🎶 I Am Thrilled To Announce I Am One Of The New Steemit Open Mic Judges 🎶
I am stoked to be able to include myself as one of the new Open Mic judges, along with the amazingly talented artists @soundlegion, @jessamynorchard and @verbal-d - we have joined with the driving force behind the competition @luzcypher.
@luzcypher started the competition 47 weeks ago now after being inspired by one of our judges @verbal-d, since then the competition has run like clockwork - every week rewarding the talented musicians of steemit.
It wasn't long before the contest started to gain in popularity and not long after it started, the witness @pfunk generously started donating his own funds to go to the winners as a reward - this was truly a massive step in the making of the competition you know and love today.
Over the past few months the Open Mic contest has grown massively last week receiving over 70 individual entries, at around 2-3 minutes each all these entries really add up - so it's no surprise @luzcypher felt the need for additional support to curate the entries.
I reached out to @luzcypher a few months ago now offering a partnership with the Minnow Support Program where the open mic community can join and interact with over 5000 of our active members through our discord server "Peace Abundance and Liberty".
This move in itself could see the competition grow even further, which is why it was essential to bring together known, trusted and valued members of the music community here on steemit into the additional judging roles.
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@soundlegion, @jessamynorchard and @verbal-d have all proved themselves countless times, all having shared a wealth of their own creative abilities and styles - they were my favourite musicians and all active entrants for the open mic contest.
I could go on about the other judges and their amazing performances, vocal quality and original music for hours, my best suggestion to readers is to head on over and check them out for yourself - their work speaks for itself.
Now for a bit of extra information about me, I have been singing for as long as I can remember the very first concert I can remember singing a lead role in was at my primary school - it's so long ago I can't even remember the play, but I remember being the only person on stage singing in front of several hundred school children and their parents and teachers.
I sung during eisteddfods held at our local civic center housing thousands of people, the dance company I was a member of did a musical dance rendition of Marry Poppins.
I believe I had a few different roles including being a turtle, but for the finally we all sang "Let's go fly a kite" this would be my clearest first memory of singing to an audience and I was around 7 years old.
I studied piano for a few years though never felt a passion or drive to focus, during primary school I was in our school choir - but at this stage I had no real idea how big music would become in my life.
I know music was a big part of my childhood, my whole family would sing along to the radio in the car - my mum @aussiesteem had her guitar and we would all gather round to sing along together at picnics and bbq's.
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It wasn't until I was thirteen that I first realised I had a pretty good voice, having a severe hearing impairment I knew I was loud but I didn't know others couldn't sing along with artists like Whitney Houston - I figured everyone could and it wasn't anything special to have a four octave range.
I remember one day being sent upstairs by mum @aussiesteem to do my homework, while she and @thinknzombie were downstairs working - I didn't end up doing any real work, instead I had a song stuck in my head.
I think it was Wendy Matthews "the day you went away", so I sat in my room and sung the song in a round - looping through it time and time again absent mindedly - then finding any excuse to leave my room I went down for "a drink of water".
As I came down the stairs my mum @aussiesteem and @thinknzombie were silent and staring at me, I figured I was gonna be busted for not working - but my mum said something along the lines of "I didn't know you could sing like that?"
@thinknzombie seemed impressed as well and I just stood there in shock like I didn't either, this was the first moment I ever really felt as though I had some skill or ability that set me apart - this was the first time I felt empowered by what I could do and how that could affect other people.
I knew I loved to sing it was fun made me feel alive and full of energy, but I was pitchy and had some serious issues I needed to overcome with my hearing before I would grow in confidence and ability.
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I swapped schools a few times and in my final few years of high school I got my very first hearing aid, this was a game changer in a lot of ways - it was not the best but for the first time I could hear the subtleties of tone, that I had been missing and I gained a new understanding for music.
I spent countless hours practicing my singing always choosing songs with the widest range and most difficult runs, singing was a challenge I would set myself - I had to sound exactly like the recording or it wasn't good enough.
I joined the choir at my new school and shortly after my teacher requested me to audition for the advanced vocal group, I was stoked and jumped at the opportunity - in a public school focussed on the performing arts with thousands of students I was selected to be one of 9 members of the advanced vocal group.
