What if you had to choose between embracing your true self and having the career you spent years building? Los Angeles-based performer, studio vocalist, arranger and composer, Connor Smith answers this question, discusses getting work as a session singer in Los Angeles, and what it means to have his compositions published.
As a touring artist and vocal director, Connor has performed throughout all of the United States and is regularly seen in live shows at the Disneyland Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood. In 2016, Connor traveled to Beijing, China, winning the Hope International Music Festival. As an in-demand Los Angeles session singer, Connor’s voice can be heard on film scores, television shows, albums, Disney Recordings®, live production shows and more. An avid a cappella vocalist, Connor was selected to be an original member of “DCappella”, Disney’s critically-acclaimed a cappella group, with the group’s debut album being released via Walt Disney Records.
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SINGING LESSONS:
- Publishing is a tough game unless you have an enormous library of published music.
- The session singer world is definitely split between readers and non-readers who sing by ear, but are definitely quick (to learn parts).
- Not every session singer can sight read, but it opens up more doors if you do.
- You’ve got to be on your toes to sing with people you might not know very well and sing music you’ve never heard before. The people signing your check want it to go quick.
- You have to be good at what you do.
- If you’re new to the session singer world, you’re starting at the bottom of the call list.
- A good demo reel is under two minutes long and shows off your voice, your strong suites, genres you can sing in and the different colors of your voice.
- If you want to do voice over and demo work, it’s crucial in this day and age to have your own home studio setup. It can be very, very simple.
- Ask questions, be aware and observant. Watch the other people’s process.
- Dreams and passions are so crucial to our own well being, our spirit, and our quality of life.
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Special thanks to Connor for joining us this week!