do but I choose to not let anyone or anything get in the way of my success, which is probably why I work alone as I’ve had too many people holding me back in the past! I haven’t met the right team to help me on my journey.

Where can fans catch you guys live especially on your tour?

I just came off of a 2 month tour & a couple shows in Thailand and won’t be touring for the next few months as I’m currently working on my 2nd album however I keep everyone up to date with everything through my newsletter which is www.lisalavie.fanbridge.com!!!

What are your musical goals and what lessons have you learned so far?

My musical goals are to continue being creative & writing songs that I feel, not only for myself but for other artists, To work with producers and people that see my vision, to reach a mass audience beyond the online platform, to travel the world performing & doing what I love and to be happy in the process. I’ve learned a lot of lessons. I’ve learned that I should always follow my intuition. When you hear or feel that little voice inside of you, always listen to it. In the past, I’ve pushed that feeling to the side and the outcome wasn’t so great, I’ve also learned that you can’t wait for the RIGHT people to come and take your project to the next level, you have to do it yourself.

What’s the best piece of advice someone ever gave you?

TO BE TRUE TO WHO YOU ARE!

What do you do when you’re not making music?

When I’m not making music I’m online replying to e-mail’s & messages on all of my social networks or watching Reality TV shows, LOL

Anything else you’d like to add?

I want to add that I appreciate everyone’s support on this journey I’m on. It feels great to go on Facebook, YouTube & Twitter everyday & see messages from all of my supporters around the world. I have the best fans & I feel so blessed!!!

Don’t forget to stay connect with Lisa on:

http://www.TeamLavie.com
http://www.youtube.com/LisaLavie1
http://www.twitter.com/LisaLavie
Facebook Fanpage

Jessie J – Price Tag (Lisa Lavie)

The common grounds for our present society dwell on two main areas – Money and Music.
Jamal Edwards aka Smokey Barz recognised the impact of music and began to host an online Media Channel through YouTube.

His media channel is known under the name of SB.TV which began in 2008, officially recognised through its website in 2009.

SB.TV creates a platform for many uprising U.K. artists. At first, the aim was to create a strong platform for grime artist, this became successful as we are now aware of Tiny Temper, Chipmunk, Tinchy Strider etc.

SB.TV has continued to grow, eventually evolving into other music genres such as RnB, pop and hip hop.

Getting exclusive interview with some of the hottest artists in the industry music, also catering to the streets, giving them a chance and voice to express themselves through productions such as A-64 and F-64.
Unknown artists are given a chance to simply “spit a bar” or “mc” their minutes away about anything and everything.

SB.TV has since reached over 70 million viewers on YouTube becoming one of the most subscribed channels on YouTube attracting people from all over the world.

Jamal Edwards is both the founder and CEO of SB.TV and also the CEO of Just Jam Records a sub label under Sony RCA. The label allows him to scout for the best talent and sign them up. He certainly hasn’t wasted any time, quickly signing up his first major artist, MAXSTA – One of UK’s Grime artist from east London. He also recently revealed that the label is close to signing its second major artist, a singer.

SB.TV as a brand has a bright future. Jamal Edwards’s entrepreneurial future shines so brightly, as it entails the potential ability in over-riding MTV Base.

Jamal was also featured on YHP’s Top 15 Young UK Entrepreneurs Watch List For 2011

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Update* On 20th August Jamal Edwards was the subject of the latest Google Chrome advert shown below, congrats to Jamal!

p.s. Look out for this YHP article getting featured at 1 minute 6 secs.

Eppic became interested in music at age 11. After watching the movie 8 milie with his Dad, he began experimenting with music, writing lyrics.

Although he said he only started off as a hobby but everything changed for him when his Dad took him to watch Eminem perform at one of his concerts, after seeing the energy of the crowd, the interaction of the artist with fans, the energy he brought on stage, he realised that this is what he wanted to do.

Here’s the full interview.

Hey man, Thanks for taking the time to speak with me today. How are you doing?

I’m doing great.

Can you give us some background information about yourself to get to know you better?

I was born in Washington D.C. on July 12,1991 and moved to Colorado when I was 2 years old.

Take us back in time, How did you get involved in music?

