June 16, 2022

Interview with Cory Singer

We had the pleasure of interviewing Cory Singer over Zoom video!

New Jersey native, singer-songwriter Cory Singer, recenlty released a new music video for the song, “Break of Dawn”.

Cory Singer has become a social media & TikTok sensation as an...

Pop

We had the pleasure of interviewing Cory Singer over Zoom video!

New Jersey native, singer-songwriter Cory Singer, recenlty released a new music video for the song, “Break of Dawn”.

Cory Singer has become a social media & TikTok sensation as an autism advocate, coining the phrase “Let’s Normalize Autism”. With over 404k followers and 13 million likes (TikTok) and full verification across Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, Cory promotes positivity by inspiring others with his unique brand, music, and personal experiences having autism himself.

His latest single “Break of Dawn” takes his fans from his lonely heartbreak of not having someone to love and accept him (Someone) to his current status of finding the right “one.”

Some of Cory’s accomplishments include BRAVO TV’s singing competition "The Kandi Factory," winning the grand prize (single and music video release). Multi Grammy Award winner Kandi Burruss penned Cory’s winning song “I Can Do Anything."

Cory was nominated for Best Vocal Performance in 2013 for his role in Tony Award winner Joe DiPietro’s The Last Romance in Broadway World Magazine. He also received a 2011 NJ Perry Award Nomination for his role in "Seussical The Musical" (The Mayor). Additionally, he is on the board of directors for the I Am Able Foundation and an ambassador for Sound Mind Network.

We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com.

www.BringinitBackwards.com

#podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #CorySinger #Autism #AutismAwareness #ICanSoAnything #BreakOfDawn #NewMusic #zoom

