Tag Archives: musicians

Nov12

November 2019 Funky Time Jams

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November 2019 Funky Time Jams

Howdy! We are moving right along in November and the holiday season will be officially upon us in the blink of an eye! The weather is cooling down, the Christmas shopping has begun, and some of you might already be thinking about your New Year’s Resolutions. November is undoubtedly a busy month full of the hustle and bustle of family gatherings and plenty of cooking. It can also be a bit of a stressful time if that really isn’t your thing, so allow these fiery, fiery jams to keep you sane in the midst of it all!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-Q_7k-XuFo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmcsOVrmcPs

^^^ And, as always, I have no rights to these songs or videos!

So, I don’t know if any of you have seen this hilarious video of Bill Hader dancing but it has become quite the thing on social media and people have began playing a wide variety of music over the video. From Smash Mouth and Michael Jackson to Lil Nas X and Britney Spears, the joy of the video is that his dancing literally goes with any song. This includes “Don’t Trust Me” by 3OH!3 and ever since bearing witness to it, I have been on the biggest kick of their music a la freshman year of high school 2008. It amazes me that I still know all of the lyrics to their songs and it definitely makes my crazy amount of driving for work much more tolerable!

Also, do be sure to check out the video at the top for “Stoned & Lonely” by my boyfriend’s band The Outside Voices. Shooting this music video was an absolute HOOT so see if you can spot your favorite Lil Red hanging out and give their page some love. ❤

What is your favorite viral video? Are you looking forward to the upcoming holiday season? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul12

Three Ways For New Musicians To Get More Exposure

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Three Ways For New Musicians To Get More Exposure

When you tell people that you want to be a professional musician, a lot of them will probably say that it’s never going to happen. The music industry is so competitive and only a tiny fraction of people that dream of being musicians actually make it, but why shouldn’t you be one of them? You could be, as long as you’re willing to put the work in.

There are a lot of different things that you need to do if you want to break into the music industry but one of the first, and most important steps, is exposure. If you’re going to make it, you need people to hear your music (and love it) so you can start building a bit of a following, that’s how you’re going to get yourself noticed by a record label. Getting that exposure is tough, especially when you’re up against a lot of competition, but there are ways to do it. These are the best ways for new musicians to get exposure for their music:

Focus On Gigging:

There are now more ways than ever to get your music out there and we’ll come onto those later, but for now, you need to focus on the old fashioned way; get out there and play for people. When you’re first starting out and you’ve got a few songs, you need to start playing as many gigs as possible. You’ll get people to hear your music and hopefully, start to build a bit of a fan base in the local area. You’re not likely to get booked for gigs if nobody has heard of you so open mic nights are the best place to start. They’re always running so do a quick search for open mic near me and start playing. You’ll get to play one or two songs and hopefully, if people like you, then you might be able to start booking more regular gigs.

The next step, is to get some support slots playing with more popular local bands. This is a great way to get your music heard by fans of your genre and if you play well, they’ll become fans of yours too.

Soundcloud:

Soundcloud is one of the best places to put your recordings so people can discover them. It’s also important that you have music online so if people come to your gigs and like you, they can download some of your songs to listen to and share with their friends. There’s a lot of stuff on Soundcloud so you need to do things to make yourself stand out. Obviously writing good songs is the most important thing but you should also ensure that you have good production values, as well.

Social Media:

Social media is the best way to promote pretty much anything these days and music is no exception. Start a dedicated musician page where you can post links to all of your new tracks when they go up on Soundcloud. You can also promote any gigs that you’re doing so you can get a bigger crowd to the venue. Look at other bands and artists on social media to see how they promote themselves, their gigs, and new music. For example, established bands, such as SWMRS with drummer Joey Armstrong have long been using social media to promote themselves successfully.

These are the three best ways to promote your music when you’re first starting out and they should help you to build a following in your local area!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Jul4

July 2019 Funky Time Jams

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July 2019 Funky Time Jams

Helloooo everyone and welcome to a fabulous new month here on lifewithlilred! Besides from my birthday, June was a real pisser of a month thanks to cutting ties with my boyfriend. So, all girl power anthems and songs that are just pure fun to get myself back to singing in the car was the name of the game. And, here we are in July feeling oh so much better! Take a listen:

^^^ And, as always, I have no rights to these songs or videos.

Whenever I’m feeling sad, it’s so important for me to not wallow in it because then all I want to do is get back into bad habits. And, that’s the last thing I want to do. So, if that means singing at the top of my lungs to Barbie Girl in my car needs to happen, then so be it. I drive so much for my job, which either gives myself time to think and be sad or have a singalong and start smiling again.

