Artist Profile: Heaven Lee

SINGER // SONGWRITER // ACTRESS

Heaven Lee is an international recording artist from Santa Maria California with a degree in Audio Engineering. She manages her own non-profit organization (Gloves For Love) and has appeared in various television commercials. Heaven took first place at IMSTA FESTA Los Angeles’s song writing competition and was recognized as IMSTA’s songwriter of the year at the 2020 TEC Awards. We sat down with Heaven to find out more about herself, her studio, and her passion for music.

IMSTA: Hello Heaven Lee. The world is a different this past year, how have you been doing?

HL: I was struggling in the beginning, having to switch from going out to studios to staying inside and writing by myself. It was hard but I have been working on an album, so the pandemic has given me time to sit down and really focus. So, I am good now.

IMSTA: Tell us a little about yourself and how you got starting with creating music.

HL: I found my love for making music pretty early. I started listening to songs on the radio and thinking that I could do that. My problem was that I was 15 and did not know how to write a song. I did not have many life experiences to draw from, but I also knew I did not want to be that artist that has other people writing songs for me, so I started writing poems and short stories which later turned into songs. The fact that I had to think outside of the box and try to make up stories has helped me develop to where I am now. My inspiration can come from the story itself now and not rely on an experience.

IMSTA: You recently released your single “Back to You,” is that a personal experience or a story that you adapted into song?

HL: “Back to You” is my COVID song. This song is how I felt during COVID. Many people were telling me their mental health was suffering and they felt trapped being stuck in the house. The lyrics say, “I’m on my way back to you.” It is my reassurance to not worry, we will get through this and make our way back better than ever. Everybody interprets a song in their own way and it’s cool when people ask me what the song was really about and I tell them, “it’s about whatever you want it to be about.” If you felt it meant something personal, then that is what it was about… In the song I am talking about myself, but it is meant to be interpreted anyway you feel.

IMSTA: Do you always write about things that many people can relate to?

HL: Write what you feel. When I first started, I wanted to write the coolest thing and topics that others have written about before and I was worried what people would connect with, so I had to learn to just write about what is my mind at that moment. People will connect to you no matter what. We are all experiencing similar things, so I create for the people that like what I am doing in hopes they enjoy it and become fans.

IMSTA: Many songwriters have a process to writing. Certain instruments they start with, lyrics first… What is your process for writing a new tune?

HL: I start with the piano. When a piano is playing, I feel you can really feel the story and the emotion - that is just me. If I were to start a song right now it would be a stripped-down ballad with the piano. Of course, if it is going to be a up tempo Dance track with a great beat, then I’ll start with something else. For me, the melodies come first. Many times, I hum a random melody with a certain rhythm and cadence and then fill in the melody with lyrics after. Words will pop into my head as I am humming and sometimes, I use them as placeholders until I have the final melody. But when that is done my heart will guide my song writing. I go with my heart, not my gut.

IMSTA: Do you write whenever inspiration hits you or do you have a routine when it comes to writing?

HL: I have this little book with all my songs in it. I usually write at home in front of my computer but if I am in my car, and I feel something, I will pull over. Inspiration hits me and I must deal with it in that moment otherwise it will pass, and I might be lazy later and never get to it... haha. I do not dedicate a certain time to write, but most times the right music will inspire me. I used to have fun with it and think that if I wore red lipstick and lit a bunch of candles, I would write a hit but that was just fun. Now I just sit down and do it. And once I start, I automatically get into the vibe. I get through the first verse and then get excited about where it is going and then I need to finish it.

IMSTA: You record yourself at home. What is in your studio?

HL: Pro Tools. Who does not use Pro Tools right? I went to school for audio engineering and ProTools was what I was taught. Many people told me to not use anything else, but I mean, all of the DAW’s are really good. They have all upgraded so much. I hear some songs recorded on Studio One or FL Studio and I feel they are still amazing tracks.

IMSTA: Do you have any favorite plugins to use?

