Musicality

Launching an Original music career
On the Costa Del Sol!

By Rashpal Singh

When I moved out here to the Costa Del Sol some years ago and after having successfully performed as an original solo artist at several local, regional and national music venues across the UK, I was under the illusion that my momentum could continue out here in the same way, but very soon I found out.........I was wrong!!

Although I have met some very talented musicians and singers out here, unfortunately all they ever find themselves doing is falling into the cover and cabaret music scene in bars and restaurants across the coast, covering well known music legends in bands and as solo artistes.  Of course this is a tourist destination, a place where tourists want to relax in bars and listen to their favourite numbers being performed by artistes who even dress the part whilst sipping at their sangria and inexpensive beers!  The last thing they want to do is hassle with unknown lyrics and music they've never heard before which they do back at home anyway.

Apart from slipping in the odd original number during amongst their repertoire there is not much chance of promoting original music out here like I did at the NEC and the Mean Fiddler in London.  After teaming up with John Springate (music director), I was successfully able to have my tracks from my album played on Ace Fm, Rem Fm and Central Fm.  The response was great by the presenters and many more who listened in as was the response from well known media publications like the H! Society magazine and the Sur in English to name just a few.  Agents seem to be scattered very few and far in between and non existent here on the Costa as does real music venues where the audience is expected to stand whilst rocking with the tracks and the stage raised up high so your fans are looking up to you, black walls with posters and pictures of artists and signings on the wall, but this is NOT the UK!!

The Costa Del Sol is a wonderful place to reside and that is my choice, but whilst the Costa Del Sol and original music will continue to clash, to launch a music career is better done via UK and The United States where original material is appreciated.  Music, song writing and delivering to an audience is not just a job; for me it is a passion and dream, and nothing brings me more pleasure then to watch people appreciate my material and hear people sing along with my lyrics.  Once one falls into the trap of full-time cover and cabaret, their original material becomes shelved for evermore and that is a risk I am not willing to take.  We live our lives once and we live our dreams as well as reality.  With my past experience and present friends and peers in the UK I am confident I can make it work.  What saddens me more than anything is to watch people having to shelve their passions for the sheer desperation to survive and take any job just to place food on the table.  It is possible to have the best of both worlds, as it it is possible to have your cake and eat it too.........I'll have treacle suet pudding please!!

And here's to keeping original ideas going and maintaining individuals in our world...............CHEERS!!!