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Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 00:03
Hello, and a very warm welcome to the Supplier Spotlight podcast. My name is Liam Ball. I’m your magical wedding host, also known As the Gentleman Magician. And as always, this podcast exists to shine a light on the very best people in the wedding industry, the suppliers who bring skill, personality, and real atmosphere to a wedding day. Now, if you are enjoying these episodes, please do take a moment to like, follow, subscribe, and share this podcast with people who you know. Who are planning a wedding day? It really will help people to get valuable information to plan their day and make it as good as it possibly can be. Now, today’s guest is a live wedding musician, somebody who understands that music shapes emotion, feeling, and atmosphere, from setting the tone during a ceremony to creating a relaxed Joyful moment during a drink reception onto full-bodied celebrations later in the day. They’re known for versatility, warmth, and presence. They also work across multiple formats, including bands, duos, and other bespoke performance options, which really gives you plenty to think about when you’re planning the music for your day. So it’s a real pleasure to welcome to the Supplier Spotlight Podcast. Aliki Edwards from Aliki Sings Entertainment. Hey Aliki, how’s it going?
Aliki Edwards – Aliki Sings Entertainment – Wedding Vocalist, Duo & Band • 01:22
Oh, very good, very good, Liam. Thank you very much for the excellent introduction.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 01:27
Oh, you are very, very welcome. Absolutely fine. How’s life finding you at the moment?
Aliki Edwards – Aliki Sings Entertainment – Wedding Vocalist, Duo & Band • 01:33
Yeah, quite good, quite good. Obviously engagement season and it’s getting quite busy. A few wedding fairs happening. So yeah, very, very busy. Very busy building up and yeah, enjoying it. Enjoying the journey.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 01:48
Yeah, it’s great. And do you know what? It’s funny you’ve said about the engagement season. I think this is something which many people outside of the wedding industry, in fact, probably almost everybody who’s not in the industry, they don’t know. that there is a thing such as engagement season. It’s a whole it’s like it’s like you know it’s like a it’s like a an annual ritual that happens, isn’t it? Where just 75% of people who are going to get married get engaged during this period of time, which is which is quite fascinating. So yes, it’s often all hands on deck in January, February and March when everybody else is wondering What they’re going to do with the rest of the year.
Aliki Edwards – Aliki Sings Entertainment – Wedding Vocalist, Duo & Band • 02:24
Exactly. This is the build-up. I never knew before getting into this.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 02:28
No. It’s just, it’s not something you pick up. But I mean, of course, actually, it’s funny. I mean, you did get into this. You’re a, well, you’re a musical genius looking at. Some of the things that you do. How did all that go about? How did music become part of your life, and how did that transition then into being a musician and a singer and an artist at weddings?
Aliki Edwards – Aliki Sings Entertainment – Wedding Vocalist, Duo & Band • 02:49
Oh, gosh, how long have you got Liam? I’m of a certain age, so yes, it’s been a lot of journey. Um but yeah, I guess it started when I first saw some kids writing those funny symbols on the blackboard at school. And I went back home and I said, Mum, I really must learn what these things are. I must learn music. So then off we went soon after and we went to this music school because I’m from Greece and we learn music in a conservatoire typically in Greece. So I went to the music school and my dad, my dad being very practical, said, Oh, learn how to play the guitar, Licky, because then you can drink it with you and just strum it wherever you go. But I walked in there and I heard somebody playing behind closed doors. I couldn’t see them. I just I I could just hear them on the grand piano. They were playing Perlies or something like that. Yeah. And I said, Mother Man, I don’t care what you’re gonna do. This is what I’m gonna learn. I’m gonna be able to play that, and that’s what I’m gonna do. So we came back, and I had enrolled myself in learning the piano. So my secret ambition growing out. even though I never dared to admit it to myself, was to be a pianist. I just wanted to be a piano teacher. That’s all I wanted to be. And then as I was growing up, my parents sassed it out. That was my plan. And they said, you know what? You’re also good in science, and it will pay you more money. And that’s what you’re going to do, Diane.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 04:26
Okay.
Aliki Edwards – Aliki Sings Entertainment – Wedding Vocalist, Duo & Band • 04:28
In the meantime, I was singing in choirs and stuff like that, but singing wasn’t my thing. It was it was piano.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 04:34
Yeah.
Aliki Edwards – Aliki Sings Entertainment – Wedding Vocalist, Duo & Band • 04:35
So then eventually I came to the UK a long, long time ago to study and I did chemistry a bath uni and then I loved it so much I stayed over and I did a PhD in chemistry. Wow. And then I got married and I had kids and I’m got three. But after the second kid He was about one. I was like, you know, I just couldn’t take it anymore. I couldn’t be without music anymore. So then I would say to myself, well, you’re going back and forwards to work. What can you do? What can you do to get back into music? Because I didn’t have time to pick up the piano. So I I um I um decided to join um a a music school and and and and train my voice and and practice and also do some performances with them. And at the time I was I’m based in uh Wiltshire, so I was traveling all the way down to South Wiltshire, near Southampton And I did lessons and I loved it. And I was like, Oh, when am I going to be good? When am I going to be good? And I said, Yeah, yeah, yeah, you will, you know, keep going, do your scales. So um so eventually I got good at it, and then they said, Okay, what you gonna do with this aliki? So I was like, Oh, I don’t know. I was just doing it for fun. Suddenly they said, Oh, perhaps you should join a band And this is how the bug got in, really. And I just Couldn’t sh uh you know, um yeah, mat my son now is seventeen, so I’ve been doing this for sixteen years now, the same
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 06:12
So so let let me just let me just get that right then. So obviously from a from a I’m guessing a traditional Greek family, um educated well, you were told and much as I was as a as a youngster, don’t be ridiculous, go and get a real job. Right, yeah, exactly, yeah. So, so but but Dr. Aliki Edwards, that’s right, yes.
Aliki Edwards – Aliki Sings Entertainment – Wedding Vocalist, Duo & Band • 06:36
Uh they’re correct.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 06:37
Okay, wow. So so and and then you’ve kind of sidelined a life in academia to to exercise your artistic muscles as a as a musician and singer? That’s quite a transition.
Aliki Edwards – Aliki Sings Entertainment – Wedding Vocalist, Duo & Band • 06:52
Yeah, I had quite a long career in pharmaceuticals. Yeah. And I say I had because up at up until recently I was working in pharmaceuticals. But You know, I I guess as you’re getting older you reconsider what you’re doing with your life and what opportunities there are and what is more meaningful. Exactly. And I decided to say thanks. I’ve learnt a lot, but I’m gonna try something different for a while. See how that goes.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 07:23
That is so Wholeheartedly, I I applaud you. That is absolutely fantastic. Because I mean, I’ve I’ve done a similar thing, um, you know, could I mean but recently I’m forty-five, so How recent, but um, it’s yeah, I’d I get it, you know, and it it’s scary, isn’t it? Moving from that consummate, you know, that as long as you turn up and Write your name on the line, you’re going to get paid to suddenly putting your hands or your life in the hands of people and saying to them, Hey, I’m great at this thing.
Aliki Edwards – Aliki Sings Entertainment – Wedding Vocalist, Duo & Band • 07:56
Please book me so I can do it at your without sounding needy and aspirant.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 08:01
That’s right, yeah, that’s right. And and of course you know, the the other thing that then happens is that you get to a stage where you think to yourself, actually, I’m I’m not desperate anymore because Everything is working, that the jobs are coming in, and I’m living my best life, and I’m going out and doing the thing that I love to do, and everything feels balanced. So performing wasn’t always the plan, was it?
Aliki Edwards – Aliki Sings Entertainment – Wedding Vocalist, Duo & Band • 08:26
No, I think it was always in it in me.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 08:28
Yeah.
Aliki Edwards – Aliki Sings Entertainment – Wedding Vocalist, Duo & Band • 08:29
And but it was almost, you know, um denied.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 08:34
Get you.
Aliki Edwards – Aliki Sings Entertainment – Wedding Vocalist, Duo & Band • 08:37
But you know, if you’ve got it, it comes to bite you on the backside sooner or later. You can’t deny it. You can’t.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 08:42
You can’t get away from the artistic bug. You absolutely can’t. So, when did weddings come into that equation?
Aliki Edwards – Aliki Sings Entertainment – Wedding Vocalist, Duo & Band • 08:49
It wasn’t it wasn’t up until a couple of years ago where I was in a different band and I decided I wanted a change and I liked the band that I was in. And a good friend of mine Um messaged me and said, Oh, does that mean you’re free? I said, Well, at the moment I am free. And she said, We were gonna start together geo years ago, but then She ended up, her daughter got pregnant, and she ended up looking after the grandkids anyway. She had lots of excitement in her life back then. So we never did it. I did different things that did a different geo, different bands in the meantime. So she messaged me. She said, Do you fancy doing a geo together? Nethed Armand Gosha, you never asked. So that’s where rhythm sisters were born. Me and my good friend Wendy, we’ve known each other for over 10 years. And we said, you know, she has a band that she’s in, she has a different duo that she’s in. And we said, okay. Doing pubs, clubs, festivals and all of that, yes, that’s fine. But weddings it has weddings and celebrations. And special moments has something really incredible for me about having a group of people who are there. to have a good time. It’s not the same as, you know, people walk past and you’re just music and they look at you and say, oh yeah, well done, well done. You know, and then they move on. When you’re at a wedding, it’s different. And for us and for me especially is creating those money can’t buy moments.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 10:25
Yeah.
