10 Questions with South African Singer-Songwriter Claudine Marshall

by Sole Essential · August 23, 2017

It’s ‪Woman Crush Wednesday and this week South African singer and songwriter, Claudine Marshall is our Top Pick for for the all-new ‘10 Questions with’ interview series. That being said, we had brief chat with Marshall about her experience with songwriting, being a female recording artist in a male dominated industry, and her upcoming studio album entitled “Claud9”. You can checkout the whole interview below:

+ Can you please tell us about your journey & how you began with music?

At a very young age (5) I knew I wanted to sing, but I was too shy and soft spoken – at the age of 13, I tried writing my 1^st song and I thought it sucked and never wrote any lyrics until I was 18. The song I wrote at 18 is called “A Girl Like Me”. I only recorded it at 21 and performed it in front of family and friends at my 21^st birthday. I suppose at 21 is when I actively started pursuing a career in music.

+ Is there an interesting story behind your name?

There is no interesting story behind my name. My mom loved the name Claudine and I’m glad she named me that! Apparently my dad wanted to name me Georgina because his name is George and my mom wasn’t having that! Lol!

+ What does house music mean, to you?

House music to me means Proudly South African! Home grown! All ours!

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+ Any thoughts on the current state of local music in a digital age?

Local music in a digital age has its advantages and disadvantages. The advantage being that music is easily accessible if you as an artist choose to put your music online for people to listen to, the disadvantage being that people are no longer buying albums.

+ Did you have any bitter experiences with not being taken seriously, as a female recording artist? If yes, can you please share at least one?

I have unfortunately many bitter experiences as a female recording artist, there are too many to mention, but I will say is most of the males in the industry, whether it be a manager, music compiler, DJ, event organiser, they all expect you as a female artist sleep your way to the top and assume that you are open to sexual favours when requesting to be playlisted, put on a line up for a gig etc.

+ Can you briefly paint a picture of the preparation method for your recording sessions?

My recording sessions vary, a producer sends me a beat and I write to it and then go to studio, or I already have a melody and he works a beat around it. Lately I have been spoilt rotten, I have a songwriter who has been writing beautiful lyrics and wonderful sounding melodies.

+ Let’s talk social media and the interweb. How has social networking benefited your brand?

Social networking has benefited me tremendously. If there wasn’t Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, I wouldn’t be known as a singer. I wouldn’t be able to post clips of my studio sessions, clips of me singing accapella and I certainly wouldn’t have the following I have.

+ What inspires you on a daily basis?

I hate to admit this but heartbreak inspires my writing.

+ What can we expect from you in the near future?

I am almost done recording an album, it is titled “Claud9” it will be released before the end of the year.

+ Any advice for aspiring recording artists?

As cliché as it is, my advice is not to give up: record as much as you can, write as much as you can, educate yourself regarding the music industry and don’t take no for an answer!