INTERVIEW:
Name: Rhiannon
Home town/city and Country: Zebbug, Malta.
Website / Facebook / Twitter / You Tube pages ? :
www.facebook.com/rhiannon.micallef?fref=tsFavourite sport ?:
I strongly believe that a healthy diet is not only intaking so called ‘healthy foods’, but a combination of natural foods and most importantly fitness exercise. This is why I have always practised sports starting from athletics, to tennis, to netball. However, at the moment I am very keen on fitness boxing. Although it is an individual sport, its been fun!
Favourite book ?:
Reading is one of my favourite hobbies and also a must for me. I love those lazy, winter Sundays when its raining outside and I’m at home on the couch reading a book and drinking some warm tea. My book taste is quite rigid, unfortunatley. I’m very passionate on history and not just national, any book on historical fiction or historical biography will do. History gives me a sense of understanding in today’s society, a better knowledge of world cultures and a sense of nostalgia to the life in old civilisations and communities. One of my most beloved historical fiction is ‘The Sword and the Scimitar’ written by David Ball. A book based on the European crossroad and Catholic crisis of the 16th century which placed Malta as the battlefield between the Islamic Turks and the Knights of St.John, the soliders of Christ. The novel narrates the forbidden love between the heroic knight and the Maltese peasant whilst entailing the historical sceneries at the time. A book which I couldn’t let down. Surely, a must-read!
Favourite TV show / Movie ?:
With my tight schedule, I don’t waste much time watching TV. Any free time I have, I’d rather stay outdoors, than watching TV. The TV Series ‘Game of Thrones’ is a series I follow, I’m sure it needs no introduction. As for movies, I think I’m going for ‘Batman’!
Favourite holiday destination? Why?:
I am a little bit adventurous when it comes to travelling. The whole idea of going to a different country, experiencing other cultures and meeting other people just fascinates me. Although, I still haven’t been there, but am definitely planning to go in the near future, I’ll choose Africa. The place is filled with beautiful natural heritages and their culture is also very interesting. Not to mention, their vast deserts, savannahs and tropical forests. What’s not to like?!
When and how did your life in music start? :
Personally, I believe my life in music started before I was even born. My parents were always keen followers of music and huge fans of Fleetwood Mac (hence, my name). Although in my family no one took music to a professional level, my family had always noticed my interest in music and singing. I had started to take singing lessons at the very young age of three. I used to participate in choirs, local events and theatrical musicals and plays. I also remember, when I was around seven, when I used to go to a friend’s house and spend all the morning just playing her grand piano, even though at the time I had no sense of piano chords whatsoever, i was apalled by its sound. Eventually as I grew older, I took both piano and singing into a more professional approach. I knew it was my natural talent and had to share it with others.
What are your aspirations in music ? :
I think its every singer’s and musician’s dream to be recognised, and that is my aspiration too. Ultimately, every song I sing, every piece of music I write, I do it for an audience –to make them relate to my music. It is every musician’s goal fo his work to be appreciated and recognised and that is what keeps me going.
How much time per day do you spend on your music career? :
I don’t think there’s an allocated time for my music career, it varies. I have come to know that music is not written just by sitting down and writing. Moods, emotions, muse and ambitions are big major factors of a musician’s life and they greatly affect me. With all other aspects of the music career, it takes pretty much, the rest of my free time and I mean it as a good thing. I like that my career is busy because that is how I want it to be.
Do you keep to one style of music or do you vary it?:
I like the majority of music styles from the old blues and jazz up to modern house, techno and pop. I do not listen to music just as a sound, but I appreciate the work behind it. With regards to personal preferences, I believe that in the genres of blues, jazz, modern jazz, soul and acoustic I show the best of my vocal abilities, but yes I do like variation.
Share with us a typical day for Rhiannon?:
I wake up, late as usual, rush out the door and go to University. After my lectures are over I either have meetings or have errands to run. After that, I either go to my fitness boxing session or for a jog. Finally, when I am home, I spend at least fifteen minutes with vocal exercises – its important to keep my chords healthy too which follows with piano and singing practice. After dinner, I continue my study work or any assignments, education is crucial. Then, when I can’t keep my eyes open, I’ll either doze off on my desk or go straight to bed.
Eurovision is said to be a waste of time by some, yet others say it’s a huge window for local talent! What do you think? :
Whether the Eurovision is considered as a waste of time, whether it receives great criticism or praise, I think it is by far the most popular festival on the island. I actually don’t have a biased answer to the statement made here, I have no sides on this matter. I agree that the Eurovision can be sometimes considered as futile due to the so-called ‘unfair’ televoting system of the contest, but let us not forget that whenever Malta was represented by a high quality song, a professional team and adequate advertising we did accomplish outstanding results. I don’t believe that we placed second and third just by plain luck.
Having said this, yes, the Eurovision is a huge window for local talent. The Eurovision Song Contest not only sheds light on new upcoming local talent, but boosts the careers of all the artistic participants involved in terms of exposure. On the other hand, and I am speaking solely for singers here, I don’t believe that the Eurovision is the superior means to show their utmost vocal capabilities and I do have reasons. Primarily, the Eurovision associates with it a certain ‘style’ both in writing and in terms of singing technique which might not be suitable for all singers. Moreover, for a singer to built a complete climate and show all the range of vocal texture I think a singer needs more than just three minutes of a song. The last is reason is the lack of live music. Live music can totally enhance and improve a performance and show great appreciation to fellow musicians too.
Ultimately, with all the festival’s pros and cons, I believe that it is one of the very few opportunities (unfortunately) that this little island can offer us singers. We singers and musicians should enjoy this and look at it as the road to our success and aspirations.
If you had to duet with an International Superstar, who would that be and why?
Definitely, John Mayer. He is just ... brilliant.
What are your plans for 2014 ? :
I hope that 2014 will be good to me as 2013 has been. There are a lot in the pipeline such as the release of a music video, release of more singles on radio stations, more videos to be uploaded on YouTube, going to a music business summer camp in Los Angeles... so much more!
Would you like to send a message to The Maltese People?:
Malta has so much artistic raw talent to offer, and I know because I have heard some good stuff, really good stuff! We should become more supportive and more promotive of our talents and more opportunities should be created for us. It is a shame that such talents go unnoticed!
On an ending note, I’d like to thank all my family, relatives, friends, vocal coaches, music producers for their ongoing support in my career. I’m sure without their help, I surely wouldn’t be where I am today.
Interviewed by Joseph Portelli – Music News Malta Editor.
Thanks for your collaboration and keep on rocking!!