Aliki Edwards – Aliki Sings Entertainment – Wedding Vocalist, Duo & Band • 10:26
And we’ve had a few and once you get the first few, you think, oh my God, this is why I’m doing this for. And it’s that it’s that moment, you know, that special moment when you know you touch somebody in a way that nobody else has. You know. And I set out saying, this is what I want more for, this is what I’m finding fulfilling in life. And that’s what I’m going to do. And you can really do it in a special occasion like that, a special party, an anniversary, a wedding. Yeah, definitely.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 11:05
So, I mean, obviously you’ve kind of touched on there that you you work in different musical formats. So bands, duos, like the rhythm sisters I’m guessing there’s a a probably a solo arm in there somewhere as well. So how how how do you find that that flexibility works well for you, but also creates an important sort of choice and option for for the couples that you work with?
Aliki Edwards – Aliki Sings Entertainment – Wedding Vocalist, Duo & Band • 11:29
Yes, absolutely. Because we’re not an agency, but we can function as one because we’ve been in the industry for so long and we know so many musicians. The first thing I do really with couples is I try to find out what they want.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 11:50
Yeah.
Aliki Edwards – Aliki Sings Entertainment – Wedding Vocalist, Duo & Band • 11:50
What is their vision for the day? So me rather than just come and say, okay, this is my menu. You can buy this, this, this, or this.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 11:56
Yeah.
Aliki Edwards – Aliki Sings Entertainment – Wedding Vocalist, Duo & Band • 11:56
These are two forty five minute sets. This is you know, no, I don’t work like that. I work in journeys. I work in experiences. I work in how long would you like me to be there for? How do you want the data to flow for you? And then I listen. I listen and I make loads of notes as I speak. I said, I’m not rude. I’m just writing everything you’re saying down. And then I can offer them. not Death by Excel spreadsheet, but a proposal which then matches very well exactly what I’ve heard them say. Yeah, I have some basic couples. Sorry, packages. I have some basic things on there, but You know, for me, it’s a gateway. We have the discussion and then I can tailor the day. And then, of course, you know people have their own lives and musicians are busy. So I need to be able to offer that. So I have different bands that I can pull on to. I have different musicians that I work with. so I can have that redundancy as such. Or you know, if somebody’s busy, somebody else can step up. And we have a core style and core songs that we really like to play. But the other thing I love doing for my couples, going back to the bespoke, is I don’t say to them, well, these are the songs I do for ceremony, pick them, pick whatever you like. I let them tell me what is their favorite songs. It’s five six of songs, you know, seven songs depend. I will learn them. I will learn them and it will do beautiful harmonies and I will source the right tracks for them and things like that. So so it’s it’s exactly what they want. And that’s how I get to generate those money can’t buy moments because I look out for have you got a special song that means something to you and then I sing it to them and then they can’t stop crying.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 13:56
Well, I mean, that’s to that that’s a really interesting thing, isn’t it? Because you could listen to a song on the radio or on a on a on a download a thousand times, but when you see it performed live, it’s It it could be the exact same nong, beat for beat, note for note, the same piece of music, and yet it feels Difference.
Aliki Edwards – Aliki Sings Entertainment – Wedding Vocalist, Duo & Band • 14:19
You’re so right. You’re so right. Live vocals, they just bring in my mind, and that’s my humble opinion, of course it’s biased, but it brings um that extra depth with the sound.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 14:31
It really does, isn’t it? Yeah.
Aliki Edwards – Aliki Sings Entertainment – Wedding Vocalist, Duo & Band • 14:32
And it’s the colour of the singer’s voice as well. That adds to the whole feeling. Um I have a kind of like um let’s say full, full kind of sound. That’s my natural voice. And I think it lends itself for those kind of rom romantic ballads, those kind of songs. And we do a lot of soul R and B kind of music, and again, our vocals really match that. And Wendy, my good friend, she has an ear for harmonies out of this world. I don’t know how she does it. I keep say I keep say it to her. Every time we practice, I said, I don’t know how you do this. It takes a lot of practice for me. go away, think about it, focus, do it over and over and over and over in order to get it, you know, in my head. Um melody is easy, but but harmonies are hard. For her, no problem. Just like that.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 15:27
Yeah, I mean, I think this is something that a lot of people, again, don’t realize, right? Is that there are so many skills That gets bought in to being any kind of live artist. But as a vocalist, or a musician, or a singer, or somebody who does all of those things. There is so much that you’re thinking about and working on when you’re controlling what the flow and the tone and the feel of your voice and blending out with the atmosphere as well, right?