Listen & Subscribe to BiB

https://www.bringinitbackwards.com/follow/

Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/bringinbackpod

We'd love to see you join our BiB Facebook Group

Transcript

Hello! It is Adam. Welcome back to bringing it backwards. A podcast where both legendary and rising artists tell their own personal stories of how they achieve stardom. On this episode, we had a chance to hang out with Corey singer over zoom video. Corey was born and raised in New Jersey, and he talks about how he got into music started off on the trumpet, but always was a singer really involved in theater, ended up doing a lot of musicals and musical theater started learning guitar towards the end of high school. Around that same time, he had the opportunity to sing the national Anthem at an event in Atlanta where one of the real Housewives of Atlanta was at, he did such a great job that this housewife recommended that he try out for this new reality show that was coming out about singing called the candy factory, featuring candy Burris, who famously wrote no scrubs from TLC and obviously is on the real Housewives of Atlanta as well. 3 (2m 25s): So he tries out for the candy factory, gets on the show and ends up winning his episode. With winning the episode, they provide a song for him to sing and perform. He was able to look at the music and the chords and kind of then internalize how to write a song. And from there he'd just been writing and writing and writing. He talks about his success on Tik TOK. He has autism. So we talk about autism quite a bit, and he's a huge advocate for autism and autism awareness. That's really how he got his big boost on Tik TOK. He's been releasing a song in the month of March for autism awareness month and he just released his second one. 3 (3m 6s): The first one he released last year was called someone with his most recent song, kind of the, the follow-up to someone there around the same time called break of Dawn. You can watch our interview with Corey singer on our Facebook page and YouTube channel at bringing it backwards. It would be awesome if you subscribe to our channel like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and tick-tock at bringing back pod. And if you're listening to this on Spotify, apple podcast, Google podcast, you would be amazing if you follow us there as well, and hook us up with a five star review. 4 (3m 39s): We'd appreciate your support. If you follow and subscribe to our podcasts, wherever you listen to podcasts, 3 (3m 46s): We're bringing it backwards with Corey singer. Hey, how are you 5 (3m 50s): Doing well yourself? I'm 3 (3m 52s): Doing well. I appreciate you doing this. 5 (3m 54s): Yeah, I appreciate being here and I appreciate you having me. So yes, 3 (3m 59s): Yes, yes. My name is Adam and this podcast is about you and your journey and music. And we'll talk about the new song as well. 5 (4m 9s): Awesome. 3 (4m 10s): Cool. I did read and maybe I'm wrong. Are you from New Jersey? 5 (4m 14s): Yes, sir. You're born and raised. 3 (4m 17s): Okay. Tell me about growing up in, tell me about growing up in Jersey. 5 (4m 22s): Well, my childhood was weird. We moved around in, you know, stoned central Jersey, but in different parts of Jersey, like Edison, Woodbridge. And we settled in a nice little town here in New Jersey, which, you know, just for my own safety, I won't disclose, but sure about been here since then. And you know, it's, it's home, you know, I've been to other states and all that, but this is, this is home. I'm used to New Jersey, you know, it's expensive, but it's, you know, but you're comfortable there. Yeah. Very cool Jersey boy, I just don't have your typical Jersey accent. 5 (5m 2s): I say water, everybody. Else's water. So, 3 (5m 6s): Oh, how did you lose that? You just, didn't never got it. Never picked up the Jersey accent, 5 (5m 11s): I guess not, no, I guess I was immune to it. Okay. 3 (5m 16s): And how 5 (5m 17s): Did you get the music? So I always had music around me growing up a memory in particular, you know, when my parents were still together, I would listen. We had these CDs, we had journey's greatest hit live, and Stevie Wonder's greatest hits. And I remember those too. I remember listening to faith hill. I remember listening to Leann rhymes and we'll have you. And so, you know, music was always around me, but then when I was in fourth grade, I won, I got into theater, something about it, just screened. 5 (5m 57s): Like you need to do a school, play out. Don't know what it was. I just, I wanted to do it. And I did it. And I stuck with that. I was the Beaky theater kid growing up in school. And then on my senior year of high school, I did the singing competition show called the candy factory, Bravo TV. Yeah. And, you know, candy Burris, you know, wrote no scrubs for TLC and all that. And there was a winter per episode at one of my episode and she wrote a song that was unique to us and I'd been playing guitar for a year at that point. And that's what planted the seed for songwriting for me, because she had a recorded, you know, vocal of, and music of the song I was supposed to sing and just the music by itself so I can practice with it, but, and the lyric sheet, and it was just all written out for me. 5 (6m 53s): And I'm like, it's that simple? Now I've been writing ever since, so. 3 (6m 57s): Oh, wow. So prior to that show, you said you had only been playing guitar for a year prior to going on the show. 5 (7m 3s): Yeah. I did get like a cheap like electric guitar kit, like Ivan as electric guitar kit when I was like 10 years old, but I never played it, but it wasn't until I got into my junior year of high school where I actually had an interest in I'm like, this seems kind of cool. Like I want to do something in conjunction with that and with the theater. And so I took a guitar class and I just kinda stuck with me and started broadening mine. Cause I just listened to Broadway stuff up to that point. I started listening to more like Neil young, Melissa Etheridge, ACDC, the Eagles Beatles. I really got into the Beals at that point, ed Sheeran, wag, you know, I just like started broadening out my musical sense and I was getting really into Dave Matthews at that point. 5 (7m 48s): So it's like, 3 (7m 50s): It all kind of came together at that point. 5 (7m 52s): Yes. Everything came there. That's my, what got me into music. 