Today we’d like to introduce you to Grace Oh.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was exposed to music from a young age because my parents were musicians and worship leaders in the church. My early involvement in gospel singing sparked a deep passion and interest in performing arts at a young age. I quickly picked up singing as a hobby, only to realize that singing meant much more. It was a critical and necessary mode of expression for someone as timid and introverted as me. Singing was my primary outlet for channeling emotions that my words usually failed to convey. I sang for hours on end, listening to songs from my favorite artists, imitating and memorizing every riff and adlib. I attended secondary school with one goal, to pursue formal education and a potential career in music. I applied to the music college of my dreams but eventually chose a nursing education due to unexpected setbacks in the admission process. Although I pursued a career in health care, I had not relinquished my passion for music. My experience in nursing school further confirmed my ambition to produce music and sing. This past year, I was incredibly blessed to have connected with artists who introduced me to the music scene and provided me a platform as well as numerous opportunities to enhance and showcase my craft.
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?
My greatest concern with partaking in the songwriting/toplining process was my lack of knowledge in music theory. I rely on my ear and “musical sense” to create music at home. My music is not necessarily produced in the most traditional manner with formal training in music. I never considered the laws of music theory when producing or recording. For some time, the self-taught nature of my music abilities was what hindered me from publishing my work and grasping opportunities that came my way. I’d have to say that the overwhelming regret I faced following all the missed opportunities really motivated me to self-teach and make every experience a learning opportunity. At home, I expanded my musical techniques by experimenting with the Garageband app. On Garageband, I started off by recording covers and eventually progressed to rearranging existing songs. I would reconstruct an existing composition through techniques like reharmonization with my own vocals. I studied and researched more about music production and used my first paycheck to splurge on recording equipment. Outside of home, I would often record guide vocals for my producer friends, and through these experiences, I would observe and adopt skills that I then applied when producing my personal projects. As I gained more and more experience covering songs and arranging music for my personal enjoyment, I began to collaborate with singers around me and took charge of the mixing/producing aspect of the recording process.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am currently a full-time nursing student working as a part-time clinical care partner at a medical facility. In terms of music, I’m an alto vocalist in a worship team called Overflow, and I lead praise in the church. I have had the privilege to collaborate with different artists/producers in the process of songwriting and toplining pop and gospel tracks.
One thing that sets me apart is my adaptability to different music genres. Based on my experience toplining and recording guide vocals for producers of various backgrounds/styles, I grew to love experimenting with my own voice. Adapting my voice to different styles of music requires sensitivity to my own voice color/tone as well as self-awareness of my limitations. Depending on the genre or type of sound the producer requests, I am able to recognize how to regulate my own voice and what vocal elements to enhance in order to uphold the producer’s vision for the song. I love contributing my versatility and flexibility in vocal expression to help maximize the quality of the song.
What are your plans for the future?
My plan for the future is to finish up nursing school all while prioritizing my dream to become a topliner. Despite my lack of background in formal musical education, I have been incredibly blessed to have connected with fellow local musicians who have kindly affirmed my passion/works and generously provided me opportunities to perform and advance my skill set as a musician. Although I am currently working on tracks for other artists, I hope to be able to produce and release personal projects and eventually establish myself as a singer-songwriter. But in the meantime, I will be collaborating with local artists like Bom Kim and Overflow. I look forward to expanding my horizons and gaining inspiration from other artists and producers all while continuing to serve my community as a nurse.
Pricing:
- $80-150/hour for guide vocal
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/anon7369
