Category: Making Music PHAT

Creating anything can be tricky especially if you’re a perfectionist. It’s very discouraging when the process doesn’t come together the way we want it to. Below are some ways to get you back on track and maximize your creative process.

Take A Break

Sometimes the best thing you can do is step away and take a break. Picture it like an orange or a lemon you keep squeezing and squeezing but only so much juice is going to come out. Your brain is the orange and the squeezing is the energy you expend during the creative process. Stepping away from the project can help you replenish and restore that “orange.” Because if you don’t, you may end up getting frustrated. This can lead to never finishing what you started.

Look At Other Art

Whether you are writing a book, painting, or making music. It’s good to get inspiration from other artists. We all want our art to be original but there is nothing new under the sun. There’s a fine line between copying something compared to drawing inspiration from it. For example, say you are having writers block for a song you are working on. Let’s say it’s a soul song about how your mother supported you throughout the years. But you’ve never listened to soul music and you’re having trouble getting the words out. Go listen to that particular genre and/or a similar genre. You’d be surprised how the ideas will flow out!

Experiment In The Creative Process

Try experimenting with your creative process. If you are having writers block try looking at things from a different angle. For example, if your a painter that uses a lot of red why not try using blue? If you write a lot of sad tunes try writing a love song. It may seem uncomfortable but often pushing the boundaries on what we are capable of, is the very thing that makes art, art! You can reshape, remake, rebuild, and sometimes restore! “You are confined only by the walls you build yourself” – Andrew Murphy.

Make Mistakes

Many artists are so afraid of making mistakes even though mistakes in art can be mostly subjective (Even on a technical level). It’s important to make mistakes, that how we grow, that’s how we learn. When we accept that we are going to make mistakes it takes the pressure off of us and allows our craft to truly shine. Embrace your mistakes! Write a cheesy bad love song, cause you’ve never written one before. Eventually you will do it enough that you’ll get better and better!

Howdy beautiful people, this blog is music-centric. I would be honored if you share it with those in your tribe who produce music. We are going to talk about some basic mixing tips. For those with other talents enjoy learning a little about the process of music production.

Mixing is a beast all it’s own. There’s no such thing as a perfect mix because mixing is subjective. Here are some techniques my daughter (Zoey the White Lioness) and I use.

Panning

When sound files are recorded, the default is center pan. This can cause a muddy mix as frequencies are fighting for space. The first thing you want to do is adjust the panning. People have different preferences for where music should pan on the left and right side of the mix.

Panning is simply moving the sound out of the center to the left or right. You may even have a favorite song that has a really cool sound that sneaks up in the recording because it is panned. Several songs use panning in the intro. When you hear more music on one side in your earbuds?  Yes, that is panning. If you keep hearing all the music on one side of your earbuds you may need a new set.

When panning, it is okay to experiment a little. The main thing you want to do is give everything its own space. For example, a tambourine and a hi-hat might sound muddy together, meaning it’s hard to hear the details of each instrument individually.

Try panning the hi-hat to the far right and the tambourine to the far left. The most important thing you should do after that is simple, listen! Another example, a vocal that is drowned out by the bass – try panning the bass just a little to left or right so it still hangs near the center of the mix but isn’t masking the vocal. As a general rule, anything you want to stand out (lead vocal, drums, guitar solos) that drives the song should stay panned to the center.

Volume

You can barely hear the vocals because the drums are super loud? Before you turn up the vocals to match the drums, slap on some compression, or adjust the EQ, simply adjust the volume. Turn the drums down. Many times we load up the track with plugins and effects trying to get an instrument or vocal “louder.” Sometimes all that is needed is simply turning down the volume of the drums. Basically you are aiming for getting a good volume balance in the mix.

Compression

When you have panned and optimized the volume of your tracks, it’s time to add some compression. You especially want to add compression when you have a track that is peaking. Depending on the song, snare hits tend to be very dynamic and are prone to peaking. Compression can not only tame unruly frequencies but depending where you have your attack, release, and threshold. You can keep the snare sounding full in the mix. You may be tempted to set the attack high on drums but you don’t want to crush the frequencies only tame them. There are tons of compression options for you to explore.

Listen!

Biggest mixing tip, listen and listen some more. What sounds good on solo in your DAW (digital audio workstation) may not sound good for the whole mix. What sounds good in your headphones may sound different in your car. One trick I learned from a famous mix engineer, Bobby Owsinski is to turn your listening volume down to almost a whisper and listen for what stands out. That was super helpful and is one of the last things I do before I am done mixing.

Mixing is hard to do effectively for hours and hours. If your fighting with a mix, walk away and revisit the process after you give your ears a much-needed break.  Mixing is a big job. There are many great resources that are free to help you. You can always hire a mix engineer as well. It can be challenging to mix your own music. Find a reference track to use. A reference track is simply another song that has the mix close to how you want your song mixed. Whether you hire mixing out or do it yourself, using a reference track keeps you from flying blind therefore your mixing time is more productive. Most importantly, be patient, don’t rush the process and never stop improving!

Sources

• • Audio Compression 101
  • Bobby Owsinski.com

#mixing #mixingtips #EQ #compression #Nashville #LeBakerMusic

In a world where there is so much music to choose from it is truly the best time to market your music. For one it’s easier than ever to get your music out there. Furthermore, there are many opportunities and platforms for independent artists. However, with so many options you may be faced with the problem “Where do I start?” or “What can I do next to increase momentum?” Music Marketing Strategies

Join A Community

Find a niche on Facebook or a Meetup and get involved in a community specific to your brand and genre. Don’t just throw your music out there hoping someone likes it! Share other people’s posts and build community rapport. When we become productive and invested positive members of a community, people are more willing to listen to what we have to offer.

