Tanay Mulukutla

Looking For Home Studio Tips? We’ve Got You Covered

05-Aug-2020 By Tanay Mulukutla 1 Comment

(Article written by Emmanuel Chika via Ryan Stable) It is no longer news that having a private home studio is fast becoming a trend in the music industry. That being said, owning a home recording studio has several advantages for prospective songwriters, music producers, artiste, or composers.

Some of these are:

Quick release of the muse
Easy conversion of ideas into solid work
A stepping stone to a commercial studio

Now that you know how important a home studio is to your career, let’s talk about finding the best Home Recording Studio Essentials. This list of Home Recording Studio Essentials will include everything you need to create your own economical and effective recording studio that is as close to the real thing as you can get. For starters, pick out a studio design.

A GOOD COMPUTER:

The problem with finding the perfect computer for your home recording studio essentials is that there are so many choices. This may make it easier:

If you already have a laptop or desktop, you might as well start up with that
If you crave something better and faster, then try buying either a mac or a PC with amazing processing speed
If you desire the best, then opt for a mac desktop and cruise your way to good quality

AN IDEAL DAW

DAW simply means a digital audio workstation.Once again, the problem of being overwhelmed by the array of DAWs available comes to play. I advise that you explore as much as possible and discover which works best for you. Some of the popular names in the game of home recording studio essentials are: pro tools, FL studio, able ton, Presonus studio one, cakewalk sonar, propeller head reason, MOTU digital performer, Steinberg Cubase and logic pro

AUDIO INTERFACE

An audio interface performs the function of transmitting music in and out of the computer and is definitely a cornerstone of every list of home recording studio essentials.

MICROPHONE AND ACCESSORIES:

When choosing a mic for your home studio, I will advise that you go for the best possible quality within your budget. That being said, just buy what you can afford. Unless of course, you have plans of making professional use of whatever comes out of that studio. Also, when purchasing your microphone, you must not forget to add a mic stand and pop filter which I consider absolutely necessary. But that’s just an opinion. Feel free to start small and add to your own home recording studio essentials as your music career grows.

HEADPHONES:

It goes without saying that these are a complete necessity also. An essential headphone for your home studio will be able to isolate other sounds and noises so you can get the full effect of your music. It is important to note that studio headphones are different from regular headphones. Always buy over-the-ear headphones; usually, the bigger brands are a good bet.

STUDIO MONITOR:

Studio monitors perform a totally different function from regular speakers. They are built to give you real output while consumer speakers are built to appease the sense of hearing. As with headphones, buying an established brand will keep you happy in your home studio.

MIDI CONTROLLER:

I feel this is also a complete necessity not because I am an instrumentalist but because I have learned from experience that making music without one of these while still very possible can be one hell of a ride. If you are a music aficionado like me, then you very well understand the need for creative freedom. (Well that’s what a midi controller offers you)

VIRTUAL INSTRUMENTS AND SOFTWARE PLUGINS:

While some folks might dispute the validity of these things on my list, I feel bold to say their presence is well deserved. Consider the virtual instrument a software version of all musical instruments like drums, keyboards, guitar, etc. The software plugins are used as special effects needed to spice up your recording.

CABLES:

Naturally, when you’re planning your home recording studio essentials, don’t forget to buy the right type of cables to get your new gear actually working! For a starter, you might just need cables for your mic, audio interface and monitors. Specifically, four cables should be a good start.

WORKSTATION

For professional musicians, your studio is a company and they consider the workstation their office. That means getting a proper desk to accommodate all of your new gear and a comfortable chair that you can sit in for 8 hours or more a day. Don’t over sweat it, but do not neglect it either. A nice and comfortable chair with an efficient desk that maximizes equipment like the computer, midi controller, and audio interface should work just fine. If you find it convenient, you might add the studio monitor to the mix but it is not mandatory.

There they are: my ultimate list of home recording studio essentials. With these, you are well on your way to building up your passion and your career. Never become complacent with your home recording studio essentials. Music is a world without barrier and limitation. Always aspire to own your pro studio and gain respect in your field of expertise.

