ABOUT US

Singers At Hearts Record

Singers at Heart records is an online record label based in Montreal, Canada.

It was created in July 2006 by David Man to help amateur singers further their music dreams.

Our label focuses primarly on Artist Development and management, and will expand on other areas of promotion, and distribution in the coming years.

To contact us email singersatheart@yahoo.com

Who I am

I'm David Man, 32 year old from Montreal, Canada and creator of Singers at Heart. I've studied in Europe and North America and obtained a university degree in translation. My passion has always been music and singing and in the mid-90s I started songwriting more seriously while attending college, influenced at the time by Lara Fabian, Mariah Carey and Diane Warren's songs.

By 1997 my songs were still not heard by the public, so I got the crazy idea of convincing Valerie a friend of mine to enter a local singing contest with my composition "Tomber de haut" (Don't Let Me Fall). But there was a huge problem!! Although talented, Valerie was extremely insecure and shy about her singing. So the only option for me was to offer to coach her through the competition, which is something I had never done before. During rehearsals, I was desperately looking for one thing, or a unique quality about her that would her stand out from the competition...so I randomly asked her if she she could hit a high whistle-like note a la Mariah Carey to close the song -which was a big gospel bumber-. She said she'd give a shot, and she just nailed it to both of our utter shock. I knew that if she could do it live that would seal her victory.

Needless to say, on show night there was a lot of trepidation in the air as Valerie got up on stage. The public could feel the tension, but personally I wasn't worried because I knew that this was a signal of the fact that from then on my friend was placing the bar higher for herself. Because we had worked so hard, and I told her she could sing just as well as Mariah Carey if she wanted to. Needless to say, she got through the song without a hitch, and when the music stopped and she hit those huge notes the crowds were on their feet applauding her like crazy. That marked her first win. A few weeks later, she flew to Vancouver for semi-finals at Chants d'ouest where she wowed the crowds again. And she went all way to the international finals at the Granby Festival where she placed 4th. Those contests were broadcast on radio and television, and suffice it to say those were such proud moments for me to hear my song played on the air! Just as it is to see that today Valerie is still singing, and appearing on Quebec television, all because of that push I gave her one day.

In 2000 I moved back to Montreal after completing my studies and working for a couple of years, and I became heavily involved with the songwriting community online, particularly at MusesMuse.com forums where I launched the first ever songwriting awards live via the internet, which is now 3 edition strong. I was also hosting the biggest fan site on singer Lara Fabian. But soon I decided that my real calling wasn't in songwriting or fan sites, but nurturing singing talents, which I had so much fun doing with Valerie some years ago. That's how the idea of creating Singers at Heart came about. In my dealings with singers, I've always gotten feedback that my advice has been the one thing that they needed to hear to surpass themselves and find a direction. And I hope to do more of that type of artist development and management through my new venture.

Today my time will be spent between managing the Singers at Heart record label, and volunteering at a local organization in my neighborhood where I host the internet cafe.

Achievements highlights :

• 2003 Launched the first ever live forum songwriting awards at the musesmuse.com site.
  
• 1997 My song Tomber de haut (Don't Let Me Fall) written with MC McDonald was performed by singer Valerie at the finals of 3 Canadian song contests: Gala Manitobain de la chanson (Winnipeg) Chant d'Ouest (Vancouver) & Festival international de la chanson de Grandy (Quebec). All contests were broadcast either on the CBC radio or on national television.
  
• 1997 My song Aimer (To Love) written with famed Manitoba composer G. Jean was performed at the Winnipeg's Festival du Voyageur headline concert, featuring international singer Linda Lemay.
  
• 1994-1998 Hosted popular radio shows on St Boniface Community Radio (Envol 91FM Winnipeg), including Top 20, New Music Hour, Star Profile, Live (showcase of local artists via on-air acoustic live performaces), and many more...

My Struggles

Throughout my life I've faced many challenges like many people out there looking to find their way through life. And through it all I have used my involment in the arts as a way to remain sane and hopeful.

Finally at 32 years old I have came to the conclusion that no matter what problem that comes my way, and no matter how abysmal,  there is still a life, a song, or a nothing to be enjoyed, here in the present. And my sole responsibility as a human being is to get through today. Show up for what needs to be attended to today. A reasonable goal...I no longer try to fix myself.

It's never too late to try. Just be.

My Singers At Heart Blog >