After a Brief Hiatus, Griffin Anthony to Release New Album, Refuge

22-Feb-2018 By Guest Blogger Leave a Comment

Griffin Anthony, after taking a brief break from touring, is releasing his first full-length album since 2015’s, “Making of A Man”.

The album is set to be released this summer on Big Eye Records. During Anthony’s hiatus he has composed film scores for the Woodstock Film Festival selected documentary, Catskill Park and HBO’s I Wanna See You and Call to Action, amongst others.

“Scoring was invaluable to my evolution as a songwriter”

“Scoring was invaluable to my evolution as a songwriter”,says Anthony, “but I grew to miss writing the stories that I wanted to tell.”

Since scoring music for various films, Anthony became anxious to get in the studio and return to his first love, writing songs connecting to people emotionally. His new album, Refuge, was recorded at the Bomb Shelter in East Nashville with producer Jon Estes (Kesha, John Paul White, Steelism), in collaboration with Andirja Tokic (Alabama Shakes, Margo Price, Langehorn Slim).

Truly returning to his musical roots, Anthony recorded Refuge live to two–inch tape. He completed the recording of the album over 6 days in October 2017. Given the opportunity to listen to Anthony’s new album prior to his release and sitting down with him at his home in Ridgefield, CT, Anthony went into depth over his thoughts on his new music and how it is different from his previous works.

“I just aimed to write songs you can trust,” Anthony said. “I took a bigger swing on this record. The tunes have some heavier themes.” Never preachy or fussy, Anthony’s unwavering vocals and pointed lyrics deliver on the nine-song LP. Starkly more nuanced than his previous work, Refuge, offers character-driven narratives ripe with perspective and humility that sneak up and grab you by the throat. This album is a return home for Anthony and provides a hopeful feel through risk.

“From time to time, we all have to take great risks in order to find safety. These songs explore the risks, failures, and steps towards finding our safe-haven.”

Refuge is set to be released later this summer.

https://open.spotify.com/user/griffinanthonyofficial/playlist/1moQbmpMfjpPHP2FiQruaS?si=fpuhIAjpRWakuplEJ-wHMQ

Author’s bio: Gabe Crawford has been a music and vinyl enthusiasts for over 20 years. Although originally from Oklahoma, he currently resides in New York with his 1200 vinyl albums.

Jessica Meuse Talks about Life after American Idol: Artist Spotlight

15-Feb-2018 By Robert Loustaunau 2 Comments

Photo Credit: Jessica Meuse

It can be difficult to build up clout as an independent artist, but it sure does help when you’ve got your own hashtag and a squad of fans dropping it on the daily. Ever since Jessica Meuse made it to the Top4 Spot on American Idol’s 13th season, her faithful fan base, #MuseMafia, have been tirelessly repping for the country-singer. If you’re like me, that’s probably where you first heard this soulful singer with that infectious southern twang.

I’ll either be a broke musician or a successful one.

I just want to make my music.

Since her time on Idol, Miss Meuse has signed with Warrior Records, released a music video for “Love Her Better,” and taken up a tour across the country. Despite her hectic performance schedule, the Idol finalist spared some time to talk with youbloom about her roots as a country singer and what new stuff she has been cooking up.

Jessica Meuse on Touring

Talking Points: Living on the road, Playing the Maltese Islands, and getting pampered on American Idol.

On her Roots

Talking Points: Stage-side meltdowns…they happen, and Bringing your real self into your music despite the haters.

The Writing Process

Talking Points: Finding inspiration for music in daily life

Jessica Meuse – “Love Her Better” Official Music Video Recorded on The Maltese.

Best Show Ever Played & Youbloom

Talking Points: Playing the Viper Room in LA, Shout out to the Muse Mafia, youbloom, and the Unfortunate lack of Irish pubs in Texas.

Going Forward and Giving Advice

Talking Points: 2018 Album release, Recording at Capitol Records, and what a Janis Joplin and Stevie Nicks’ baby would sound like (Spoiler, it’s Jess).