3 (7m 57s): Okay. So we'll to, to talk for a second here about the, the theater. So you basically ruin what like plays and then also musical theater. And were you in chorus or anything like that? Like where you basically focusing on that aspect of, you know, in the music industry, so to speak for a long time. 5 (8m 15s): So one thing I don't really talk about, I, before being a singer, I played trumpet and I stopped playing because while playing trumpet, I got braces and I was, you know, I had to get used to playing like that, which was painful. Then I got the braces off and then I have to relearn. I just like I give up, I didn't even enjoy it, but I was doing musicals at that point. I grew up doing musical theater and straight plays. 3 (8m 38s): Well, how long, sorry. Real quick. On the, on the, I'm just curious now about the trumpet. When did you start playing trumpet and why did you 5 (8m 43s): Stop? 3 (8m 44s): Oh wow. Third 5 (8m 45s): Grade. My last year was freshman year. 3 (8m 48s): So you played it for a while then? 5 (8m 50s): Yeah. I just have enough. I didn't, I didn't enjoy it all that much. I just, you know, 3 (8m 56s): You know that you had the ear, you probably could read music at that point too. Right? 5 (8m 60s): A little bit like I've been learning, teaching myself piano. I'm four months in now and I'm like, so it's helped me in learning piano. So that's also like, oh yeah, that's E that's a, that's an F sharps. It's like, 3 (9m 13s): Sure that's 5 (9m 15s): Helped. But the trumpet, I never talked about the trumpet actually, but I never took care of that trumpet either. I've gone through actually a couple of trumpets. So 3 (9m 23s): You have a trumpet still 6 (9m 25s): Planning on traveling this summer, make saving at the pump part of your plans with two times the fuel points from Harris Teeter, it's easy. Download your EBIT coupon. And for every dollar you spend with your VIT card, you'll get two fuel points. That's up to $1 per gallon on quality fuel at participating BP and Harris Teeter fuel centers. Download your EBIT coupon today and save money at the pump all summer long with Evoque and Harris Teeter fuel points 7 (9m 55s): Seen at a hotel. It's not the same thing as seen out at the Fisher house. 8 (9m 58s): The Fisher house I know is a huge part of blanche recovery 7 (10m 2s): For somebody like my husband, for them to know that their family members are being taken care of. That's a huge burden off of them so they can concentrate on their therapies. 9 (10m 11s): Just having that assurance that no matter what, as long as we were there for Anson, that someone would be there to take care of us. It took so much weight off our shoulders. 10 (10m 21s): How can you help go to Fisher house.org? 2 (10m 24s): There's never been a better time to find out why bet MGM is the king of sports books. Download the bet MGM app and place a $10 Moneyline wager on any NBA playoff game. If either team hits a three-pointer in the game, you'll win $200 in free bets. Just use code champion 200. When you make your first bet, sign up now and discover bet MGMs daily promotions, boosted odd specials, and more. Download the app or go to bet. mgm.com and use code champion 200 to win $200 in free bets. If either team hits a three in any NBA playoff game, visit bed mgm.com for terms and conditions. 21 years of age or older, the wager Virginia only new customer offer. 2 (11m 5s): All promotions are subject to qualification and eligibility requirements rewards issued as non withdrawal free bats are site credit, free bets expire seven days from issuance, please gamble responsibly gambling problem. Call 1 8 8 8 5 3 2 3500. 5 (11m 20s): No. 3 (11m 21s): Ah, I was going to say you should break it out on Tik TOK and just, just bust out a few songs on the trumpet. 5 (11m 27s): Maybe it might not sound. It sounds so good. 3 (11m 31s): That's awesome though. What a cool thing that, yeah. That no one really knows about you. I think that's awesome. 5 (11m 37s): I never heard that. So thank you for getting that out of me. 3 (11m 40s): Yeah, of course. So trumpet and I'll obviously the, the musical theater. And were you also doing like drama acting and theater as well or yeah. Everything. 5 (11m 50s): So, yeah, so I was like in, like I said, growing up in school, middle school, we only had, did plays, never did musicals, but my time we had the summer drama program where we did musicals and so each year I just got better and better and better. It wasn't until my freshman year of high school where we did the musical cabaret. People started to notice that like, oh, this dude gets sick and cause I've always been able to sing. I just never had a great opportunity to show that off. And that was when 3 (12m 17s): She realized you could sing, like just around the house. You could, you just knew you had pretty good pitch. 5 (12m 23s): Yeah. So we're watching my mom tells this story all the time. We're watching the Kennedy center honors. I don't know if you've ever watched those Amazing thing to do. Once you're at the Kennedy center, they honor five people in the entertainment industry, whether it be like a musician, a singer, actor, dancer, opera, singer, whatever. They pick five people. Sometimes they'll do a band amongst the five groups. And there was this woman who was an operatic singer and they have people perform their stuff for them. And there's one, most thing, an opera. And I was just kind of going along with it. And my mom thought it was a TV and it was like me. I was like, oh, I can do it. So, and yeah. 5 (13m 5s): So that's how I found out I could sing. I just always sang. And I grew up watching grease in west side story, the music man, those all had a very, the music man. I always had the music man on those all had a very profound effect on me. 3 (13m 23s): So that's it. Yeah. And then that's kind of where, yeah. Okay. And then when was your, you said you did cabaret and that was in middle school still or that didn't, you didn't start in high school. Okay. So high school is when you started doing actual musical theater. 5 (13m 36s): Oh no. Sorry. This is getting confused. Now I started doing musical theater cause like the summer drama program. 3 (13m 42s): Got you. Okay. 5 (13m 43s): Yeah. That's what started it, the very first actual, real musical. I was 12 years old. We did it. How to succeed in business without really trying the announcer. And so, you know, just every summer I was always doing a musical. 3 (13m 57s): Got you. Okay. Now, now I'm clarified. Yeah. Sorry. I was confused. 5 (14m 1s): Apologies. I'm sorry. 3 (14m 3s): No, no, no, it's my, I just wasn't following along. So that's awesome. So when you get into high school, you said you were what junior, when you started learning guitar and you just were into Dave Matthews and those types of bands and that's kind of what sparked the interest to learn how to play? 5 (14m 20s): No, I just started playing because I wanted it to be able to accompany myself and playing theater tunes. 