Clara A-K-Secondary teacher by day, musician by night
Interview conducted on May 29, 2020
by Dan Locke
Singer Songwriter in the UK. Talented musician who plays, writes, and sings own songs. Creating songs to bring joy and aiming to reach a broad market place, making songs suitable for all age groups. she enjoys playing the piano and clarinet.
What is your upbringing?
I grew up in West London with my brother. We had a pet cat called ‘Smudge’ on account of her black and white features and a pet hamster who was called ‘Hammy’! For our holidays we used to camp as a family in France, which is where my love of travel and languages grew from. I have many fond childhood memories of long journeys in the car, and exciting visits to the lavender fields in Provence, and sailing in Atlantic Coastal Regions on the West Coast.
How did you discover music?
My Mum originally bought the piano when I was little, but aged 5, I was able to play tunes well enough for her to enquire about Music lessons. From there I expanded to learn the clarinet and enjoyed Saturday mornings at Kew Young Musicians.
As a teenager, I used to listen for hours to music on the radio and loved playing all the musical theatre pieces and singing on the piano. Being in London we got to see shows like Starlight Express, Cats and The Lion King, which made me more inspired to be a part of the creative arts industry at some point.
How did you start to write music?
As a late teenager I enjoyed reflecting on the world through poetry, and from there at University wrote songs, but I was really into dancing and performing so the music took a side line at that point. Throughout my adult life I have enjoyed music, singing and been part of choirs in Schools and Churches, but writing songs has always been in the background. In the last year, I decided to not delay anymore and have started to record some of the songs that I have been hanging on to for some time, and also I’m now writing new material yet to be recorded!
You are also an author. Are you still doing writing?
I was fortunate enough to write an article for Teacher Secondary Magazine, which was looking at creative ways to teach grammar in languages which is an important part of the new GCSE exam in the UK. In the past year, I have been working on assignments connected to teacher qualifications, but I would love to write more creatively and perhaps go back to poetry writing at some point in the future?
Tell me about your song “Turn Around”?
I love this song as it is fun! It is about the idea of the joy of seeing someone you love! I had a dual idea for the chorus that it could be someone you love helping you to improve yourself out of love, and also turning to Christ for help to improve ourselves. When I play it at home my daughters turn around and dance around the room, so I feel the song has a fun element and hopefully a broad reach of listeners too?
I saw you have put some new songs on your YouTube account. Including “How Good it is”. Does this song say something about the state of the world? How did you record it?
The song at its heart is about no matter what storms in life we are facing, or fears we are staring at, we can have hope. I remember buying a Spanish Key Ring, which read : “ paro dios todo es posible” which means with God all things are possible. This message has rang true for me in so many areas of my life I feel that doors have opened for me. The song was recorded with a colleague in the Music Department, but due to the lockdown I thought it would be a good time to release it.
What is your favorite track on the album?
I really like ‘Your Love’ as it is a simple song that people can relate to. Love is the deepest emotion we all can feel, and love can carry us over many mountains.
What are you’re feeling about streaming music?
I post some of my home performances on Youtube, but have to find the right moment to start streaming live. There are many things to consider, background noise, recording quality and looking the part! Watch this space..!
Digital vs. vinyl?
As a teenager I enjoyed hanging out with friends who would spin vinyl Hip-Hop records and I have many childhood memories of the vinyl records crackling as they span into sound. Songs of Dire Straits, Chris de Burgh and Ralph McTell as I danced around the House.
We have lived through many digital changes and to some extent it is sad that the physical nature of buying music is almost gone. There is something magic about a Record, Tape, or CD that you can admire the graphic designs more and read the inside cover and find out more about the artist and the writers of each song, which I feel is lost in the downloading of music.
Any plans to tour?
Well, my main aim for the next few months is to find a way of recording the songs I have ready to record. I am really excited that the best is yet to come!
What song from the past is in your mind right now? And what is the meaning that song means to you?
I really love the song by Rod Stewart “Have I told you lately that I love you?”. The lyrics are heartfelt and we need more love in the world where we are fed a lot of negative stories to focus on. I think it’s important to remember that we can help and support each other more and not worry about what someone else has got more than you. Count your blessings and hold on tight to the precious people in your immediate and distant life. I remembered sometimes to just surprise people with goodness, like a chocolate bar on an office desk, a bunch of flowers to encourage your Mum – even if it’s not Mother’s Day! It’s amazing how small things that we can do can mean the world to another person.
How do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
The main problem at the moment is social distancing which stops concerts, plays, performances as we are all needing to keep our 2 meter space. I feel that we are all creative and can find a way to get through this difficult time.
You are a second school teacher in the UK. How the virus is affected you teaching your kids? Do you see how learning will be affected next school year?
Yes, Schools have been closed to pupils apart from the most vulnerable pupils and those whose parents are Key Workers. We are finding creative ways to engage our students during this time. There are some excellent websites out there for languages and in the UK they have set up an online school for pupils ages 4-16.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
Well, I have been continuing to write songs, I have had some great ideas that I hope to record soon, and I have tried to keep up fitness levels. Davina fitness Videos and Joe Wicks Youtube Channel have kept the family fitness going, and the garden looks a bit brighter than before as it has had more attention! Baking with the children has been sporadic as flour has been a scarce resource!
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
I have joined the Songwriting Academy which has been a real inspiration and I would recommend it to anyone interested in SongWriting Martin and the Team are great. Sunday Evenings has a Webinar that is full of advice and ideas to keep us all motivated and inspired.
Lots of people are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Are you planning to do something like that?
Well, watch this space. I have been suffering the past two weeks from Laryngitis type symptoms…. Not good! I will find my moment to shine.
Do you think it will be possible to make a living doing concerts this way?
I was amazed to learn that each day Spotify gets 40,000 new songs uploaded onto it a day. That is a crowded market ! So I know that a lot of musicians make money from touring and selling merchandise, but people always find ways to adapt. I heard of one idea that there was going to be a screening in a place where people could watch from their cars. Maybe in the interim that idea could be used?
First it was an article in the New York Times, then Rolling Stones talked about it and finally Live Nation CEO said that concerts may not start again until fall of 2021. Do you think this could happen?
Unfortunately, I feel this will run on for about a year, I hope I am wrong. We are all hoping and praying that we can come out of this as soon as possible. There have been signs of hope in some nations which have kept death numbers down, but whilst people are still dying of Covid19 it will be hard to see how concerts will be able to go ahead in their normal format.
With Social Distance being the norm. Do you feel that it may be the end of music fest for the next couple of years?
In the short term, the harsh reality is schools are a big indicator for the rest of society. Once all Schools and Universities are open and running the rest of society will go back to status quo.
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
Oh my! Concerts are a key part of our life memories, the build up on the journey to the concert, the anticipation in the weeks before, the excitement of being in a stadium with hundreds and thousands of other fans. Those feelings can never be recreated in a front room.
How do you see yourself in the next five years?
Great question! I plan to keep being creative in the classroom and on the keyboard!
Anything you would like to say in closing?
Thank you for this opportunity to share parts of my journey and to every reader. Sending much love. Stay strong during these hard times, and God bless you all.