You can keep track of what Jessica Meuse is up to by following her on twitter @JessMeuse, instagram, or her official website. There’s a possibility she will be back playing with youbloomDublin or youbloomLA Music Festival & Summit and same for you. For any bands or artists interested in expanding their musical family, meeting and learning from industry leaders, and playing some of the hottest venues in Dublin, make sure to Apply to Play for youbloomDublin. Hurry, the application deadline is February 19th, 2018! And keep an eye out for Jessica’s debut album that is to be released in 2018 or join the #MuseMafia. You know you want to.

Robert Loustaunau is a content writer for youbloom and is a member of the social media team there. He is an avid music maker and listener. He enjoys the simple things in life: coffee, a good book, and quality time with his lovely girlfriend.

Danu5ik Interview – Part 2

29-Jan-2018 By Robert Loustaunau Leave a Comment

In the second half of my music interview with Danu5ik, he and I tried to pin down what exactly it is that gets an artist’s creative water wheel spinning. Also, Daniel offers sage advice on how to mine that creativity once it’s found. We also discuss his newest project and how EDM is being changed by increased collaborations between DJs.

You were talking about getting hit with this surge of creativity. Could you talk more about how that hits you?

I find it very difficult to sit down in the studio and say I’m going to pump out something. Usually, when I try to do that I end up with tracks that get put on hold for a later date. You can’t really force creativity. Chances are I’ll be sitting in an airport when a concept for a track will come to me and I’ll pull out my laptop and see where I can go with that.

LA was an amazing experience meeting everyone at youbloom. The ideas that were pitched and listening to everyone else’s sounds, those things are really inspirational.

Do you have advice for musicians or artists on how to develop that initial stroke of creativity into a fleshed out piece of work?

Yes, go outside. Take a deep breath. Sitting down in front of the keyboard or guitar is one thing but what I’ve found is if you try to push yourself after that certain time, that creativity just goes down. So do something completely different and then go back to it. What you’ll find is when you go back to that track you’re coming back with a different take but you’re keeping that energy level there.

Anyone who knows me knows I’m about high energy; the enjoyment, the laughter, the happiness. Music to me is an aura, it’s supposed to transition fluently and be able to captivate people in the way starting a conversation with someone new does. You need to be able to just open up your mouth and say “Hello.”

If you missed Danu5ik’s newest Single and Music Video in Part 1 of the interview then take a peak. Or just watch it again. It’s as good the second time around.

Imagine wasn’t created all in one day, it was created over time and it was something I had to listen to over again. Whatever you’ve created you do need to get it reviewed by someone else, either friends or family. Feedback is everything, that’s the only way you can know you’re on the right path.

Yes, I feel like there is this tendency among musicians to hole themselves away until they create something worthwhile but what I hear from you is the opposite.

Yes, if you want to inspire to make something great that goes around the world, than you need to be able to show people that you’re not just an artist in the studio not connected to your fans or the world. You need to be able to show them that you can get out there and enjoy life, accept feedback and learn from others. That can only make your music better and that differentiates you from every other artist.

How do you find a space for collaboration in an EDM circle? Do places like youbloom foster that connection?

LA was an amazing experience meeting everyone at youbloom. The ideas that were pitched and listening to everyone else’s sounds, those things are really inspirational. For instance, being a part of youbloom I’ve been able to listen to so many other electronica artists and we get to pitch ideas at each other. It’s all about networking and youbloom is fantastic for that being able to connect different artists from different genres because you can never tell where a collaboration may occur.

32. At youbloom it’s great if you have different artists approach you and say they like your sound and want to come up with something. You can never tell where the next hit will come from. I got collaboration requests from youbloom Dublin and that was fantastic. You get to learn more about other artists and in a sense you’re piggy-backing off of each other in a positive way. The top artists wouldn’t be where they are if they hadn’t started somewhere similar so for local artists it’s a great opportunity.

What’s your vision as Danu5ik going forward?

At the present moment we are planning a US tour in the new year that takes place from New York to LA and a tour in Canada in 2019. I look forward to it! It gives me a perfect opportunity to connect with fans across the world and visit these different cities and make them a part of the live experience.

Is there a different type of atmosphere when you travel to these places you haven’t played at before?

As a DJ you always have to read the crowd. When I perform in different places where the fan following isn’t that strong it’s always interesting to see how those new fans listen to the music and see how it captivates them or doesn’t. For me, it’s always great to take those few moment before performances to connect with fans because I don’t want to be one of those artist who just comes to do the performance and then is out the door. You’re here for the fans so connect with them. It adds more of a one to one with them which is what I set out to achieve and they know I’m always in arms reach or they can take a picture with me or we can grab a drink if it’s a small location.

Its always going to be a challenge to be a local artist.

Never give up on your sound. Know that your sound will evolve.

Do you have any advice for other artists who are trying to make it in this industry right now?

Never give up. I’ve met a lot of artists who always struggle with this. Its always going to be a challenge to be a local artist. Never give up on your sound. Know that your sound will evolve. Keep networking, there are various outlets you can learn from.

It took me going to LA and talking with Andy Gould and he said it quite clearly, the info is there for us artists, it’s all laid out. We don’t have to find things difficult because if you want to connect to another artist there are avenues there. In terms of creating new sounds, there is a wide range of tools out there, experts that can give you feedback. Just reach out and never feel like you’re alone because you’re not.

17. You heard it here folks, Danu5ik has got fresh beats cooking in the oven so follow him at @DDanu5ik to know when those tracks hit. Also, Danu5ik will be at youblomDublin for the 2018 Music Festival & Summit (May 30-June 4) and you should be too. All bands gain free admission to the 5 days of musical performances, workshops, and master classes about navigating the music industry. Apply To Play -Deadlines hit February 19th.

Top 6 Micro Job Sites – For Musicians

16-Jan-2018 By Robert Loustaunau Leave a Comment

Choosing the Right Micro Job Site

Being an independent artist can be tricky. When the gigs aren’t exactly flowing, one way artists can convert their skills to profit are through micro job sites. While platforms like Fiverr have become a popular hub for freelancers to offer up their skills to patrons, many competing micro job sites are offering unique perks to accrue their own network of buyers and sellers. Here we’ll disentangle the pros and cons of these platforms so you can find the one that’ll suit your needs.

Fiverr

Fiverr being the most well know micro job site platform, it has set the bar for this global marketplace. As its name suggests, a musician can offer up their services for as little as 5 bucks. Fiverr’s platform is clean and user friendly and seems to cater to musicians more with services being broken into categories like: Voice Over, Mixing & Mastering, Singer-Songwriters, Jingles & Drops, and Sound Effects as well as others. The commission Fiverr receives per gig is 20%, meaning they’ll get a dollar of that $5 jingle you wrote. While this rate is somewhat steady among job sites, minimum service rates can vary as well.

Fourer

The next logical step if Fiverr is not for you is Fourer. With no lack in discretion, this site is a spin-off from Fiverr and the minimum rate is $4. Like Fiverr, Fourer nabs 20% of each transaction. The catch with this site is that you can only receive your payout through Paypal. Many similar job sites function this way so consider your relationship with Paypal before signing up. Fourerr also provides users the ability to “level up” where points can be gained by selling services. These points can then be exchanged for purchasing credit on the platform.

FiverUp

Don’t let its name fool you. FiverUp offers minimum rates of $4 and takes a 20% commission. You can manage your funds through Paypal or your credit card. In an attempt to differentiate itself from its competitors this micro job site offers a flurry of extra features. For example, FiverUp offers a “bump” function which allows users to pin their service to the site’s front page everyday. Their is also the possibility that if the company finds your service to be unique or especially useful, they will feature it in their blog, maximizing your exposure.

SEOClerks

Diverting from the common pun, SEOClerks has carved out its own niche of buyers and sellers priding itself/advertising itself on services as low as $1 and being especially useful to SEO and web development services. If you are an artist looking to beautify your website or expand your brand coverage, purchasing services here may be your best bet, but SEOCLerks allows you to sell the same range of services as the other sites, leaving a category of Music and Audio for musicians to sell their craft as well. They have different user levels which dictate the range of cost you can demand for your services where you may start offering gigs from $5-$125 and at later levels there is no maximum on the price. They also have a “want to buy” and “want to trade” section, where you can ask to have specific gigs done.

Gigbucks

While not wholly unique in its design, the platform has garnered good reviews from it users and a reliable following. Like the others, Gigbucks pays out through Paypal or Alertpay/Payza, and also offers credit to one’s Gigbucks account balance. The rate one can charge is $5 – 50 and Gigbucks takes a set 20% cut.

Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk)

Finally, there is MTurk. This Amazon-affiliated crowdsourcing website is based in India and has accumulated a wide girth of customers over the years and is known to be a sturdy forefather of the micro job site platform. Any number of Human Intelligence Tasks (HITs) can be requested and those who complete them, Turkers, are paid in Amazon credit. One can also pay the Turker through debit/credit or PayPal. Workers based in India have an added perk of being able to receive payment as a direct deposit in the form of Rupees. The commission rate for MTurk is where things become more complicated with a 20% – 40% fee per HIT depending on a workers number of tasks at had. A worker can be paid as low as $0.01 for a task but usually jobs pay as low as $1.20.

Still not sure where to post your services? Take a look at our comparison chart of what each platform has to offer. Hopefully this will clear things up so you can begin posting and get paid!

Interview w/ HMMA winners, Flight of Fire

07-Jan-2018 By Robert Loustaunau Leave a Comment

My Last Gamble – Winning track at Hollywood Music in Media Awards for Americana/Folk/Acoustic

Interview with Flight of Fire

“We all strongly believe that the transfer of energy between audience and musicians is an intensely powerful thing.” – Flight of Fire

Earlier this month, youbloom was lucky enough to get some precious air-time with the Hard-Rock maelstrom of female fury, Flight of Fire. Known for their fantastical live shows and superb rock compositions, this Boston-based band has been selling out shows and racking up awards for several years now. In this interview the ladies divulge their creative process, dole out advice for the unsigned artists out there, and share what’s on the band’s horizon.

What were a couple runner-up names for the band before you settled on Flight of Fire?

What a cool question! We came up with our band name in a very geeky way, so we actually did have two clear runner-ups. The first was Drop of Flame and the second was Force of Flame. Personally, I think we made the right choice!

What is your creative process when writing?

We usually write songs individually. When they are mostly finished, we bring them to the band and everyone adds their own flare. Maverick will get picky about lyrics and improve melodies and Tanya will add solos. The twins write riffs together, and Tia and Maddie solidify the groove.

How has the LA music scene been different from the Boston music scene?

We haven’t spent enough time in the LA scene just yet to really be able to compare it to Boston, though in the few times we have come out, we have absolutely loved our experiences. One of the things we did notice is that there seems to be a lot more competition in LA as so many talented people flock to the city, however, there is also a plethora of experienced industry professionals providing an endless source of networking opportunities as well as offering more chances for encountering career-growing experiences. So it all seems to balance out.

“We don’t like our performances to be contrived at all, and we love to ride the waves when unexpected things happen!”

Youbloom, for example, has been so welcoming and supportive of us – we had such a great experience at the conference and met so many incredible people in the industry! It’s definitely very different, and each scene offers different things to artists and bands. We can’t wait to explore more about what it’s like to be a band in LA.

Flight of Fire is known for its high energy performances. What do you think it is that gives a band its charisma?

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Photo by Trixie’s Tripod of Boston Rock Radio!

To us, it’s all about the live shows. We all strongly believe that the transfer of energy between audience and musicians is an intensely powerful thing. Live shows are our opportunity to show our fans how much we appreciate them, and it’s their opportunity to enjoy us in our element! It’s truly magical.

Would you say you have live shows down to a science, or is each one its own mystery going in?