Top 10 Home Recording Studio Essentials is a guest post written by Emmanuel Chika, a seasoned freelance writer and music producer. He provides musical solutions for people through his creative endeavors.For further information, you can reach him through this website here.

Maintaining some control of your own booking and touring can be made easy for those who choose to hire a manager and those who fly solo through youbloomConnect and/ or sign up here: https://www.youbloom.com/artist-apply/ where you can get partnered to perform with other local artists, build a steady fan-base, and even get your band on the road.

Our Little Chat With Sean Rooney

04-Aug-2020 By Tanay Mulukutla Leave a Comment

(Post Via Ryan Stable) Featured artist at youbloomDublin 2017, Sean Rooney, is the type of soulful singer/songwriter that you can take home to mother. Having performed at a myriad of festivals and venues around the world, we managed to have a little chat with Sean before he went on to perform at youbloomDublin 2017 in this exclusive interview (back in 2017).

How long have you been playing music? What inspired you to pick up an instrument?

Sean Rooney: I’ve been playing music about 12 years .. I started playing just from a love of pop punk music in my early teens .. thankfully my tastes have broadened a lot since then..

What instrument did you first lean to play?

Sean Rooney: I first learned to play the guitar .. well.. I’m still learning ! I’m self taught so I’m always learning.

What is your favorite part of your writing process when making new music?

Sean Rooney: My favourite part of the writing process is whenever I manage to capture exactly what I want to say lyrically and melodically.. I do enjoy the challenge of writing lyrics .. it might be trite but I write about my own life and that makes lyric writing a cathartic process for me.

In your song “Everest High” you say that its about dealing with depression from a first person point of view. How have you been able to cope with that and what role has music played to help battle with this?

Sean Rooney: coping with depression isn’t easy. Not only because there is a lot of stigma attached to the subject and It’s different for everyone but I’ve found talking to a psychologist and taking medication very helpful. In terms of music, the cathartic element is very important. There is a release that comes with expressing your emotions through song.

“Everest High” sounds like a very up beat song. Was that intentional when writing this song due to the meaning?

Sean Rooney: Yes .. the upbeat and borderline aggressive sound of the song is basically my way of conveying that I will not let depression beat me. I’m fighting against it with everything I have; also there’s nothing more melancholy than a ballad about depression .. it would just be too much if it sounded sad too.

You have a great cover of Bruce Springsteen. What are some other artists that inspired you to make music? And what would be another cover you would enjoy to make?

Sean Rooney: Thank you! My main inspiration comes from the genres of soul, indie-rock/rock and R&B.. In terms of idols I’d have to say Paul Weller is my favourite artist. The body of incredible work he had created and continues to create is a never ending reservoir of inspiration to me. There aren’t that many covers that I feel I could really add much to or change without ruining! But a couple of songs I would love to play live with a band are “Soul Man” by Sam&Dave and “The Changingman” by Paul Weller

For someone who has never heard your music before, how would you describe your sound?

Sean Rooney: I would describe my music as sort of.. Blue-eyed soul rock .. although not all of my songs would fit neatly into that genre!

What advice would you give new musicians trying to get their music out there?

Sean Rooney: The only advice I feel qualified to give is to not criticise yourself too much.. some self criticism is healthy but there comes a point when it can ruin things and I know that from experience. In terms of physically getting music out there, Facebook videos are a great way to go.

What are you anticipating the most at the YouBloom festival?

Sean Rooney: What I’m anticipating most at Youbloom is just the opportunity to play for a new audience and to meet lots of new punters and musicians alike. I’m always super grateful to get to play live. It is what I love most in the world, so to that end I’d like to say thank you to Youbloom for giving me the opportunity.

Do you have any new material coming out in the near future?

Sean Rooney: Yes! I’ve been writing and recording recently. my first official single will be released soon and then the plan is to release my first EP in around May!

