Test 7a 7b listening I have been working as a professional songwriter from the age of 16.0:00
There was nothing else I wanted to do.0:10
I didn't consider any other career as it just felt right to do what I do best.0:12
I also did a lot of singing in my teens and took private lessons to improve my technique.0:17
But I always preferred making music rather than performing it.0:23
I know it is a competitive type of job and that I am lucky I am successful.0:27
Things weren't always easy though.0:33
I had to work hard to get to where I am today.0:35
I started doing small gigs for £30 a night with a free meal thrown in.0:39
I sang in various eating places wherever I could.0:44
I didn't want to do that for the rest of my life.0:48
So I started putting all my energy into writing songs.0:50
Once I had written some material, I then made some demo recordings and sent them off to record companies.0:55
Months passed and when I hadn't heard anything, I started to lose hope.1:01
And then I got a call offering me a contract.1:06
I couldn't believe it.1:10
Overnight, I was rich.1:12
They even bought me my own recording studio.1:14
I went a little crazy with the money.1:17
I didn't say very much of it.1:20
I moved into a nice new house and bought lots of furniture.1:22
And then the problems started.1:27
I was so young, but I had clear ideas about what kind of music I wanted to make.1:29
I wanted to do everything myself.1:35
And so I ended up working far too hard.1:37
After eight months of working 16 hour days, I lost all my energy and couldn't write anything.1:40
I felt that I had lost my enthusiasm and my creativity.1:48
I had just finished my second album and was working on my third.1:52
I was so tired because of all the gigs I was giving to promote the second album.1:56
I traveled all over the country.2:01
It is really hard to be on the road all the time.2:04
Not a glamorous life at all.2:07
I wanted to keep going for the sake of my fans.2:09
But I had to take a break.2:12
My sister lives abroad in Spain and she invited me over there for a while.2:14
It was just what I needed.2:19
A chance to relax and get my energy back.2:21
Let go of all the stress that had been building up.2:24
I had time to forget about work and think about myself.2:27
I realized that work isn't everything.2:31
You need to have time to do other things.2:34
Yes, I still wanted to have a successful career.2:39
But I also wanted to have time to enjoy myself.2:41
Go out with friends, for example.2:44
Luckily, my best friends were still there for me and wanted to give me support.2:47
They realized That I was still the same person.2:52
That fame couldn't change who I was inside.2:55
When I got back from my trip to Spain, I took up yoga.2:58
I felt much stronger as a result.3:01
But I made sure I had enough free time.3:06
I stopped giving gigs and concentrated on my third album.3:08
It is nearly finished now.3:13
When it comes out, I think I'll take a longer holiday.3:15
I fancy going to India.3:18
They do yoga holidays there, you know.3:20
I also want to travel more in the future.3:23
There's so much to do and see.3:25
My advice to anyone wanting to go into the music business is follow your heart and everything will be okay.3:28
Work hard but don't let your health suffer.3:36
Take good care of yourself.3:39
Surround yourself with family and friends.3:41
I hope you will be as lucky as me.3:44
I have been working as a professional songwriter from the age of 16.3:53
There was nothing else I wanted to do.3:57
I didn't consider any other career as it just felt right to do what I do best.4:00
I also did a lot of singing in my teens and took private lessons to improve my technique.4:05
But I always preferred making music rather than performing it.4:10
I know it is a competitive type of job and that I am lucky I am successful.4:15
Things weren't always easy though.4:20
I had to work hard to get to where I am today.4:22
I started doing small gigs for £30 a night with a free meal thrown in.4:26
I sang in various eating places wherever I could.4:32
I didn't want to do that for the rest of my life.4:35
So I started putting all my energy into writing songs.4:38
Once I had written some material, I then made some demo recordings and sent them off to record companies.4:42
Months passed and when I hadn't heard anything, they I started to lose hope.4:49
And then I got a call offering me a contract.4:54
I couldn't believe it.4:57
Overnight I was rich.4:59
They even bought me my own recording studio.5:02
I went a little crazy with the money.5:05
I didn't say very much of it.5:07
I moved into a nice new house and bought lots of furniture.5:10
And then the problems started.5:14
But I had clear ideas about what kind of music I wanted to make.5:18
I wanted to do everything myself.5:22
And so I ended up working far too hard.5:24
After eight months of working 16 hour days, I lost all my energy and couldn't write anything.5:27
I felt that I had lost my enthusiasm and my creativity.5:35
I had just finished my second album and was working on my third.5:39
I was so tired because of all the gigs I was giving to promote the second album.5:44
I traveled all over the Country.5:49
It is really hard to be on the road all the time.5:51
Not a glamorous life at all.5:54
I wanted to keep going for the sake of my fans.5:57
But I had to take a break.6:00
My sister lives abroad in Spain and she invited me over there for a while.6:02
It was just what I needed.6:06
A chance to relax and get my energy back.6:08
Let go of all the stress that had been building up.6:12
I had time to forget about work and think about myself.6:15
I realized that work isn't everything.6:19
You need to have time to do other things.6:22
Yes, I still wanted to have a successful career.6:26
But I also wanted to have time to enjoy myself.6:29
Go out with friends, for example.6:32
Luckily, my best friends were still there for me and wanted to give me support.6:34
They realized that I was still the same person.6:39
That fame couldn't change who I was inside.6:42
When I got back from my trip to Spain, I took up yoga.6:45
I felt much stronger as a result.6:49
But I made sure I had enough free time.6:53
I stopped giving gigs and concentrated on my third album.6:56
It is nearly finished now.7:00
When it comes out, I think I'll take a longer holiday.7:02
I fancy going to India.7:06
They do yoga holidays there, you know.7:08
I also want to travel more in the future.7:10
There's so much to do and see.7:13
My advice to anyone wanting to go into the music business is follow your heart and everything will be okay.7:16
Work hard, but don't let your health suffer.7:24
Take good care of yourself.7:27
Surround yourself with family and friends.7:29
I hope you will be as lucky as me.7:32
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