Drea Lake: 'Dreaming Peacefully' (Feature Interview)
When did you first realize your ability to sing?
I grew up singing as a young child and my mother was a singer with the Elora Festival Choir and would often call out tips to me, I was also in early voice lessons. But when I was about 11-12 a very accomplished opera singer whose name at the time was Deborah Skoggard discovered me singing at a school and told my parents that I needed to study, this was really a turning point for me.
What is your music and message all about?
Each of my songs is different but overall I hope to help people connect with themselves emotionally while listening to my music, we need more heart in our world today. I love to play acoustic even if there are other influences because I just think when you hear it it makes you feel like you can do it yourself, makes you want to pick up a guitar yourself, not everyone has access to a guitar but there is a kind of feeling there. And that's an empowering feeling. So I hope it helps give a feeling of accessibility in my music.
How would you describe your vocal style?
In terms of my vocal range I am a mezzo soprano, and my vocal style really draws from a lot of influences, from pop, to classical to folk, and I am continually working on my voice so it changes over time. I am a pop folk artist and my vocal style is somewhat ethereal while being grounded in a storytelling format, there is a clarity, resonance, peacefulness and vulnerability present in my voice...
What was the hardest part of making this song?
I really wanted to keep a very percussive and talkative quality to the lyrics, so doing that without overdoing it took a lot of work, there is also one aspect of the guitar playing that requires a lot of rehearsing... I may never stop rehearsing this song as a result!
What was the most enjoyable part of making this song?
The process of writing this song was very fun and freeing, but working in the studio with my producer Antoine Dufour creating the background vocals was also really exciting.
What is one feeling you want to leave listeners with?
I want listeners to be reminded of the power of memory, which can remind us of who we are and save us from getting stuck in a negative place or self image.
How do you prepare for your live performances?
I rest my voice and stay hydrated, take good care of my nails for guitar playing and try to rehearse as much as I can.