Aliki Edwards – Aliki Sings Entertainment – Wedding Vocalist, Duo & Band • 15:56
Yes, exactly. Yes, of course. ‘Cause um ’cause we do the whole day, you know, you sing differently and we have different equipment, different microphones, different setup, you know. singing over an evening, what you would do at the ceremony. So uh or the drinks reception. You know, we have more acoustic paired back tracks With not so much bass and drums, you know, because you don’t want that echoing in the church, for example, or in a hall But of an evening is a different story. You know, we have sandwoofers, we have, you know, a lot of bigger speakers and things like that. to make sure that the sound is full. Yeah, there there is so much that you pick up over the years and you learn. And I’m one of those people that I taught myself a lot. So I’m my own you know, I record my own music and I edit it. I I record the bands. On different channels, and I edit them. I direct our own videos, but I have trained my husband to take the shots that I want. He’s my content creator. Um yeah, and and and and eventually, because everything is digital really, I’ve taught him how to play the iPad really well, and he’s my sound engineer. Yeah, he’s my unpaid labor, bless him. Labor of love.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 17:21
We can’t say that. We can’t say that. Of course he takes a wage.
Aliki Edwards – Aliki Sings Entertainment – Wedding Vocalist, Duo & Band • 17:24
Of course he does pay. Of course, of course.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 17:26
He gets paid. Yes, but I mean, you know, it’s, yeah. So, so I mean, really, you’ve got so many different strings that you can pull on to make to make any moment in a day Perfect, right. So how do you go about then deciding how you’re going to adapt the performance that you’re going to give to different crowds or different venues or different kinds of wedding day?
Aliki Edwards – Aliki Sings Entertainment – Wedding Vocalist, Duo & Band • 17:49
Yeah, I mean, it’s an act, to be honest. Um, and especially for the evening. Many times I’ve been Uh and I’m not naming names, but many times I’ve been to to do’s where, you know, there’s a DJ. I mean, oh, don’t even start me about Spotify playlists If anybody’s listening to this, do not. I beg you, do not. Don’t on a spot by playlist.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 18:12
Yeah.
Aliki Edwards – Aliki Sings Entertainment – Wedding Vocalist, Duo & Band • 18:14
Because you might love Ed Sheeran. And I do love Ed Sheeran. But she can’t get you dancing in the m you know, at the end of the day, like, you know, the killers would or something like that, you know, or somebody else. There is a m a moment in time to do those kind of things. Though you know, um I guess there is an act to it And I have been in other gigs, for example, where the DJ plays things and immediately the dance logo is And of course, as you put together the show, you want to because it is a show ultimately, you build the set list as such. So it builds momentum. And in there, you do want to have some breaks every now and then where people can take a breather. But I love it when they decide they want to take a breather and the music is so good. They just drag their friend back on the stage back on the dance floor. It’s so funny. Um, I love that. There are some many moments, you know, that Wendy and I just look at each other and we know exactly what’s going on, you know, that’s that’s So much, man. But yes, we have had the experience to be able to build the momentum. And what we’re doing also, what that we will have to do is at the end of the day, we do a special signature. I don’t think I will reveal it here, but we have some signature moments. We have some significant moments that we do as well, especially at the end of the evening. And during the performance, we’re very interactive. Even on my own, I’m very interactive. We go out there with the people, dance with them. We basically have a great parting along with whoever is doing it.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 19:57
I mean, I think that’s the difference, isn’t it? That is, and you know, we kind of talked to Jod about it, but it’s true. Live music. With somebody who’s either they’ve got a backing track and they’re singing, or there’s a duo, or there’s a whole band it plays such a different role to just music in a can, right? That you’re just pressing play on or you’re selecting a playlist. And how would you I mean, if we if we were going to explain it in straightforward terms, what would you say the differences are to live music versus prerecorded tracks?
Aliki Edwards – Aliki Sings Entertainment – Wedding Vocalist, Duo & Band • 20:35
Oh, that’s a very interesting question that I’m asked many times, because people think, you know, having the live instruments and having a live backline, it makes all the difference. But to me, I would say, yes, it adds. And I’ll tell you what it adds, a lot of unpredictability While the track tracks will always play the same thing and you know exactly what’s going on. You know, when the more people you have, the more opportunity is for things to go off track or something breaking down and things like that. It gets more difficult for organizing, or organizing calendars, availability and things like that. While with backing tracks, there is none of those problems. However, what I was going to say is that having the instruments at the back, it adds that depth, it adds those layers. So for people who like that, absolutely go for it. But for people who are perhaps a little bit more budget conscious or they would like to save some pennies, what I say to my couples is that there is absolutely no difference in the fun that they will have and the experience they will see and the show they will experience, whether I’m singing backing tracks or whether people are playing behind me. Because the people that are playing behind you are not the front. are not the show, are not the interactive. They they display the instruments and they do that very well. Um what you’re getting with regards to the interaction is is, you know, if I’m singing with Wendy or even if I’m singing on my own, we do a little we have a little a few key songs that we know exactly what we’re doing and what we’re going to say. And it looks really natural. We have a bit of bunker going on, you know, and it looks really natural. And if if I even if I don’t have her and I’m on my own, I still find some um Volunteers, voluntolds. I still find people who are keen and eager. You know, there’s always the odd person who’s kin and yagged to join you on the on the dance floor. And we have a whale over time. Um yeah. So so with regards to the difference between backing tracks or full band, I would say, you know, i it’s the other depth that the instruments add. Absolutely, but there is no difference in the amount of fun and the experience. So I wouldn’t say definitely one or the other, otherwise I wouldn’t be doing it.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 23:03
Of course, yeah. I mean, uh you’ve touched on something else there as well, and that’s about interaction and connection with guests and and uh and people in a venue, right? How how important is that, do you think?
