Meet London-born UK Open Mic performer Dave G:

Hi Dave G, thanks for joining us! Let’s get into it:

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

Solo

How old are you?

23

Where were you born?

London

Where did you grow up?

London/ Santiago de Chile

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

Bring born to a Chilean Jewish father and an Australian mother, I had lots of different influences around me. Particularly folk/ acoustic music from the likes of Tracy Chapman, James Taylor etc. and Latin music I heard growing up. My songs all tell stories reflect my upbringing between these places.

Where are you based now, and why?

London, as it’s the place to be as a musician. (and I have lots of family here)

What got you into making music in the first place?

I played flute in school and in Chile but I never quite fell in love with it; when I was 14 I convinced my parents to buy me an electric piano and I started using it when producing my own songs. I’ve never stopped since.

What instrument/s do you play?

Singing
Guitar
Guitar
Piano
Rapping
Music Producer
Beat Making
Drums

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

Tracy Chapman, James Taylor, Kid Laroi, Charlie Puth, Shawn Mendes, GRAHAM, Post Malone, Alex Warren, Noah Kahan.

I grew up listening to artists like Tracy Chapman and loved the deep longing quality of their songwriting.

Many modern artists like Kid Laroi fuse an early 2000s style of emo rock with modern pop/ hip hop, a sound which I loved and which has no less been influenced by modern pop legends like Charlie Puth.

Do you write your own songs?

Yes

How many years have you been writing songs for?

8

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

As I record them or sometimes on my notes app.

How long have you been playing open mic nights?

1

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

Having been singing for a few years, I wanted to hone in on my skills as a musician and practice playing live to improve my singing and performing ability.

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

Do as many as possible

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

Translating the feel of a song to a live stage and engaging the audience.

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

I played an open mic in Hackney which had a huge range – from poets and spoken word artists to comedians, to musicians like myself and even just people who freestyled on stage. I also enjoyed playing at the Dublin Castle very much, I met some incredible musicians.

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?

Making a name for yourself and figuring out how to market your personal brand is tough. But mostly just becoming a better musician.

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

I’m half Chilean.

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

I have 4 songs in the mix right now; all super experimental and different to what I’ve done before. I’m super excited to have them done.

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

https://youtube.com/channel/UC50p3zBifqPTgD-6S8fgrhA?si=lh1M8tjiSxB2029k

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

https://spotify.link/rXece97RXXb

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

https://spotify.link/rXece97RXXb

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

No thanks!