This group represented our school at regional contests and at public events like the ANZAC day ceremonies, we performed "I was only nineteen" and "Advanced Australia Fair" in front of hundreds of veterans and their extended families - this was one of the most emotional performances I have ever been a part of, I see it as a massive honour and rare experience I will cherish forever.
After I graduated high school I was still involved in music but in a less structured way, I started to learn guitar and drums but again I never found the passion I had with singing - so found myself less driven to practice.
I eventually studied music at a tertiary level, we had several concerts to paying audiences and I learned so much about the other side of music - but the most valuable part of it all was access to other musicians.
I had finally found a group of people each obsessed with their own area of focus and together we all grew and evolved, these people were amazingly talented and when we worked together we made each other shine - this was a time in my life where music was my main thought day in and day out.
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When we finished studying several bands were formed and we all actively supported one and other, I even guest sung for a few at local gigs.
I even won a singing contest at the Down Under Bar, where I got a $50 bar tab for free beer - this is an absolute honour as an Aussie there is no higher reward or praise than beer!
But not to long after this I met @ausbitbank and soon after that we welcomed our first child, it was shortly after her birth that I badly damaged my voice then I had another child and both were diagnosed with severe low functioning autism - my focus fled from my damaged voice and centered on my children.
The post I linked above explains the issues I have had with my voice over the past eight years, in a lot of detail for those interested.
I joined steemit over a year ago now, and whilst my voice has gone through some stages of repair - every time I get a sick or have a cough I lose my voice, the last time I couldn't sing for over 6 straight months.
But I am thrilled, that at least on two occasions my voice didn't fail me and I managed to get an entry into the open mic contest.
This was my first ever entry into the open mic contest, I did an acapella cover of Sarah McLachlan's "In the arms of the angel" - even on a relisten I can hear the weakness in my voice :
This was way back in week 12 of the competition, the very next day I lost my voice as a result I wasn't physically able to perform again until week 17 where I did a rendition of an Aussie classic "Waltzing Matilda" for Australia Day.
After this I again lost my voice and even at present when I try to sing I sound horse and terrible, though I have a new specialist I will be seeing shortly and soon I may have some answers and real help to get my voice back on track.
Even though I can't perform at present I have been actively trying to participate in the music community, I have even written a large piece with advice for vocalists on how to improve range and control.
The five judges have been actively discussing and planning this for months now, we have so many great ideas and new possibilities for the competition - we all take the responsibility seriously and know how amazing this competition is and just what it can mean for all musicians on steemit.
I am so thrilled to be a part of this competition and to be asked to be a judge, when I first reached out to @luzcypher I had no idea how involved I would be - it is truly a massive honour and privilege to be included with the other judges, I thank you and hope to live up to the high standards of the competition.
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Check out my story
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![](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://www.steemimg.com/images/2016/08/30/krystle8a9f5.png)
or follow me on twitter @krystlehaines
You'll be the best judge! I'm really glad you are doing this. Awesome!
Wow thanks so much man, means a lot - you should think about entering sometime, I seem to remember you on the guitar a fair bit back in the day and a somewhat inappropriate song about "nurse nineteen giving head on the way..." well something like that lol.
huge love to you krystle ! you have such a great heart it really shines through. quality presentation and much love to you for asking me to join the judging team.
Thanks lovely and same to you, it was one of the easiest decisions ever to suggest you join the team - you're an amazing talent and can bring so much to the competition :D
Congratulations. This post features in my latest Curation Article. @MrSquiggle - supporting the #TeamAustralia community and promoting creative content. Join us in Discord.
Upvoting this comment will help support @mrsquiggle to continue to support the #TeamAustralia community.
Thanks so much Mr Squiggle - I loved your show as a kid :P
Welcome to the team! I can definitely relate with you on the part of your mother being shocked by your singing voice (beautiful by the way!). I've always been a guitar player and one day my mom came to a gig where I debuted my singer-songwriter material and she was dumbfounded " I didn't know you sang!" . Keep up the great work!
It's awesome when we can shock those closest to us, I'm sure my mother would have heard me sing before - just perhaps not acapella and pelting it out lol.