I’m proud of myself, because I chose the latter, and the songs above helped me to perk up big time. Truth Hurts by Lizzo has been my go to feel good song as of late. It just makes me feel happy – I love her confidence and her voice and as soon as it comes on the radio I can feel my mood improving. Definitely a song I can play on repeat and not grow tired of – which makes it a winner!

What are your go to songs to play when you’re feeling sad? How do you improve your mood during a rough day? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May21

Chardon Polka Band

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Chardon Polka Band

Hiii everyone! This past Thursday, my client and I were truly living our best lives because we got to see the Chardon Polka Band perform at one of our local libraries. I try to take this client out to concerts and anything music related whenever I can because that’s his favorite and he plays the piano so beautifully. We have seen the CPB play twice before and they are so much fun that we had to see them again.

Now, I know what you’re thinking “a polka concert sounds like a nightmare”. And, initially, I thought so too. But, they are the most endearing, talented group of people that I’ve ever met and it’s impossible to not love them. They are so kind to everyone in their audience from little kids, the elderly, and people with special needs and that type of selfless attitude makes me a fan of them no matter what style of music they play.

I had no idea that the Chardon Polka Band was kind of a big deal in Ohio until now, but these guys go around all over the country playing polka everywhere from funerals, and christenings, to elementary schools, and senior centers. And, of course, any beer related festival that you can think of! I never thought I’d find myself as a polka fan until seeing these whacky guys perform and it’s so nice to consider them as my friends now, too!

^^^ And, as always, I have no rights to these songs or videos.

Both my client and myself purchased a CPB T-shirt that we wear with pride and we are so excited to see our friends with an unexpected cult following perform again soon!

Who are the local celebrities in your neck of the woods? What are your thoughts on polka music? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: Docplayer

Mar8

Train To Be An Audio Engineer

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Train To Be An Audio Engineer

There are many jobs that people don’t immediately think of when they consider their options in the music industry. While being a musician or a vocal artist can be a high-profile career, there are many other very important jobs that are essential in creating great audio products. One key position is that of an audio engineer. If you are thinking that this may be the path for you, here are the steps you can take to get started.

Find a Qualified Program:

The first step to become an audio engineer is to find a way to learn about the career. There are plenty of programs out there to assist you in learning the skills it takes to work in a professional recording studio. Programs vary from the traditional classroom setting to online courses that allow you to learn at your own pace. No matter which option you choose, you will be learning not only techniques, but also getting the hands-on practice you need to work with all of the equipment.

Invest in Your Equipment:

Having the right equipment to work with is essential to getting a great sound and learning how to achieve specific sounds that your clients may want. It doesn’t matter if you plan to open your own studio or simply want to have something on hand to work with at home, you will need to take your time and invest in equipment that will last. Although this is an upfront investment, it will pay off once you are fully trained to use it.

Learn from the Experts:

Getting experts to teach you the ins and outs of this career is just as important as learning all of the technical basics. It is a good idea to find a career mentor so that you can learn more about the industry overall and how different techniques can be used to get an exciting new sound.

With all things, practice makes perfect and soon you will be creating sounds of your own!

Feb6

Must Read Tips For Musicians In 2019

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Must Read Tips For Musicians In 2019

For every musician, a main goal at the beginning of every year is to get better at your music and make a greater impression in the industry. No matter what level you’re at, we hope these tips will help you:

Online mastering:

To ignore the process of audio mastering is to make a massive mistake. A lot of people confuse mixing and mastering with one another. However, they are two completely different processes. Mastering is the final stage in the music production process. It tightens, defines, and polishes the piece of music without altering the sound excessively. It can bring a clarity and a punch which no amount of mixing can achieve. To release a piece of music without it would essentially mean you were bringing out an incomplete track.

Nonetheless, the reason why people still overlook mastering is because they see it as a hassle and an expense. Not everybody has the capability of getting down to the studio in question nor do they have the money available to pay the extortionate hourly rates charged by many mastering professionals today. However, you need not worry about any of this anymore. There are online mastering services available, which are cheaper and much easier too.

SEO:

Both SEO and website design affect the success of any musician today. Since your campaigns will be tailored to bringing more people to your website and converting them from visitors into actual fans, you need to pay great attention to the overall feel and look of your site. A poorly designed website can be an instant turn off and is something you will need to outsource if you don’t have the skills to do it yourself. To begin finding a professional that is a good fit for you, simply enter a search for “web design in Huntsville” (or your local area) and you will be able to see online portfolios, reviews, and more. Similarly, you must work to ensure your website is visible, hence the need for professional SEO.