3 (14m 27s): Okay. 5 (14m 27s): Yeah. So then I was like, I just want to get more into it and learn more. And it became an obsession for me. And I've been playing ever since. I'm not like a shredder or anything. I'm more like I write melodies so I could write songs. 3 (14m 43s): Sure, sure. Okay. So when, how do you get involved in this show on Bravo? Like how did that even happen? 5 (14m 51s): So I sang the national Anthem at this events in Atlanta, Georgia, which is where the, the show took place. And one of the real Housewives was there. We're running out of 3 (15m 3s): To rewind a half a second there. What was it like, how did you get the gig singing in Atlanta? I mean, that's not in your state, right? I mean, you're in Jersey, you 5 (15m 12s): Get this gig 3 (15m 13s): In Atlanta. Like how does that happen? 5 (15m 16s): My mom used to be an event planner and she did this nationwide thing where people would do like indoor cycling for like this charity. I forgot what it was, but they invited fader parks out who was on the real Housewives of Atlanta at that point as a celebrity guest. 3 (15m 33s): Okay. 5 (15m 34s): And I sang the national Anthem at the event and you know, she said, oh, you should do the candy factory. And I was like, oh, okay. Like if my friend candy, she's doing this new show. And I was like, okay. So there's like a process of doing like video auditions and all that, sending them stuff. And I got into the show. 3 (15m 54s): What were your auditions? You remember? 5 (15m 57s): Yes. So I had to do a 10 minute video talking about myself 3 (16m 0s): 10 minutes. 5 (16m 2s): Yeah. And I had to audition with a song. I did two songs actually. 3 (16m 8s): Well in, does that count towards the 10 minutes or is it additional? 5 (16m 14s): No. That they needed a song to hear. If I had any kind of vocal jobs whatsoever. I talked about my stuff on the theater kid and how I'm autistic and all that. I have autism and 3 (16m 24s): Yeah. Both of my boys are on the spectrum. I think that's incredible what you're doing for the community. 5 (16m 30s): Thank you. And I talked about that and cause like, they're like, oh, we need a story about you. You know? Cause like all those shows, they need some sort of, sort of sob story have you, but I didn't look up, 3 (16m 41s): I just need a story to kind of push the right. 5 (16m 45s): It wasn't so much, it wasn't a sob story for me. It was just like, oh, it's just this thing that I deal with. But I do theater and all that. And I sang a song from a musical called LA causal fall and the song was, I am what I am and yeah. And I sang a Neil young song. 3 (17m 4s): Oh rad what Neil young song 5 (17m 6s): Needle and the damage done. So I sang it very positive, like, you know, like uplifting song and I go right to it right to that song. But I did that to show off my guitar skills at that point. And I got on the show and I did take a week off from school. I told the principal about it, but I couldn't tell any of my teachers, anything like that. I couldn't go into, but the principal and the board, you know, we, we kept them in the loop and let them know. Okay. So I'm doing this TV show, it's all secretive. I've signed NDAs. And we got to go ahead with Bravo to talk to them about it. Cause I was still a senior in high school 3 (17m 39s): And 5 (17m 42s): I had to take a week off from, from school to go down to Atlanta to film it. And so when I came back, I was like, Corey, you're alive. Like yeah. I had the flu. And then, 3 (17m 54s): And like you said to make something up because you weren't, obviously you weren't allowed to say you're on a television show or even was a television show at this point. 5 (18m 2s): Exactly. And then what happened a couple months later, I actually did get the flu. I was up for another week and they were like, yo, you have the flu again. I'm like, I know it's weird. 3 (18m 16s): So the show hadn't aired yet still? 5 (18m 18s): No, it didn't, it didn't air until spring of 23rd, 2013. That's when I graduated. So it was 2013. 3 (18m 26s): Okay. So you, when did you shoot it? Is it like in the fall or something? 5 (18m 31s): No. So we shot it in spring, not offspring, winter. December of 3 (18m 40s): Oh, 2012. Wow. So it didn't come out for like a year. 5 (18m 44s): Yeah. Well I was, I think one of the last three episodes to air of that show. So we filmed it. It was just a week long process. It was, it was, it was an experience. 3 (18m 57s): What was it like being a part of that? 5 (18m 59s): It was interesting. So it was my first time traveling anywhere by myself and I landed in, in Nash and non-natural Atlanta, Georgia, sorry. I just got off of work. So it's 3 (19m 12s): No good I'm in Nashville. So it's all good. 5 (19m 18s): So I was in Atlanta, Georgia, and a couple of the people, the producers picked me up and you know, I said, oh, you know, I'm a little nervous being by myself. And they were worried because you know, society is like, oh my God, this autistic guy. He's so worried about being by himself. Like, listen, do you think, you know, talk to my mom, like without my knowledge. And they're like, do you want, you know, do you want to come down and help my mom? I was like, he's got this. If he's uncomfortable, he will let you guys know. Like, he was like, it was a learning process for them. But you know, there's like putting the makeup on all the time. There was like a film crew ready. He goes, okay, you can enter now. And it's like, everything was already kind of set in place. And Stu when you enter, when you leave, 3 (20m 0s): Did you enlighten, did you like that? Or was that kind of like, you know, now you're covered T 5 (20m 6s): It was interesting. I would never want to be on a reality show on my own, just because there would be a lack of privacy and you know, so like, this is just like an experience for me. You had to have a mic pack on you. And there was a lot of weight, like, you know, 3 (20m 21s): Just sitting around, waiting for something to happen. 