No? Let's put it this way... ever heard "Whatcha Say" by Jason Derulo?
If you have, the female hook from that song is sampled from Hide and Seek. If you've yet to hear Hide and Seek, you must.
I want to bring up a few points.
1 - This woman's voice gives me goosebumps. You can tell through the effects that she has a great voice, and an extremely remarkable range.
2 - The video goes perfect with the song
3 - The song/video combination gives me goose-bumps
4 - This song is acapella with auto-tune. This is like... the best thing since warm, buttered toast
5 - Her lyrics are amazing.
6 - Did I mention, this gives me goosebumps?
7 - Despite being acapella, you can hear the music. You can feel the music. It's there.
8 - This woman is gorgeous.
I first discovered this song from school. On a side note - when this particular course is over, I'm going to cry. I've discovered so much amazing music in this course. I'm not ready for it to be over. However, this is week 11, and there's only 12 weeks in a course.
Sad face. :-(
But anyway - this song is highly inspiring to me. Go listen to Hide and Seek. Now.
MTL: At what point in your life was the defining moment that made you realize what you wanted to do, as a musician?
Fantastika: I've always been very musical, then suddenly I sat down at the piano one day and started playing cords I knew, I always liked playing along to beats, so I would play cords over again with the beats, I've always wanted to be a music artist so I worked very hard to make a song out of what I knew, I also would get ideas from other songs and make my own, I actually started writing songs without beats at first, then when I mastered them I started playing along to background music and as the years went by I started getting more advanced and realized I could do it.
MTL: What made you create your artist persona name - Fantastika - and what meaning does it carry for you and your music?
Fantastika: Well I've noticed that some artists use actual cool names and add an "a" at the end like Metallica, Exotika, Gothika, things like that, so one day I thought of what word I could use, I thought of words like, fabulous, brilliant, then suddenly I thought of fantastic. Fantastika, I knew nobody had it, it was different and actually sounded really awesome, the meaning is that the songs suit the name, it's original and also very upbeat.
MTL: What music/artists have influenced you?
Fantastika: I personally think that Evanescence has influenced me since I was 12, Amy Lee has taught me that writing music can be emotional but also very fun, she has also taught me that music is a therapy, you can put your feelings in your music and people can relate to it to help them and also yourself.
MTL: How would you describe your style of music?
Fantastika: I would describe my music as how I'm feeling, my beats depend on my mood, I find it very unique but also very simple, meaningful and fun.
MTL: What do you feel the inspiration is for most of your music and songwriting?
Fantastika: My inspiration would have to be Nintendo, many people have told me that my music sounds like Nintendo related, and I've also realized it too, that is also where I got most of my ideas, I have always enjoyed most of the soundtracks since I was very little I always thought it would be awesome to create something so beautiful, and I'm very proud to call Fantastika my own.
MTL: What do you feel sets you apart from the crowd?
Fantastika: What I feel that sets me apart from the crowd is that I know I'm not like everyone else, I don't try to be artists I'm not, I do my own thing and I like to be unique and have something different from other people.
MTL: If you could describe yourself and your music in five words, what would they be?
MTL: What are your goals within the coming five years as an artist?
Fantastika: My goals are to have the opportunity to share more and more with everyone, and to go farther and have faith in myself and believe I can do it as long as I stick with it and I wouldn't give this up for anything, I enjoy what I do and that's the most important part, having people love your music and love what you do is the best feeling in the world.
MTL: What do you feel is the best piece of music you've created? Why do you choose this one?
Fantastika: My best piece of music that I've done, I can't really choose one because I have great memories that go with all of them and remind me of certain things which is why I love them so much, but I have to say that Epic Boulevard is my favorite song, it's just something about it that I love that one so much, also that I taught my best friend how to play it and she loves it, that is also why it has so much meaning to it.
MTL: How were you first introduced to music in your life?
Fantastika: I was always exposed to music ever since I was born and as I got older music started having a lot of meaning in my life.
MTL: What plans do you have in the near future for music release/recording?
Fantastika: In the near future I plan on releasing the songs I have now but also feature different band members to join in with some of the songs and make something even more fantastic, I think when it comes to music it's good to do your own thing but it's also good to experience with other music as well.
MTL: Any words of advice for young/aspiring musicians?
Fantastika: Always stick with your talents and dreams, even if you don't think you're good enough, every little thing you do always means something, don't let anyone bring you down, if they do that means they're jealous, good things happen when you believe and have faith in yourself.
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Once again, thanks SO much to Julie of Fantastika for answering my questions - it's been very fun!
Week 9 of my second Berklee course - Music Production Analysis. (Link to the course)
Since there's only 12 weeks in a Berklee Online Course, that means it will be all over soon.
There's not enough good things I can say about Berklee. The classes are easy to take, I learn something every lesson, have great interaction with classmates, and continue to grow as a musician.
From time to time on here, I want to begin reviewing and interviewing indie artists. A lot of others don't know how hard it is for us to get our stuff out, so I take it upon myself that I want to help others like myself in any way I possibly can.
Today, I'm writing about a very talented artist I met via Twitter, PascalGaroute.
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Pascal's YouTube page lists him as a upcoming Haitian artist/actor, and he has an abundance of interesting and very entertaining videos on his Youtube page.
From original music, to skits, to remixes of popular songs - he has a lot of valuable content uploaded. My favourite is his remix of Kesha's blow, and his original rap piece about Anti-SOPA/PIPA ideals. He has a good voice, nice image, and a good message/vibe to spread around.
In the 1800s, Paganini was an emerging violinist and composer. And his dream was to play to a packed opera house in which the audience to would jump to its feet with an ovation. And then that evening came. It was time for his solo. But as the musician began to draw his bow, he felt this terror and sickness in his stomach because he realized that he had grabbed the wrong violin, a far inferior one. And then deep inside himself he heard, "Play with what you've got." And so he drew back his bow and he began to play. And he asked that even in this instrument, something might happen that would make a difference for the gift of music.
As Paganini maximized what he had, the audience rose to ovation after ovation after ovation. He said: "Before tonight, I always thought the music came from my violin. Tonight I realized the music comes from me." Often we have thought our miracle comes from the world, when the truth is, the only miracle that's real must come through us, from that place in us where the spirit of God truly resides. The music is within you. --Mary Manin Morrissey
