Words: Loretta Fenton

Despite what recent ‘talent’ shows such as X-factor would have us believe, there are no formulas to making it in the music business and it certainly doesn’t happen for most people overnight after Simon Cowell waves a magic wand over us. Unfortunately, for most of us, it just isn’t that easy. It’s a long hard slog of raised and dashed hopes, rejection and determination that’s somehow driven by a dream buried somewhere underneath it all. However, our best asset to help us along the way is advice and encouragement from those who have trudged the long, winding and sometimes lonely walk of the unsigned artist before us. I can’t tell you how to be successful but I can tell you how to set up a band and give it a good go, and I can let you know what I’ve learned along the way – mainly what not to do! 

Ever since my twin sister and I were very little we wanted to be singers.  Apparently our first public performance was singing ‘The wheels on the bus’ in harmony to a bus full of people at the age of three! Our father was a bass player and music was a huge part of our upbringing. We were always in the school choir and forming dance/singing groups with our friends and performing for our mum’s. When I reached secondary school I still had the dream to be a performer and we started our own acapella group and performed at school and at friend’s weddings. Most people were encouraging but in a ‘that’s a nice hobby’ kind of way. I remember at one of my first careers interviews at school when I was asked what I wanted to do with my life I boldly announced that I was going to be a singer. I distinctly recall the pitiful look on the teacher's face as she assessed my circumstance and {mosgoogle left}background – I was from a single-parent family living on a council estate. She gently put it to me that I should try to focus on a more 'realistic' career. I was devastated, but on the surface of it I had to agree with her - it made sense. Why should I be a singer and get my dream? However, what she wasn't taking into account was the fact that our dreams are given to us by God in the first place and usually the ones that seem the most unrealistic (ones we can't achieve in our own strength) are the ones from Him. Incidentally, I have worked as a professional singer now for the past 10 years! 

Yes music is a highly competitive industry but I always felt that was no reason not to try, after all, some do make it. Your number one asset to getting you through is self-belief. This will take a knocking along the way, but a deep rooted belief that you are meant to be doing music will go a long way when circumstances look otherwise. 

Aside from having the dream and believing one day it can come true, the next thing to do is to work hard! I’ve had the privilege of working with some great names in the music business from Sting, to Diana Ross, to Lemar to more recently Take That and they all have one thing in  common – they work hard and they never stop honing their talent. Even experienced singers still have singing lessons and it’s important to realise that as a musician there is always room for improvement and you should never stop learning. Find a great vocal coach or music teacher and practice, practice, practice! 

Aside from long-term goals to record an album or tour the world, there are little things you can be doing every day and right now towards your dreams. Try writing some songs. Write about things that you’re passionate about. It doesn’t just have to be slushy love songs. For every ten songs you write there may be one gem amongst them. If you get signed one day one of the hardest things is to find time and inspiration to write when you’re busy so it’s a good idea to write as many as you can now. That way you’ll have a few albums worth ready when you do get a break.