singer. creative. nerd.
Justine's Mic
My name is Justine and I am a queer Filipino vocalist based in the U.S. and I post song covers on my YouTube Channel, "Justine's Mic." My covers are typically songs from things I personally enjoy (i.e. TV shows/movies, video games, fav musicians) to songs that I project my own original characters onto.For collaborations, feel free to email me or message me on social media. For all other inquiries, please send me a message through email.
studio
microphones
Neumann TLM 103
Avantone Pro CV-12
audio interface
Focusrite Scarlett Solo 3rd Gen USB Audio Interface
headphones
Audio-Technica ATH-M30x
Sennheiser HD6xx
DAW program
Logic Pro X
room treatment
Snap Studio Vocal Booth
connectivity
Zoom
Discord
faq
Why isn't ___ on Spotify? Can you put ___ on Spotify (etc.)?
To be able to legally monetize a cover, I need to own all components of a given cover outside of the song itself (ex. my voice, the instrumental). As a result, I need to commission custom instrumentals for covers I want to put on streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, etc. A lot of my covers made before 2024 use instrumentals that are not available for commercial use. Commissioning instrumentals takes a lot of time and money, so as a result I am extremely selective about which covers I want to have on places like Spotify.
Can you make a cover of ___?
I'm always open to hearing people's suggestions for songs they would like me to record! However, in order to keep this hobby sustainable for myself, I prioritize recording covers for songs I already have a lot of interest in and am prepared/willing to spend a lot of time and energy on. So while people are more than welcome to try and request/suggest songs for me to sing, I cannot promise that I will be able to honor every request/suggestion that comes my way.
Can I use one of your covers in content of my own?
From what I've learned, I technically cannot give legal consent or clearance for people to use my covers in their content (even if said content is not monetized). If you disregard what I say and end up using my covers in your content anyway, I don't believe I will get in any trouble, but you may end up running the risk of a copyright claim or a DMCA takedown (because, as you know, these are song covers and I don't own much beyond my voice and the instrumentals that I commission).There are some forms of content that I think (emphasis on think; I am not 100% certain) are safe to use my covers. Such forms of content can include any TikTok video that uses my cover as a sound, fan animatics, fan animations, speed draws, and video edits. This is a super general, non-exhaustive list, however. So if you're ever curious as to whether you can use my cover in something, feel free to send me an email or a message on social media.If you do end up using one of my covers in something you make, then I request that you leave credit in the following manner:[Name of song] by [Name of Original Artist]
< Link to original song >
Cover by Justine's Mic
< Link to my cover >
< Link to my channel >
What do you use to record? How do you record?
The microphone that I use is the Neumann TLM 103. To prevent plosives (severe "puh" or "tuh" sounds), I use a pop filter and place it about 4-5 inches in front of my mic. To use my microphone with a DAW (Digital Audio Workspace) software and actually be able to record, I use an XLR cable to plug it into an audio interface and then into my computer. The audio interface that I use is the Focusrite Scarlett Solo. You can find a complete list of the equipment I use here.As for the ins and outs of how I record...It's a lot to explain and something tells me not many people would wanna read a wall of text where I try my best to explain a basic recording process (and even then, my "best" might not result in the most helpful explanation for everyone!). Thus, I've put together a playlist with beginner friendly videos on how to record songs/covers.The videos in the playlist were made by Annie Dang, and I really appreciate the way she explains everything! She's very thorough about each step while making sure to use language that is very accessible and not condescending.
Can I collaborate with you?
If you're interested in collaborating with me, feel free to contact me via my email or via any of my social media accounts.KEEP IN MIND: Similar to my answer regarding song requests/suggestions, in order to make sure this hobby remains sustainable I mainly collaborate with friends or acquaintances (ie. mutuals). That's not to say I'm against receiving collab proposals from others! But like I said before, I cannot promise that I will be able to honor every single collab request that comes my way. If you have reached out to me and do not receive a response from me for a LONG TIME, it's likely that I do not have the capacity to honor the collaboration you are proposing. Please do not take my lack of a response personally. It has less to do with you and more to do with the fact that I am a human being and I have a limited supply of energy when it comes to writing out my responses. (I am also have a tendency to be very forgetful).
Can I use the instrumental you used in your cover/song?
No. Unless otherwise specified in the description of my video, all of my instrumentals are personally commissioned and paid for by me, and I do not distribute these instrumentals for others to use.