Singer songwriter Christina Rotondo is a content creator and musician. She has an extensive performance and tour history and has worked in genres from metalcore and alternative to EDM.
She has a youtube account with almost 50,000 subscribers a million views, and self produces everything on the channel. Christina prides herself on being able to record everything to a high quality. She has worked with artists all over the world as well as companies and brands including gaming voiceovers and singing.
Below, we find out what she has to say about being proud of your own work, and proving that a 5ft. something Italian girl can hold her own with a metal band.
Tell us about your singing journey – how did you get into singing?
It started when I was really young at my school choir. I guess I always knew I liked singing but I remember being called up on my voice whilst singing some hymns at my primary school and feeling really proud. I guess from there I just kind of went for it because people started to recognise and like my voice and that gave me confidence.
What’s your singing dream? Any major goals?
In all honesty my biggest goal was to be able to do it as a job! I still have to pinch myself sometimes but that was my biggest dream. I’d also love to get back in a band and tour and see some new places. That would be my next dream.
Is there a particular warm up process you have before recording?
I actually don’t warm up nearly as often as I should, but I took the advice from a friend who tours an awful lot and downloaded Stevie Lange’s female vocal warm ups (there’s also male versions too) on bandcamp. If I’m having a particularly rough day I will also steam my voice which does wonders for your throat!
Tell us about your songwriting process – is there a particular way you tackle the topline?
I think it’s all about feeling the song. I usually ask the original artist if they have a theme they want me to write about, which is usually something cliché like love, but it’s really about listening to the music and feeling a natural melody and I’ll go from there.
What’s your favourite record that you have performed on?
I know it sounds cliche to say your own track but I really love my song Holy. I just had such a battle with myself about song writing and how I could never do it, and the fact that I built that from the ground up, makes me so proud. In terms of working with other people, I helped co-write a track with someone who got in touch with me after seeing my youtube channel I think! His name is Gilles and the song is currently unreleased, but I can’t wait to share it with everyone.
Who would you most like to work with, and why?
I think I’d love to work with a heavier band – someone that I really look up to like Architects, or Northlane. To show that a little 5ft something girl has some guts in her, and you don’t have to be male or scream to actually be able to make something awesome. Maybe even if they chilled out one of their songs. Architects’ Sam Carter has an incredible voice, I’d love to collaborate with that.
Who is your favourite singer?
Growing up Hayley Williams from paramore was a huge inspiration. I just loved that she was the most known ‘rock’ person from music, and I love that she had such a high range. Growing up, trying to sing her songs helped strengthen my range and I just think she’s really admirable.
Do you have a home studio? If so, tell us about your setup?
I do! I have a focusrite 2i2 UB mixer after an overdue upgrade. I also have a Shure PG42 for my vocals, and I also use it to record my acoustic guitar. For my electric guitar, I have a very standard fender squire affinity, and then I have my holy grail, which is my Strymon Blue Sky for all of those ambient tones. I personally run everything into an iMac and I edit with Logic Pro X.
Do you have a favourite microphone?
The microphone that I use does the job well, but I can’t say that I’ve found my golden favourite microphone. Saying that, my least is the sm58. It works well but its the ‘industry standard’ – why would you just want the standard?
How did you find singing jobs before Vocalizr?
I was quite new to it, but the majority of people got in touch from finding me on my youtube channel. It’s really great being able to say that I work with people all over the world and I’m looking forward to continuing that.
Have you made new connections through Vocalizr? Has it opened any doors for you?
Absolutely. I was really surprised at the amount of people that have reached out and the work that I have so far found on it. I didn’t really expect much, as there are a lot of websites out there that claim they’re great for this kind of thing, and a lot of the time people don’t really want to pay artists what they’re worth which can be difficult. The best thing about Vocalizr is that (most) people are really serious about it, so the fees are good, and the talent is great. It’s been a really positive experience so far.