I actually got involved in music when I was about 11 years old. My father was watching ’8 Mile’ one day and I was so captivated by the movie from beginning to end. Once it was over and I heard ‘Lose Yourself’ by Eminem I immediately ran to my room, grabbed a piece of paper and a pen and I began to write. It started off as a hobby at first but then I started to love it more and more as I got deeper into and I learned how to structure verses and entire songs.

I was always the shy and quiet kid in school and so when it came to times where I had express myself and speak up I could never do it and that’s why I have such a passion for music and writing because I’m able to speak up and say what’s on my mind creatively. The passion and drive really sparked inside me when my father took me to see an Eminem concert for my 14th birthday.

The way the crowd reacted and how Eminem interacted with his fans and the energy that he brought on stage was incredible and that’s when I knew that’s what I wanted to do. It was until later when 2 of my good friends pass away that I began to write from a different perspective and actually observing different situations that were going on around me and that I wanted to write about real situations and not about what other rappers typically write about.

I wanted to bring a different vibe. I had always written for the lord, but it was after I brought myself out of this deep depression that I fell into when I really began speaking about god and how much faith I had in him and how I wanted to just spread the word through my music and to move people with every song that I wrote.

Where did you decide to actually take it serious?

It was definitely after the Eminem concert that I truly wanted to do music for a living. I had also done a few performances as well through high school, but I was so nervous that my legs literally went dumb before each show, but it was the feeling afterwards that I loved the most because having people tell you that they like what they heard and still support you even when you messed up a line or two was a great feeling and that kept fueling my passion for music.

Who were your musical inspiration growing up and why?

I would have to say my musical inspirations were and still are Eminem, Lecrae, and Jay-Z because I really look up to artist with great work ethic and in my opinion those three had the work ethic, the talent, but also the true passion for music that I really admire.

How did you hook up with Tyler and the Crew, would you say that also helped you as an artist?

I was in my first year, second semester of college and Tyler had just came out with a cover to ‘We Are
The World’ and I remember thinking it was a really good cover. So I began researching Tyler and the other artists that were in the video and I found out that Tyler lived in Denver. So I messaged him saying,” if you have the time please check out my music and if you like what you hear maybe we could work together sometime.” So a few days later he replied back to me saying he liked what he heard and that we should talk.

Then a month later Tyler calls me up to meet him and to record a cover to ‘Airplanes’ and the rest is history. I seriously thought I was only to going to record my song ‘Doubt’ and that was it, but god definitely had a plan. It was when I met Tyler when I met the band as well as the rest of the artists you see me collaborating with like Julia Sheer, Megan Nicole, and Jeff Hendrick. Meeting them has definitely helped me as an artist, there’s no doubt about it.

My style, flow, and how I express myself on each song has definitely improved by working with Tyler and the crew because they hear things that I sometimes miss and then they also tell me different ways I could say something in different parts of the song to make it more powerful. So yeah I’m definitely blessed to be able to work with them and blessed for everything that they have taught me so far.

Have you encountered any setback as an artist that you would like to share with us, especially how you came out of it?

Writers block is the worst thing that can happen to an artist. There was a point where I had serious writers block for about 2 months straight and I thought I was going to go insane. I’m telling you when I can’t write a song for long periods of time I don’t know what to do with myself and I begin to freak out haha.

Every day I was in the studio, but it felt as if I was forcing lyrics to come so my songs weren’t as great as I would had liked them. So what I did was I left the studio for about a week or so and got some fresh air and did other things to keep my mind off the music for a bit so I could calm myself down. But when I returned back to the studio eventually I felt great and was ready to write again.

What would you say has been your most memorable memory on your journey as a music artist?

Meeting and working with Tyler Ward and the Crew.

What has been the most valuable lesson learnt as an artist so far?

Always be different no matter what people think cause just know that you can’t please everybody.

What do you do when you’re not working on music?

Since I’ve been so focused on my music I haven’t had time to hang out with friends so I’m usually catching up with them, getting in the gym, playing basketball, and watching a lot of Big Bang Theory and House.

Who are the 5 artists that you could love to work with right now?

1. Eminem
2. Lecrae
3. Lupe Fiasco
4. B.o.B
5. Carrie Underwood

What are your top 5 songs at the moment?

-I Believe by Blessid of Union Souls
-Crush Crush Crush by Paramore
-All of the lights by Kanye West
-Another Day by Natalie Grant
-Set Fire To The Rain by Adele

What are your currently working on?

