Meet Marika Rauscher, award winning Opera singer and Vocal coach.

18th May 2022 — Leave a comment
Marika Rauscher

Being a singer is so much more than having a stable voice. It takes drive, it takes soul searching and sacrifice. Sometimes you have to delay your dreams to be capable of chasing them. Marika was brought up to understand classical training but was exposed to all sorts of music adding to her extensive list of musical experience. But this wasn’t enough for prestigious establishments to recognize her.

After a lot of arduous work doing hours temping and feeling over worked, she would pick up auditions, rehearsing lines in a language she didn’t understand on her lunch break. Rejection pained her, she believed she was good enough, she had the talent she had trained. She then realized she had to make a choice, choose practicality or fantasy. A sacrifice had to be made. She settled on a compromise; she would work until she had enough to afford a year of rent without working. This allowed her to leave the corporate world and focus on her singing, making her fantasy an achievable reality. This mindset has landed her roles singing for the Royal opera house, the Royal Albert hall, and the Barbican.

Marika’s Youtube channel

Her story shows if you have the drive and the patience you can make it. Too many people quit something because they do not feel instantly validated by it. Things take time. If you have a more direct role in your hobby you will make it work for you, you will make yourself work for it. Play the trumpet for an hour a day and at the end of the week play it as though you are trying to teach it to somebody else, sing to yourself in the mirror, record it, sing to your friends get their reactions. Each day expand your comfort zone. It will be hard, there will be struggle but sometimes you have to fight with your demons to dance with the angels.

It was inspiring to speak to her in my podcast episode where Marika shares her story as well as answering your questions and sharing some tips on how to improve your vocal range.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2llj5u818r1K9SuZGgeZmu?si=5fa318d529474018

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If you want to do a podcast episode or have a blog post then get in touch!

REVIEWED:USER ABUSER by Albany

4th May 2022 — 1 Comment
Albany
USER ABUSER Albany

This new single demands a live rendition with the crowd in full throttle mosh pit, headbanging and pogoing. The lyrics may be disorientating as lines blur between who the ‘user abuser’ is but this dizziness may be a deliberate attempt to reflect situations in which a manipulator twists scenarios to stunt you, leaving you struggling between who you are and who you are having to be because of this person, but the message is clear, it’s time to move on from this environment, even though this song will stick around.

The punchy attitude from Daniel Sharatt on the drums drumbeat permeates this piece reminding a listener to stand tall in the face of adversity. This is echoed by the guitar riffs and amplified by Matt Duke’s powerful vocals. Together the track produced is dominant, catchy and in need of a repeat listen.

This is the third release from Albany’s post covid studio sessions with more exciting music in the works it is Inspiring to see this band EVOLVE.

Meet Kelly Gelder and discover the power of music

15th Apr 2022 — Leave a comment
Kelly Gelder taken by Mollie Higgins.

Do you dream of revisiting earlier times, find yourself reminiscing over those final goodbyes and still blushing at that first kiss? Certain songs take us there, back to the arms of lovers no longer with us, back to the laughter of a youthful friendships, or even back to your first nights out, although when you find a song strong enough for you to recall what happens on dirty dancefloors let me know.

We’ve all had Deja vu, a fleeting scent of an old teacher’s perfume, the burning rubber of our childhood playground but music is different. Kelly Gelder describes it as a time capsule, powerful enough to evoke tears that leave you smiling once the song fades out. 

In my podcast episode ,with Kelly, we discuss the intensity of sound, pop/punk icons such as Miley Cyrus and Avril Lavigne as well as some sound advice to aspiring artists.Listen to it here.

Kelly recalls an emotional piece that poured out of her once she sat at her piano.With no preparation or plan a song that left her sobbing flew out of her, the words, the melody and structure cascading from her fingertips. A sign of true talent, proving you do not always need to sweat for hours restricting yourself to a routine to produce something, you can not restrain creativity.

EVOLVE MUSIC Podcast

Her love for music was consolidated when she was eight and her father surprised her with a trip to see Avril Lavigne, adorned with in Claire’s accessories finest, the neon pink hair extensions and fingerless net gloves (We have all been there), she was inspired to learn the drums. Now studying classical music at University, she teaches piano as well as practising new songs for three hours a day.

All that and she’s preparing for an upcoming gig on the 22nd of April at the  Primrose Pub in Leeds where she will be supporting The distance UK. It starts at 8pm and tickets are £4 on the door. Kelly will be performing originals as well as covers so make sure you’re there.

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