We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Obet Rivera a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Obet thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
I love music as far as I can remember, I always love lyrics that says something to me and melodies that can evoke emotions.
and I thought it would be good to someday create one.
Not planning to be my career, i wrote my first song when I was 14, it was just to express my feelings, and ideas, of course the song sucked bigtime, forgettable , but it was the start of my creative journey
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I am known as Obet Rivera, my artist name, I’m originally from manila but now based in Singapore. and I have released more over 40 songs to date, on Digital downloading and streaming sites, Spotify, Youtube , iTunes , Amazon, Deezer and many more. Its a result of me trying the best I can do at that particular moment and posting and making it available on social media. A producer sent me a message asking for a copy of the song as he think it is worthy of airplay. it all started there, and more songs they hear from me, the more they liked it.
One day, the producer asked me if I can play guitar on a particular demo of a song, and I did, Having learned that years before, it was easy task, I did not charge talent fee, and more projects came in, and more people are stating to hear from me. The day came that I have enough materials to make an album that producer , helped me finish the album, and he , in return did not charge me. Up to this moment, after 8 years, we still exchange services.
I am now doing Music arrangements and productions, most of my client are like me, they are indie artists, and people who are trying to be heard, and people who make songwriting , singing and music as a positive outlet. Since I am a guitar player, I play live Guitars, Bass, and other instruments on recording as much as possible, as most of the arrangers nowadays are using computer instruments, that sets me apart I believe, computers , no matter how good you program them, cannot replace a human emotion and feel.
My songs and some songs I arranged are now playing on national radio stations in the Philippines, and a lot of internet radios worldwide.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
It would be good to be rewarded financially haha , but in today’s Music business model, lots of artists are not earning as much as before, the streaming and the piracy of downloading a copy for free is the biggest culprit.
When a song had a positive impact on a listener, and personally telling the artist, how it changed their perspective in any little way, that is the priceless reward.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
I started by focusing on my target audience, I made myself reachable and present in many ways, I created a facebook account that can be added and follow by anyone. It would be wise not to put your personal informations though, but I learned that the people who will like you are the people you don’t personally know, people who knew how many beers you can take in one one sitting, will support but not too long as real fans
It will be good to be honest, fans and supporters will like that, don’t be preachy, keep the humour at all times, keep the artistic work flowing , never stop learning and creating, and lastly be bold and take the risk
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069762513684
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@obetrivera5888
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6y74pdYPhONzLDu08clckW?si=E_9wzCeaRe-j4_PNJsJSUw