Music is so personal when we share it with the world it can change not only us but those around us, just popped over and checked out your entry to this week's contest - wow your guitar is beautiful and your voice has some impressive range there buddy, I think your going to be a force to be reckoned with.
On another note (not competition related) as your new here, I thought I would suggest to help bulk out your posts a little bit more and maybe help you get a bit more traction - you could try adding the lyrics to the song, and if it's original even tell us a little more about what inspired the song etc.
Great start on steemit and in the open mic contest, I look forward to hearing your future entries - Cheers :)
Congrats on becoming a judge :)
I didn't realise that eisteddfods existed in Australia - I thought they were just a Welsh thing?!
It's just the name I was always told when we held them, I had to google it because I started to doubt myself - but it seemed to fit what we were doing, so I figured it must be right.
In Australia we do tend to use the names and words from other cultures this might be one of those, or it was just my dance troop lol no idea.
I have been loving your entries into the competition by the way, you have an amazing tone to your voice - Cheers :)
Haha, I was just a little surprised - None of my English friends know the word so to see it from the other side of the world was surprising!
I did a little googling too and it appears that a number of other countries use it too :)
You're too kind - thanks for checking them out.
It's funny I didn't even know it was Welsh until I googled it, language is a strange thing how it evolves and what influences different areas - it's all kinda fascinating really.
No worries at all, all part of the job now but it's nice to hear such quality entries - so thanks for participating :)
Congrats @krystle! I hope you enjoy your stay as an open mic judge! Its been great seeing open mic move this far, and in my opinion, is one of the biggest steemit project around today. .
Sorry i cant vote you fully, its a clause im Attached to. . .:(
Thanks so much I am loving it so far, there is just so many amazing entries every week.
The open mic contest is one of the longest running and highest rewarded contests I'm aware of, not to mention the community building side of things - it's just amazing to have a community so supportive of one and other.
No stress about the vote, all support is appreciated in whatever way - Cheers :)
We at Community News are disappointed that we have not been reported this open mic competition before and we blame our senior editor @sirknight for keeping everyone busy with Steem Lords.
You have a terrific voice Krystle and hope you are back to your full range soon.
In the past however when some of our news team would sing and dance within an amateur theatre group - they would always turn to 'pineapple' to keep their vocals in check. They reckon it helped anyhow.
Upvoted and resteemed.
Community News.
Thank you so much, I will definitely give pineapple a try - anything is worth trying at least once :D
Thanks for the support I appreciate it - Cheers :)
Congrats! You have a truly beautiful voice!
I love Open Mic. It's one of my favorite things about Steemit!
I appreciate the time and effort that all the judges put in every week.
<3
Thanks so much, it really means alot coming from another singer so I really appreciate it.
Open mic is amazing and a really unique part of steemit, it's only going to get bigger and better as we go - thanks for your support, Cheers :D
You're welcome! So many talented musicians and creative artists on Steemit.
It's wonderful! <3
Congratulations!! You have a great singing voice, and I am sure you will be really fair when judging the others. It's so brave for people to put themselves out there with their voices and hearts like this. I really commend people for that. I don't know if I would be brave enough to do that. :)
Thank you so much for your kind words they are greatly appreciated, singing is something I have always done and now I'm not able to it's awesome to have a new musical outlet.
The competition is open to anyone of any skill level, it's about having fun more than anything so I'd encourage anyone to give it a go - you never know you could have amazing talents that wow the community.
You know what, you've inspired me. I don't know what I'll sound like. But I am going to give it a shot, and share it. Thanks for pumping me up. You are awesome.
No worries at all, there's really no downside in giving it a go - you get a post out of it and who knows you could even place, good luck!
Definitely will give it a try. :) Thanks again.
It's awesome to be listening to such great music with you. Your energy and ideas are inspirational and it's so fun.
Thank you for all you're doing to help the music community on Steemit. With your help, we'll keep growing this thing.
Thanks so much for this amazing opportunity, it has been a crazy fun ride so far and I only see things intensifying from here.
I have a feeling this thing is going to get massive and I can't wait to see, what we can all achieve in this together!