Dear Diary,
Well I broke my foot :( This is, lets just say a massive pain in my a*se...as well as my foot *bad joke, sorry*! Over the last 2 weeks, I had 3 auditions lined up... I managed to make it to one! And that was only because my lovely grandma offered to drive me and take me home afterwards!
I'm really annoyed that I missed the opportunity for the other two auditions, they could have been a massive career boost for me...but hey, shoulda, woulda, coulda!!
Let's focus on the audition I did enter ... this was a national competition run by the Hungry Horse pub chain? Each of their pubs around the country held selection nights to filter out the best singers to represent them in the competition. I went the other week for the chance to be selected....and I was :)
After hobbling in with a broken foot, they were so accommodating by giving me a chair to perform whilst sitting down... so I didn't have to balance on my left leg with the possibility of getting cramp in a bum cheek,....honestly it happens! I sung an acoustic version of Grenade by Bruno Mars and was really pleased with my performance! The second song I chose to sing was Don't You Remember by Adelle. I was quite apprehensive about singing this song as I had never sang it in public before and I didn't want to ruin it, as everyone would give a straight comparison to Adelle!....however it paid off.
2 people went through and I was luckily one of them! .... not too much to say on this competition yet as it is still very early days. The final for this pub is the 7th October....so if your around the Wheatsheaf in Whistable, feel free to drop in! If I win this round, then I will be competing in the regional final to hopefully represent South East....all I can do is hope and try my best :)
Lots of Love,
Yazi xxx
Wednesday, 26 September 2012
Monday, 17 September 2012
Sore loser...? Perhaps to a certain extent!
Hey there!
So I haven't written in a while, I've been so busy lately! I've left my full time job...yes we all knew it was coming!! And I feel sooooo much better for it :)
The last blog I wrote was filling you all in on the competition I entered in to in London...well what a disaster!! I have to be careful what I write as I don't want a law suit against me but I was really disappointed with how the competition unfolded it's self. After travelling up the first time for the selection round...I got through! I was really excited for this opportunity and was busy rehearsing trying to make my performance as good as possible...
So, I travel up again (a 2 and a half hour journey!)...for what I was advised was the quarter finals! When I turned up, I saw some singers who had bought crowds of people with them and was having a good evening and excited at the prospect of singing in front of a crowded venue until it was announced to me that the audience actually chose who went through... fair enough you might be thinking, as obviously the general public are the real judges in the music industry - however, no one told me this piece of information?? Every other act in there - had been informed of this and naturally brought as many people as they could to bump up their votes.
Straight away I'm at a disadvantage...
It then transpired that the other singers there hadn't gone through on a previous round of auditions before, and this was their first time performing....now I'm confused?! The goal posts of the competition had been changed and I was not informed....
Again...I'd at another disadvantage as I had already qualified and was told I was in the next round, however this wasn't the next round? - what angle are they playing??
I'm sure you can all appreciate my frustration with how this competition was run, as in my opinion it was not professional and after advertising on a website which is used all over the world I felt they didn't adhere to a specific conduct which they should be working to. I have complained to the website where the competition was advertised to notify them that the competition was not fair; or at least didn't notify all the singers of the rules, or treat everyone the same.
Sore loser you will most probably be saying? And maybe to a certain extent I am, of course I'm disappointed I didn't get through. However, if I didn't get through because I wasn't talented enough then I could accept that. To not get through because the organisers changed the rules, didn't tell me it was audience vote, told me it was the quarter finals but in fact wasn't, I'm sure you would be a bit miffed to?
All in all, I mostly lost to singers who couldn't string a phrase together in tune, and brought their whole family along to vote for them knowing full well they couldn't get through on talent...
One gem that did come out of the competition though, was a guy called Rhys, he also got through to the next round and he could sing. Very well. He was a really nice genuine guy and I wish him all the best in the competition as he deserves it :)
These are my opinions only and I have written this based on the experience I had with this competition...maybe I was just unlucky and they forgot to inform me. I don't mean to cause any offence with this and am by no means speaking derogatory comments of the bar which played host.
Until next time... (which will be soon)
Yazi May xxx
So I haven't written in a while, I've been so busy lately! I've left my full time job...yes we all knew it was coming!! And I feel sooooo much better for it :)
The last blog I wrote was filling you all in on the competition I entered in to in London...well what a disaster!! I have to be careful what I write as I don't want a law suit against me but I was really disappointed with how the competition unfolded it's self. After travelling up the first time for the selection round...I got through! I was really excited for this opportunity and was busy rehearsing trying to make my performance as good as possible...