For online marketing success, you should, therefore, work with an expert SEO consultant. Their service should provide you with quality content to post on your website, including, for example, information about you, your gigs, and so on. You should also ensure that you are adding videos and images (where required) on top of your text. After that, you can, with the help of the consultant, focus on marketing your website to the target market. Search engine optimization is important to your overall online marketing plan. Stay away from easy options and ‘quick tricks’ because search engines are now smarter than ever before. They know all the tricks you will try to pull, including poor-quality content that is stuffed with keywords. So, focus on quality content using tested SEO strategies, or by working with full SEO and marketing services to attain the best results.

It is also worth looking for marketing packages that have been specifically tailored to the music industry. Targeting potential fans and record companies is a lot different than trying to drum up customers for a retail business, for example. You can find Soundcloud promotion packages, which are great for any musician. These packages are designed to ensure your music gets heard by the right people. While packages differ from supplier to supplier, you will generally find that these companies will post your music across different platforms, from blogs to social media pages.

We understand that this is a lot of information and it can feel overwhelming. Rest assured that all of these marketing aspects do not need to be completed at once. Set your own pace with A beginners guide to music publishing and do what you know you can accomplish. Then, you can outsource for the areas that you know you need help with.

Invest in quality equipment:

Investing in professional studio equipment should be something to think about early on in your music career. That way you can plan ahead and expand the equipment as your career moves forward. It is also cheaper to do it in bits, rather than suddenly have to find the cash for a complete top-of-the-range kit. As well as your instrument, you will want a decent pair of headphones, a computer, and look at Aeros Loop Studio vs Boss RC-505 for your looper. Depending on how far you intend to go, things like good soundproofing and a dedicated music studio might also be on the list.

Alexander Technique:

Another tip for musicians in 2019 is to try the Alexander Technique. You may have heard about this before. It is a method that was developed in the 1980s by Matthias Alexander. It is designed to promote overall well-being through increasing your awareness of posture so that your body experiences minimal effort and strain.

Instead of maintaining ease and using the fluid techniques required, musicians restrain themselves with muscular tension during a soft passage, for instance. This is just one example of a common overreaction. Over time, such action can result into regular misuse, which can cause injuries. This is where the Alexander Technique comes in. It will help you to find the right balance so that you can play an instrument with greater ease, while protecting your body and improving your music in the process.

There are lots of different ways that you can improve your efforts in 2019. If you are a musician, whether you have much experience or not, use the tips that have been provided in this guide so that you can achieve more throughout the year!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Feb3

February 2019 Funky Time Jams

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February 2019 Funky Time Jams

Howdy! After the month of January dragging ass like it does every year, we are finally into February, which is sure to fly by. And, I’m glad for it, because it was starting to feel like January 47th! Now that the pace has been picked up with our short little month of love among us, some hard hitting jams are definitely called for. Take a listen:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BITnk3-D_Fw

^^^ And, as always, I have no rights to these songs or videos.

As some of you know, I enjoy going to a vinyl record club at one of the local libraries in my area. At one of our last meetings, the album Let It Be by The Replacements was brought in and I was a huge fan. There is nothing better than gathering with your friends to play some early punk rock, and it’s always a hoot to pick out the bands that you can tell drew inspiration from The Replacements. For example, did anyone notice that Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day sounds exactly like the lead singer?!

I have also been hooked on Marilyn Manson’s Golden Age Of Grotesque, which features many of his more popular crowd pleasers, which I like playing to get me hyped on my way to work. And, finally, you may have noticed that a little rap was thrown into the mix, as well. But, I just couldn’t help myself. My sister was playing Nicki Minaj’s new album, Queen, while we ran errands and anyone who says that Majesty isn’t a banger is a liar. That song gets stuck in my head so badly and the only cure is playing it on repeat, of course!

Which album would you bring into a record club? Which album do you think that I should bring in on my next turn? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan17

January 2019 Funky Time Jams

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January 2019 Funky Time Jams

Hello everyone and welcome to the first Funky Time Jams post of 2019. One of the music related things that I’ve enjoyed the most for the past year is going to a vinyl record club at one of my local libraries. We play a record chosen by one of our members each meeting, talk music, and soak up each other’s company. Then, we often hit up a nearby bar after for the festivities to continue. It’s so much fun and I adore all of the new friends that I’ve made through the program. Seen below are some of the bands that I’ve had on repeat for the month and, who knows, maybe one of their albums will be featured at an upcoming record club!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVmVLOL2LnA

^^^ And, as always, I have no rights to these songs or videos!