Whatever you do don’t spam! This is a huge mistake many artists make when they start out. Think about the people you may have connected with on social media and the next message you receive from them is “hey, buy my widget, blah, blah, blah!” That is the quickest way to be unfriended or blocked. I can’t stress this enough! “Making it” in music is about building relationships if you join a Facebook group just to spam your latest single. You probably won’t get very far.

Playlists

I’m not just talking about getting on a curated Spotify playlist here. You can ask a friend to put you on a playlist they made and share it to Facebook or Twitter. A word of caution, make sure your music is similar to music on their playlist! The genre should be the same.

For example don’t ask your hard & heavy metal rocker friend at Church to put your new Cinematic and Inspirational Pop ballad on their play list when it does not fit the genre. That is like painting a spot on a green wall with orange paint. I think you get the idea.

Tell People!

There’s a time in a place for marketing yourself. You don’t need to wander around a gas station selling your album for two dollars. Your local area may even have city codes and restrictions making this type of soliciting a finable and illegal offense.

Instead take some time to get to know people in your tribe  – whether it is at church, school, or work, you know, the people in your safe space. Those you are most familiar with who also happen to like the style of music you do. Give them a card or free download. Ask if they would like a CD. It’s all about building rapport from a genuine motive with people. People need to know, like and trust you, so start with those who already do. Don’t forget to ask for referrals, offer to play at their child’s birthday party or to do something special with your talent for an anniversary. Find a way to bring value to them and build that relationship.

Let me share a story from an experience I had. When I was touring full-time, as I was singing at the Assisted Living home, where a family member resided in Massachusetts, a random woman came up to me and introduced herself. She was the sister of a woman I had connected with a few years earlier in another State. That precious friend in South Carolina let her sister in Massachusetts know she could come see me sing at a private concert. I am not even sure how she was able to get past the staff to come to the concert. I was humbled and honored and gave her a free CD. You never know who is your fan and who is invested in helping you unless you build that relationship. 

Don’t Forget

In conclusion, make a plan. Where are the places you want to market your music?  List them, then figure out how to connect and open those doors. Break this down further into manageable “to do” task increments of 30, 60 and 90 days. Now chip away at them one day at a time but do something every day rather than try to boil the ocean

Nashville #MusicMarketing #lebakermusic #musicbusiness #thebusinesssideofmusic #johnmaxwell #jmt #musicblog Music Marketing Strategies | LeBaker Music

Marketing your music to rise above the noise is no easy task! In fact it’s quite a challenge! In a sea of daily tweets, posts, and likes. You find yourself asking the question how do I stick out in the saturation? Here are some tips to help you.

Branding

This has been said so many times, but many people miss it. You have got to build your brand! Do something unique that helps you stand out in the crowd. For example if you do Taylor Swift type music and you love crafting. Sell your crafts at your shows. This creates a unique and lasting experience for your fans. You become known for your crafts and your music as part of your brand.

Be Yourself

Don’t just post when you’re having shows on your social media. Retweet a nice comment from a fan, talk about a movie you saw recently, or post a family picture. The sky is really the limit when it comes to social media. Fans want to know the real you. They want to connect with you. With social media the days of unreachable musicians are virtually over.

Interact

Don’t sit around and wait for an opportunity to slip in your lap. However, don’t spam either. Interact with potential fans on social media. Comment on how much you like something they drew or encourage them if they are having a hard time. This will mean so much more and make them more open to listening to your music then just spamming them with direct messages begging them to like your latest single. 

Music Licensing

If you do some digging you can find sites that allow you to pitch your music to movies, shows, etc. RTTM Music Group, Musicxray, and Taxi all have opportunities you can submit to. Make sure to follow the rules and pitch appropriately. For example if a production company is asking for a Country song you probably will not get anywhere if you submit your latest Grunge Rock or Hip Hop song.  These are just a few of many ways to get exposure and make some well earned money for your musical genius. 

These are just some of the ways you can rise about the saturated music market. Remember though success is not an overnight thing. Steady plodding and persistence will pay off so be patient and stay motivated!

#Musician #LeBakerMusic #Nashville

The Business Side of Music has a lot of great resources. The host Bob has a passion for helping those of us working as indies in the music business. He uses his podcast to share Music Business tips for the career musician. 

I have found a wealth of information spanning: recording, touring, artist interviews, booking and so much more. The “Business Side 0f Music” is almost like the Swiss Army Knife for an independent artist. Check it out at (https://businesssideofmusic.com).

For example, say you want to learn about songwriting, this website has several articles and podcasts on the different aspects of the songwriting process. Personally, song copyright is a priority for me. There is a saying in the music business, “Protect your children (songs).”  Skimming through the website, I stumbled across this podcast: https://businesssideofmusic.com/57-the-two-copyrights-required-for-your-songs/ as an example.

However, there isn’t just legal stuff here, there is a lot of excellent and helpful material. Who doesn’t want a free resource to a “world open mic guide.” I know I can benefit from one! This website has multiple resources for artists, engineers (which are artists in their own right), and people starting out who are trying to get a solid grasp on the music industry.

Now that you have a good resource what are you waiting for? Get out there and be what God has called you to be! “I’d rather attempt to do something great and fail than to attempt to do nothing and succeed” (Robert H. Schuller). Here’s a secret we all fail! The difference is are you willing to get back up?

Continue reading “Five Networking Tips for Musicians”