Interview with Toni Gibson Interview with Toni Gibson By Natasha Barbieri What inspires you to make music? impressed because he asked me if I would want to sign to his Fanfare Record There isn’t any particular ‘thing’ that Label. Fanfare record Label is another inspired me to sing. I Just love to sing part of the Ambition Entertainment label. and always have ever since I was little. It just comes naturally to me, it is part of Once I was signed to the Label, Robert me. suggested some more songs for the album and possibly replacing the new Your debut album, “Echo in my Soul” songs with some previous ones. I really is out now. What was the song selection liked his suggestions and was happy to process like? scratch a few songs that didn’t quite work and flow alongside the rest of the We started working on my album over a songs on the album. couple of years ago. I had a big input with what songs I wanted to have on the I wanted to create something that hasn’t album because the album started out as really been done in the classical- our own project. I have been working crossover world before. I wanted to add with Gray Bartlett (he started Hayley not just light elements to the music, but Westenra’s career) over the last 3-4 also darker elements. To mix them years, and he also suggested some together in such a way and create a songs that would be suitable for the spiritual atmosphere within the music. I album and I really liked his suggestions. also like lots of different styles of music and wanted to bring some of these Later down the track when we were close elements into the album to. You will find to finishing recording for the songs, traces of Rock, Celtic, gothic, classical, Robert Rigby (who owns Ambition musical and even a bit of country Entertainment Record Label in Australia) throughout the journey. Yet I feel all was invited by Gray to see me in Concert these elements work together and flow in New Zealand. Robert must have been and this has been a challenge over the last 2-3 years. We didn’t want the different elements to be confusing and Growing up you took part in a lot of make it unclear on ‘the type of artists competitions. How do you think those that I am’. I am a classical-crossover experiences impacted you as a artist with a bit of an edge, that is the best performer? way I can explain what I am trying to do :). The music is honest. I like to think All the performances I have done over that the album is an expression of my the years have helped me to feel more soul. confident in my ability today. Your first music video for the album is I used to be so scared to perform on stage “She’s like the swallow.” What made but after forcing myself past all the you pick that song and how much nerves I eventually learnt to control influence did you have on the video them. I still get nervous all the time but I itself? am in my ‘happy place’ when I am performing on stage and I can feel the During a singing lesson with my singing energies from the audience and I feel like teacher Ellen Barrett, she found the sheet I am doing a good performance. No music to ‘She’s like the swallow’. I doubt the road ahead is scary but it is learnt the song and decided I really liked because all of my years growing up and it because the music has a beautiful performing through many different melody and yet the lyrics paint a vivid situations, I feel that I am ready for what picture of a loss of a loved one. There is is ahead. I am also very excited and so much love in the lyrics and yet so blessed to be in a position now where I much sadness, I felt I could express these am heading down the right path to feelings through my voice. Even though achieving many of my dreams that I have this song has quite an eerie feeling to it, had ever since I was little. It is quite it also has beauty and I thought this surreal. would be the perfect song for my first music video. Which artists or composers would you like to collaborate with in the future? Throughout the video process I was lucky to have a big say in how I I love many different types of artists. To envisioned the video and how I wanted it name a few Michael Bubble, Adam to be. I first emailed the 90 seconds video Lambert, Pink, Hayley Westenra, Sarah crew and painted an outline for them of Brightman, Michael Crawford and one how I wanted the video to be. When it day I would love to sing for Andrew came to recording for the video, they Lloyd Webber! And so many more. followed the outline of what I had asked for and with their professional eye Social media is obviously a very created something that I couldn’t be important medium for the singer these more happier with? days. How did you use it to launch your songs on it. Shortly after I had finished own career? my E.P CD, the family and I went to a Hayley Westenra concert. Dad noticed in Social Media is very important. I was not the back of the program that Gray really into all the social media stuff, it’s Bartlett’s contact details were there. Dad not really my cup of tea but one day decided to contact him and give him a when I had some free time I recorded copy of my CD. Gray replied and said myself singing and then decided to put it ‘come back in a few years, she is a bit up on YouTube. Not to long after that, young at the moment’. So that is what we my Dad was looking through the internet did. A couple of years passed and I made and came across classical- another E.P CD at Capital E. We sent it crossover.co.uk website. After looking to Gray and he replied with the same through it, he decided to contact Nicola thing ‘come back in a couple of years, Jarvis (owner of the site) regarding my she is to young’. Obviously, we were singing. She replied shortly after and said disappointed but we tried again… We ‘is this your daughter singing on contacted him when I was about age 16 YouTube?”, and dad said ‘yes’. Nicola and he recommended for us to come up then said she wanted to make a profile on to Auckland and record in Manuka her site for me! We couldn’t believe it Studios with Mike McCarthy. I recorded because we often contacted people trying ‘A bit of Earth’ and ‘Wild Horses’ and to get them to listen to my music and then we sent that E.P CD to him. He they didn’t always reply let alone want to then finally said ‘I want to take Toni make a profile for me. My profile is a on!’? long side all the famous classical- crossover singers- It was very exciting I have really enjoyed working with Gray, for us! That incident helped with gaining he has taught me a lot and he really heaps of fans around the world. I then believes in me. He has opened many started using Facebook and started up a doors for me due to many contacts he has twitter account. Social media is definitely within the music industry. Gray and helpful when you are trying to get Trish (Gray’s wife) are both so lovely to recognized with your music. me. They make me feel welcome at their house and Gray drives me around to You have been mentored by Gray meetings and gigs and Trish makes Bartlett. What has that experience been me yummy food :). I am so thankful that like? I have had the opportunity to work with Gray and get to know Gray and Trish. It We first contacted Gray when I was has been great for my music but I also around 12 yrs old. I had won a feel that they are part of my family now. competition and the prize included studio time in Capital E in Wellington. I was You played Joanna in a production of lucky enough to make an E.P CD with 3 Sweeney Todd. Are musicals something you would like to pursue further in the Taekwondo and I am currently on Blue future? Belt, Red Stripe. In my free time I love to spend time with my animals, go for One of the best times in my life was walks or bike rides. Hang out with my playing the part of Johanna in the friends and Family and my partner and I production of Sweeney Todd. I just loved like to watch TV and eat? it so much and I would really love to play that part on the big stage one day! I love Where would you like to see yourself 5 the musical Sweeney Todd because the years from now artistically? music is so fantastic and unusual and the story line fascinates me. I loved playing In 5 years’, time I would like to be the part of Johanna cause she was the overseas, hopefully making a name for little bit of light in the darkness? myself.