5 (20m 24s): Yeah. You're just sitting around go, okay, now you can go film your part. You know, there, there were some fun days. Like make-over day though it was a fun day then made me over and yeah. And what was cool is that they put me in the other contestant in a five-star hotel, had a little studio apartment to myself and they're asking, Hey, why do you think I'm like, I can use some diet Coke and some Sicilian pizza. They got me a, a 12 pack of diet Coke and a whole pie Sicilian pizza. So yeah, the experience was really cool though. Like, you know, 6 (20m 59s): Planning on traveling this summer, make saving at the pump part of your plans. But two times the fuel points from Harris Teeter it's easy. Download your EBIT coupon. And for every dollar you spend with your Vic card, you'll get two fuel points. That's up to $1 per gallon on quality fuel at participating BP and terrace Teeter fuel centers. Download your EBIT coupon today and save money at the pump all summer long with Evoque and Harris Teeter fuel points, 11 (21m 29s): Ready to get your glitter on then head to Kings dominion grand carnival on select dates from June 25th through July 10th for a larger than life shimmering celebration. Join the spectacle of color, a dazzling parade of floats performers, music, and beats that sweeps across the park and take your taste buds on a world tour while dancing to music after dark save over 40% with a carnival package, which includes admission parking at three food tastings only at King's dominion.com. 12 (21m 59s): The national football league and aristocrat gaming are excited to announce NFL Dame slightly. Shane's only from aristocrat gaming visit aristocrat gaming.com to learn more about the NFL's and aristocrats NFL themes, slot machines, 13 (22m 14s): Gambling problem. Please contact the U S national problem gambling helpline at 1 805 2, 2 4700 New Jersey at one 800 G a M B L E R New York at 8 7 7 8 H O P E N Y. Or text H O P E N Y 4 6, 7 69 for 21 and older. 5 (22m 29s): Yeah. I, you know, I'm thankful for it. And it's like a cool story in my life, but you know, like I've grown a lot since then as an artist, but that's what kind of started in for, 3 (22m 41s): Well, I mean, winning the contest, like that's huge. 5 (22m 45s): Oh yeah, that, that is huge. And it was weird because I started getting noticed in school. I was known as the singer, but then people were like, oh, you're actually on TV. And I was like a little celebrity. It was, it was an interesting experience. Like it felt like I mattered like a, 3 (23m 4s): So what happens at your school? Like when the show comes out, then people are just like, wait, when you're on a TV show, like when was that? Like, you obviously weren't allowed to talk about it. 5 (23m 13s): Yeah. Like I had to keep it a secret and they were like, dude, how are you? How do you keep it a secret? I was like, oh, I signed an NDA where they said like five said anything about it. They Sue me for up to a million dollars. 3 (23m 22s): That'll keep it quiet. Right? 5 (23m 24s): Yeah. Give you a seven digit number. Like, you're good. So, but I, I am very thankful for the experience. It's, it's a cool experience. Like the stories that came out of that. And then I got to see everybody else who I never got to meet that film their episodes and see what they went through. It was goes, I only knew me and the one 3 (23m 48s): You guys went up against each other, essentially. 5 (23m 51s): Yeah. Kristen is her name and you know, very nice girl. Very lovely. She just had a kid, so, 3 (23m 58s): Oh, well you still keep in touch. 5 (23m 60s): Kind of, sort of like we see each other on Facebook once in a while. But like, that was like, we never really talked, but she had like an online baby shower during COVID 3 (24m 8s): And 5 (24m 8s): She was like, oh, I'll show up. And she was excited to see me. So that was cool. 3 (24m 11s): That's awesome. That's rad. Okay. And then, so from that showed like, do you end up going to like, is that just when you realize, okay, you said you that's, when you started writing songs, it was kind of around that same time. Right? I mean, you saw the song that had been written that you were supposed to sing as the winner, and then it's, you know, I could do this too. Is that where it kind of, that's where it started. 5 (24m 32s): I started writing while we were filming. 3 (24m 34s): Oh, really? Okay. Yeah. 5 (24m 36s): I had my guitar and I was in my, that little like nice studio apartment and I just started writing then lay, I was practicing my song that I had to win, but I was also that that's what started and I just kept going and going and going and going. I just haven't stopped. So 3 (24m 53s): What was the first time that you ended up like showing to somebody and releasing, or was it like, tell me about release or not releasing, but coming to somebody and saying, Hey, I wrote this song. That's, you know, that's all you, you wrote it, right. Is it, was that a vulnerable time? 5 (25m 8s): It was a very, it was, you know, when you first start and all that, you think like, it's the greatest thing ever, but now looking back, I don't even remember, but like I always had a year, like I, for lyrics in a year for a melody, I think that's where the theater kind of came in and helped me out. So I was still learning to structure a song. It took me about eight, like five years to start writing as good as I do now. So, but there's one song I wrote called Rico or because of Rico. And that's one of the earliest ones I remember when I thought like, okay, I actually have somewhat of a decent song. 5 (25m 50s): And I wrote it based off of my neighbor. I changed a person's name to my aunt's dog Rico. 3 (25m 58s): I liked that. 5 (26m 0s): So I just, and it, the process of, you know, for songwriting is weird, especially when you're trying to do original stuff. Cause you're, you're, you copy everybody else at first, but then you slowly kind of find your own thing. And so I, I think I'm, at that point, I'm kind of found my own thing 3 (26m 20s): On your own thing. I like that. And with like, when did the chick talk, like when did this falling start on social media that you have, I mean, you have a massive presence of social media. 5 (26m 30s): So my label was like, oh, you need to start at tick-tock. And I was like, no, you know, it's like, I felt like it was just a fad at that point. It's like, I don't want to do anything. It was just another it's another, what was that one app that was kind of like that 3 (26m 48s): Musically? 5 (26m 50s): No, not musically. 