So, I travel up again (a 2 and a half hour journey!)...for what I was advised was the quarter finals! When I turned up, I saw some singers who had bought crowds of people with them and was having a good evening and excited at the prospect of singing in front of a crowded venue until it was announced to me that the audience actually chose who went through... fair enough you might be thinking, as obviously the general public are the real judges in the music industry - however, no one told me this piece of information?? Every other act in there - had been informed of this and naturally brought as many people as they could to bump up their votes.
Straight away I'm at a disadvantage...
It then transpired that the other singers there hadn't gone through on a previous round of auditions before, and this was their first time performing....now I'm confused?! The goal posts of the competition had been changed and I was not informed....
Again...I'd at another disadvantage as I had already qualified and was told I was in the next round, however this wasn't the next round? - what angle are they playing??
I'm sure you can all appreciate my frustration with how this competition was run, as in my opinion it was not professional and after advertising on a website which is used all over the world I felt they didn't adhere to a specific conduct which they should be working to. I have complained to the website where the competition was advertised to notify them that the competition was not fair; or at least didn't notify all the singers of the rules, or treat everyone the same.
Sore loser you will most probably be saying? And maybe to a certain extent I am, of course I'm disappointed I didn't get through. However, if I didn't get through because I wasn't talented enough then I could accept that. To not get through because the organisers changed the rules, didn't tell me it was audience vote, told me it was the quarter finals but in fact wasn't, I'm sure you would be a bit miffed to?
All in all, I mostly lost to singers who couldn't string a phrase together in tune, and brought their whole family along to vote for them knowing full well they couldn't get through on talent...
One gem that did come out of the competition though, was a guy called Rhys, he also got through to the next round and he could sing. Very well. He was a really nice genuine guy and I wish him all the best in the competition as he deserves it :)
These are my opinions only and I have written this based on the experience I had with this competition...maybe I was just unlucky and they forgot to inform me. I don't mean to cause any offence with this and am by no means speaking derogatory comments of the bar which played host.
Until next time... (which will be soon)
Yazi May xxx
Friday, 3 August 2012
Singing Competition....On to the next round!!
Hey Guys and Gals,
Recently I've entered a singing competition in London which has some fantastic prizes to be won! I went to the selection round and sang against some brilliant people!! I sang Grenade by Bruno Mars, and That Boy, which hopefully you would all know is an original song written by myself.
This evening was full of blunders by my basically! Stupid is NOT the word! As I was going out in London, i thought it only natural to have a couple of drinks and loosen up a bit, we were in a bar at the end of the day! So, I turn up and register....final question on the application form *Tell us why this opportunity is important to you* (As I had driven to London earlier in the day, i thought it only natural to have a couple of Vino's to relax and to chill out - can you see where this is going?). When reading the form, I read it as "Tell us an interesting fact about yourself" - Don't ask me why!? So I wrote, my favourite meal is spaghetti bolonaise. Great one. Well done Downie.
So, I hand in my application form, great I'm the last singer. So now I have to sit in a bar, watching other people sing...and not drink to much. So that kind of went out the window! However...this time is went in my favour! I didn't get that sloshed, but tippled enough to think that I was the new Whitney Housten or Mariah Carey. I did actually give a good performance, which secured me a place in the next round! - However I don't think I will be drinking that much next time....I need to bring my A game!
Next round is on 27th August!! So I will let you know how i get on :)
Love Yazi May xxx
Recently I've entered a singing competition in London which has some fantastic prizes to be won! I went to the selection round and sang against some brilliant people!! I sang Grenade by Bruno Mars, and That Boy, which hopefully you would all know is an original song written by myself.
This evening was full of blunders by my basically! Stupid is NOT the word! As I was going out in London, i thought it only natural to have a couple of drinks and loosen up a bit, we were in a bar at the end of the day! So, I turn up and register....final question on the application form *Tell us why this opportunity is important to you* (As I had driven to London earlier in the day, i thought it only natural to have a couple of Vino's to relax and to chill out - can you see where this is going?). When reading the form, I read it as "Tell us an interesting fact about yourself" - Don't ask me why!? So I wrote, my favourite meal is spaghetti bolonaise. Great one. Well done Downie.
