Sarah Talbot

I have a bit of an addiction to Smule Sing!

There should be a meeting for this, but then what can one do when she always has a song in her head or her heart, and wants to share it with the world?

For those who are maybe in complete ignorance on what I am about to talk about, Smule is a online app organisation that produces musical apps. They have one for playing a piano and guitar. They even have an app where you speak into your phone, and it turns you speech into a Rap. The app I’m talking about is called ‘Sing!’. It does precisely what the title suggests, you sing into your iPhone or iPad microphone, to a backing track (or acapella, if you prefer), and posts it online for others to hear. Essentially it is an international karaoke bar.

Sing! is free to download and you can participate in duets and groups (or ‘collabs’ as the are called in Smuleland). You can even sing some of the songs as solos (there are not a lot though). To access the good songs, and to be able to sing all songs as solos, you need to pay a fee, then you become a ‘VIP’. As a VIP, you can also create duet opportunities for other singers in SmuleLand.

Celebrity artists are starting to get on the bandwagon as well, singing duets with the plebs. Lotsa fun, especially when they reply and  comment on your recording. You may have heard of Jessie James and Tommy Bleasby (Smulean) sing “Flashlight”. It caused a viral sensation online. Since then, there have been artists such as Francesco Yates with “Sugar” and Andy Grammar with “Honey, I’m Good”.

So back to my addiction…

I downloaded this app in complete ignorance in what it does. I actually downloaded the Piano app and was messing around with that, before I got bored and went looking for something else (honesty is the best policy here, right?). So for two years, I did groups and duets, gained a small following, but did not have a lot of contact with other online Smuleans (apparently that is the collective name for Smule users).

Just after New Years (2016), I decided that I wanted to do something more with my singing, but wasn’t too sure where to start. I have no contacts outside the local Performing Arts community (Queensland, Australia), and all the real world and online sources (including Universal Music and Warner Music) say that I need to get ‘out there’. I needed to get seen and heard, and I need to establish an online presence. Light bulb moment!!! “Sing!” App.

I decided it was time to fork out the dollars, and start doing some solos. Get a little more active on my otherwise very idle account. As crazy as it seems, I feel like a semi-celebrity (not quite a ‘lister’… yet). I’m online for at least an hour each night (usually before bedtime) going through responses and activities of my followers, and those whom I’m following. I record new solos and duets, and respond to any collaborations that have been sent throughout the day. Yes, I respond to people who participate in duets and groups that I create, both in words and emojis (it’s like a international language).

I think the best bit, is that when you record, the app makes it sound professional. Works even better when you record in a quiet room. If you’re feeling a bit quirky, you can make your voice sound weird using ‘Pop’ and ‘Grunge’ settings. I tend to stick to the ‘Studio’ setting that gives you a little reverb (echo). I’m a purist when it comes to vocal quality, not one for synthesisers.

So I can access my Profile three ways; iPhone, iPad and computer. The computer/internet site looks a little different than the other two, but functions are essentially the same. I have my channel where I can see all the recordings that I have done, my playlist (basically my favourite ones that I can refer people to if they want to listen), an ‘invite’ area for my active duets (which last for a week before being removed by Smule), and an area where I can upload karaoke tracks for other people to use. Each song has a play number so I know how many times it has been played, I can even tell what my top three songs are based on the numbers that they have been played.

1. I See Fire – Ed Sheeran (acoustic and original versions).
2. Last Goodbye – Billy Boyd
3. Skye Boat Song (Outlander Theme) (I couldn’t find a backing track so I did it acapella)

People can also ‘love’ your solos and collabs, and going through my list, I have quite a few. I am very greatful for the comments, likes, and general feedback I have received from virtually complete strangers from around the world. Music really does unite the masses. I have even met a few people through video collabs, which is kinda like recording your collabs on YouTube.

My following is growing internationally. I’m still a ‘small fry’ compared to some accounts that have scores of followers in five digit range, but I figure as long as the number keeps going up, who am I to complain? In some ways, it’s good to be a minnow in a sea of whales.

Recently Smule has create a ‘chat’ area, so you can converse with people and send requests for duets. I’ve had a messages where people have requested me to do solos for them or duets with them. I have even received a kind message explaining that one of my solos was played at a funeral in the US because that person was too broken up to sing themselves (I sent emoji flowers and a kind word back). I’ve been asked questions about my singing, and have been sent many compliments about how I ‘move’ people (Still debating as to whether moving people to tears is a good thing). I’ve  even had a few messages from followers saying that they are big fans, and love it when I post new stuff (I’ve got some Smule Stalkers, lol).

Being an online app, it’s connected to my Facebook and Twitter accounts, so whenever I record duets, solos, etc, it is posted on these site simultaneously (just like this post will be posted on Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr, when I press ‘Post’). So basically everyone sees what I get up to. There have been a few occasions when my recordings have been retweeted (passed on) by various parties into  cyberspace. Have even gained a few followers on Twitter because of it.

Now the duets. I don’t tend to stick to a certain style or genre. Why not give everything a shot? The worst that could happen is that no one will join you, in which case I just shake it off, and move onto something else.
Some duets I record, and later think, what the hell?! I’ve have been surprised when I make a duet and post it, and then an hour later, it already has had 50+ hits (plays) on it. Two weeks ago, I recorded Adele’s “Hello” and posted it up. 62 hits in an hour, it wasn’t even a promoted song on the website, so this means that people have been surfing randomly through SmuleLand and have come upon my cover. I’m not even an alto (contralto) like Adele (I’m a soprano, for those who didn’t know).

In the table below I have listed all the duets to date, with the number for plays (hits) and collaborations sent back to me. A few of these have been rerecorded over and over, usually because Smuleans have requested for me to do so, or I just love the song.

Some people won’t like your voice (fair enough)Now you might think that the number of plays outweighs the number of collaborations that I get back. Going by feedback, and a little logic, I have come to following conclusions that..

• Some people like your voice, but not the song (also fair enough)
• Some people get intimidated by the skill in some voices, and tend to choose voices that are of a similar skill.

Now saying all these wonderful things about myself, can seem very attention seeking and ‘diva’ to some people, but then like most performers, I need my audience. If nothing else, I get feedback (good and bad) on my performances, and it gives me confidence in my skill as a singer. Until very recently, I have not had a lot of opportunity to do solos in public (outside of local competitions).

I figure that I am no triple threat (act, sing and dance well) so aiming for centre stage in a musical (which are the ‘big’ events in Toowoomba) may seem a little over ambitious, if not out of my reach, considering the talent that I am up against. So I figured the online approach would be just as a good place to start, and build my real world reputation as a singer at the same time.

I can definitely say, that if anyone is looking for a musical outlet or tool, give this app a go. I’ve seen a few of my FB friends sign up already (you know who you are). It is so much fun… And a little addictive…ok, it’s very addictive.

And maybe instead of just living in the world, I will make an impact in the world.

Until next time…

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