HL: Actually, I like the standard basic plugins. I sometimes use EQ’s and compressors on my voice but for the most part I try and record it in as clean and as final as I can. A Little delay and reverb and I am pretty much done. I like to be very minimal with processing. Obviously touch ups must be done but I try and stay away from loading up my tracks with effects. Sometimes I do use Melodyne… shhh do not tell anyone, but doesn’t everybody? Everyone always says, Melodyne is a life saver. I like that you can’t really hear it working like you can with other pitch correctors.

IMSTA: Do you find production tools like that make singers lazy? That they rely too heavily on the technology instead of practicing?

HL: It is good for me as a singer to learn to train my ears. Even when I am making a demo it is easy to say, “ok let’s just slap some tuning plugin on it and we are done” but I remind myself, slow down, take your time and really listen to yourself. When you really listen to the music, you do become one with the it and you can connect with the lyrics if you pay attention to what you are saying. The audience knows if you are connected or not. They can feel it. There is a saying that when you are truly in sync with the song that someone can hear your smile on the recording. If the listener cannot picture the story, I am not doing my job.

IMSTA: Nowadays there are so many plugins that do so many cool things. Is there one that has caught your eye? Something that you NEED to have?

HL: I think I have found everything I needed for now. Everything that I am doing I have a proper plugin for, I have found my “sound.” However, if someone shows me a really cool plugin tomorrow, I will probably incorporate it in my set up. You will tell me if you know of anything I must have right? [Laughs.]

IMSTA: I sure will. Tell us about your organization, Gloves for Love?

HL: Gloves for Love is something my twin sister and I started when we were younger. It was around Thanksgiving and we had a lot of leftover food from dinner. We were looking at all this food and we thought instead of it going to waste that we would help some less fortunate people by giving it to them. With the help of our Mom, we got containers and filled them with the food, got blankets, gloves and scarves and made little care packages. Then we went out and gave them out. That is how we started it and so now every major holiday or when we know it’s going to be cold outside, we create these care packages and deliver them to people in need. I am always very busy with music, but we make sure to find time to do this as it is very important to us.

IMSTA: That is fantastic. It is a great cause, and we wish you the best of luck with it. On the topic of Organizations, how did you hear about IMSTA?

HL: So, this is crazy actually. I found out about IMSTA through a good friend of mine. He asked if I heard of the IMSTA FESTA shows that happen every year in cities all over the world. I hadn’t heard of it, but I found out that there is also a song writing competition that happens during them and that really caught my attention. I went online but I had missed the submission deadline. But then I found out that you could submit at the event, so I said to myself… “I’m going to enter and watch; I’m going to win.” I was half joking but I went, entered my song and I won! So that ‘s how I found out and have been back every year since.

IMSTA: Is this friend of yours a song writer also? Do you collaborate with others when writing?

HL: I have recently been collaborating with other writers. For years I did not, it was just me by myself but now I feel I had to branch out and discover new ideas and things to write about. I started reading, watching movies, and then writing songs about those topics but it is a different feeling when you are writing with other people. They bring their experiences to the table and that collaboration is what it is all about. When a few people contribute to a song it becomes unique as a bit of everyone’s personal experiences touch it.

IMSTA: Very true. Heaven, many readers of this might be up and coming artists, aspiring writers, and producers. What advice would you give them to have a fulfilling music career?

HL: Something that I was told and had to learn is, do not try to skip any steps. Approach your music journey one step at a time and you will get there. You are never late; everything happens on time when it was supposed to happen. Therefore, take your time and enjoy the journey. And as I said before, do what you like, do not make music you think others will want to hear. You will never fully like the music; something will feel off. Write form your heart and you will be good. And treat it like your health. If you work out every day consistently, you will see results.

IMSTA: That is great advice. Not just for music but for all aspects in life. Well, I think everyone wants to know, what are you working on right now?

HL: I am working on my album. Right now I am about 4 songs shy of being done but I am working on it every day so look out for it.

IMSTA: We will. Heaven, thank you for sitting down with us today. We wish you nothing but the best of luck with everything you do, your album, Gloves for Love and any future songs that you bless the world with. Thank you.

HL: Thank you

Heaven Lee was the song writing winner at IMSTA FESTA LA 2018.