Student Spotlight - Lisa Hope
In our final Popular Music Student Spotlight of the week, we caught up with Lisa 😊
What is your name, and where are you from?
I’m Lisa Hope, 26, and originally from Berlin. I came to Perth in 2017 to study Popular Music.
What were you doing before you came to Perth College UHI?
When I lived in Berlin, I always had a wish to pursue Music – but I never acted on it, because it always seemed unstable and I didn’t have the confidence to go after it. After I attended University in Berlin, for Southeast Asian Studies, I realised very quickly it wasn’t what I wanted and eventually decided to try out for a music school. After successfully attending a music school in Berlin, I applied to Perth College UHI for the Popular Music course.
Why did you decide to pick this course?
It has always been my wish to come to Scotland, because my family on my mother’s side is from Scotland, so when I found out that I could study Music here I applied to several universities. And I heard a lot of good things about the Music course in Perth, so I decided to take the offer.
Are the music facilities on-campus, good?
Through my course, I could experience the music studios in Perth and can say that the facilities are really well equipped and have a lot to offer for music students.
During the pandemic, how did the style of teaching change? Were your lecturers supportive during this time?
Throughout the last year, most of the classes have been online and were well-thought out by the lecturers. It would be nice to have more contact with other students and incorporate interactive classes, but overall all the modules were adjusted well to the change online.
You are now in your final year; can you tell us a bit about the projects you have been working on?
For my final year at Perth College UHI, I have decided to write a ten-track album that is self-written and self-produced by myself. Throughout the project, I have also collaborated with several other musicians that will be featured on some of my songs. Previous to the album release, I released a single “Feels like Home (feat. Maria)”, that was co-written with the singer Maria, from Vietnam. This single was released on 2 April and received a great response within its first week online.
The song was played by BBC Radio Scotland through their ‘BBC Introducing’ segment on April 2nd. After the air time, it was also featured in an online music blog by KEIKO TERRY.
Has there been any stand out/memorable moments from your course?
My first year at Perth College UHI has definitely been the one of the best years at the University. Through band work and collaborative working with other students, I was able to find a lot of new friends, make contacts, and find myself as an artist.
Any other achievements you have gained on your journey?
During my four years as a music student, I have learned a lot about being a musician and was able to form many more music connections outside of college as well. I’m looking forward to future projects and collaborations, with those new-found friendships and connections.
Where can we find your music, and follow you?
You can follow my journey at @lisahope.music on Instagram and listen to my music on all streaming Platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, Deezer and Soundcloud by looking up Lisa Hope.
What are your plans, for after you finish your course?
I already have a few projects planned to come out in Summer 2021 and by the end of the year.
Have you enjoyed studying at Perth College UHI?
Yes, I am really happy that I chose Perth College UHI as my place to study Music. The lecturers are really nice and are always there to listen. And just over the past four years, I have gained so much knowledge and could really build my skillset as a musician.
And finally, what advice would you give to someone thinking about studying at Perth College UHI?
For anyone who wants to come to Perth as an International student, I can say - it’s definitely worth it, and can be a great experience for anyone. People are super friendly, and there are so many opportunities for students to attend. It took me a bit to get used to the language but, you’ll get used to it after a while 😉 It’s a wonderful experience.