So, I hand in my application form, great I'm the last singer. So now I have to sit in a bar, watching other people sing...and not drink to much. So that kind of went out the window! However...this time is went in my favour! I didn't get that sloshed, but tippled enough to think that I was the new Whitney Housten or Mariah Carey. I did actually give a good performance, which secured me a place in the next round! - However I don't think I will be drinking that much next time....I need to bring my A game!
Next round is on 27th August!! So I will let you know how i get on :)
Love Yazi May xxx
Saturday, 7 July 2012
I don't think I've been in here sober...now I'm singing here!
Dear Diary,
How nervous was I today! Omg! I have sang in various venues with a range of numbers of people. Yet here I am, quivering about singing in my local pub. I drink in this place, I socialise in this place, imagine if I now sing here, mess up, and have to show my face here! I know, terrifying! I don’t think I have ever felt nerves like I did when I was getting ready to sing in the Red Lion, Sittingbourne.
I felt like I had this enormous pressure to do well on my shoulders! Everyone kept telling me to calm down, but it wasn't working unfortunately.
I'm not going to lie, and I'm sure the punters will tell you too….the first couple of songs were a bit shaky! LOL. After a while I did relax and start to enjoy it - and actually get control over my vocal chords and diaphragm! It really helped that all my friends were there, it was so comforting to see them all sitting there supporting me. The best bit was when they started getting up a picture of me in lets say, a very inebriated stated in Magaluf and showing it around. I had to try so hard to stiffle a laugh! Love them!
It was a really good night, and the pub was busy so I'm going to take it as a success…..not sure if I'll be back…but I'm happy for the moment to go there and just relax! :)
Love Yazi May xxx
Adding life to days, when days can't be added to life xxx
Dear Diary,
I had the honour of singing at Demelza House childrens hospice last Saturday… it really opened my eyes to the world and to start with I was actually quite shocked. To be perfectly honesy, I don't think I really prepared myself for what I was about to do. I met some absolutely amazing children, who although they hadn't been dealt with a good hand of cards, smile and enjoy every day! It was really inspirational.
A young girl, Alisha, told me about her charity on Ataxia and I'm waiting to hear from her to see if there is anything I can do to help her with fundraising. It is lovely when people ask me to help them, and I always try my hardest to do anything to help someone else.
I sang for about half an hour, with a mixture of songs, which included 2 of my original material, One for You and That Boy. I got lots of compliments on the day, so hopefully they enjoyed it. As long as the children had a good time, that was the main thing.
It’s amazing how music can affect someone's life. It's a therapy, everyone can relate to music, everyone. I can remember looking up and see a young teenager smiling away in his wheelchair whilst I was singing and it was such a special moment for me, I just felt my heart swell with love for the people surrounding me.
Thank you Demelza for letting me sing for you, it was a lovely day and I'm so glad the weather held up!!
Love
Yazi May xxx
Thursday, 31 May 2012
New Horizons?...
Wow It's been a long time since my last blog!
So much to fill you in on!!
I've secured a gig at my local pub which is really nerve-racking as I'll be performing at my favourite drinking establishment - meaning if I mess up - I don't know if I'll actually be able to go in there again out of pure embarrassment haha!! I am currently looking for a guitarist who can sing (male or female) to do the set with me because I think it will give the audience something more to look at rather than just my ugly mug! I'm aiming for a chillaxed acoustic set, which is a genre that suits my voice.
I've suffered a lot recently with my throat *sympathy!* - it started off as hay fever but developed in to a full blown cold…so I haven't been singing for a while! I'm starting to get my strength back in it though and rehearsing for my Demelza House performance at the end of June --> I am sooo excited to do this performance.
One For You has been on iTunes now for a couple of months…not number 1 yet unfortunately!! Haha! I haven't heard how many downloads I've had yet, but hopefully it's a few. I know people aren't going to invest in my music straight away and it is a long process, but I'm proud at what I've achieved already and am determined to keep growing as a performer.
Vince (Kidd) has made it to the final of The Voice! Very happy about this! I do love Tyler too, but I think Vince tops it for me as he is just so different and I think the music industry needs him! Someone who is quirky but can actually sing! -- Go On Vince!!