Spotify As We Know It (2020)

03-Aug-2020 By Tanay Mulukutla 1 Comment

(Post via Josey Dunbar)Unless you’re someone living under a rock, you know we’ve come a long from purchasing magical little devices called cassettes, CDs and Vinyl too. Now, I’m not saying we need to base modern life off prehistoric tendencies BUT suspend your disbelief enough to imagine a world where music hypothetically has more value than $0.006. $0.006. Thanks, streaming! Streaming is a powerful tool in the times we’re in today. If it wasn’t for Napster and PirateBay, none would imagine how else the music industry would have turned itself over to digitization where, practically, listeners today have a choice to consume all the music they like for little to nothing. Amidst all the noise surrounding streaming these days, we decided to zoom out ( just a tad bit) in order to get to the origins of one such a streaming service called Spotify (sure you’ve heard of the name before).

History:

This whole evolutionary change (you know, the one where we demoted the value of art) can arguably be tied back to October 7th of 2008 in Stockholm Sweden. On this fateful day was born Spotify, a digital audio streaming device, developed and released by partners Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon. Contrary to popular opinion, Spotify’s foreign roots and sleek color scheme were not its sole motivators for success; rather, this was a result of excessive planning and a brilliant business model. Come summer of 2009 (less than a year following its official release) Spotify raised $50M in their second round of funding which was essential in the paying off of major record labels.

Initial Reaction:

Not surprisingly, Spotify faced mixed reactions upon its release to the public. Its initial business plan massively underpaid artists and exercised the objectively suspicious need to pay off record labels who otherwise were unwilling to hand over their precious songs to be distributed to the public for practically nothing. Artists were the first to catch on to the consumer-heavy focus of Spotify’s business model: essentially underpaying musicians only to cut the literal value of music by 99.4% (which was revealed when Spotify later released a statement illustrating the payout per new streamer to be less than a cent).

Underpaying artists may be in the best interest of consumers (and happy consumers means a happy Spotify bank-account) however, is discounted music really worth the scamming of artists and overall wear and tear streaming has on the entire music industry? Many don’t think so. Artists and producers such as Thom Yorke, Taylor Swift, Nigel Godrich, and David Byrne spoke out against Spotify not only as businessmen and women fighting for economic equality but also as concerned lovers of the art itself with fear for streaming’s influence on its future.

“If Spotify reaches its goal of gaining a definitive hold on the new delivery system then another precedent will be set and the idea that recorded music is practically worthless will become normal.” – Nigel Godrich

Influence:

As it was so beautifully stated by Mr. Godrich (likely in a British accent), Spotify and streaming as a whole will continue to demote the worth of music so long as the literal marketed value of a song continues to drop so drastically. As profit brought in by music alone declines, labels must find other means of making money off of artists and the easiest way to do this is by “branding” a musician. AKA owning the artists’ names not merely their music; naturally leading to creative restrictions from labels. At the end of the day, music is music. It evolved into what it was 10 years ago and it continues to reshape into what it is today just as it will tomorrow and forever. There’s no way to stop a changing industry from growing but there is a way to help it. To aid it rather from becoming something you don’t want it to be. At the end of the day- you, the fan- have the most influence of all. What you choose to buy sells and what you don’t will likely conform to something you will. So make the change you want to hear, music as we know it is ours to protect.

Be Yourself: Raised on TV’s Advice

21-Jul-2020 By Tanay Mulukutla Leave a Comment

(Post via) Marie Tobias)Keaton Rogers offers some excellent advice, tells his band’s story, and elaborates on how they’ve arrived where they are: released their debut album titled “Season 1” two months prior to playing at the youbloomLA Music Summit & Festival back in 2017! One word of advice: Be Yourself!

Photo: youbloomDublin 2018

Garage Band Beginnings

Keaton, Kacey, and Ryan, the members of Raised on TV, began “working away in Ryan’s mom’s garage” in the summer of 2015. Keaton and Kacey, who are brothers, “always thought it would be cool to be in a band together”. So when Keaton’s previous band disbanded and Kacey and Ryan’s previous band also fell apart, they joined forces to create Raised on TV. With influences such as Weezer, Jimi Hendrix, Simon and Garfunkel, Pink Floyd, and Blink 182, there’s no doubt that Raised on TV’s first EP, released in 2016, had rock and roll roots. Since their humble beginnings, they’ve toured twice and recorded a full-length album. And they “feel like [they’re] in a good place as a band.”

