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Informing Music People Since 1977
December 2023 • Vol. 47 • No. 12
42
Jenny Lewis
Headlining coast-to-coast shows with her Joy’All Ball, joining the Beck and Phoenix Summer Odyssey tour, and in performances from Madison Square Garden to The Hollywood Bowl as a member of The Postal Service on their historic 20th anniversary tour with Death Cab for Cutie: With the release of her fifth solo record, Joy’All, Jenny Lewis is undeniably high profile.
JOSIE DUNNE
Favorite Signing 52 Our Stories of 2023
By Dan Kimpel Photos by: Bobbi Rich
Compiled By Mark Nardone
49
50 Best Career Tips of 2023 Compiled By Joseph Maltese
Hot 100 Live Unsigned Bands of 2023
32
SANDRA GOODIN
Compiled By Mark Nardone
CLASSLESS ACT
LOS PONCHO TONES
Top 25 New Music Critiques + 20 Top Prospects
Departments
08. Close Up 09. Assignments 10. New Toys 14. Stocking Stuffers 16. Gifts Under A Grand 20. Book Store 22. Up Close 24. Studio Mix 29. Business Affairs 30. The Legal Beat 34. Song Biz 38. Film•TV•Theater 40. Mixed Notes
Reviews
46
By Joseph Maltese
56. Album Reviews 57. Live Reviews
Be sure to follow Music Connection on Facebook and Twitter. FREEFALL RESCUE
26. Producer Crosstalk: Noah Sierota . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . By Rob Putnam 28. Industry Profile: Frank Joseph, Harman International . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . By Rob Putnam 36. Songwriter Profile: Shaylen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . By Andrea Beenham 54. Product Profile: Avid MBOX Studio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . By Steve Sattler 55. Product Profile: Native Instruments Kontrol S-Series MK3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . By Steve Sattler 62. Tip Jar: 21 Ways AI Can Elevate Your Music Career . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . By J. Michael Dolan 4
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The opinions expressed in Music Connection, as well as all Directory listings and contact information, are provided by various sources in the music industry. Music Connection is not responsible for any business transactions or misadventures that may result from your use of this information.
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Daniel Siwek danielsiwek@roadrunner.com Dan Kimpel dan@dankimpel.com EDITORIAL INTERNS EDITORIAL INTERN Remy Annetta Bedrosian Remy Annetta •• Aaliyah Aaliyah Bedrosian CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Rebecca Marcelo intern@musicconnection.com intern@musicconnection.com intern@musicconnection.com Heather Allen, David Arnson, Andrea Beenham, Bobby Borg, Pierce Brochetti, Alexx Calise, Brett Callwood, WRITERS Miguel Costa, Heather Cunningham,CONTRIBUTING Elena Ender, Gary Graff, Eric Harabadian, Andy Kaufmann, David Arnson, Andrea Beenham, Heather Allen, David Arnson, Andrea Beenham, Glenn Litwak, Andy Mesecher, Kurt Orzeck, Jessica Pace, Rob Putnam, Steve Sattler, Adam Seyum, BobbyPierce Borg, Brochetti, Pierce Brochetti, Alexx Brett Calise, Brett Callwood, BobbyDaniel Borg, AlexxJonathan Calise, Callwood, Miguel Costa, Siwek, Brian Stewart, Widran, Ellen Woloshin Costa, Elena Ender, GaryKaufmann, Graff, EricEric Harabadian, ElenaCosta, Ender,Heather GaryMiguel Graff, Eric Harabadian, Andy Glenn Litwak, Andy Mesecher, Miguel Cunningham, Elena Ender, Gary Graff, Harabadian, Andy Kaufmann, GlennPace, Litwak, Andy Mesecher, Kurt Orzeck, Pace, RobSiwek, Putnam, KurtKaufmann, Orzeck, Jessica Putnam, Steve Sattler, AdamJessica Seyum, Daniel GlennAndy Litwak, Andy Mesecher, KurtRob Jessica Pace, Rob Putnam, Steve Sattler, Adam Seyum, E.Orzeck, Eric Bettelli PUBLISHER PHOTOGRAPHERS Steve Sattler, Adam Daniel Siwek, Brian Stewart, Jonathan Widran, Ellen Woloshin Brian Jonathan Widran, Ellen Woloshin DanielSeyum, Siwek,Stewart, Brian Stewart, Jonathan Widran, Ellen Woloshin Heather Allen, David Arnson, JB Brookman, BrettMark Callwood, Alexx Calise, Daren Cornell, E. Eric Bettelli Nardone PHOTOGRAPHERS Miguel Costa, Jody Domingue, Jim Donnelly, KevinSENIOR Estrada, EDITORApple / Kaufmann, David Klein, GENERAL MANAGER / Alex Kluft, Koepp, Tony Landa, Dave Long, Thomas Long, Charlie Meister, Scott Perham, David JB ADVERTISING Brookman, Brett Callwood, Alexx Calise, Daren Cornell, DavidHeather Arnson, JB Brookman, Brett Callwood, Alexx Calise, Daren Cornell, Miguel Costa, ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Heather Allen,Arnson, David Arnson, JB Brookman, Brett Callwood, Alexx Calise, Daren Cornell, DIRECTOR Garrett Poulos, Alexander G.JimApple Seyum, Seyum, Mark Shiwolich, Siwek, Brian Stewart, Miguel Costa, Donnelly, Kevin Estrada, Apple David Klein, markn@musicconnection.com Jim Donnelly, Kevin Estrada, Kaufmann, David Klein, AlexKaufmann, Kluft, Heather Koepp, Tony Landa, Miguel Costa, Jody Domingue, JimDanny Donnelly, Kevin Estrada, AppleDaniel Kaufmann, David Klein, ericb@musicconnection.com Joshua Weesner, Ellen Woloshin AlexHeather Kluft, Heather Tony Landa, Dave Long, Thomas Long, Charlie Meister, DaveKluft, Long, Thomas Long,Koepp, Charlie Meister, Scott Perham, Garrett Poulos, Alexander G. Seyum, Alex Koepp, Tony Landa, Dave Long, Thomas Long, Charlie Meister, Scott Perham, John Curry Robin Rose Scott Perham, Garrett Poulos, Alexander G. Seyum, Danny Seyum,Ellen Mark Shiwolich, Danny Seyum, Mark Shiwolich, Daniel Brian Stewart, Woloshin ART DIRECTOR Garrett Poulos, Alexander G. Seyum, Danny Seyum, Mark Shiwolich, Daniel Siwek, OPERATIONS MANAGER / Siwek, Daniel Siwek, Brian Stewart, Ellen Woloshin artdirector@musicconnection.com Brian Stewart, Joshua Weesner, Ellen Woloshin DIRECTORIES EDITOR MANUFACTURED AND PRINTED IN THE Joseph UNITED STATES OF AMERICA denisec@musicconnection.com Maltese