Aliki Edwards – Aliki Sings Entertainment – Wedding Vocalist, Duo & Band • 23:15
Very important. Absolutely the most important thing. And that’s what we’re basing the brand on. Because the Aliki Sings Entertainment you know, it is all about the feeling, it’s about the chemistry. Excuse the pan. It’s about the chemistry because without it you know, again, it’s it’s a bit of a Spotify playlist. You know, you you can you can have the music playing and somebody can perform a song absolutely perfectly, note perfect. Yeah. But is the emotion, is this moment, is when people You know, especially in the dance clause, they respond back to you. They sing to you, the guests, they sing back to you, and then you can have that connection and you can have that interaction and convey that emotion. There was a a great story actually. One of the key moments I remember that happened and I thought, oh my God, this is why I’m doing this for. So, this lady, oh yes, I forgot to say, we also do a special what we call an ABBA burst. Okay. where Wendy and I are the ABBA girls. We haven’t got the boys really. Can’t convince men to play ABBBA for some reason.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 24:32
I think I think it’s those those tight, shiny suits, isn’t it?
Aliki Edwards – Aliki Sings Entertainment – Wedding Vocalist, Duo & Band • 24:35
I think so. Anyway, we love ABBA. And with Mama Mia, you know, a lot of the couples love ABBA as well. And older, younger couples, they all love ABBA. So so we do a little ABBA burst. So we were booked to do an ABBA birthday party. And when we walked in in into the venue, it was a big garden party, beautiful festival. kind of feel. They had bars, mobile bars. It was they had gone all the way, all the way, to to make us feel comfortable that we had a stage on there. And we walked in there and they were already wearing the sequins. We set up, did the rehearsal, the sound check. And they were dancing already, and I was saying, Oh, really sorry, that was just the sound check, you know, we’re coming back in five minutes Um Anyway, this lady had asked us to learn a special song, which was Don’t Stop Me Now by Quinn. And so we knew that song, we learned it. And I said, Before you perform it, I said, When are you going to do this? I said, Oh, we planned it for you towards the end because we knew it’s a special song. Oh, perfect, she said. Um before you you do it stop because I’d like to say a few words.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 25:49
Okay.
Aliki Edwards – Aliki Sings Entertainment – Wedding Vocalist, Duo & Band • 25:50
And so we did. And we called her to the stage, got our mic, and and she started saying about her like husband that passed away and how she didn’t want to have the party, but it was her daughter’s thirtieth and she thought, you know When we had a party, he was always the life and soul of the party. He would have loved to have a party. And Among a lot of other things that she said, she said, And this is his song, and now the girls will perform this song. How do you follow up after that? So we did. We did the song and it went perfectly. It was beautiful. And everybody was dancing next to her, hugging her. She was in tears. She was in bits. We finished the song, everybody was like in the moment. We s jumped off the stage, gave her those big hugs And I just couldn’t stop and say, you know, out loud on the mic, you know, this is why we do this for, for those moments.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 26:56
It’s all about moments, isn’t it?
Aliki Edwards – Aliki Sings Entertainment – Wedding Vocalist, Duo & Band • 26:58
And this is what it is. Exactly. Exactly. For those moments I do this for. And we’re very warm as people. very welcoming and we treat every couple as it be as if it was our only couple. And I think and I think that shows that shows.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 27:18
I think it does. I I think so many people get wrapped up in the fact that I run this business and when I’m onboarding a new couple, I I do this a thousand times. And sometimes things like that can feel really impersonal. But of course, I think I think that Getting, I think it’s very different going with somebody who is artistic, right? Because they want to get to know you and they want to make sure that everything works. So, I mean, from Yeah, so from a couple’s perspective, if they think, you know what, we’re going to call a licky, we’re going to talk to her about booking her for a wedding, what kind of process are they likely to expect?
Aliki Edwards – Aliki Sings Entertainment – Wedding Vocalist, Duo & Band • 27:57
Yes, we’re very, very simple. As I said, we work in journeys. So the first the first step really as I get just get in touch. And then what we what I typically recommend is that we jump in a what I call a mapping call to figure out you know, map out the scene, see what they like, what they don’t like, and have a few questions I ask them. So yes, there is a bit of a system going through behind that. But but but I find things like, you know, the vibes, obviously, what’s the style that they’re one for? What is their favorite song? What what artists they love. Even I I even ask, you know, what kind of colors, color scheme. Because we like to match. We like to blend in and we like to be part of the you know, the whole thing. If the bride has Picked, I don’t know, blush pink. We have loads of dresses, by the way. I mean, I don’t know what I’m gonna do. My wardrobe gets bigger and bigger and bigger and bigger.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 28:55
I have the same problem with my fiancé.