I've been to another concert…the Westlife Farewell Tour. Ah it was lovely! And boy can those men sing!! I was really surprised (no offence!). I'll put some pictures up soon so you can all see what an amazing performance they gave! ….I really aspire to be performing at the o2 one day.. I will do it!
I'm embarking on a new challenge to get myself as a supporting artist for a UK tour….hmm where to start…..
Until next time,
Yazi May xxx
So much to fill you in on!!
I've secured a gig at my local pub which is really nerve-racking as I'll be performing at my favourite drinking establishment - meaning if I mess up - I don't know if I'll actually be able to go in there again out of pure embarrassment haha!! I am currently looking for a guitarist who can sing (male or female) to do the set with me because I think it will give the audience something more to look at rather than just my ugly mug! I'm aiming for a chillaxed acoustic set, which is a genre that suits my voice.
I've suffered a lot recently with my throat *sympathy!* - it started off as hay fever but developed in to a full blown cold…so I haven't been singing for a while! I'm starting to get my strength back in it though and rehearsing for my Demelza House performance at the end of June --> I am sooo excited to do this performance.
One For You has been on iTunes now for a couple of months…not number 1 yet unfortunately!! Haha! I haven't heard how many downloads I've had yet, but hopefully it's a few. I know people aren't going to invest in my music straight away and it is a long process, but I'm proud at what I've achieved already and am determined to keep growing as a performer.
Vince (Kidd) has made it to the final of The Voice! Very happy about this! I do love Tyler too, but I think Vince tops it for me as he is just so different and I think the music industry needs him! Someone who is quirky but can actually sing! -- Go On Vince!!
I've been to another concert…the Westlife Farewell Tour. Ah it was lovely! And boy can those men sing!! I was really surprised (no offence!). I'll put some pictures up soon so you can all see what an amazing performance they gave! ….I really aspire to be performing at the o2 one day.. I will do it!
I'm embarking on a new challenge to get myself as a supporting artist for a UK tour….hmm where to start…..
Until next time,
Yazi May xxx
Tuesday, 24 April 2012
The Voice….or I think it should be renamed…The Loudest Voice!
Hey Hey!
Was anyone really dissappointed with the weekends episodes of The Voice? I really like the concept of the new singing competition but was really dissapointed with the standard of singing this weekend! Don't get me wrong, there were some amazing vocalists, but I couldn't help thinking that during the battles it became a competition of who could scream the loudest - mainly with the females.
Yes, I agree with people pushing their vocals and getting something out of it which they didn't know they could do….but the girls were doing runs which I don't think suited them or were physically able to do.
Who am I to judge…exactly, who am I? But like in a previous blog I said that everyone has an opinon they feel they need to share…I guess this is me sharing mine! I'm not pinpointing names and slating them, because I do think that The Voice really has talented singers on there, I just can't get over how much it was a screaming contest this weekend!
I'm all for Vince Kidd, I think he is amazing! Extra soft spot as he has the same sirname that I was born with (…changed my surname when I was 10, completely different story lol) I really hope he goes the whoooooole way!!
Also….don't forget One For You is available on iTunes for download, and if you don't have an iTunes account, you can also get it off Amazon…so NO EXCUSES :-)
Speak Soon,
Yazi May xxx
Was anyone really dissappointed with the weekends episodes of The Voice? I really like the concept of the new singing competition but was really dissapointed with the standard of singing this weekend! Don't get me wrong, there were some amazing vocalists, but I couldn't help thinking that during the battles it became a competition of who could scream the loudest - mainly with the females.
Yes, I agree with people pushing their vocals and getting something out of it which they didn't know they could do….but the girls were doing runs which I don't think suited them or were physically able to do.
Who am I to judge…exactly, who am I? But like in a previous blog I said that everyone has an opinon they feel they need to share…I guess this is me sharing mine! I'm not pinpointing names and slating them, because I do think that The Voice really has talented singers on there, I just can't get over how much it was a screaming contest this weekend!
I'm all for Vince Kidd, I think he is amazing! Extra soft spot as he has the same sirname that I was born with (…changed my surname when I was 10, completely different story lol) I really hope he goes the whoooooole way!!
Also….don't forget One For You is available on iTunes for download, and if you don't have an iTunes account, you can also get it off Amazon…so NO EXCUSES :-)
Speak Soon,
Yazi May xxx
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