Music Connection MANUFACTURED (ISSN# 1091-9791) published monthly Music MANUFACTURED ANDisPRINTED PRINTED IN THE THE UNITEDbySTATES STATES OFConnection, AMERICA Inc., 3441 Ocean ASSOCIATE EDITOROF / AMERICA AND IN UNITED Steve Sattler SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER View Blvd., Glendale,(ISSN# CA 91208. Single copy price is $3.95, Canada $4.95. Subscription $35/one Music Connection (ISSN# 1091-9791) published monthly by Music Connection, Inc.,rates: 3441 Ocean Ocean Music Connection 1091-9791) isis published monthly by Music Connection, Inc., 3441 josephm@musicconnection.com year,Blvd., $59/two years.CA U.S.,copy addBUSINESS $25 (U.S. currency) per$4.95. year. Subscription We are not responsible for View Blvd., Glendale, CAOutside 91208.the Single copy price $3.95, Canada $4.95. Subscription rates: $35/one $35/one View Glendale, 91208. Single price isis $3.95, Canada rates: DEVELOPMENT MANAGER unsolicited material, must return postage. AllWe rights Reproducyear, $59/two $59/two years.which Outside thebe U.S.,accompanied add $25 $25 (U.S. (U.S.bycurrency) currency) per year. year. We are reserved. not responsible responsible for year, years. Outside the U.S., add per are not for Barry Rudolph tion in whole or partsteve@creativesalesresource.com without written permission by ofbythe The opinReproducions of unsolicited material, which must be accompanied accompanied return postage.isAll Allprohibited. rights reserved. reserved. Reproducunsolicited material, which must be return postage. rights NEWpublishers TOYS contributing writers to this publication do not necessarily reflect theisisviews of MusicThe tion inin whole whole or part part without writtenMcLarty permission the publishers prohibited. TheConnection, opinions ions ofofInc. Hillorie tion or without written permission ofof the publishers prohibited. opin barry@barryrudolph.com © 2023 2021/do bynot E. Eric Bettelli. All rights contributing writers writers toto Copyright thisADVERTISING publication do not necessarily reflect thereserved. views ofof Music Music Connection, Connection, Inc. Inc. MARKETING contributing this publication necessarily reflect the views Andrea Beenham Copyright 2023 by byDolan Eric/Bettelli. Bettelli. All rights rights reserved. hillorier@musicconnection.com Copyright 2022 E.E. Eric All reserved. Founded by: J.©©Michael michael@jmichaeldolan.com SONG BIZ Founded by: J. Michael Dolan / michael@jmichaeldolan.com Founded by: J. Michael drea@dreajo.com RayDolan Holt/ michael@jmichaeldolan.com
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Music Connection (ISSN# 1091-9791) is published monthly by Music Connection, Inc., 3441 Ocean View Blvd., Glendale, CA 91208. Single copy price is $3.95, Canada $4.95. Subscription rates: $35/one year, $59/two years. Outside the U.S., add $25 (U.S. currency) per year. We are not responsible for unsolicited material, which must be accompanied by return postage. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission of the publishers is prohibited. The opinions of contributing writers to this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of Music Connection, Inc. Copyright © 2023 by E. Eric Bettelli. All rights reserved. Founded by: J. Michael Dolan / www.jmichaeldolan.com
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CLOSE UP CCLLOOSSEE UUPP
– JONATHAN WIDRAN – JONATHAN WIDRAN
Creative Works Legal Services Dead Horse Branding The Room Recording Studios Sound Sleuth LLC creativeworkslegal.com Kensaltown East deadhorsebranding.com theroomstudios.us jlielectronics.com/diy-microphone-kits
– JONATHAN WIDRAN – JONATHAN WIDRAN
kensaltownstudios.com Combining Passions for and Law:firm A few years into his Dead Horse Branding isMusic a multi-faceted launched in 2013 by Launched By multiple Grammy nominee Mauricio Garza: Forlegal thethe first Bewitched Microphone Kits: Reflective of theInternational sonic magic they’reand, decareer, circled backLatin to his enduring passion for music visionary husband-and-wife team of two-time Design Award 15Fostering yearsJoe of Joseph his career, prolific music producer Mauricio Garza’s a Creative Community: From his early days working for Nile signed to capture, the growing line of microphone kits created by veteran inspired by histhree-time family’s longstanding entrepreneurial spirit,Caballo launched winner and NYC Big Book Award winner Rick andon vethome base Monterrey, Mexico, he worked top artists Rodgers atwas Skyline Studios anddivision, Hitofwhere Factory through hiswith years recording at audio designer Julesand Ryckebusch Sound Sleuth LLC (in association his ownentrepreneur firm, and music law Creative Works Legal Services. eran branding expert Melissa Core Caballo. Starting every Warner Bros., EMI,its Sony and Universal, including Julieta Venegas, Zoe, London’s Olympic and Sarm Studios, Camus Celli was inspired by those with JLI Electronics) features items named after female characters from Going strong after nearly 12 years, Joseph and his staff, serving local and client with an initial strategic plan driven by the client’s core Cartel derelationship Santa and Volovan. facilities’ sense of openness