Aliki Edwards – Aliki Sings Entertainment – Wedding Vocalist, Duo & Band • 28:59
I have so many dresses. Anyway, so yes, uh whatever color, I’m sure we have it, and if we don’t have it, we’ll get it Um yes. So after after I listen really, um and we discuss and I really understand what they like, then um I go away and put together a proposal for them. And usually it moves very quickly after that because by the time they have reached out and they know who we are and what we offer, they’ve probably already made up their mind. So the process is very quick. I’m very responsive. There’s nothing worse in my mind than being ghosted. Yeah. That is my, oh my God. Because it just plays up in my head and it’s like Wha w what’s going on? Why don’t they like me? Don’t they want to talk to me? Are they too busy? What’s going on? Yeah, I hate it, so I don’t I really don’t like doing that to people Yeah. So so yeah, it goes very quickly. And then you know, provided that we have availability, obviously, which is which is one of the first things that I find out. Their date and their venue, but even in the Hamgo venue and the very early on, I’m more than happy to just guide them through And then if they’re far away from making a decision, then they can have the information they need, and when they’re ready, they can come back to me. But if they’re ready to make a decision, then it usually moves very, very quickly Um yeah, and then and then you know once once um you know the fail the deposit as such which which um I think we charge at the moment a ten percent deposit, which is pretty low really considering the the industry standard. Then we the date is booked in the diary, and then we can talk about specifics like the songs they like, so then I can make sure I I learn them in time and I have the tracks for them, the flow of the day and and all of those kind of things.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 30:50
Yeah. Yeah. So, how far in advance would you say that people need to start thinking about booking live entertainment like singers and bands?
Aliki Edwards – Aliki Sings Entertainment – Wedding Vocalist, Duo & Band • 30:59
Well, it used to be that people booked two years in advance. But nowadays, it’s I don’t know if you’re finding the same. It’s a lot more last minute. And a lot more inquiries are coming in for still for twenty twenty six. And you know, we are happy to if the date is free, the date is free. So I’m happy to book it. Um yeah. We we just um we just love the couples really, that they’re looking for not just somebody to just play the the same old songs that any other band or any other singer can do. We are looking for couples who want the music to feel something.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 31:41
Got you. Are there any tracks that that when you’re sort of meeting with a couple, you think to yourself, I I really hope they ask me for X?
Aliki Edwards – Aliki Sings Entertainment – Wedding Vocalist, Duo & Band • 31:50
We have some favorite, yeah. Um if you go on our website, our hero is thousand years uh and that was another emotional moment which nobody knows well, very few people know what happened on the day But that’s on our hero reel. And Wendy sings the lead and I do the harmonies on that particular one. And And we wanted to create some promotional material, and we had a friend’s wedding that was happening. We were going to sing at the wedding. So we asked if we could go the day before, while the venue was all decorated, to shoot some content. But they were all on the site anyway because it was like a three-day wedding. So as soon as we set up uh in front of a beautiful arch they all come in and say, Oh, can we come and listen? And they were there in their jeans and you know, they’re having barbecue barbecue outside. And so, yeah, of course you can come and listen So there come, there was um two lovely brides and their mums and their family. and friends, and we started singing, and I suddenly I look at Wendy, and it was so quick that my husband was doing all the content and the recordings, and he he didn’t manage to record that song. Anyway She was in she was apathetic, she was emotional, because it was it was her friend getting married. And I thought, oh And then the second song we’d do was Thousand Years. And I’m thinking, Yeah, yeah, yeah, I’m holding on, I’m doing this, I’m doing this. In the meantime, behind the camera, what people don’t see is the brides dancing in the background, cuddling each other, ’cause that was the song that we were gonna yeah. And and and and the ma the bride’s m mum, one of the bride’s mums, was she was in bits. She had like Robert like that. And we were sitting at the front, you know, trying to shoot content and look really professional and like there was nothing going on.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 33:40
Yeah.
Aliki Edwards – Aliki Sings Entertainment – Wedding Vocalist, Duo & Band • 33:41
And we go to the end of the song and I’m thinking, Yep, yep, I did this I’m thinking in my head, and I look at Wendy and she does that kind of like a little holds the note and it goes a bit vibratory and warbly And I go like, Oh, my God I can’t hold it And I’m like looking away, trying to hold it in, and of course he sees me She realizes straight awa what’s go straight away what’s going on, and she puts her hand at me, and I’m like Hold on, hold on. And then the the song finishes beautifully, and then she says, And breathe. Oh my god Anyway, I thought you know what I’m gonna put that in the in the in the in the in the reel, see what it does. And it went mental.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 34:29
People loved it. Yeah.