3 (26m 52s): That's what became tick-tock fine. 5 (26m 54s): Yeah, 3 (26m 54s): Fine. Oh yeah. We have vine. Okay. 5 (26m 56s): It's just another vine is going to go in another couple of years and you know, I didn't do too much music on that. I just try to be funny. You know, one of my personality shine wasn't with a little bit of success, then I made a joke one day about being autistic and that video blew up. I was like, okay, I might have something for myself. Cause I tried music gold times. It didn't go anywhere. But that one autism video, just because I was trying to be funny, I was trying to be an autism advocate. I was diagnosed at four and I was 25. When that started. I was like, you know what? Like, I might have something here. I posted another one. The video did well. 5 (27m 36s): And another one, another one, I've just it, the autism advocacy page and totally by accident. And 3 (27m 45s): That's so awesome though. It's like, was that a vulnerable move? I mean, where you, obviously, you, you did that for the audition tape that you sent for the candy factory show, and then you did it on Tik TOK. I mean was where you, I don't know, is that a worrisome thing to do or, I mean, obviously it was vulnerable. 5 (28m 4s): Well, for the longest time after the candy factory, I, I got this thing. Like I don't want to make it because I'm autistic and all that and make it like some sort of story like, oh, look what your did. Cause he's autistic. I try to hide it. And I became somewhat ashamed of my autism, but talking about it on sick talk, what I think was even more vulnerable and 3 (28m 23s): Sure, 5 (28m 24s): Like, you know, seeing the response I got, I was like, do I want to go down this route? Cause there was actually a point in time where I thought I cured my own autism and I was, I was wrong and I was masking heavily, which was bad for me and my mental health and Tik TOK actually helped me with that and opening up more and doing more research on autism. So I can talk about it more. Now, learn more about myself at 25 than I did from any doctor neurologist growing up. And it's like, oh my God. Like, so this explains so much and it's helping me. And I want, I need to put this information out there on Tik talk because I wish there was someone like me when I was a child that I could look to, like when I was growing up to help me explain why I am the way I am, because you know, back then when I was, you know, I'm 27 now 3 (29m 15s): There's probably, wasn't a lot of stuff out about it, right? 5 (29m 18s): No, you two, like didn't even happen when I was 10. And you know, it's like, you know, at first it was just a place where people posted weird, funny videos and now YouTube has become this big, massive thing. And Tik TOK is a by-product of that, but there weren't people like me posting about it. And now there's a lot of people like me talking about it and you know, I wish was someone like that for me, you know, out there. And so I'm glad that's what, you know, I wish my music did better on my page, but I'm doing well, my music where I'm actually very happy, but I'm also happy. The rewarding aspect of the mind Tik TOK page has become as the feedback I get from people, you know, like the, the nice messages, you know, and I'm not trying to brag. 5 (30m 5s): I'm just saying like this literally like it changed my life and helped me out saying like my videos are helping other people out and it's helping me out internally. It's like, it was it's. It's awesome. So, and at first I felt like it's such a vulnerable thing to talk about, but it really shouldn't be lagging. I just discovered that it's like, it really shouldn't be a vulnerable thing. It's part of who I am. Like how a blind person, they can't help being blind. A deaf person can't help being deaf. I can't help being autistic. So it's just, you know, there's of that. 3 (30m 41s): I really do, because like I said, I have two of my boy, both of my boys are on the spectrum and the, for them to have, because I'm 37 and growing up, it wasn't something autism. Wasn't something that was really talked about. I mean, very few. I mean, there was, it wasn't as Mo I dunno. I feel like it wasn't as known as it is now. And that sense of more people are more aware of what it is and what it what's going on. And like with my kids, now they have somebody like you to look up to it, to urge a go-to and, and hear what you have to say and, and, and things that you're going through with it. Whereas you're like you said, you didn't have that person at the time. 5 (31m 18s): Yeah. And like, that's, I think like your kids, you know, have like a great advantage with that. Like with YouTube and tick talk and you know, the more of us who use our voices to talk about our perspective than what it's really like, as opposed to some doctor who studied it in school, right. I think we're going to get like better, you know, results in an outcomes because of the 6 (31m 42s): Planning on traveling this summer, make saving at the pump part of your plans. With two times the fuel points from Harris Teeter, it's easy. Download your EBIT coupon. And for every dollar you spend with your VIT card, you'll get two fuel points. That's up to $1 per gallon on quality fuel at participating BP and Harris Teeter fuel centers. Download your Eva coupon today and save money at the pump all summer long with Evoque and Harris Teeter fuel points. 15 (32m 11s): Mama is treating me to breakfast. 14 (32m 13s): Yep. Let me see your phone. Huh? Look here. I download this McDonald's app because when you buy any bagel sandwich, like the steak, egg, and cheese bagel, you get one free. 15 (32m 23s): Wait, you just bought that on my phone. It 14 (32m 25s): Was all right. I'll let you got McDonald's money. You can treat mama. 15 (32m 29s): Okay. Ma you got it. 16 (32m 31s): Valid for product of equal or lesser value. Validate 10 to 22 participate in McDonald's ballad. One time per day app download registration required 17 (32m 41s): At progressive. You can get 24 7 protection. Even if you break the space-time continuum, 18 (32m 47s): We did it. We tongue traveled to yesterday. Wait, progressive covers us 24 7, but we just created an eight week and it's 24 7 coverage, not 24 8. We got to go back. Are you joking right now? I'm calling them hi. I have a question about time travel 17 (33m 0s): Progressive offers more than a great price. When you bundle home and auto, we offer round the clock protection, which literally means any time average from progressive casualty insurance company, affiliates to third party insurance and subject to policy terms, metal discount not available in all states or situations. 