I actually just got done working on and releasing my first EP ‘Forever Imperfect‘. Now that it’s finally out I’m currently putting together ideas for a mixtape, but I don’t want to get ahead of myself and jump into that project just yet. So until I figure out what I want to do with that I’m just focusing on new covers/remix and collaborations.

Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?

I see myself on stage or in the studio working on new projects to put out and thinking of new ways to make a positive impact in someone’s life with my music. Also I see myself sitting side by side with artists that I have always looked up to having a conversation about the future and making a difference in music.

What advices would you give to young rappers out there looking up to you for inspiration?

If your heart isn’t in it 100% then you need to go find something else to do. There’s a difference between a hobby and a passion for something. Work hard and don’t let anyone tell you what kind of artist you should be because at the end of the day it’s your music and they don’t know what you are feeling. Also surround yourself with a strong team and positive people/artists because that’s going to make a huge difference.

Don’t forget to check him out on:

Youtube
Facebook
Twitter

Make sure to support and download his new EP – Forever Imperfect

George and Louis have always had an eye for music, grime music to be precise, not knowing that they would one day join forces to start a company focused on music with the help of social media.

George, who is based in Skegness has been listening to Grime since 2002 and even wrote to XL (Wiley first label he was signed to) at the age of 12, seven years later he finally got his wish to meet Wiley after he was invited to the Electric Boogaloo video shoot.

Louis, based in Peterborough previously did motion graphics for SB.TV and Roll Deep and met George via Facebook, “we spoke and shared the same drive to get involved in the industry and decided to start Launchpad back in May 2010, exactly a year ago.”

Talking about how it came alive for them “We were contacted by Wiley via Twitter about A-List, he then gave Louis his number. In the start of September, he phoned us and said “I’m giving you a single to start your label” and so we got The Radio Kid.”

In January 2011, they were invited to Radio 1 for a meeting with DJ MistaJam after originally contacting him via email after sending him two off their tracks entitled “The Radio Kid‘ and ‘Joombi‘.

They both quickly hopped on the train to London. “When we got to the Radio 1 buildings, MistaJam took us upstairs to the playlist meeting room where we sat down and he asked us all sorts of questions about Launchpad and gave us really useful advice”.

In March 2011, they were invited by Wiley for a networking event in Liverpool. At the event, they met with Canadian artist Tre Mission and producers such as Zdot, Dan Dare, Jay Weathers, Steel Banglez and Richard Turvey who all later met up at the Parr Street Studios for an all day and night producing session.

Explaining how the company has evolved and what it is doing right now:

Before meeting the likes of Wiley, our initial idea was to take unheard artists and try and develop a platform to further their career, for example a launch pad and that’s how the name came about.

What our label does at the moment is focusing on building up catalogues of Grime releases for the rest of this year, we’re in talks with various different producers and artists in the scene from a range of different areas to find hits we can release that will be a success online, on radio, at raves, and generally just with the audience of Grime fans.

Asking them what they were up to at the moment:

Right now, we are currently just networking with people in the scene, we are working on a particular project that we want to produce physical copies of, this project is our 4th release and still being finalised but will hopefully be our biggest release yet as we are working with a very talented producer and a number of different artists. We are looking to announce this in the next few weeks and following that will be airplay leading up to it’s release.

On the future:

So far we’ve released individual singles and an EP, but we’re really looking to sort a deal out with an artist to release their album. Albums are what we’d like to get into eventually. We want Launchpad to become more visual, so when we expand, a lot of consideration will be put into professional music videos for our releases.

We’re already developing our online presence, and so the website which is coming in the next few months will link well to our YouTube, we want to create a lot of content to engage with listeners of all music as well as Grime.

We’ve also spoken about looking at creating our own complication CD’s. Mainly we just want to grow as a business and be able to release music every month consistently. We want to work with artists we have before and find new ones.

UG started experimenting with music from an early age, with his mom teaching him how to play the piano at the age of three, although he admitted losing interest in music during his teenage years but everything picked up again for him when his dad gave him his first guitar.

This is the full interview with Singer/Songwriter from Berlin, Germany – UG (Urban Germany).

Can you give the readers some background information about yourself?

I am a singer-songwriter from Berlin, Germany.

So did you initally get into music? What is your first memory of being inspired by music?

