Category Archives: talent

Raye: An example of an amazing artist

I came across a live performance of Raye at Live at Montreux Jazz Festival, 7th July 2026.  This was an amazing live performance that has been generously uploaded to you tube.

You can watch the full performance below.

This is a wonderful performance where the music is the focus and the high level of the musicians is on display for all to enjoy.

I was first made aware of the artist Raye when I heard the song Oscar Winning Tears and then her song Where is my husband.

If you are thinking that this has all just fallen into her lap, you are very wrong.

It is interesting to note that she is a singer songwriter that has been performing for over 10 years. She is now 28 years old, so started her music career when she was very young. However it has taken her a long time to find international recognition.  Her determination, hard work, developing her craft has finally got her to this level of performance.

Watch this performance and see the comfort she displays being on stage, the hours and hours and hours of rehearsal that would have gone into this performance, and the simple joy of creating great music.

 

Here is another video of Raye recording the song “I know you’re hurting” live at Abbey Road Studios.

This is another fabulous performance of a singer that has full control of her vocals.

Born with talent?

You often hear the argument about whether being naturally gifted or hard work brings success. I believe that people are born with a predisposition towards certain things. I have always known that I would be a teacher. There is no way I would ever consider doing something like nursing! That is the way I am.
And the same is true for other passions in life. I love singing, but I would not be interested in become a downhill speed skier. Watching them race at the Winter Olympics fills me with awe, but no desire to try it.
I came across a video from vocal coach Cheryl Porter.

She is reviewing an audition by Aretha Franklin’s granddaughter. The assumption by many is because she is related to Aretha Franklin, she should be a fantastic singer.  Now, she is only 15 years old, and from her performance it appears she has not had a lot of performing opportunities. She has a good voice, but as Cheryl is pointing out, although there is a good voice, there are technical issues that need to be worked on.  She has not put in enough hours to improve her singing technique.

Here is a recording of Aretha at only 14 years of age. Aretha regularly performed at her fathers church, so she had already had numerous opportunities to perform. Aretha was well practised at performing, and you can hear she had already been working very hard for many years to develop and improve her voice.
I strongly believe that we have a predisposition towards certain skills and talents, however you still have to put in the hard work to experience any success.

Here is Aretha Franklin still performing when she was 76 years old at the Kennedy Centre Honors in 2015

It’s not always what you think

I like to look on line for the latest musical trends, new singers or great live music.  I had a post pop up about a 14 year old girl, Sara James, who performed on America’s Got Talent, just a couple of weeks ago, for which she received a golden buzzer from Simon Cowell. Now, don’t get me wrong. Sara’s performance was excellent, she has a very bright future ahead of her, and it was a polished performance for someone so young.

However, we have to be careful not to be deceived that she just one day turned up out of the blue and did this amazing performance. While I was watching her perform there was a gut feeling in me that this girl has not just appeared out of nowhere. She was nervous, however I could tell that this was definitely a practiced performer.

Once I dived into the internet abyss, I soon discover that this is not the first competition she has performed in. Sara has grown up with music in her life, her father is a singer and she attends a music school. She has won the Polish (she is from Poland) “The Voice Kids” and last year came second in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest. She has also had a video clip produced and released on you tube only a couple of weeks ago. This girl has worked hard!

Do not be deceived by these competitions. For those who perform well, you can be guaranteed that there has been an enormous amount of work done to get them where they are.