When asked about the band’s vision, Keaton joked that their band’s vision is “20/20 when [they] wear [their] glasses”

To “make and share quality music” is, “in all seriousness”, their true vision. Live performances hold an especially special place in their hearts, as Keaton stated “having an amazing concert experience is very much at the heart of our vision for our band.” And if they can help others “get through a tough day” with their music, even better. “It’s not about the competition!” Last year, Raised on TV entered a battle of the bands competition for a chance to play on the Vans Warped Tour. With 200 original contestants, they successfully navigated through the hoops to compete out of 8 groups in the final round. However, their “mindset was never that [they] were competing with other bands.” Instead, as Keaton states, they were just aiming to become “the best version of [themselves].” Again, be yourself!

Even though they lost in the final round, they reminded themselves that “it was never about winning in the traditional sense anyway. So, don’t get caught up in the competition. When you go see twenty or so amazing bands at a festival, there’s no first or second prize, no gold or silver medal, there’s a bunch of freaking awesome music and people there to enjoy it.”

Keaton’s word of advice? If an artist is true to themselves, “there will be nobody else like that artist and that’s what it’s all about.”

Check out youbloom Connect and/ or sign up here: https://www.youbloom.com/artist-apply/ where you can get partnered to perform with other local artists, build a steady fan-base, and even get your band on the road.

Hiring an Artist Manager? Know-How-Now!

21-Jul-2020 By Tanay Mulukutla 1 Comment

(Post via Josey Dunbar)Knowing when hiring an artist manager (and whether or not to hire one at all) can be a tough call for artists.When deciding what’s right for your band, it’s important not only to weigh the obvious pros and cons, but also to consider the methods of attracting and choosing the best manager for your individual group of artists. We’ve got 3 steps for you to consider.

Hiring a Manager — Chasing Felix at youblooomDublin 2018 Music Festival & Summit

Step One: Consider the Pros of Hiring an Artist Manager

#1 Experience

Managers can provide outside knowledge of the music industry for your band. Whether you’re an up-and-coming group or have years of experience preforming, hiring a manager will provide knowledge that can prove to be essential when dealing with hosts, venues and sponsors.

#2 Third Party Ear

In addition to providing knowledge of the industry, managers can also serve as a third party perspective when disputes arise within the band. Having an unbiased opinion can help to resolve budding conflicts between artists.

#3 Concentrate Vision

Hiring a good manager can also be a perfect way to narrow in on a brand for your band and develop a solid vision for your group’s future.

Step Two: Consider the Cons of Hiring an Artist Manager

#1 Money

Managers aren’t free nor are they cheap. If your band is going to end up losing money or barely breaking even by hiring a manager- maybe consider holding off for the time being.

#2 Loss of Artistic Freedom

It’s no secret that a band loses the total control they started with when they decide to hire a manger. Though releasing some control may prove to be beneficial for the musician’s future, you must decide if the end goal is worth it.At the end of the day, hiring a manager is an investment that only you can deem worth the expense and risk. But the important decision-making doesn’t end there; after deciding if a manager is a right move for your band, it’s time to decide how to attract and choose the right one.

Step Three: Attracting a Manager

After deciding to find a manager for your band, you’ll learn the first step in finding the right one is to not look. No you did not read that sentence wrong—don’t go looking for a manager; the right manager will come looking for you.

With that said, there are certain methods of speeding up the process. The more buzz there is around your band, the more managers will know who you are and where to find you. To learn more about growing your fanbase check out “Super-Fan: How To Engage A Solid Fan Base.” After you attract managers who embody the same vision you have for your group, don’t be afraid to give them some control while still maintaining your own individuality, of course.