I have had a strong connection to music from a very early age. My mom started giving me piano lessons when I was three. I lost my passion for music for awhile during my teenage years but picked it right up when my dad gave me my first guitar. I have been very involved in music ever since.

What made you decide to start uploading covers and songs on youtube?

YouTube presented me with a rare opportunity to share my music with the world so I started uploading some videos and got an overwhelmingly positive response from people all over the world. Naturally, that inspired me to keep going and I’m still in awe when I look back and see what wonderful opportunities those videos have created for me.

What has been your favourite cover and why?

I have several covers that bear a special meaning to me. “Because of you” by Ne-Yo was the first one I’ve ever done and I often feel like it paved the way for me. Then of course there is my “Nothin on you” remix that got an incredible number of views and got me a lot of attention as a songwriter.

What has the response been so far from youtube? What opportunities it has that brought you thus far?

The response has been phenomenal. YouTube provides artists with the opportunity to directly connect with their listeners and supporters which I think is incredible. My videos have given me the opportunity to travel and have shows all over the world. Also, they provided me with the chance to work on music professionally.

Is there a song or album that has been really important to you growing up and why?

There have been a number of songs and albums that were very important to my development as an artist. I grew up on R&B and hip hop music of the late 90’s/early 2000s (Boyz2Men, Joe, Craig David, etc.). Even though I enjoy the contemporary music we have right now I feel like I learned most about singing and writing music from listening to the latter.

What are you currently working on at the moment, What should your fans look forward in earing/seeing soon?

I am currently working on a lot of songwriting projects for other artists. However, I am also working on a new EP of my own from time to time and I can’t wait to share those songs with the world!

How would you describe your music? What kind do you think you play?

Songwriting wise I think I’m pretty versatile but I think I feel most comfortable with acoustic/pop/R&B music which is also reflected in the songs that I put out as an artist.

When did you realize you could actually do this as a career?

The internet has given me an opportunity to showcase my music. This has not only blessed me with attention from music consumers but also some people in the music industry. I have a couple of really good contacts now and the rare opportunity to do music on a professional level in the big leagues. How that will work out? I honestly don’t know but I am eager to find out!

What has been the hardest part in getting your music out there?

I think the hardest part nowadays is to set yourself apart from the rest and to find your own lane. YouTube for instance is crowded with talented people. Therefore, it is hard for most people to get people to discover and watch their videos.

What advice would you give to other musicians trying to get off the ground?

I think all you can do is put your music out there. Having a plan helps. What are you going to do once you have built your audience? What are the next steps? Often times, people assume that getting a lot of views on YouTube is the ultimate goal when it’s not.

It’s all about what you are doing with the attention you have gotten and how you benefit from it. Realistically, you cannot build a career off of doing YouTube videos and giving a couple of shows here and there. That won’t pay the bill for the next 10 years. So if you are aiming for longevity make a plan and think about what it is you want to achieve with you music.

Other than that, I always encourage people to put their videos up no matter what. I was very excited to have 50 people listening to my stuff in the beginning, just the same way I am excited to know that several thousands are listening to it now. I didn’t start off thinking I could possibly make career off of this. I just wanted to share my music and I think that’s something that you should keep no matter what level you are doing your music on.

Do you do music full-time?

I invest a lot of time in music but I haven’t finished school yet so I am not doing it full-time at the moment.

If you weren’t a singer/songwriter what would you be doing?

I am studying business and telecommunication networks and I could totally see myself working in that field in the future.

What has been the proudest moment of your career so far?

Being able to travel the world to do music and signing my publishing deal!

Do you play any other instruments apart from the guitar and the piano?

No, not really. The guitar and the piano are my favorite instruments.

What bands/musicians have you played with thus far? Any gigs in particular that meant a lot to you or shows that were the most memorable?

I have shared the stage with a lot of talented people like Jeremy Passion, Gabe Bondoc, JR Aquino, SummerBreeze and others. My most memorable performance was probably the first “For your soul” show in San Francisco. It was my first show in the U.S.

Are you still looking to get signed, and how important is it to you? Do you feel artists lose creative control when their under the control of a label?

I am currently focusing on songwriting which is what I’ve always been aiming at. As for losing creative control as an artist when signing contracts that very much depends on what label you are signed to and at which point in your career you are.

