Ever gone to a concert and you’re singing along with the Artist then realize that he/she just flopped a couple of words of the song? It’s not a big deal for fans who usually just smile and keep enjoying the show, but for the performer it’s one of those winching, embarrassing moments where you want to sink into a hole.
June 25, 2009
May 7, 2009
Once Upon a DJ
I first started djing back when I was about 14 or 15 years old (many, many moons ago). I stopped after I began playing with bands and never quite had the time to get back into it. However a few months ago I started djing small parties, and eventually I got the bug again. A lot has changed since I had my old one & two. Everything from the role a DJ plays to the equipment he/she uses.
Today a DJ needs to be more than just a jukebox. Anyone with a good mp3’s collection can simply connect their laptop to a pair of home stereo speaker and let iTunes do the rest. Today a DJ needs to stand out, both in his/her mixing skills as well as people skills. On this post I’m going to provide a few personal observations and reviews on the equipment side of the spectrum.
May 6, 2009
The Freestyle Evolution That Never Was
Last year I had the privilege of participating in a couple of Freestyle Music award shows. I was thrilled to have been honored along with my old band-mates, and had a great time seeing old friends from the music industry again. The one question that kept popping up throughout those events were “Are you guys coming up with anything new”? I also heard conversation between producers and promoters about how to get Freestyle music on the radio again.
February 19, 2009
The Next DYI Music Solution?
Ever since Artists and labels (mostly independent) first started getting their music online, there has been a never-ending search to find the best new business model to sell your music. It’s now become obvious that there is no “one” best way to do that. In fact with so much music so easily available to everyone, you have to use every possible “productive” means available. Otherwise, you’ll become another needle in a very large haystack.
However every now and then someone comes up with a new way to sell music, and this week that someone was the band “The Presidents of the United States of America” (PUSA). They have come out with a new iPhone application which allows you to stream their entire catalog and some extra demos stuff for a onetime charge of $2.99. The idea is that you buy the app, and then you have access to listening to not only their old songs, but anything new they decide to make available to you. Even demos and never released live recordings.
February 6, 2009
Why are you making an Album?
Whenever I get a request from new Artists to work on an album, I like to ask them “Why do you want to make this record?” Last week a young lady I work told me she was working on an album. So I asked her that very question. Her first response was that she has always loved to sing. Now that’s ok, but what I really wanted to know was “what did she plan to gain by making an album”? She thought about it a few seconds then said “that she hoped to be as big as Beyonce or Fergie. She went on to tell me how she thought she sang just as good as any of them and how she wanted to become a successful Artists.