Aliki Edwards – Aliki Sings Entertainment – Wedding Vocalist, Duo & Band • 34:31
So now we have a little joke every now and then says, I should poke your eyes out. Make sure you cry.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 34:39
Oh, fabulous. It does sound like you have sound like you have a lot of fun with it. So, right, a little bit of general advice now for people. So, there are people out there, they’re listening to this, and they’re thinking, you know what? We definitely want some kind of live music at our wedding and there’s lots of points in the day that we could have it. Aside from call the leaky to Discuss it, what kind of things should they be thinking about, and what sort of pitfalls or common mistakes should people be avoiding?
Aliki Edwards – Aliki Sings Entertainment – Wedding Vocalist, Duo & Band • 35:10
Yeah, I think a lot of the time is I would say and in my experience music kind of sets the flow. Um and it kind of joins the moments of the wedding together. Um so what I what I would really say is if you can afford it and and and you want to do that, is I would personally have music throughout. And there are certain moments you can have Like, for example, your ceremony, you can use the music to welcome your guests as they’re coming in. Not just walking down the aisle. So it creates a beautiful atmosphere. You can imagine a church or a beautiful hall or even the registry office. It resonates differently. So welcome your guests in. But then obviously the whole ceremony takes place and having the vocals there, the live vocals, is is absolutely amazing in my mind. But then, you know, as they lean, as you exit, you know, an upbeat song which then kind of You know, say, we’ve done it, you know, it’s the joyful event. You know, that kind of leads you next to the next section, which is really You will go away, have your photos and things like that, and your guests will be gathering around, having drinks, reception. And then again, it can be a little bit of a moment where people wonder, oh, what’s going on? You know, how can we fill the space? Well, again, You can have lots of different entertainment and and usually we see lots of different you know I mean you know that yourself. But also music is something which I think helps the day flow, helps the conversation, helps relax the atmosphere. So we do what we call a musical jukebox where people can go and pick songs out of a pretty little suitcase that we have and they can they can pick the songs, pick them on our board, and then we kind of play them. for them. So they feel like we’re doing something. And in the meantime, we can sing whatever else, whatever else there may be a request, provided we have a backing track, we will sing it for them. And then that kind of leads you into the wedding breakfast. And what I’m hearing more and more people want is not just to play a playlist for the wedding breakfast, they wanna have the live vocals. And that is again beautiful because it helps the flow and we we don’t overpower the conversation. We just you know, we’ll sit in a nice corner, make sure that we play some tunes which fit the moment. I’m forgetting the wedding. Yes, I’m forgetting the wedding breakfast entrance. That’s another thing that we do, which obviously brings the flow. And you obviously know that about it. So that’s another thing that we definitely do. So finishing off from the drinks reception, you know, welcoming them into their wedding breakfast. You know, you see more and more. you know, you know, nutkins flying in the air. Or some people, they don’t want to be the absolute center of the of the attention. They want something a little bit more pared down and toned down. But we can we can do that for them. And then again, help with the transition. have the wedding breakfast. We stop usually for the speeches and things like that, depending on how they want to do it. Um and then what we do is we kind of bring them into the evening celebration. Some people want to have a DJ, some people want to have a band. But up until that point there are also a few more transition points. So what I would say, which is an excellent transition point is that ABBA burst. So what typically would happen, I guess, in the evening in the evening, they would cut the cake and have their first dance. So we will perform that first dance live. And one of the things that we do per uh what I love doing personally, and I’ve done it for all my friends that got married, is I love to then pick a song that I know goes down well. It’s a bit of a surprise gift to the bride and groom. I like picking a song where it’s also a nice slow song and invite everybody and their loved ones. other couples to the dance floor. So there is no moment of, ooh, we finished the the first dance full-on banging disco no, there is like another transition.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 39:34
A nice transition into it, yeah.
Aliki Edwards – Aliki Sings Entertainment – Wedding Vocalist, Duo & Band • 39:36
Yes. So the couples then are surrounded by the loved ones. And then some people then choose to have the ABBA burst, which obviously gets everybody on their feet singing Dancing Queen and Gimme, Gimme, Gimme. Um uh you know, i if people don’t want that, then we go into, you know, um more of the party music. And again, we start with the banger, you know, bring it down a little bit, give them a time to get accustomed, think about, oh, do I want to dance, do I want to dance? And then pick it up again.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 40:15
So really that there’s there are so many things that people can have on a wedding day. It’s just about deciding whether you want full wall-to-wall live vocals or whether there’s a particular moment in the day that means most to you. I think that makes sense. What what are some of the most common errors that you find that people think about when they’re booking a a a live a live um m musician or singer for their wedding date? Uh some like common mythical
Aliki Edwards – Aliki Sings Entertainment – Wedding Vocalist, Duo & Band • 40:47
I mean, some of the questions I get is: I must have the band, for example. I must have the band.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 40:53
Yeah.
