Working with vocalists

[Shepherd]

That sucks... Are there no contracts which state that your name has to be featured? Because i personally didn't knew that you did the vocals for 'promises', i just didn't thought of it that it could be you singing, although that i'm starting to know your voice better and know i think i will hear it if you are in a song, but i can imagine that there are lots of other hardstyle fans who don't know you did all these stuff and you don't get credit from them because of the fact that you aren't featured.

So i'm asuming that most of the time you even haven't seen the producers for which you make vocals? Maybe that's a reason why they don't feature you?
It's just a hypothesis

[nikkita]

That sucks... Are there no contracts which state that your name has to be featured? Because i personally didn't knew that you did the vocals for 'promises', i just didn't thought of it that it could be you singing, although that i'm starting to know your voice better and know i think i will hear it if you are in a song, but i can imagine that there are lots of other hardstyle fans who don't know you did all these stuff and you don't get credit from them because of the fact that you aren't featured.

So i'm asuming that most of the time you even haven't seen the producers for which you make vocals? Maybe that's a reason why they don't feature you?
It's just a hypothesis

That's one reason But I did meet them while I was out in Europe. Unfortunately, contracts aren't really something hardstyle/hardcore artists like to do unless you're getting royalties. So, you kind of have to have a bit of blind faith and hope they don't fuck you over.

[MKN]

aw that's pretty bullshit tbh and really disrespectful
do you mind telling us what tracks you have done vocals for? (because there's probably some i haven't heard because they haven't put your name anywhere, if you get me lol)

[nikkita]

aw that's pretty bullshit tbh and really disrespectful
do you mind telling us what tracks you have done vocals for? (because there's probably some i haven't heard because they haven't put your name anywhere, if you get me lol)

Everything is in my discogs profile, but some that aren't included: Strength & Fury (vocal + lyric), Angel of the Sun (vocals only), Samara (vocals only)...

http://www.discogs.com/artist/Nikkita+Bradette

[Shepherd]

Is being a vocalist good enough to make a living out of it? And what is a normal price to hire a vocalist?
Although that i don't know the answer, i allready know that i can't afford it probably

[nikkita]

Is being a vocalist good enough to make a living out of it? And what is a normal price to hire a vocalist?
Although that i don't know the answer, i allready know that i can't afford it probably

Honestly? I've made next to nothing in the 4 years I've been doing this -- I've certainly asked for money, but some people just don't pay up... I mean, if there's that producer who I feel has that amazing talent, I jump on the opportunity to just work with them -- whether they are somebody or nobody, I don't care, I'd do it for free anyway. Or, if someone is messing around and sends me something that suddenly inspires me, I just start doing "whatever" and send it to them... I have a lot of this type of work, in fact, it's kind of how my progressive house project took shape. I just really like doing what I do, so I've been chalking up this work as learning experience for my move out to Europe -- I wanted to get more involved and become more of a presence, and booking shows is where the real work is.

You certainly CAN make a living doing voice work in general -- or if you're doing vocals in different genres... but at the end of the day, it's more of a labour of love for me to do this. Something a lot of people don't know, is that I also do vocals for TV shows -- like english dubs of anime shows, or commercials, etc... I make income doing that, mostly (for voice related stuff) but I also have a job on the side for steady income to support the things I love. If you put in a full-time effort to searching for work -- then you can definitely make a living off of it.

If you're a vocalist who can book gigs as a singer/MC on weekends, then you're more likely to be able to make a full-time living, than just doing studio vocals alone.

As for the pricing -- it really depends... usually 100 euro is complimentary/customary... but you can be looking to pay anywhere from 300+ euro, especially if they have a reputation/name.

[MKN]

Nikkita, i say you go on X Factor or Britain's got talent
or just go on any talent or sining contest, i really think you could go far, and if simon cowell spots your talent then... well ... your career would go from there lol

[Shepherd]

I was expecting that answer. A lot of artists (actors, producers, singers, ...) don't make a lot of money out of there work, unless they have a lot of luck, but for me that ain't a problem, i like to make music and hope to make a living out of it in the future. But i can definitely feel that you like your job too, although that i don't really know you hehe.

And thats just wrong, not paying you for your work! Who does that? And i guess that it isn't even legal to do that, or is it? I hope that it aren't producers from the hardstyle scene who don't pay you, because that would screw up my view on some of the artists in this scene and lets hope that i don't have to start to believe the final message from GHF

And i thought so, 300 euro is way to much for me! Even 50 bucks would be a to much. It's better to save money for equipment i guess..
& Which movies did you dub by the way?

[nikkita]

I was expecting that answer. A lot of artists (actors, producers, singers, ...) don't make a lot of money out of there work, unless they have a lot of luck, but for me that ain't a problem, i like to make music and hope to make a living out of it in the future. But i can definitely feel that you like your job too, although that i don't really know you hehe.

Indeed! Making a living is important, otherwise... you can't make music!

And thats just wrong, not paying you for your work! Who does that? And i guess that it isn't even legal to do that, or is it? I hope that it aren't producers from the hardstyle scene who don't pay you, because that would screw up my view on some of the artists in this scene and lets hope that i don't have to start to believe the final message from GHF

To be honest, the GHF message isn't just limited to hardstyle... but I have my own opinions on this. EVERY artist has this problem. Some top artists aren't also paid on time -- I spoke to one really big name in house who still has 10K owed to him by various organizers/companies/etc. There are some labels that are less shady that others, but at the end of the day most labels have maybe 1 person who work accounts payables/receivables and the paperwork tends to build up... so they organise it on schedules like Quarterly payments. Royalties, for example, they are usually paid out every 3 - 6 months.

Sometimes people just skip out, or can't be bothered to go to the bank, etc, etc... Some just don't care.

And i thought so, 300 euro is way to much for me! Even 50 bucks would be a to much. It's better to save money for equipment i guess..

Yes Or, try to make your own samples... OR! Find a friend who just wants to give it a try or wants to be an MC, and see if you can work out some kind of a partnership together.

& Which movies did you dub by the way?

<-- this was on TV/radio in china
<-- this is a bad quality clip, but youtube deleted all the english episodes uploaded... my character is "Shawna", you see her/hear her starting at :25

I did also introductions for some parties/etc -- recently i did Bassruler introductions, and so on...

[Shepherd]

To be honest, the GHF message isn't just limited to hardstyle... but I have my own opinions on this. EVERY artist has this problem. Some top artists aren't also paid on time -- I spoke to one really big name in house who still has 10K owed to him by various organizers/companies/etc. There are some labels that are less shady that others, but at the end of the day most labels have maybe 1 person who work accounts payables/receivables and the paperwork tends to build up... so they organise it on schedules like Quarterly payments. Royalties, for example, they are usually paid out every 3 - 6 months.

Sometimes people just skip out, or can't be bothered to go to the bank, etc, etc... Some just don't care.

That's really weard. I don't understand how that's possible, and even legal, but maybe it's just me, i don't know...
But you can always ask an advanced payment, so you are at least out of debts? (I don't know if advanced payment is the correct word, but what i mean is that people should give you some money before you make vocals for them and the rest will come after that)

Yes Or, try to make your own samples... OR! Find a friend who just wants to give it a try or wants to be an MC, and see if you can work out some kind of a partnership together.

And i got a friend who is an MC, but he only does stuff on gigs. His microphone broke down, so now he has to do it at home with a simple webcam microphone and i guess that you know better as anyone here, what the difference is between a good microphone and such a piece of **** like that.

& Those clips are awsome! If you showed them to me without saying that it was, i would have never guessed it. Although, the first one is pretty clear.
But in England/America there is less stuff to dub as in Europe ain't it? Because most of the good movies and clips are made in English-speaking countries.