3 (33m 11s): I completely agree. And I love the fact that you've, you've put out your, to, to your songs on, you know, during Autumn's autism aware awareness month. I can't speak. I'm sorry. So talk to me about the first one you did, and then obviously the new one's called a break of Dawn. 5 (33m 28s): Yeah. So someone, the first one is actually the song. One of the songs I'm the most proud of. It's one of those songs, like, cause I had been writing, I started writing good songs before then, but when I wrote that song, it's like, it wrote itself. I came up with the first line of the song gum all alone, just to face among the crowd right before I went to bed. And then I woke up, I got right to it and I wrote it based off my autism. I wrote it during this started COVID it was an amalgamation. Yeah. It was an amalgamation of being autistic. And what it's like when no one understands you and just being alone, like I was already, you know, not entirely lonely cause I have friends and people that, you know, I love, but like just like on a like affectionate level, you know what I mean? 5 (34m 23s): And just being alone and closed off for a minute, everyone during COVID I think is also a kind of helped me write that song and I wrote it. It was just one of those songs that just wrote itself. I didn't have to think that much about how she's very honest in the presentation of it. And you know, this is what my tech talk was still growing. I was at 96,000 followers when I released that 3 (34m 47s): Song. Huge though. Right? 5 (34m 48s): Yeah. And now I'm almost at a half a million, but like back then, like just the little humblebrag moment 3 (34m 56s): I would have done whatever that, 5 (35m 2s): But no, it, it just did, it did really, you know, the song that did the best because it, it resonated with so many people. It's all my fan base. I listen, like I'm a singer song writer. It's the first time I'm releasing my song. I've wrote this also for you guys too, which is true. And they all related to it and it, it, it, it will, and break of Dawn is kind of a spiritual sequel to that song. So I actually wrote that with somebody. 3 (35m 31s): Oh really? So they're from the same time period 5 (35m 35s): Around that time. Yeah. She was actually one of my followers on Jake talk and she says, Hey, I'm also a songwriter. We should clap. And we FaceTime because she's in England. And I had that melody that was making for a break of Dawn, but I already wrote it for a different song, which is like a funk type song. I didn't like that song, but the melody kind of stuck with me and we're both like, we're kind of flirting with each other a little bit. And it kind of turned into like a little back and forth of like, not like flirting to the song. We originally wrote it as a duet, but we, you know, figured like turn it into a one person's song. 5 (36m 15s): And you know, it's like, someone is about trying to find someone break of Don's funding that somewhere 3 (36m 26s): As you found that someone. Right. Exactly. Wow. That's and this is someone that you hadn't met on over Tik TOK and that helped you co-write the song and probably about that person as well, or about the both of you. 5 (36m 38s): Yeah. Khan is sort of like, you know, we, we didn't talk to them much after that, but you know, it's like, you know, we wrote something very cool together and you know, it's like, Hey, you know, you're going to get writing credit and all this. Right. You know, you know, happy with the song. 3 (36m 58s): That's incredible. And with you, you've been releasing it like, you know, a year apart now. So you did it during autism awareness month for the first, the first song. And then this new one that, I mean, that's amazing is that like, obviously was that like, what made you decide to do that? Like you had the song and then it was the first one was someone who did really well on the first time around. And you're like, well, let's just keep this next one and wait until the following March. 5 (37m 26s): Well, yeah, because we're trying to find the, cause it was really a spiritual successor. And at the time I had a girlfriend, so it was like, you know, we had come full circle where we've since broken up, unfortunately. But you know, like, you know, because it was a spiritual successor to someone it felt appropriate to release it during the month of, you know, autism awareness month. Yeah. 3 (37m 52s): I love that. And I would imagine you have other songs that you've written and in sense, right? Like since those two, 5 (38m 1s): Oh yeah. I've, I've, I'm always writing, but I carry a little notepad with me. Like if I hear something I like write down like ideas for lyric or song and like go write it later on when I get the chance. Oh, 3 (38m 15s): Wow. I'm just have a stack ready to go. 5 (38m 19s): Yes. Oh yeah. Like I just, like, I have all these songs and all these work tapes. It's just, I go to my producer, my PR firm of my, okay. I have all these songs let's excuse me, because the studio is like, it's expensive. Let's take out two record. Like out of all these break it down just happened to be one of them. And I explained to them like, okay, perfect. We're releasing during then. And you know, I got another sign coming out soon, which, you know, that'll, that's a whole different animal, but you know, we just, I have so many right now and there's more adding on to that. So, you know, it's like, I have a selection. Okay. Out of all these, which ones do you guys think? 5 (39m 0s): Cause I'm, I, I, you guys could be hearing some things that I'm not so. 3 (39m 6s): Right, right. That's so cool though. That's so cool. So th the next one you release won't we won't have to wait a whole year while we 5 (39m 14s): Know. 3 (39m 16s): Okay. That's good. Well, thank you so much Corey, for doing this, man. I really appreciate it. 5 (39m 22s): Hey, thank you so much for having me and I wish you and your two sounds the best. 3 (39m 26s): Thank you. I shared one of my sons is older. He's 14, just turned 14. I've shared his T your tech doc with him. And that's I think that's so cool. Cause he's always on that app. My other one's only six. So he doesn't have Tik TOK quite yet, but 5 (39m 42s): I'm always, I'm always on the app too. It's it's easy to get lost. Especially when he gets some, we have something to do and you just keep scrolling and scrolling through all these fun videos, like oh, an hour passes by. 3 (39m 53s): Oh, sure, sure. Oh, well, thank you so much, Corey. I have one more question. I want to know if you have any advice for aspiring artists. 5 (40m 4s): Yes I do. So for any aspiring artists, it's going to take, it's a lot of sacrifice. If you, if you're serious about a lot of time, a lot of, a lot of effort on your part, because nothing happens overnight. You got to go into it 1000% and you gotta be serious about it. Cause it's, if you want this to be your life, it is your life. It's all or nothing, but you gotta love it. You know, like it's, but at the core of it, all, you have to have passion and desire.