As soon as there are financial interests behind your music you are basically bound to be influenced in your creative output which is understandable on some level. After all, from a labels perspective it’s nothing more than a financial investment at the end of the day.

When you give someone your money you tend to wanting to control what the person is doing with it. I am not saying that this is how it should be but I guess that’s just the way it is. If you can prove to a label that you know what you are doing and that your work will result in commercial success you will automatically have more liberties in your contract.

Do you have any goals you may want to reach with your music?

Yes! A lot of goals! But whether that will work out only the future can tell…

If you could perform with anyone in the world, either dead or alive who would it be? Why?

WAY too many to name… lol

Thanks for your time UG.

Don’t forget to connect with him on:

http://twitter.com/urbangermany
http://www.youtube.com/user/urbangermany
http://www.facebook.com/UGmusic

Check out my interview with Matt Beilis as he talks about his journey so far, his college experience and what it is like trying to succeed as a music artist in new york.

Hi Matt, How are you doing? Its great to finally have you on YHP.

Thanks for having me.

Before we jump into the interview, could you quickly the YHP readers some background information about yourself?

I’m a singer songwriter and piano player. I play mostly pop / rock with a hint of R&B. You may have seen my YouTube videos!

So how did you get into music? what your story?

Well, I started playing piano when I was about 3 and a half. My parents had an old upright piano at home, and when I sat down at it, they said I touched it really lightly and carefully, so they thought I might have some innate talent. They took a chance and threw me right into piano lessons.

I ended up taking lessons for about 15 years. It wasn’t until later in high school, though, that I thought I’d try my hand at singing and writing songs (mostly because I thought it would get girls). I ended up falling in love with the process and the result so I haven’t stopped since.

So you graduated from columbia studying Industrial Engineering and Operations Research, how was the whole college experience? did you use it as an outlet for your music whilst studying?

The college experience was a lot of fun for me, but somewhat confusing goal-wise. Originally when I was applying to go to colleges, I thought to myself that I’d never want to major in music because then I’d have no outlet when I’m stressed with school work.

Not to mention, it would be incredibly hard to making a living from that . It ended up that while I was there, music was all I wanted to do. My major ended up evolving into a backup plan, rather than THE plan. I knew that I was meant to follow this dream.

So are you focusing on your music full-time at the moment?

I am focusing on my music more than full-time now. I’m really passionate about succeeding in music, and it’s the kind of “job” that never really feels like work anyway. My job is called “playing.”

So what are currently up to at the moment?

I’m focusing on writing and producing new music for my next album and also for other artists. I’m also writing a song with producer / DJ Justin Michael to be released on Ultra Records (DeadMau5, Tiesto) early next year.

How competitive is it trying to make a singer-songwriter in new york?

New York is probably the most competitive place to go into entertainment. Everyone here is an actor or musician. But, it’s also the best place to try to get seen as a musician. It’s kind of a catch-22. It definitely makes you step up your game.

Bruno Mars tweeted your cover of Just The Way You Are, how did you feel? Its almost half a million hits so far? I noticed you getting some love from ashton kutcher and a member of the marron 5?

I’m a huge fan of Bruno Mars. He’s a brilliant songwriter and singer. I was absolutely floored when he reached out to complement my cover of HIS song. It has well over a half-million views now. It was also incredible for me to find out that Maroon 5, who I’ve been a huge fan of since the beginning, was a fan of mine.

Then, when I heard that Ashton Tweeted my videos and it threw me over the top. To me, it’s like the ultimate validation that I’m doing what I should be, and it makes me that much more passionate about pushing further.

I found out recently that Christina Perri, who I covered on YouTube, also had my cover on her homepage. It’s unreal to me that these people who I read about, listen to, and see on TV are reaching out to me to let me know how they feel about my work.

How has the journey been so far, the support?

It’s been incredible so far. My fans are absolutely amazing and so supportive. I would NOT be where I am today without such passionate people behind me.

Where do you record all your videos on youtube? what location is that? what piano do you use?

I actually get this question from a lot of people. Well, I’ve never formally told anyone, but people are bound to find out sooner or later. It’s actually a piano showroom in midtown. The owners of that showroom are incredibly supportive of me and my music.

As it turns out, they have some of the best pianos in the world, so it’s really an amazing opportunity they’ve given me. I think my favorite piano to record on is a Mason & Hamlin piano. They have the biggest sound and complement my vocals.

