Welcome to our new series of Q&A’s with music professionals from all walks of the industry. The idea of this series is to provide you with advice and insights into working in the UK Music Industry.
This interview is with singer/songwriter Kelli-Leigh Henry Davila lead singer of the band ‘KI’. 22 year old Kelli is an accomplished vocalist and trained at the renowned Brit School alongside Leona Lewis, Katie Meula and Luke Pritchard of The Kooks. In this interview Kelli tells us how she finds working in the UK music industry and her advice/tips on how to survive.
Q1. What made you want to get into the music industry??
I don’t remember how old I was when I specifically said to myself I want to be a professional singer but my family are very musical. My uncle is a professional drummer, my other uncle is a professional singer and my mum is a singer/songwriter amongst other artistic skills. So I grew up quite musical, and I would love to sing along and dance to; I think it was Eternal at the time and try and hit all the high belts that Easther Bennett would sing.
Q2. How did you begin your career in music?
I started after I left school. I had started helping other younger students with their voices for upcoming shows and I kind of got a knack for it and started as an assistant to a singing teacher, which then developed into me becoming a professional singing teacher myself. I then met my other half and in doing original material gigs this managed to manifest into doing paid gigs, realising I could also do covers very well, began getting bookings for bars, clubs, weddings and more.
Q3. What was your first experience of success in the industry and how did you build on it?
Mmmm, this is a difficult question as in my eyes I haven’t had the industry success that I desire, but in terms of basic working within the music industry I suppose I am very successful. I do music full time, as a teacher and doing gigs, function bands, private events, my own band bookings, session work and now co-own my own disco company with my partner IBP Music…which is now doing very well.
Q4. How has networking with other musicians and in the music business helped you?
Networking is a weird but often wonderful thing. But I think it’s a little bit different then going up to someone and saying ..’what do you do?…oh well you can book me for this then’. Its getting to know other people in the industry and being honestly yourself with them and if you make a friendly connection then passing each other your details is great as you are going to remember and want to work or pass work to that someone you get on with and respect.
Q5. What sort of networking do you find the most effective for you?
I think its through doing gigs and meeting other musicians and singers. There you can get to know someone as a person but yet see their skills first hand. The worst thing is getting on with someone then putting them up for a gig that they are just not right for.
Q6. Are you a member of any music industry organisation or professional body and how has it helped you?
We are members of PPL as our company IBP Music is also a registered label. This enabled us to release our debut album independently. We also need to be members of MCPS AND PRS…infact I really need to that in a bit.
Q7. What would you recommend as the most effective method of breaking into the industry or gaining experience?
Make sure you are confident in your instrument or skill and that you know yourself and how you will cope in stressful and individual situations then go go go for it. If you want to be a professional singer then get some good demos, pictures and CV and apply for singing jobs you see on places like UK music jobs. Do backing vocals for other singers you may know. Get a repertoire together as with lots of function gigs you need to now a lot of songs (in my ones its mainly disco classics, pop and popular modern tracks) or basically get together covers that suit you …e.g- if you want to be a jazz singer, then you need to know your jazz standards! If you only want to do your own original material then there’s not much to suggest but go out and do live live live gigs and build your fanbase, but unfortunately until you hit it big, it may not pay your bills in the mean time.
Q8. What would you describe as the best thing about working in the industry?
I like being able to see the sun on a sunny day like today and managing my own time. The worst thing when I worked in an office job for half a year was the strictness of it. The early mornings and then the evenings being gone by the time you got home and had dinner, and not seeing the light of day especially in the summer! Also I am not very good and being told what to do unless in a music work situation…honestly it felt like a grown up version of being at school!
Q9. What’s the best bit of advice you have even been given about working in music?
Be honest and work hard. Don’t get a gig and then turn up not knowing their songs or be late on your first job, they will remember it and you wont get a 2nd job. In singing world…look after your voice, not only is this your prized possession if it goes, what singing work can you do?! Be versatile and smile a lot, it makes you happy and other people whom are looking at you. And if you do something wrong like mess up lyrics or sing bum notes, it happens to everyone just keep going and most importantly when you sing or play an instrument or produce or DJ etc.. have fun that’s why you started doing it the first place right?!
Q10. Who do you admire most in the industry?
There are a lot of artist I love and really like but the people I admire are the ones that you probably don’t know. They are other musicians and artists I have met that work their backsides off getting further into their career and trying to reach their dream goal. I admire them!
For more information on Kelli-Leigh please view her UK Music Jobs profile by clicking here;
http://uk.music-jobs.com/fview1.php?uid=634044&type=&start=&position=0&search_uid=&uploads=
For more information on ‘KI’ please click visit their website;
www.myspace.com/worldki
For more information on ‘IBP Music’ please visit their website;
http://www.ibpmusic.co.uk/
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