community whichand fostered a unique the classic sitcom Bewitched—Samantha, Endora Serena, with developnational clients from offices inand Detroit and Nashville, are committed to identity and message, theAngeles firm’s array of services include business When he moved to Los in 2010, he bought a products small personal culture, a collaborative spirit andfor allowed legends tothe regularly popwith in and Tabitha on the way. Ryckebusch began developing JLI Accompanying the photo is a mission statement reflecting Joseph and his offering first class legal solutions all types of music professionals. As ment, brand consulting and management, logo and graphic design, book studio in Burbank that had all his high-end equipment. For artists coming socialize in addition to doing sessions. In 2015, when he began out sending capsules, and when he came up with important the circuitry, he reached to JLI team’s belief in the cultural importance of music: “We believe that music stated in their MC ad, one of the most elements of the practice design and publishing deals, photography, website design, PR, social media toOperations record in SoCal, gotConfer outU.K., that space offered the same sound his songwriters toword Kensaltown popular studio Martin Terefe had Manager Brad toathis see if his company could build and is an indispensable component in the fabric of life, having the ability to is to “protect and secure your creative works.” management, marketing, video production and global licensing deals. quality asthem. big was willing to sourcing let them record there at abodlaunched in studios. 2004, heGarza was struck by itswas similar community building space currently hosting in Music residence while Studio market TheJoseph greatest challenge the microphone transcend both time andartist space. actsAlex as aTumay, bridge between the past Ironically, when was first considering law school, many people fraction of the cost. Soon Garza was booking so many clients that he aesthetic with half full-time “artists in residence” and half “public floater Three has resident ATMOS engineer S. Vaughan Merrick and is available ies—but Confer was able to source them from his established vendors. and present, while providing an inspirational window into the future. It in his life, including numerous lawyers, tried to dissuade him. It wasn’t until Branding Formula: Their mission: to strip you down and get to the needed another his own, launching which led atoKensaltown him opening another rooms.” He andspace Terefeofdiscussed studio in N.Y.C. for writing sessions andwe vocal tracking. hasATMOS shapedlistening cultures,sessions, ideologies, and the world as know it. In essence, years later, whenbrand, he began reaching out to you top music lawyers in preparation heart ofCanoga your without losing who are. Dead Horse Branding’s There studio in Park in 2014. for several years before signing a lease on a 10,000 square foot space also writer rooms for songwriting collaborations Ryckebusch has an extensive background in analog design musicare plays anfive instrumental roleideal in defining the very nature of our society.” forBackground: his entry into music entertainment law,branding thatofby he received genuine success isyears, based on and a kept simple formula guide called and Over theSquare Garza up yet with demand expanding further, in Union (formerly home to flawless a the community film composers) just content creation. All eight rooms are equipped with Dante full band, for audio, building compressors, mic preamps, EQs, etc. and always encouragement and the reassurance that working in music law was one “The DH7.” Brands they have worked with include TEDx, HGTV, Hallmark, and under the branding of The Room Recording Studios he and his before the pandemic―and officially launched Kensaltown East in 2022. allowing for seamless digital audio connection between spaces―so for for “clean pristine.” He started building mics eight years ago as individual orThe as afirst Master class. The to module is run by Array of Legalmodules Services: words visitors the website willKeith ofaiming the greatest jobsand inlocations the world. before crisis arises Universal Music Group, Steven Tyler’s banda Loving Mary,that legendary team have launched in“Long West Hollywood (Melrose) anddemands theFETmu- instance, the Neve RMP-D8 mic pres can beprogram, placed inand anyAssociate room, andDirector with kits from Microphone Parts. He started replicating the classic Perissi, Executive Director of the MEBUS see is a concise summary of what Creative Works does for its clients: legal assistance,” he says, “it’sLionsgate important for artists, songwriters, musicians sicCreative producer Tony Brown, and thehave Bo Diddley estate. Hollywood Hills. These studios become popular A Oasis: on improvements. the idea that culture stems from recorded through thecurriculum API inideal Studio One, allowing in the Schoeps circuit withConceived astate-of-the-art few minor Working through issues nated) Daniel Howes. The is also offered infor an anyone occasional pop-up cardioid capsule. for choirs and believes orchestras. isspace like “Know Your Rights, OwnIt’sYour Rights.” Joseph thatEndora although the and producers toand find an experienced attorney, in the industry, who knows hubs for hip-hop, rap, reggaeton, rock, EDM pop, jazz and trap artists, collaboration community, they call their multi-faceted, state of the art to access the API console through this network. It’s the ultimate fusion of with parts obsolescence (most of the through hole components were 40 course at Middle Tennessee State University and Music NSW. The prohaving two Serenas in one microphone, using a dual diaphragm capsule. industry has seen many improvements over the years, the playing field the ins and outs of the music business. It is much more beneficial, and far DH7 Branding Model for Global Education: After years of honing their addition to the best audio gear. The staff includes some of the industry’s earning an international clientele and acclaim as one ofbythe best Each hub “A Creative Oasis in the Heart ofindustry Union Square.” Designed award old school recording and cutting-edge technology. Other selling points years old), he found a FET input opamp that could provide a high input also includes an international education experience at Abbey Road side of the capsule is a idea mic that the opposite direction. While isgram still largely uneven. “The that faces something must be a certain way, less expensive, to have an attorney review your affairs prospectively, as impactful business model with clients, Rick and Melissa launched most renowned engineers. winning designer Martin Pilchner to focus on comfort andhave creativity studios in Hollywood and Los Angeles. are aLondon, large kitchen―ideal for dinner parties―and privacy. impedance and had low distortion and low quiescent current—meaning inmulti-pattern giving opportunity explore the all microphones do this, each Endora is entertainment brought simply because it isstudents ‘industrythe standard,’ is side nottoaof concept we subscribe opposed to trying to undue that which has causedKensaltown you harm and damage,” their brand building and promotional technique into the education sector while maintaining the height of sonic integrity, East draws it runs on Phantom power. With the Bewitched line, the PCBs are fully first-hand in thedrives historic culture. out separately, which allows usersme tomusical create the pattern they awant after toindustry or accept. This isCelli: what and my team.” Putting premium says Joseph. “I’ve developed my reputation by building long-lasting in the U.S. and their Australia, aiming to create aaccessibility solid pathway Individual Studio Features: Melrose facility has an on theThe richRoom history ofnative N.Y.C. studios ofmic, old and the culture of to Terefe owned Quote from Camus “Martin andThe I saw a renaissance in the Setting Studios Apart: With anusers emphasis on assembled and tested. To build their simply need solder 5-9 Select recording via DAW or audio software. on educating clients, Joseph’s services include contracts (band relationships based on trust and by continuously educating myself and connecting students to their chosen industries. The first major music Aguspurger 215H and 218 Subwoofers. Burbank has an Augspurger 212 sister studios Kensaltown London and ATLANTIS Studio in Stockholm. N.Y.C. creative community happening and wanted to have a space that and customer service, Garza has fulfilled his vision for The Room wires, assemble a few items with small screws. A Word from Rick deals, Caballo: “One of our motivating factors was that agreements, record publishing contracts, licensing agreements, staying on top ofBilly evolving trends andand industry business program to sign on with the DH7 practices.” Branding Module KenSystem withthe Dual 18generation. Subwoofers. The very privatethe Canoga Park room Jamie Woon, Porter, Josh Groban, Jaboukie, Q, Jason Mrazisand supported new It comes in waves, N.Y.C. music scene― Studios by providing a high-quality cost-effective experience that’s Jules “What separates these Bewitched products from anywe Ryckebusch: realized that many of the interns who came aboard from different administration deals, co-writing/collaboration agreements, work forhas nesaw State University’s Joel Katz and Entertainment Business Smash Mouth Bhadbhabie recorded their latest singles) Raining Jane were among some of theMusic first artists toOPA work atand Kensaltown post 9/11―we had Theand Yeah Yeah Yeahs, the Strokes, LCD Soundsytem, approachable for musicians onThe aA.cash-strapped budget. He his team (where Samantha, Serena, Endora: starting point into based Sound thing similar ondesign, the market is the simplicity of the kit. The circuit board has universities’ PR and other programs were not being taught in the hire agreements), copyright (from registration and management and Philosophy on the Importance of Music: Joseph may be the only music program. Comprising 25 percent of the course curriculum, the program is East, which has also welcomed 347 Aidan, Holly Humberstone, Ellery a LOUD UREI 813 System with Dual 18 subwoofers. The Room’s newest and we’re seeing a lot of that same sort of energy again out in the clubs. offer themicrophones, perfect balance of beinguses hands-on when clients need them, but Sleuth Samantha a 26mm electret condenser capsule modern components and straightforward state-of-the-art circuit classroom knowledge and skills thattrademark translated to thepre-built real-lifelicensing), industries administration to dispute resolution), (registration, industry lawyer whose home page has a photo of him sitting informally designed as an industry injection spanning multiple industries, including Harper and Sam Hollander for writing sessions. is one of yourself the mixing studios innext the Hollywood We Recording want to support these artists andbest bethat the center of the wave of otherwise getting of their way so they can create. to artists. high- SSL reminiscent of theout CAD E 100 mic that’s been a go to In foraddition voiceover board. These areStudio mics you are on par with expensive theylicensing wanted to get& into.build Artists and companies need branding to cut sync (film advertising, gaming) and business formation onIts the floor, holding his electric guitar. The image speaks volumes about music, fashion, design, business, entertainment and health and wellness. The idea is to create a place where N.Y.C. really inspiring. It culture―it's is luxurious and TV, loud, with its Augspurger 5.1 pristinely System and afirst large design goal was low noise, low distortion, high bandwidth and aoffers lot of Hills. end recording equipment, instruments and accessories, The Room Neumanns. My philosophy is, if you capture everything the through the noise and distinguish themselves. This program cares about (operating and partnership agreements). his foundational love of music, which drives hisdesigned dedication and devotion Analog Dante and Atmos: Pilchner facility with people want to come for a specific amount of time yet feel comfortable retractable screen, perfect for scoring or film mixing. headroom—which led to a Texas Instruments operational amp. Its audio special dayMeets block rates and night block rates, as well asthe hourly, weekly time, you can add anything in post to make it sound the way you like. These how you operate outside of school and make money out of your craft toquality helping clients do what they dolong, best, which is create. “Creative Modules and Locations: The seven modules are consulting, logo design, about staying longer because there are great creatives hanging out… friends many windows to control rooms the maximum amount light. ishis perfect forallow voiceovers and podcasters. Serena builds upon and yearly rates. Open 24/7 all year they’re equipped withof the most mics don’t sound vintage or colored, they just sound good.” before you even graduate.” Contact Creative Works Legal Services: Detroit minds should be web able to focus on their craft without being bogged down photography, marketing, social media, publicity Since both Celli anddevelopment, their careers in the analog era, Studio and great collaborations come out of that spirit248-455-4344; of community.” Contact The Room Studios, 310-895-8553 Samantha and takes itTerefe to thestarted next level, using the same OPA circuit but up-to-date computer systems and most modern DAW and plug-ins, inand are made Nashville 629-895-1762 byreplacing the countless nuances on the business side of things,” says Joseph. Contact Dead Horse Branding, 629-259-7935 licensing. The program can be done virtually via Zoom or(Center inof person, and One has athe vintage 1974 API Aengus Indigo Ranch only three capsule with a TSC-1, afrom full 34mm K67 style(one TermiContact Sound Sleuth 214-399-0931 ever made) and tons of vintage analog synths. Studio Two is a mixing Contact: Kensaltown East: 840-800-1804
Earn Your Degree in Entertainment Industry Studies Bachelor of Science in Entertainment Industry Studies with concentrations in: Audio Engineering Technology Entertainment Industry Entrepreneurship GRAMMY U Affiliate AVID Learning Partner Commercial Music Bands Billboard 2022 Top Music Business School
8 December 2023 musicconnection.com May 2023 musicconnection.com December 20222023musicconnection.com musicconnection.com September 8 88 February musicconnection.com 2023
ASSIGNMENTS Peter Karafotas
Graham Helser
SoundExchange
Leftbrain
Senior Vice President
Business Manager
SoundExchange announced the appointment of Peter Karafotas as Senior Vice President of Government Relations & Public Policy. Karafotas’ career on Capitol Hill includes the roles of Communications Director, Deputy Chief of Staff, and Legislative Director roles and the Vice President of Operations for the consulting firm Adelstein | Liston. Karafotas will lead the development of a proactive public policy strategy to help SoundExchange fulfill its mission of protecting creators and the value of music. For more, contact SpinLab Communications jv@spinlab.net.
Founder and CEO of Leftbrain, Nicholas Judd, announced the promotion of Graham Helser to the position of Business Manager for the Los Angeles based company. In his new position, Helser will oversee a team of highly talented professionals as they collectively provide industry-leading business management services to some of the most accomplished acts in the music industry with a roster that ranges from rapidly growing indie artists to major-label, award-winning and chart-topping superstars. For more information, contact deborah@drpr.us.
Whitney Dublin
Alex Oana
Mom+Pop Music
Apogee Electronics
Senior Director, Digital Marketing
Global Sales Manager
Mom+Pop Music announced the promotion of Whitney Dublin to Senior Director, Digital Marketing. During her tenure at Mom+Pop, Dublin has spearheaded digital marketing campaigns for artists such as FKJ, Del Water Gap, Orion Sun, Raffaella, and more, building a solid reputation for creating innovative and hard-hitting campaigns. In her new role as Senior Director, Digital Marketing, Dublin will spend her time liaising with editorial, marketing and experiential teams in developing campaign initiatives to maximize Mom+Pop’s artists' visibility across digital properties. For further info, contact johnny@e2pr.biz.
Apogee Electronics has announced the appointment of Alex Oana as Global Sales Manager. Oana brings over 35 years of diverse experience and expertise to Apogee. His journey has included roles as an award-winning recording engineer/producer, FOH mixer for Pharrell Williams and N*E*R*D, salesperson for Vintage King Audio, and Vice President of Slate. The sales role is about providing service to Apogee's distribution and dealer partners who enable them to continually expand their global customers. For media inquiries, contact alexo@apogeedigital.com.
Brianne Deslippe
Erik Pettie
SVP of Global Marketing & Strategy Big Loud Records
SVP/Head of Artist Services and Partnerships
Big Loud Records announced the addition of offices and label managers in London, U.K. and Brisbane, Australia, and bolsters its already established base in Toronto, Canada. “There is so much growth potential in these markets, I feel like we've just scratched the surface,” Deslippe says. New recruits Cayleigh Shepherd, Johnno Keetels and Justin Clark will report to 2x CCMA Industry Person of the Year and SVP, Global Marketing & Strategy, Brianne Deslippe. For further information, contact Jess Anderson at jess@bigloud.com.
Mtheory
Carletta Higginson
Shannon Atran
Warner Music Group
The Chamber Group
EVP, Chief Digital Officer Warner Music Group announced that Carletta Higginson has joined the company as Executive Vice President, Chief Digital Officer. An accomplished media executive and music rights expert, Higginson joins WMG after a decade at Google, where she worked in business development and legal roles, across both music publishing and recorded music, most recently as Global Head of Music Publishing at YouTube and Google Play. Higginson previously worked as a litigator advocating for record labels, music publishers, artists, and songwriters. For more info, contact summer.wilkie@wmg.com.
Mtheory announced the hiring of Erik Pettie as SVP and Head of Artist Services and Partnerships. Pettie brings over 15 years of experience in the music and entertainment business to the company, and will work to build out the new Artist Services division, which is designed to help artists and labels gain exposure and generate revenue, while providing necessary tools and resources for success in the highly competitive music industry. For more, contact carla@sacksco.com.
Director, Public Relations Shannon Atran has been promoted to Director, Public Relations at The Chamber Group, announced by Chris Chambers, principal/founder at The Chamber Group (TCG). In her new post, Atran will serve as the exclusive independent public relations executive for a broad array of TCG’s music clients, including Lil Wayne, Pusha T, Big Sean, Mass Appeal, Lil Tay and others. Atran will be responsible for developing, executing, and overseeing PR campaigns on behalf of these artists. For more info, contact lydia@ thechambergroup.com.
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NEW TOYS
– BARRY RUDOLPH barry@barryrudolph.com
AUDEZE FILTER Audeze, the maker of very fine headphones, now has the Audeze Filter. Filter is an unusual name for a very unusual new and modern device; it is the company's first non-headphone product. Filter combines many new technologies into a lightweight portable, battery-powered, Bluetooth-enabled speakerphone. When folded flat the Audeze Filter measures 76mm W X 152mm tall and only 11mm thick—about the size, dimensions, weight, and "feel" of a regular smartphone. Filter's bifurcated design allows its touchscreen controller to lay flat on your desktop or table while Audeze's flat 70mm by 105mm planar magnetic speaker is aimed at the person(s) using it. Also aimed with the speaker are the two microphones used for "beam forming" their pickup pattern; it's adjustable from Off (or omnidirectional) to 30, 90, or 180-degrees of pickup. This is adjustable via the touchscreen panel or the free app. I especially liked the way I could "audition" the pickup by recording and playing back a short (10 seconds) audio clip to try different patterns. Since Filter is a speakerphone, setting the width of pickup as narrow as required increases intelligibility for the person(s) on the line you're talking with. This becomes especially important in overly live-sounding offices spaces. The beam forming technology combines with a Deep Neutral Network-based noise cancellation system "trained" with over 500,000 noise samples to reduce annoying background sounds effectively. I have been trying all three levels of noise cancellation—again using the record/audition/playback function for weeks now and it works! Audeze's new Filter lightweight portable, battery-powered, Bluetooth-enabled speakerphone is a modern way to use a speakerphone. I don't use my iPhone without it. The Audeze Filter sells for $250 MSRP and comes with a deluxe carrying pouch and complete instructions and free app. audeze.com/products/filter
FENDER/GRETSCH STREAMLINER™ COLLECTION Vintage Gretsch styling from the '40s, '50 and '60s combined, with modern features plus center blocks and hollow bodies, lets players explore new sounds and textures at an affordable price. BT-3S pickups with coil splitting have a stronger mid-range plus a full low-end and the characteristic Gretsch definition. The revised chambered spruce center block offers a faster attack and acoustic clarity, while the soft C neck profile provides good feel and ease of playability. You also get a real bone nut for a warmer, natural tone and better tuning stability. Built for versatile tones and spectacular style, the Gretsch Streamliner collection ranges in price from $500 and up, depending on whether they have a Bigsby and/or V-Stoptail. gretschguitars.com
PSP AUDIOWARE PSP BINAMP BinAmp is a plug-in that sounds like the '60s' Italian–made Binson Echorec 2—the pre-amplifier section only. The Binson Echorec 2 used triode tubes running in class-A and was popular with jazz guitarists and some rock bands for its warm and darker sound. The PSP BinAmp comes with 92 saturated and colorful starting presets divided into six groups named after their targeted application. There are: Soft Sat, High Drive, Drums, Instrument, Vocals, and Miscellaneous. Presets are also listed by a good collection of internationally known sound designers. Once you modify a preset, you can save it in your own collection. The BinAmp GUI mimics the Binson EchoRec complete with the original hardware's green Magic Eye "vacuum tube" that indicates the amount of saturation. I like that all the controls have mouse-over pop-ups describing what each controls does and makes assessing any parameter change easier. The main controls are: Character for setting the amount of saturation and the clever Drive control adds gain on the input signal while, at the same time, reduces the output level. The High Pass Filter or HPF ranges up to 250Hz and there is the Level control for setting the final output level with +/-20dB of gain available. There are trims pots for a high-frequency rolloff, Wet/Dry/Blender and Variation adjusts slight differences between multiple instances of BinAmp in the same DAW session. I may want more 'color' on drums and bass and less on keyboards and vocals. Simple to use and wonderful to hear, PSP BinAmp gives your tracks a little (or a lot) of that rich Binson tone. PSP BinAmp is available from the PSP Audioware website for $99 MSRP. pspaudioware.com
10 December 2023
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Surprising Specs Unsurprising Price The newest generation of Scarlett has arrived, but what are the pros saying about it?
“I would not hesitate at all to use these preamps on a master recording!” Rob Burrell Mix Engineer (Four-time Grammy winner)
“This interface is an absolute game changer” Joseph Chudyk Mix Engineer (Kane Brown, Ghost, The Band CAMINO)
“The new Air mode makes everything sound more expensive. This is my new go-to interface when I’m on the road” Josh Gannet
“I see no reason why anyone wanting to get into engineering would buy a different interface than this!” Brandon Towles Mix Engineer (Keke Palmer, Dierks Bentley, Parker McCollum)
Recording & Mix Engineer (Wu-Tang Clan, Redman, Steve Miller, Keith Richards)
Scan the QR code to discover Scarlett 4th Gen and hear what these pros are talking about.
December 2023
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NEW TOYS
– BARRY RUDOLPH barry@barryrudolph.com
DENON DJ PRIME4+ The PRIME 4+ is the first, four-deck standalone DJ controller to feature stem separation technology without using an attendant computer. DJs can isolate vocals or instruments with the tap of a finger. The PRIME4+ has access to tracks from Amazon Music Unlimited, Tidal, Beatsource and more. There is on-board song analysis, a built-in sampler, DMX and Smart Lighting for controlling the lights and over 25 new and/or updated effects with OLED displays to keep up with working DJs. Called the world’s most powerful standalone DJ system, Prime4+ has a new refined look, unrivaled streaming music accessibility, 10 percent larger jog wheel surface, and has the latest Engine DJ 3.1 update including its all-new Touch FX and new Main FX offerings. The Denon DJ Prime4+ sells in the U.S. for $2,199 MSRP. denondj.com/prime-4-prime4xus
AGUILAR AMPLIFICATION INSTRUMENT & SPEAKER CABLES Aguilar Amplification just came out with a new line of both 1/4-inch instrument cables and amp/speaker cabinet interconnects that both use Neutrik connectors and the finest cable stock. These cables were designed by and for bassists; you get solid and durable road-worthy cables “you could use to tow a car with,” yet they have a superior, transparent sound! I received two speaker/amp cables, a three-foot and a six-footer. First of all, the custom Neutrik Speakon connectors have crush-proof metal covers (my regular ones do not) and the cable stock is covered in braided polyester wrap similar to the stuff used for bullet proof vests. The 3-foot cable is perfect for connecting a speaker cabinet with the amp head sitting directly on top of it. I found the six-foot cable reached perfectly for using an alternate cabinet sitting nearby. Andy Fuchs’ Clean Machine II 50-watt amp top sounded great through these cables for either cabinet—all I had to do is keep both Aguilar cables connected to the cabinets and their amp-end connectors available. Switching cabinets is quick and there are no exposed connectors that can short out. The instrument cables come in 10- and 20-foot versions with either a rightangled to straight plug at each end or straight plugs at both ends. I like using a right-angled plug at the amp input jack and a straight plug into my Stratocaster guitar, while others might like the other way around such as when playing a Les Paul where a right-angle plug does not stick out any further than necessary and the cable can loop through the end pin and strap. The Aguilar Instrument & Speaker cables are now available at select retailers with prices to be announced. aguilaramp.com