Cory SingerProfile Photo

Cory Singer

Cory Singer Biography

NJ Native Cory Singer is an accomplished singer/songwriter/musician and theater performer. Cory has performed in arenas before thousands nationwide. He starred on BRAVO TV’s singing Competition The Kandi Factory, winning the grand prize, taking home a song penned by Grammy Award Winning Artist Kandi Burress, “I Can Do Anything”. Cory is an exceptional songwriter and he captivates his audiences no matter the venue or event. He finished out 2017 on a high note being added to several media magazine watch lists for 2018. Cory has become an advocate for children, families and adults who are on the spectrum. He has used his tiktok to promote positivity by inspiring others with his platform. Cory has coined the phrase '"People with Autism Have Superpowers".

Cory began his career in 2005 as a musical theater performer. Through 2013 he celebrated many accomplishments including a 2011 NJ Perry Award Nomination for his role in Suessical The Musical (The Mayor) and in 2013 he was nominated by Broadway World for Best Vocalist for his role in Joe DiPietro's "The Last Romance" at the Bickford Theater. Cory has re-entered the theater world in 2019 with his upcoming roles as "Young Buddy" in Westfield Community Players "Follies" in May 2019 and his upcoming role as "Matt Volpe" in the award winning original musical "They Call it Gravy, We Call it Sauce" with Music Jar Productions. Shows being in October 2019 at the Bound Brook Theater.

Cory performs both acoustically and wi… Read More