For our 8th Clapper Sounds Interview, we are highlighting a Clapper singer-songwriter: Tristan McIntosh!
Tristan McIntosh is a singer and songwriter on Clapper. She is multi-genre artist with influences from country to R&B and soul. We had an intimate Clapper Sounds interview with Tristan, where she shared her songwriting process, and her beginnings as a musician, and told us about the importance of practice and perseverance when it comes to music.
Clapper Sounds is meant to be an intimate musical experience, and we want that mission to translate into our written interviews too. As you read about @TristanMcIntosh, play their music in the background with our Spotify Playlist, and really get to know this artist’s unique sound.
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Empecemos por el principio. ¿Cuál es tu primer recuerdo relacionado con la música? ¿Cómo comenzó tu trayectoria como artista?
I first started getting into music when I was 4 because I started taking piano lessons. I didn’t start singing until I was 9 or 10. That was when I was singing around the kitchen, and my mom heard me. She was like: “That’s kinda good”, so she took me to a vocal coach. She told the instructor, “Tell me if my daughter has talent, if not, don’t waste my time and my money.” They told her I was good so it’s been history since then.
¿Cómo describirías tu estilo musical? ¿Quiénes son tus mayores fuentes de inspiración?
I would say I am influenced by a lot of different styles and artists. I grew up doing country music, that’s probably one of my biggest influences. As I got older I found myself inspired by not only country, but rock music and R&B, soul sounds. I’m just driven emotionally by genres. Whatever I feel has meaning and purpose. I’m inspired byt the way music makes you feel.
¿Cómo es tu proceso de composición?
It depends, but it usually starts with melody, wheter is vocal melody or on piano or guitar. I don’t usually start with lyrics, it takes a lot more time.
¿Qué opinas sobre la creación de contenido como artista? ¿Qué te parece que los artistas tengan que equilibrar su presencia en las redes sociales y seguir comprometidos con su arte?
I feel like a lot of artists think of it as “Man, I have to do this”, but recently sometimes I don’t feel like creating content. Some weeks are different than other weeks. I’ve never hated it, its almost another form of creativity in a way. It helps you expand your reach. I love creating content, just not daily. So, I don’t balance it very well. I guess when I am on the road and have more time I do it. If I perform I take whatever footage I have from the day and create a bunch of content. When I am by myself I just want to live in the moment and not post.
¿Tienes algún otro trabajo además de la música?
No actually. I used to be a waitress but I haven been able to stop doing that with music. I think its incredible, because I hate the other job.
Decidir ser artista puede tener sus altibajos. ¿Qué consejo le darías a ese joven artista que acaba de iniciarse en la música y cuyo sueño es ser músico?
The biggest thing I would have told myself when I was just starting is “Oh my god, practice”. I would never practice on my own, I would only practice when I would go for lessons. I naturally picked stuff up. If I would have practiced more I would be so much further in my music journey. The second advice is that you should not listen to everybody who gives you advice. You need to have discenrment for yourself. Only listen to the things that will age you in your venture. The negativity let it go from one ear throughout the other. They don’t know what you are capable of or what you’ve been through.
No te olvides de ver nuestra sesión en vivo grabada en nuestra cuenta Clapper Sounds y en nuestros carretes de Instagram. ¡Disfruta de la sesión en vivo de Clapper Sounds de esta semana!