Meet Australia-born UK Open Mic performer Alyssa Rees:

Hi Alyssa Rees, thanks for joining us! Let’s get into it:

Do you play solo only, or also in a group?

Solo

How old are you?

22

Where were you born?

Australia

Where did you grow up?

Australia

How did that place influence your music? (if at all!)

Not sure

Where are you based now, and why?

I am now based in the UK as I am here working as an au pair where I have much more time to focus and work on my music (song-writing).

What got you into making music in the first place?

I have been a singer for as long as I can remember and there’s never been a question or doubt in my mind about choosing to do music. I studied it during high school and begun writing my own songs about a year ago. I’m inspired by artists like Billie Eilish and Adele.

What instrument/s do you play?

Singing
Guitar
Guitar

Who would be in your top 10 musical influences, and why?

Billie Eilish – she is a musical GENIUS. The random noises she puts in her songs – the background adlibs – all of it goes together so smoothly and her creativity in producing music videos. As well as her lyrics, just everything.
Adele – her powerful voice is mesmerising and the stories that she conveys in her songs are captivating
Billie Marten – a small artist who produces beautifully written and relaxing songs.
Morgan Wallen – the country style and tone of voice has inspired me to begin looking into creating country genres.
Matt Hansen – his mix of powerful vocals with soft tones inspired me to mix up my songs and begin to implement different builds.

Do you write your own songs?

Yes

How many years have you been writing songs for?

1

What process, or processes, do you often find yourself using when you write songs?

I’ve had an interest in writing songs for about 7/8 years and attempted a few times within, but only just over a year ago did I get hit with a wave of inspiration and begun writing / working on songs daily. When I started it would just be recording myself singing a song and melody that just came to me. I would then try and match some basic piano chords with it. When I moved to the UK I picked up the guitar and began writing songs AFTER finding a chord progression or finger picking, which then made it a lot easier. Lyrically, I just write whatever comes out really, and all my songs are based off my own personal experiences and emotions.

How long have you been playing open mic nights?

0

Why did you get into playing them in the first place?

I used to preform at ‘student gig nights’ with my singing school in Australia (for the past 7 years) and once I moved to the UK I didn’t have that anymore. I hadn’t preformed live in about a year and wanted to build that confidence back up as well as being able to share my original songs. I’ve been to about 4 Open Mics so far in the last few months.

What advice would you give new performers who are just starting out playing their first open mics?

I would consider myself a beginner at the moment although I’ve had lots of live performance experience. The best thing is to try and remind yourself that everyone is human and the thing about these open mic nights is everyone is so supportive and kind to one another. It’s scary to put yourself up there but everyone’s going through it together.

What’s the hardest thing, for you, about playing open mics?

Despite my mind not being nervous and my ability to tell myself that ‘I’ve got this’ my body still reacts in a nervous way. My heart pounds and my hands shake – which makes it very hard when playing the guitar.

What’s the most bizarre, or fun, open mic, or gig, you’ve ever played, and why?

The most enjoyable was when the last artist played, the host was on the drums and another artist joined in the electric guitar and then I was invited to come sing with him. That was a very fun vibe and felt very supportive and community driven.

If it’s not already, are you hoping to make music your full-time career?

Yes

What do you currently find the hardest and biggest obstacles to moving your music career forward?

That musical talent is everywhere. And to become something substantial from solely music, mostly comes from luck. It’s all about who you know and the connections you have.

What’s the one truth about you that people often find surprising?

I started writing songs a year ago and I have about 77 songs at the moment. Also that I only started seriously playing the guitar 6 months ago.

What’s the most exciting project you’re working on at the moment?

I am working on my first album. I’m attempting to produce it myself but all I have is my bedroom a mic and garage band with no prior production knowledge, so struggling slightly.

Do you have your own music video, channel or playlist you’d like to share?

Do you have music on streaming? What’s you main streaming channel to send people to?

Where is the main place should people go to find out more about you?

@alyssas.studio

What other sites/profiles should people go to to find out more about you?

@alyssas.studio

https://on.soundcloud.com/1fZ2ERWjurEcFitAyq

We’re done! Anything else you want to share before we go?

No thanks!