Today we’d like to introduce you to Surveen Singh.
Hi Surveen, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I have been singing for as long as I can remember, it’s definitely always felt like this innate thing. I think it took me a while to realize that not everyone wants to be an artist! I did a lot of musical/regular theater, ballet, piano lessons, etc growing up and I think it gave me this great sense of confidence and love for being on stage. I picked up the guitar in high school when my brother got one but didn’t really use it and left it lying around the house when he went to college. From there, I just did covers of all my favorite artists at the time: Avril Lavigne, Rilo Kiley, Gwen Stefani, etc. In high school, I remember performing at our ProGrad talent show, and then later I kept performing in college at the University of Texas at Austin, in various talent shows or just on the campus green.
An exciting moment was senior year of college, I was front row center in the audience for Perez Hilton’s SXSW showcase back in 2012, and one of the artists was taking too long to go on stage, and so Perez asked, “Well can anyone sing?”, and I somehow magically levitated onto the stage. It felt like the audience pushed me up there, it was wild. I sang a couple of lines of “Ain’t it Funny” by Jennifer Lopez, and the audience and Perez loved it! I was shuffled backstage after and saw Ed Sheeran too, haha. When I got back to the audience, people wondered if it was all planned, but it truly was not! There’s a video of it all on my YouTube. 🙂 Later in the show, one of my favorite artists Cher Lloyd performed and she noticed me singing the words to all her songs, and so I was asked to go backstage to meet her too. It was the best night. Perez featured my submission to his cover contest later that month.
Then I met my amazing mentor and close friend Lee-Lonn, a crazy talented singer/writer/producer, who ended up producing several of the tracks on my first EP, which I released in 2018. It was really eye-opening to me to see how many of my friends and extended network cared! They cared that I wrote the lyrics and that it was original, coming from the heart. That meant so much to me. I think the response from everyone at that time really propelled me to keep pushing, along with the fact that so many of the aforementioned magical opportunities kept happening to me without me even trying. So I thought: what if I really try?
Now, some of my dreams are starting to come true, which is so fulfilling and comforting. My song “Be for Me” and an interview was featured in a national digital ad campaign for a leading design app, Canva. I won 2nd place in Houston producer Trakksounds’ song contest, who has produced for 2Chainz, Tink, Jhene Aiko and more. And in just one year in Los Angeles, I’ve gotten to work with multiple Grammy-nominated and winning producers; I planned a corporate show with Ginuwine and opened up for him; and I got featured on the LA news and twice on the Houston news! Being in the studio with such talented people is so rewarding and makes me feel like my gift is being recognized, and being put to use. I don’t take any second or anyone I meet for granted — again, each moment that I am putting my gift to use, or inspiring anyone to follow their dreams too, is a true miracle.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been smooth at all. I think the biggest struggle for me is actually one that’s always lingering: just having to be so vulnerable and put yourself out there constantly, with something as intimate as sharing your voice, words, thoughts and image/look. With music, the product is YOU, and this can mean a lot of overthinking, anxiety and excessive self-analysis. However, with each song I release, I am working towards being more confident and free in my abilities and in myself, and trying not to worry about what others think. If even one person deeply resonates with my music, that is enough for me.
The other struggle is just the time and dedication it takes, and often without the results you’re hoping for — music is absolutely running a business, and there’s a long “start-up” period before the “big” success. Writing, recording and mixing music; creating music videos; performing and promoting shows; networking and meeting people; supporting other artists, makes for a constantly overflowing to-do list! 😉 There are so many times I don’t want to do something or am too tired, and I just have to push. The discipline, dedication, and faith in oneself is requisite. It’s been the most character-building experience for me and has helped me a lot in other aspects of life. I just lean in to my Inner Knowing that my dreams will come true and that this is my purpose; and that there is beauty in the journey itself.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I sing, songwrite, and perform! I love to entertain, so I really enjoy being on stage and creating a special, live moment with the audience. I definitely enter another dimension when I perform. I adore Pop R&B music and my biggest influences are Gwen Stefani, Ariana Grande, Brandy, Paramore, Willow Smith. I think I’m known for my versatile voice that can do anything from Pop to Country; an approachable yet confident vibe in my lyrics that is part girl-next-door and part girl-boss; and my ability to layer lots of fun harmonies, just like my favorite icons do. 🙂
I also have begun to realize that my deepest talent is actually the ability to feel deeply and to view life in a really dream-like, exciting way, which then lends itself to putting that overflowing emotion into words and music. In Mariah Carey’s memoir, she talks about savoring small moments and romances and how they really mean a lot to her and how she builds on those special moments, and I am very much the same way.
I think what sets me apart from others is my ability to capture an audience. And also my business/numbers thinking! I’m definitely determined to understand and succeed in all aspects of the music business — even though it can get pretty complicated!
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I always have to actively push myself to take risks, as it’s actually not in my nature to do that. This has definitely been one of the biggest skills I’ve had to develop in being an artist. Will Smith has said that everything you want is on the other side of Fear, and so I really try to lean into that. I try to not Think and just Do (again, not in my nature), when I notice myself hesitating. I think in music, you have to take so many risks: negotiating pricing that works for you, reaching out to people out of the blue, asking for people’s opinions on your music, going in to the studio with someone you barely know, etc., but these are all necessary to move forward. Another thing I’ve realized is certain things that I felt would be hard or out-of-reach are just really not as big of a deal as I made them. And I also tell myself to simply Show Up, and the rest will take care of itself. Show up to the session; show up to the phone call/meeting; show up to the performance; show up to the music video shoot, and not worry about what will happen after. I also observe how being bold has served other artists very well!
Contact Info:
- Website:Â www.surveensinghmusic.com
- Instagram:Â @surveensinghmusic
- Facebook:Â www.facebook.com/surveensinghmusic
- Linkedin:Â https://www.linkedin.com/in/survsingh/
- Youtube:Â www.youtube.com/surveen518Â
Image Credits
Dopamin Media (me with graffiti photo) Cesar Leija (me on bridge photo) Brandon Esparza (album cover photo) Mason Hastie (blue bg photos) Jacob Lostica (black n white photo) Sarah Michelle (me with large tv screen)
