Over the past few hundred years, Western Europeans gradually figured out an alternative system to harmonics-based tuning, called 12-tone equal temperament (12-TET for short). It’s the system that the entire Western world uses today. The idea behind 12-TET is to have everything be pretty much in tune, which you accomplish by having everything be a little bit out of tune. Is this a worthwhile compromise? Let’s do the math and find out. Some musicians don’t take their work seriously while others get themselves into big trouble by working too hard and taking on too much. Believing in your music and working hard is essential, but going into major debt over your music or spending month after month on the road away from home leaves you at risk of burning out, which can be hard to recover from.
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These classic music videos feature thought-provoking concepts and communicate the message of their song perfectly, in ways that we can borrow ourselves. Because I’m personally so influenced by Nick Cave and Leonard Cohen, I’ve spent a lot of time reading poets like Sappho, Auden, Berryman, and T.S. Eliot, and listening to Jewish and Christian liturgical music, which were all major influences on them. Cohen’s “Suzanne” oozes with classical, religiously steeped references. (more…)
Read MoreCreating a string arrangement is the most powerful way to make a piece of music soar. Whether adding an epic string part to your latest pop song or composing for a classical quartet, there’s so much you can do with these dynamic instruments. Jeremy is a Montreal-based musician, sound artist and improviser who loves giving advice to emerging artists on how to make their tours more effective. He writes, records and performs electroacoustic "concrète" music for tape, oscillators and amplified objects and surfaces, as well as solo guitar. He has performed and released material throughout Europe and the UK, Asia, the US and Canada, mostly with his trio Sontag Shogun. (more…)
Read MoreSoundfly partners with leading edge music education sites and services to bring you unique tips, tools, and stories to empower and inspire our community to find their sound. Jeremy is a Montreal-based musician, sound artist and improviser who loves giving advice to emerging artists on how to make their tours more effective. He writes, records and performs electroacoustic "concrète" music for tape, oscillators and amplified objects and surfaces, as well as solo guitar. He has performed and released material throughout Europe and the UK, Asia, the US and Canada, mostly with his trio Sontag Shogun. (more…)
Read MoreLate last year, Congress came close to rescinding the Songwriter’s Capital Gains Equity Act as part of its tax code overhaul. But fortunately, last-minute lobbying by representatives from Nashville and other songwriting communities across the United States saved it. All of our mentored online courses come with six weeks of 1-on-1 professional support and feedback on your work. It’s like having a personal trainer, but for music! That means you’re not just getting the course content, but a coach to bounce ideas off of and someone invested in your success. Check out our courses such as The Art of Hip-Hop Production, The New Songwriter’s Workshop, and Songwriting for Producers. Preview any or all for free! (more…)
Read MoreThere is so much to digest here on XXL Mag; including interviews, news, and various spotlight features and specialty pieces. One of their latest is the best hip-hop projects of 2019. Not a bad place to start your discovery search! For metal music, I recommend getting a solid state amp because, while tubes can certainly achieve a heavy sound, at high levels of distortion for long periods of time, solid state amps are much more reliable. You don’t have to rely on the amp’s own effects so much, since in metal you’re likely to have more than a few pedals in your chain, but its electronics need to handle the load. Here are some of my favorite choices for playing metal music: (more…)
Read More“It’s not only been the normal people that would go there, like the alternative people, but people from the community from around El Local have started to go,” Lalita says. “Even my mom went to get a meal there because we have no way of preparing hot meals.” Angela Mastrogiacomo is the founder of Muddy Paw PR, where her artists have seen placement on Alternative Press, Spotify, Noisey, Substream, and more, as well as the Director of Community and Events for Music Launch Co. Her free training ‘Reaching a Wider Audience Without Spending A Dime’ helps emerging artists cut through the noise and get in front of fans and industry influencers in just a few steps. She loves baked goods, a good book, and hanging with her dog Sawyer. (more…)
Read MoreThe eleventh edition of our student work sharing series, this one’s a summer blockbuster jam. Get ready to add some new tracks to your favorite playlist! The archetype of the brilliant-but-jaded musician, beaten down and thwarted by life’s onslaught of challenges, is something we’ve all seen over and over again in popular culture. And that’s because it happens all the time in real life. Whether it’s a songwriter foolishly signing away the rights to their music or a promising band breaking up because of bad blood between its members, mistakes in music can be detrimental, but they are almost always avoidable in most cases. (more…)
Read MoreAngela Mastrogiacomo is the founder of Muddy Paw PR, where her artists have seen placement on Alternative Press, Spotify, Noisey, Substream, and more, as well as the Director of Community and Events for Music Launch Co. Her free training ‘Reaching a Wider Audience Without Spending A Dime’ helps emerging artists cut through the noise and get in front of fans and industry influencers in just a few steps. She loves baked goods, a good book, and hanging with her dog Sawyer. Looking to enhance your knowledge and skills, practice your chops, and build your portfolio of work? We definitely have an online course for you here on Soundfly. (more…)
Read MoreThis idea has changed my life as a part-time musician (I’m not exaggerating): Do one thing today that will move your career forward, even the least little bit. Don’t think of all the things you want to be doing — all the things that could boost your career. Just think of one of those things. Then do it. Here are a few tips for upping your practicing game every day. But getting ready for a recording session requires doing things a little differently, so here are a few quick tips for how to make the most of your time in the studio: (more…)
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