You got that soothing voice of soul meeting hip-hop grooves with the soft rock twist to it? what do you think? did i get it right?

I’ll take it! My voice is kind of like Bruce Springsteen meets Gavin DeGraw.

What style of music would you say you produce?

My music is definitely pop rock but it does have some hints of R&B to it. I like the way that hip hop and R&B immediately make you move to the music, so I try to incorporate that feel into mine.

Anyways let talks about your new album CAN’T HELP BUT WONDER, what was the inspiration behind it? what has the feedback been like?

The title comes from the decision I made to take that leap of faith and make music my career. It is, by far, the hardest thing I’ve had to decide given the amount of work I put into my education and given the fact that I have bills to pay.

But to me, there’s no greater reward than seeing that leap pay off and I can’t help but wonder where I’d be if I hadn’t decided to take that chance. On the other hand, it also describes how I felt when I was working in a dead end financial job. I could not help but wonder what my life would be like if I were singing and performing in front of thousands of fans.

The feedback on the album has been great! It’s inspiring to me to hear that people listen to something I’ve put so much work into and tell me that one of the songs is exactly how they were feeling or that a track made them feel better about something. In general, it’s incredibly rewarding to make art for a living because it’s one thing that can immediately convey a specific emotion and have someone feel the same way you do.

What can those that havent gottent he album expect to get from it?

I think it’s easy for listeners to take away meaning from the songs, even if it’s not the original meaning behind the songs. A lot of my music is written about something other than love, but will come out as a song about a romantic relationship.

I find that the easiest way for someone to relate to an emotion I want to describe is to put it in a person-to-person relationship context. For instance, in the song “Been Way Too Long” on my album, the lyrics describe a relationship gone bad. It can be taken as a romantic relationship, but I actually wrote it about the job I was in when I decided I wanted to do music for a living. It kept me from my dream so I resented being in that relationship.

What should we be expecting from you in the future?

Well, you should definitely be on the lookout for my single on Ultra Records in early 2011 and also a ton of live performances around the country and hopefully soon the world. Keep checking out my YouTube channel, www.YouTube.com/MattBeilis for new videos and www.MattBeilis.com for new tour dates.

Do you have any tips for others looking to make it as an independent artist?

Never let someone else tell you when it’s time to look for a more reliable, more standard job. If you think you have what it takes to make it, you’re the only person who should make that decision.

Thanks for your time matt, wish you the best of luck.

Connect with Matt

Matt Beilis Youtube
Matt Beilis official myspace
Matt Beilis twitter
Matt Beilis facebook
Matt Beilis official website

I recently had the opportunity of interviewing Helena & Maria, The Twin sisters talk to me about their journey so far. Helena & Maria are twin sisters, singer/songwriters who are currently based in LA, originally from New Jersey.

During the interview, We talked about:

When they got into music
Musical inspiration
Switching boyfriend
Growing up into music, as twins.
Being homeschooled
Appearing on Gossip Girl
Their Hobbies
Singing live “On-Air With Ryan Seacrest” on 102.7 KIIS FM!
What they are currently working on
Future plans
and Tips for other artist out there.

Hope you enjoy the interview

Maria (Left), Helena (Right)

Hi ladies, thanks for doing this interview, how are you both doing today?

Hello! First of all we want to say thank you for having this interview with us! We are both doing wonderfully today. The sun is shining and it’s December. We’re okay with that!

You’re so lucky, it’s snowing over here in london, Its freezing!

So tell us a bit about your background?

We are identical twin sisters, singers/songwriters/musicians. We were born and raised in New Jersey–Jersey girls woo hoo! We now just moved to LA. Music has always been a part of our lives. We decided we really wanted to pursue it after we graduated high school.

At what age did you both get into music?

Our parents started us with piano lessons when we were four years old. Luckily we stuck with it throughout our childhood. We started with guitar lessons in high school, and ironically enough, that was what inspired us to write songs.

Who inspires you both in music and personally?

We’ve had many different inspirations through different stages of our lives. Musically, Coldplay, Dave Matthews, and John Mayer inspired us to write.

Growing up, we listened to artists such as Madonna, Celine Dion, Janet Jackson, U2, George Michael, and so many more, and we really love Justin Timberlake. They really set the foundation for our love of music and influence of pop and rock.

Music was always blasting in the house! Personally, our parents inspire us for always being so supportive and hard-working.

Tell me something about your parents? Do they have favourites?

Our parents are wonderful! Of course they don’t have favorites! Our parents are our number one supporters, and we love them dearly.

You must have raised quite a havoc when you were growing up. It’s difficult enough to raise one child I can’t imagine having to raise the two of you?

Actually, we were told that we were really good kids, believe it or not! We always had each other to play with so I guess we made it easier on Mom.

Have you ever tried to switch identities?

We OF COURSE had to play a few twin pranks here and there. We switched classes a couple times in high school. Most times it worked, but one time it didn’t because the teacher noticed Maria writing with her left-hand. (The teacher already knew that was a difference between us). We even switched on a boyfriend for about five minutes. It worked!

What was it like growing up, always be around each other, especially learning musical instruments and singing at such a young age, who had the first initial interest in music?

Growing up and always being around each other made us very close. We naturally have the same interests, so we were both equally interested and excited about music. When we were really young, (Maria) wanted to play drums as our first instrument and (Helena) wanted to learn piano. I guess our parents thought (Helena) had a more sonically pleasing idea.

A lot of parents are choosing to home-school their children, how was it like for both of you, is it something you are both looking to adopt when you’re older?

Yes, we were home-schooled up until 7th grade, which is when we went to public school for the first time. Being home-schooled was great! We got to stay in our pajamas and take little play breaks whenever we wanted. What kid wouldn’t like that? The one-on-one attention and overall environment made learning fun.

What would you say were the advantages of being home-schooled?

We loved being home-schooled and are happy we went to public school at the age we did– 7th grade throughout high school. Coming into that new environment made us very eager to do well in school.

How did you start uploading covers/videos on YouTube? How is that being so far? What opportunities has it given you so far?

Well we were playing out live a lot after high school, so one day we thought we should start posting some of the songs that we perform live. We could essentially put on shows for people all over the world. It’s been really amazing knowing that our music reaches many different countries and gives us the opportunity to connect with people from all over.

What do you ladies enjoy doing outside of music?

We love spending time with family and close friends, watching movies, shopping, artistic activities, and hanging out in coffee shops! We are also huge animal lovers, so we love to help local rescue groups, and we spend a lot of time with cat rescue in particular.

What genre of music do you consider your work to be?

We would definitely consider our music to be pop. We like to call it “harmonic pop rock” because we love love love harmonies and incorporating them!

What is it like performing live? What has been your most performance to date?

It’s definitely a lot of fun to share the stage with each other and perform live. There’s a unique energy.

What kind of venues does you like performing at, a big venue or smaller venue?

We love them both!

So I’m a huge fan of gossip girl and i realised you both got to be in episode 4 of season 3, what was that like and most importantly how did you get on the show?

Aside from music, we love to act as well! It’s something we have also been doing since we were little. “Gossip Girl” was awesome! We absolutely loved seeing all of the clothes, and the crew and cast were great.

Cool, I’m going to watch that episode again and try to spot the both of you, did you get to speak to the main characters on the show?

Yeah we did. Everyone on the show who we’ve met were really nice!

What would you say has been your most memorable moment so far?

Our most memorable and EXCITING moment has been when we got to sing live “On-Air With Ryan Seacrest” on 102.7 KIIS FM! It was an amazing opportunity, and Ryan was so inspiring and wonderful in person– including the incredible, hard-working staff there.

What are you currently working on?

We are currently working on making as much music as we can! We love to stay productive. We have so much new material that we are getting out there! And of course, we are staying active with our YouTube page!

What about your future plans? Where do you see yourself five years down the line? More importantly, do you see yourself working together or separately?’

We hope to see ourselves way too busy in a good way– with a smile on our faces doing what we love. We will absolutely stay together! The good thing about our twin bond is that there is nothing that could really separate us. “Born together, friends forever.” Okay that was cheesy, and Maria is yelling at me.

What tips do you have for other artists out there, especially some of your supporters that are looking to start off their music career also?

Hmm our advice is to just try to get out there and be as pro-active as possible! Play out as often as you can and stay positive, confident, and dedicated. J We really believe that hard work pays off and talent will shine through.

Thanks for your time ladies and good luck!

Thank you so much for your time! It’s been a pleasure!

Make sure you guys check them out twitter and facebook.