This past month at record club, we had two very opposite artists featured during our biweekly meetings. I brought in AFI’s decemberunderground, as it was the band’s most commercially popular album and another member brought in a best of compilation of Aretha Franklin. And, that is the beauty of our little merry band of wanderers, because we get to hear such vastly different talent every time we have a get together. It’s fun to bring in an album that you enjoy so much and want to share with everyone and I was happy that decemberunderground was well received by my friends. I can’t wait to figure out an album for my next turn providing the entertainment for the evening!

What album would you bring in to a vinyl record club? Which songs have you had on repeat this month? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec8

December 2018 Funky Time Jams

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December 2018 Funky Time Jams

Hello! We are already a week into December and Christmas is literally right around the corner. So crazy! We’re blazing through this month, so it’s time to discuss some fiery jams to match. I participate in a vinyl record club at one of my local libraries and it is my turn to pick the album come January. I had great success with The Pale Emperor by Marilyn Manson so it is important to me to keep the streak going. So, this month has been about listening through some of my favorite albums on my iPod to make sure that I make the best decision. So far, I’ve been selecting through albums with some of the following songs:

(And, as always, I have no rights to these songs or videos!)

So many choices!! At first, I was really leaning towards Arcade Fire’s Funeral or Apologies To The Queen Mary by Wolf Parade. But, then I began playing around with other options and got distracted from my original choices. As of now, I am probably going to go with Decemberunderground by AFI. That album features songs that had radio success for them like Miss Murder and Love Like Winter, so some if it might be familiar to my record club friends, which is always a good thing. Plus, I had the pleasure of seeing AFI in concert for my birthday last year, which will make for good conversation. I think that I have my mind made up, but we all know that that’s subject to change within an hour!

Which album would you play for a vinyl record club? What are some of your absolute favorite albums? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul23

Marilyn Manson Concert At Blossom Music Center

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Marilyn Manson Concert At Blossom Music Center

Hiii everyone and happy Monday! Last week, I got to see Marilyn Manson in concert for the second time in less than one year. Our hometown hero was performing at Blossom Music Center with Rob Zombie for the Twins Of Evil tour. It was not an option to not go, even though Blossom isn’t one of my favorite venues so my sister, Kristen, and I made our happy way to the show and everything started out just fine until…

MY FAVORITE PLATFORMS BROKE WHILE WALKING INTO BLOSSOM!!!

😦

ughh

There is literally nothing worse than looking all kinds of trashy when walking into a concert with bare feet and your tail between your legs, but what can you do? Lol, anyways, because Kristen and I pre-gamed and Ubered to the show, Marilyn Manson began performing moments after we found a good spot to post up at on the lawn.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Blossom, it’s an outdoor venue with a pavilion and a huge lawn as your seating options. Being seated in the pavilion is expensive, but you can see the stage. Meanwhile, the lawn is dirt cheap, but you can’t see shit and taking pictures or videos won’t do you a lick of good. Because Kristen and I were so spoiled with front row spots during the last show we saw Marilyn Manson at, our twenty buck lawn seats were just fine.

In all honesty, the show was quite disappointing. Granted, we couldn’t see anything without the mega screens, but there were some other issues that spoiled the fun, too. First of all, the set list, which will be discussed in a moment was short. We’re talking twelve songs and then off the stage for good short. And second, the crowd was just not feeling it, and that was shocking to me – especially considering that Marilyn Manson’s home town was literally fifteen minutes away from where we were. All of these circumstances together created a really lackluster vibe, and it was a bummer to be in an audience that wasn’t welcoming back Ohio’s finest like the royalty he is.

Now, the set list was okay, but it did leave a lot to be desired. The majority of his picks were crowd pleasers like mOBSCENE, This Is The New Shit, Disposable Teens, Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This), The Beautiful People, and The Dope Show. He also added in fan favorites from his most recent album, Heaven Upside Down, with Kill4Me and Say10. With over seventy-five percent of the set list being made up of his most popular hits, the crowd should have been going nuts, and it just wasn’t happening.

The remaining tracks that he performed was his encore of his new remake of Cry Little Sister, which was fabulous, and Irresponsible Hate Anthem (Which he opened with.), Angel With The Scabbed Wings, and Antichrist Superstar. As I said, there was a lot to be desired.

After Marilyn Manson finished up, Kristen and I decided that we had no desire to see Rob Zombie perform, so we called an Uber and headed home. Overall, it was a fun night and I am so happy to have seen one of my favorite artists for the second time. But, nothing will ever compare to seeing him front and center for the first time at Stage AE!

What concerts have you been to this summer? Do you have a venue similar to Blossom in your area? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah