Meet London-born UK Open Mic performer, Veli:

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

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

Group

What’s the name of the group?

Kariba

How old are you?

45

Where were you born?

London

Where did you grow up?

London

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

Elvis Presley The Beatles Thin Lizzy Free etc

Where are you based now, and why?

London based and why not ? lol

What got you into making music in the first place?

I wanted to learn how to play the guitar and write music after watching many bands and artistes play their own original music Live

What instrument/s do you play?

Singing, Guitar, Bass, Music Producer

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

Gary Moore – he writes many different styles from heavy rock to pop classic rock to blues too

Do you write your own songs?

Yes

How many years have you been writing songs for?

Since the age of 16

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

I begin sometimes with the guitar and vocals only – first I’ll maybe write lyrics and then play the guitar and sing whatever comes naturally at that moment to me and record it with a phone either by using an application or by video even ….

Why did you get into playing open mic nights in the first place?

The reason for playing open mic nights is to perform covers and to play originals too to see if the audience likes my material

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

Don’t give up!

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

Remembering Lyrics

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

I played the GPO in Eltham one of Ben Golding’s Open Mic Nogjts – it’s fun there is never any trouble always welcoming and the audience loves to hear originals

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?

Getting a Fan Base

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

My original songs are often about real life

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

Hoping to get the band (Kariba) back rehearsing and writing again and playing Live venues

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?

https://m.soundcloud.com/veli-mustafa

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

https://m.facebook.com/VeliMuzik/

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

www.instagram.com/velimiz/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.instagram.com/velimiz/?hl=en

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

No thanks!