Don’t forget to download their new single “Live my life for me on itunes”

You certainly know you’re famous when you have a wikipedia page. Kata started her music journey at just age 2 after begging her father to enter her in a Beauty Pageant so she could sing in the talent category.

It all paid off for her at the end, not only winning the beauty pageant, she also won $50 off her dad after he said he’d pay her the amount to prove that she can’t sing. Everything after that, well..

Enjoy the interview.

Hi kata, Welcome to YHP, how are you doing?

I’m doing fabulous!!!

How did you get your start in music? what is your story?

When I was 2, I begged my father to enter me in a Beauty Pageant so I could sing in the talent category. He finally said he’d pay the $50 to prove to me I couldn’t sing. I ended up winning that beauty pageant, and going on and winning the finals. Then I started getting offers to sing everywhere, and so it began.

Do you have other family members who are/were interested in music?

None at all. I’m the black sheep. Or the red headed one?

What is your process like as a writer?

Well. I change. I get bored doing things the same way. So sometimes the melody comes first, sometimes the lyrics do. Sometimes it’s an idea. Sometimes it all comes rushing in at once. Just depends on the mood I’m in, and what I’m going through.

Do you think it’s easier working in a collaborative form or do you think it’s easier working individually?

It’s definitely “easier” working individually. BUT, I SO enjoy collaborating. You always come up with something you never would on your own, plus it’s fun to do what you love with people who enjoy the same thing.

What do you do in your time off?

I can’t say I ever really truly have any “time off”. Because when I have a day off from preforming, I am working on my Youtube video’s, etc. But I enjoy music so much, it’s all I really want to do. So it’s perfectly fine with me. I will say I enjoy snuggling with my puppies while writing back Youtube comments

When you first started, did you see this being your career?

Most definitely. I’ve never seen myself doing anything else. Even though occasionally I’ve had to “step out” in the real world, and wait tables, etc. But, never saw anything else as my career than music.

And what would you say is the most valuable lesson you learned from that time?

The most valuable lesson I’ve learned from ALL of my time in the music business is that you should ALWAYS be yourself. Never be afraid that someone won’t like you because of who you are. Cause people appreciate genuineness in this business, and it’s too hard keeping up a front.

So, do you write all the time? Are you writing songs for your next record right now?

I write something, in some form, every day. Whether it’s a part of a song, a poem, or some days I write 2 or 3 songs. I’m always writing. But definitely trying to narrow down some music for the new record.

What other artists are you a fan of? Mainstream and independent?

Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Lisa Lavie, Kina Grannis, Brandi Carlile, and many more. One of my favorite things is discovering new music, ESPECIALLY indies.

What, for you, makes a good show?

Feeling a true connection with the crowd.

What three character traits would your friends use to describe you?

Crazy, Silly, Fun.

What are some of the perks of being a country artist?

Well I wouldn’t call myself strictly a country artist, I’m kinda on the edge of the genre. But one of the best things is you are truly open to write about anything. It’s music that really connects with people, and their stories.

What are some of your inspirations?

Life, happiness, sadness, family and friends.

Is there a musical instrument that you wish you could play?

I play a little fiddle, but I wish I was a LOT better at it. That’s for sure.

Was there ever someone you’ve met that really made a difference in your life, be they personal or professional?

It always inspires me when I meet people that I am into their music, or art and they are down to earth, and truly thankful for my “love” of their craft. Some of those people are Merle Haggard, LeAnn Rimes, Lacey Schwimmer, Jim Ed Brown, and Taylor Swift.

Professionally, what goals have you set for youself this year?

To make people smile, and go where God leads me.

Looking back, what would you say to someone who was just starting this path?

Be yourself, don’t let the haters get you down, and always strive to me better. Practice.

What is your favorite childhood memory?

I have SO many. But some of my favorites are laying in the middle of the living room floor with my dad when I was a toddler pretending we were in the “Little Mermaid:. Dad was always SO amazing at pretending.

Words to your supporters?

Thank you for EVERYTHING you do. Your comments, your messages, the countless emails and letters. I am my music, and my music is NOTHING without you. I love you all! More than you could ever imagine.

Make sure you support her new song on itunes “Hey John”

Subscribe to her Youtube Page

Dont forget to check her out on facebook, follow her on twitter and connect with her on her website.