Since being the first contestant to perform an original song for her audition piece on the X Factor, Lucy Spraggan has gone from strength to strength, including filling the Acoustic Stage tent to capacity at this year’s iconic Glastonbury Festival.
Taking time out of her busy schedule to inspire the next generation of the music industry, Lucy recently came down to Metropolis Studios for an intimate and exclusive masterclass with some of our talented students.
Hosting the class was our Head of Creative Industry Development, Ace (also known as the guitarist in Skunk Anansie). Ace and Lucy discussed her career and experience in the music industry, taking questions from students throughout.
When asked how she got into songwriting, Lucy explained that she first became inspired writing poems when she was younger. She told the students how she worked hard to get her music off the ground, constantly busking, gigging, and making use of every opportunity presented to her. Before her X Factor appearance, Lucy came second in the national ‘Live and Unsigned’ competition. On her highlights in music so far, Lucy shared that her performance at this year’s Glastonbury was her proudest moment to date.
Throughout the class, Lucy stressed the importance of building a good, honest team around you. She explained how vital it is for your label and management to be truthful, even if the news is bad. Revealing that her drummer Alex Torjussen is actually an ACM alumnus, she spoke about how crucial it is to find people that are invested in your music to work with.
When asked to give her top 3 tips for success, Lucy simply replied, “be persistent, self-confident and perform live.”
When talking about keeping her voice in peak physical condition, she revealed that she likes to use steamers on tour to keep her own voice in check.
Towards the latter half of the session Ace asked Lucy about her involvement in the business side of her career. Lucy was candid in explaining how she now manages other artists alongside her performing and writing career. She also shared how she likes to be hands on in the label and run her own social media channels.
Making sure to cover all aspects of the industry, she made a point to speak about mental health:
“Mental health in the music industry is massively important. It’s important to keep on top of your own head.”
Lucy finished the masterclass by performing an acoustic set for the students in attendance – a real treat considering her packed schedule of shows that she had coming up that week!
If you want to learn from incredible industry professionals like Lucy Spraggan, please call our Admissions Team on 01483 500 841 or visit www.acm.ac.uk/open-days/ to book a place on an ACM Open Day today.