We like to keep as much of our performances as spontaneous as possible driven by pure in-the-moment inspiration. We do plan our setlists, but we like to take the energy of the crowd into account and play off the emotions of the people watching us. Sometimes you have to diverge from the set list when the audience’s energy is calling for something specific.

We also like to include some memorable stage antics, like when we switch instruments and pull off wild stunts. But our philosophy is that what we do on stage should reflect how we are really feeling at the time. We don’t like our performances to be contrived at all. We love to ride the waves when unexpected things happen!

What’s the most memorable show you’ve ever played? Why?

Some of the most memorable shows we’ve played have been when we opened for big acts. When we opened for Bon Jovi at Ford Field, and that is an experience we will never forget. We also opened for Lita Ford at a smaller venue. It was a sold out show and her fans were so incredibly supportive of us making us feel like true rock stars that night. At those kind of shows, you hope that you’re seeing a glimpse of your future. Those are the moments that stick in our minds and inspire us to keep pushing on through any of the difficulties we might face.

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Flight of Fire performing at youbloomLA Music Festival & Summit 2017

What good memory or experience did you have at the youbloom 2017 music festival?

So much of it was amazing! We are still so grateful that we got to come out and be a part of youbloom. We met so many incredible people. All the panelists we got to talk to were so encouraging, and the discussions really helped us solidify some of our strategies for the upcoming year.

“My Last Gamble won, and we never would have had that opportunity if it hadn’t been for youbloom and Shele Sondheim!”

Can you describe the events at the youbloom festival that led you to getting a Hollywood Music in Media nomination?

Shele Sondheim was one of the acclaimed panelists that we met at the festival. Shele was so kind and supportive to us and he connected us with Brent Harvey, the producer of the HMMAs. The two of them encouraged us to submit our song. Apparently it was a fantastic idea considering we actually took home a trophy that night. My Last Gamble won, and we never would’ve had that opportunity if it hadn’t been for YouBloom and Shele Sondheim!

What project do you currently have in the works?

We just finished recording a new single in the studio that features Cherie Currie from the Runaways. Cherie and Maverick share lead vocals on our song, She’s a Badass. It’s a testament to all of the female rockers who came before us and paved the way for musicians like us. The song will be released in early 2018.

What is the band’s vision going forward?

We have so much that we want to accomplish. Our most recent album, Path of the Phoenix, was released a year ago, and we already have so much new material for the next album we are hoping to record by the end of the summer, if possible. We are also looking at a tour in Europe and new music videos. Our biggest goal right now is to get a supporting slot on a tour with a band like Halestorm. That would be a dream come true.

“One of the most important things we’ve learned is that when you have somebody who believes in you, never take that for granted.”

What are your biggest challenges in reaching your vision?

As always, the biggest challenge is financial! It’s very difficult to make money with what we do. We are always doing our best to be savvy and find ways to make it happen! We will be launching a Patreon in January. That will give our fans the opportunity for a more intimate relationship with the band where they can directly support the music they love. We’re very excited about cultivating it, and that kind of support will make everything we are trying to do that much more possible!

What’s the best way fans-to-be can gain access to your music?

Our official website is the best way to get access to our music, videos and updates! From flightoffire.com, you can link to all of our social media as well, so whatever platform you prefer for following bands, you can find us there.

What advice would you have for upcoming bands/artists that are trying to get noticed?

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FoF at the Hollywood Music in Media Awards Night 2017

One of the most important things we’ve learned is that when you have somebody who believes in you, never take that for granted. When you have a DJ play your music, an aspiring journalist who writes a review for you, a booker who hears you at a show and loves you, or any fan that tells you that your music has moved them or buys your merch, your job is to respond to them. Express your gratitude, let them know how much it means to you that they believe in what you are doing. If someone is going out of their way for you, make sure you go out of your way for them just as much. Especially in this ever-changing industry, we all have to stick together and support each other. It’s all about relationships – make sure you always pay it forward.

To stay up to date on what Flight of Fire is up to, you can check out their website, flightoffire.com and follow them on Twitter and Facebook. Their newest album, Path of the Phoenix, can be purchased on Bandcamp.