Aliki Edwards – Aliki Sings Entertainment – Wedding Vocalist, Duo & Band • 40:55
you know, but the band ha comes with a price because, you know, everybody needs to get paid. They spend a lot of time fine tuning their arf and they have to be paid. There’s no question about it. So so so think si thinking that only with a light band you can have fun, I think that’s a common misconception. You know, we are a part of you. We can be an acoustic duo, absolutely, but we’re also a part of you. So and because we are a part of you, the fan continues, whether you have a band or not. Some of the other misconceptions is is about the flow of the music, I would say. And that and that’s what I have seen, is when when you know If people want to insist to pick picking all their own songs, I mean, especially with the duo, we do have a massive list. We do over two hundred songs. That they can pick from. And if it’s a GO Yes, we can give them the list. But what I do say is I ask for more songs because I know that they will pick what’s favorite to them, but not necessarily what’s gonna flow.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 42:04
What will work, yeah, I get what works. So then you get to use some artistic inter artistic interpretation there to make sure that it flows. the right way.
Aliki Edwards – Aliki Sings Entertainment – Wedding Vocalist, Duo & Band • 42:12
Exactly. Yes. So they can customize it absolutely. But if if they insist, you know, playing songs that I know they’re not going to necessarily work Um you know, they really wanted they can’t have it, it’s their wedding at the end of the day, but I’m there to advise them and say perhaps the lyrics of this song don’t exactly fit in for your exit.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 42:34
Song I get you.
Aliki Edwards – Aliki Sings Entertainment – Wedding Vocalist, Duo & Band • 42:36
It’s on separ separation and divorce. Let’s sing twice.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 42:39
Yeah, maybe not. Uh right, last question then before we go, Aliki. What’s your most favorite part of a wedding data performat?
Aliki Edwards – Aliki Sings Entertainment – Wedding Vocalist, Duo & Band • 42:50
Well the mammals? Oh, you’re asking me a difficult question because there’s so many good mamas.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 42:56
There are many great moments to the day and the emotion’s different everywhere, isn’t it? But if you had to pick one, what would it be?
Aliki Edwards – Aliki Sings Entertainment – Wedding Vocalist, Duo & Band • 43:04
Okay, you’re gonna make me now reveal my secret weapon.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 43:10
I’m excited.
Aliki Edwards – Aliki Sings Entertainment – Wedding Vocalist, Duo & Band • 43:12
I know. Right, okay, so right at the end.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 43:15
Yeah.
Aliki Edwards – Aliki Sings Entertainment – Wedding Vocalist, Duo & Band • 43:16
Provided, you know, we’re doing an evening thing. Um, we like to give something special back in the sense that I like to bring them back all together on the dance floor and have a special moment. Where we kind of after all the encores and the mess has happened, you know, and the dunkiness, you know, just to bring it down Back to the meaning of what the day is. So what we do at the end of the day is we get them together And hold hands, the relatives come around, they all hold hands, and we sing a little bit of a cappella, Stand by Me. Um, and I don’t know if if you can remember the words, but they’re so fitting, you know, when the night has come, etcetera, etcetera, you know, and then everybody stands by each other singing, you know in unison in us, you know, hand up in the air, you know. So for me that epitomizes the whole thing and it and it kind of finishes the evening really, really well.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 44:23
And it’s a very lovely emotional touch. And that’s lovely. And that’s lovely. That’s really nice. Wonderful. Well, listen, Aliki, it’s been an absolute pleasure having you on the podcast. Thank you so much for coming along. And one last thing. If people want to reach out to you, where can they find you on the World Wide Web and the social medias?
Aliki Edwards – Aliki Sings Entertainment – Wedding Vocalist, Duo & Band • 44:44
Oh, yes. So our website Has everything you ever need to find out about us. It’s www. alikisings. com. Yeah, and then you can find us on Instagram, which is rhythm underscore sisters. Uh and also on Facebook, um Rhythm Sisters Duo. Um yeah Have I run with this FC? Yes, I think so.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 45:12
Brilliant. That’s great. Thank you so much, Aliki Taker.
Aliki Edwards – Aliki Sings Entertainment – Wedding Vocalist, Duo & Band • 45:15
Thank you. Thank you so much. Bye.
Liam Ball – Your Magical Wedding Host – The Gentleman Magician • 45:20
And there you have it, folks. If you’re planning a wedding and you want live music that feels personal, flexible and full of warmth I can wholeheartedly recommend Aliki and her Aliki Sings entertainment company. You can find her online, as she said, at alikisings. com and on Instagram at Rhythm Underscore Sisters or Facebook at Rhythm Sisters Duo. Definitely worth a look and a listen if you are considering live music for your day. Once again, if you’re enjoying listening to or watching these conversations. Thank you so much for being here, and please do share them with anybody and everybody that you know who’s getting married. It really does help couples make confident, informed choices about what they do on their wedding days. Until next time, folks, thank you so much. And remember, choose your suppliers wisely. And I’ll see you on the next episode of the Supplier Spotlight Podcast. Take care.