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We sit down with the Karaoke Queen, a performer-DJ who turns karaoke into real live entertainment through smart song choices, quick music history, and nonstop crowd engagement. We talk about building playlists for private events, training your voice, handling outdoor chaos, and why a Tina Turner classic can make a room sing as one.

• running karaoke and DJ sets from one laptop
• choosing R&B oldies, Motown, jazz, and country to match the room
• using song history to pull listeners deeper into the moment
• bringing a 50-inch screen so the whole audience follows lyrics
• preparing themed playlists for weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, and reunions
• practicing daily, resting the voice, and relearning timing and phrasing
• learning pitch through candid feedback and focusing on improvement
• creating a no-judgment vibe that builds confidence for shy singers
• finding clients through word of mouth, social media, and live visibility
• dealing with sudden rain in Times Square and protecting equipment
• closing with Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary” as a signature song

If you are an artist who would like to be featured on Radio SAFA, or a business interested in connecting with creative talent, we'd love to hear from you. Visit our website at www.safa musicacademy.com and submit your information through the music partnership section to be considered for interviews and collaboration opportunities.

Support the show

Thank you for tuning in to this episode of Radio Safa. We hope you found the conversations inspiring and enjoyable.

If you would like to support Radio Safa, you can do so here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2135567/supporters/new

🎥 Full video versions of all Radio Safa interviews are available on our YouTube channel. Be sure to visit, subscribe, and stay connected for upcoming interviews, live performances, and artist stories:
https://www.youtube.com/@radio_safa

If you are an artist, musician, producer, creative collaborator, dancer, or a business that works with artists, and you live in the Washington DC, Virginia, or Maryland (DMV) area, we invite you to visit our website at:

LOCAL MUSIC PARTNERSHIP PLATFORM - Safa Music

and submit your inquiry through the Musician Partnership section for evaluation and potential in-person interviews.

If you live outside the DMV area and would like to be considered for online recording instead of in-person, please mention that in your submission form.

If you have feedback or ideas for future episodes, feel free to reach out to us at:
info@safamusicacademy.com

You can also visit our Instagram @Radio_safa

Send us a message and your feedback

What happens when you swap official government speeches for raw, independent hip-hop?

In this episode of Radio Safa, host Safa Amiri sits down with DMV-based hip-hop artist MC Lacemaker. Before carving out her space in the local music scene, MC Lacemaker spent years as a Federal speechwriter. Now, she brings that same mastery of wordplay, rhetoric, and storycrafting directly to the mic as an independent rapper who writes all her own lyrics.

Join us for a deep dive into:

• The Shift: Transitioning from formal speechwriting to writing original hip-hop lyrics.
• The Craft: How structure, rhythm, and message drive her songwriting process.
• Behind the Music: Personal stories from her journey in the local music community.
• Live Performance: Stick around for an exclusive, raw live session performed right in the studio!

Support the show

Thank you for tuning in to this episode of Radio Safa. We hope you found the conversations inspiring and enjoyable.

If you would like to support Radio Safa, you can do so here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2135567/supporters/new

🎥 Full video versions of all Radio Safa interviews are available on our YouTube channel. Be sure to visit, subscribe, and stay connected for upcoming interviews, live performances, and artist stories:
https://www.youtube.com/@radio_safa

If you are an artist, musician, producer, creative collaborator, dancer, or a business that works with artists, and you live in the Washington DC, Virginia, or Maryland (DMV) area, we invite you to visit our website at:

LOCAL MUSIC PARTNERSHIP PLATFORM - Safa Music

and submit your inquiry through the Musician Partnership section for evaluation and potential in-person interviews.

If you live outside the DMV area and would like to be considered for online recording instead of in-person, please mention that in your submission form.

If you have feedback or ideas for future episodes, feel free to reach out to us at:
info@safamusicacademy.com

You can also visit our Instagram @Radio_safa

Send us a message and your feedback

Can you actually build a sustainable career in music without selling out or starving?

In this episode, host Safa sits down with classical vocalist, music educator, and Doctor of Musical Arts Dr. Anthony Zwerdling. Anthony breaks down his wild journey—from singing in the San Francisco Boys Chorus at the 1985 Super Bowl to navigating high-stakes classical auditions, earning advanced degrees, and transitioning into an independent singer-songwriter.

They dive deep into:

• The Business Reality: The hard truth about earning a living in modern music and handling constant rejection in auditions.
• Vocal Mechanics & Mind Tricks: Why high-level vocal technique relies on mental imagery, plus a live breakdown of low breathing, resonance, and nasal placement.
• Songwriting Craft: Transitioning from classical opera to acoustic songwriting, featuring live in-studio performances of his original tracks Wishing Well and Full Circle.

Episode Chapter Timestamps:

• 00:00 - Early Music Journey & The '85 Super Bowl
• 02:43 - Dealing with Brutal Audition Rejection
• 03:58 - Samuel Barber Research & DMA Journey
• 07:10 - Can You Actually Make a Living in Music?
• 09:45 - Opera vs. Classical Technique & Vocal Hacks
• 13:35 - Pivoting to Independent Singer-Songwriter
• 19:10 - Live Demo: Vocal Breathing & Resonance
• 21:42 - Live Performance: Wishing Well
• 25:46 - Live Performance: Full Circle
• 31:41 - Where to Find Dr. Anthony Zwerdling

Connect & Resources:

• Follow Anthony Zwerdling on Instagram: @zwerdsings
• Radio Safa Official Website: safamusicacademy.com/radio-safa
• Book a Free Music Consultation: Calendly - Safa Amiri
• Venue & Business Inquiries: safamusicacademy.com/partnership-platform
• Follow Radio Safa on Instagram: @radio_safa

Support the show

Thank you for tuning in to this episode of Radio Safa. We hope you found the conversations inspiring and enjoyable.

If you would like to support Radio Safa, you can do so here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2135567/supporters/new

🎥 Full video versions of all Radio Safa interviews are available on our YouTube channel. Be sure to visit, subscribe, and stay connected for upcoming interviews, live performances, and artist stories:
https://www.youtube.com/@radio_safa

If you are an artist, musician, producer, creative collaborator, dancer, or a business that works with artists, and you live in the Washington DC, Virginia, or Maryland (DMV) area, we invite you to visit our website at:

LOCAL MUSIC PARTNERSHIP PLATFORM - Safa Music

and submit your inquiry through the Musician Partnership section for evaluation and potential in-person interviews.

If you live outside the DMV area and would like to be considered for online recording instead of in-person, please mention that in your submission form.

If you have feedback or ideas for future episodes, feel free to reach out to us at:
info@safamusicacademy.com

You can also visit our Instagram @Radio_safa