POSITIVE GRID SPARK CAB Positive Grid has the 140-watt Spark CAB powered guitar amp speaker cabinet that works with all Spark series practice amps—actually any amplifier head or pre-amp with a line-level output. Spark CAB uses a Class-D power amp circuit that delivers a clear sound by amplifying the intricate nuances of all the guitar tones produced by your guitar and pre-amp/head. You'll have ample power and headroom for an authentic feel with a big sound. Rear panel connections and controls include a 3.5mm stereo input jack to connect any Spark guitar amps with a Spark 40/MINI/GO cable included and there are also two Combo XLR/TRS inputs, a balanced XLR output, a Contour (loudness) switch will equalize low and high frequencies for a more balanced sound at low volumes and also a Ground lift switch. The Positive Grid Spark Grid Cab has a 10-inch woofer and 2 high-frequency dome tweeters with a 45Hz to 20kHz response and there is an onboard 19-volt/2.5amp DC power supply output connector, plus an USB-C jack for connecting a Spark BARRY RUDOLPH is a recording engineer/mixer who series amp or powering/charging a has worked on over 30 gold and platinum records. He tablet or phone. has recorded and/or mixed Lynyrd Skynyrd, Hall & The Spark CAB will be available to Oates, Pat Benatar, Rod Stewart, the Corrs and more. pre-order soon and measures 19H X Barry has his own futuristic music mixing facility in 16W x 10D inches and weighs 30lbs. positivegrid.com/products/spark-cab
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North Hollywood called Tones 4 $ Studios. He is a lifetime Grammy-voting member of NARAS and a contributing editor for Mix Magazine. barryrudolph.com
15 musicconnection.com 13 October 2023 2023 December musicconnection.com musicconnection.com September 2023 June July October 2023 musicconnection.com15 7 1157 August 2023 musicconnection.com
STOCKING STUFFERS • 2023 B Y R O B P U T N A M Stock, Stock Stocking on Heaven’s Door
'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, you'd done no shopping and felt like a louse. That’s how things played out last year. But this year you promised that you wouldn’t surrender to apathy’s magnetic melody; that you wouldn’t find yourself at Target five minutes before closing with zero ideas and perhaps even fewer dollars; that you wouldn’t dox your mail carrier (again) because a package ordered 20 minutes earlier hasn’t yet arrived. But procrastination’s justification lurks around every corner. Music Connection knows this and our stocking stuffers feature* has your back. For 2023, such Noel nonsense will be The Ghost of Christmas Past’s problem. * Pulitzer Prize nomination forms available upon request.
MUSIC LOLLIPOPS $14.99 (two dozen)
No one likes to be a sucker. But virtually everyone likes to eat one. Moreover, there are few occasions when candy isn’t a welcome addition to any event. Next to Halloween, the winter holidays are the best thing to happen to candy since Willy Wonka. It’s debatable if eating one of these counts as practice, though. But more outrageous claims have been made in the past and surely will be made in the future. Perhaps even in this column. tinyurl.com/cwpk6n2h
PLUGINZ FENDER JACK RACK KEYCHAIN $34.99
Keys are important: both in everyday life and in music theory. This keychain can help you keep track of one kind. Guess which.
ERNIE BALL EAGLE FLEECE HOODIE $49.99
Ernie Ball has been a goto guitar string supplier for decades. All new for this year, though, is their Eagle Fleece Hoodie. Like the Beatles on The
Ed Sullivan Show, they’re available only in black and white. The Ernie Ball eagle logo on the chest shines like a beacon to other guitarists and the hoodie comes with enough pocket space to stash strings, an Ernie, a Ball and perhaps even an eagle. shop.ernieball. com/merch-store.html
14 December 2023
While it’s designed to hold physical keys, it seems reasonable that seeing what resembles a tiny Fender amp daily could serve as a reminder, potentially, of the importance of the theoretical keys. Whatever the case, it makes it less likely that you’ll lose either of them. tinyurl. com/2bas2dpa
help support the dream with blocks of remarkably authentic-looking stage money: phony two-sided currency used in film and TV production. There are countless sources, including stage money outfits such as PropMoney. com and Buzzprops.com. Naturally, stacks are also available from Amazon and eBay. Prices are typically commensurate with quality, so shop around. But also, don’t be a Scrooge. tinyurl. com/b7hn7fw5
COMIART BASS GUITAR COFFEE/TEA SPOONS
GUITAR CENTER LESSONS ACOUSTIC GUITAR CURRICULUM BOOK 1
Starting at $7.99 (set of four)
Comiart bass guitar coffee/tea spoon sets are available in several colors, including black, blue, rainbow and gold. As with
$16.99
Holiday gifts don’t have to be practical. But it also doesn’t hurt when they are. An audition didn’t go as well as you’d hoped? Your bandmates kicked you out because you lost your keys (see the Pluginz Fender keychain listing above)? You simply don’t like salad? Use this drumstick utensil set to pound-out your frustrations with a drumroll on a vessel of veggies. It’s not like produce doesn’t deserve it. tinyurl.com/272dyxwz
IN THE GROOVE: THE VINYL RECORD AND TURNTABLE REVOLUTION $40.00
Published in mid-October to coincide with the 75th anniversary of the first commercial LP, this book
Starting at around $7.99 for “$10,000”
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get tangled cables or, indeed, be ripped out at inconvenient times. Not that it’s ever convenient. Or warm. Or cool. shorturl.at/dfHS4
RISE8 STUDIOS DRUMSTICK UTENSIL SET
STACKS OF CASH
Many musicians dream of stacks of cash in recognition of their many and varied contributions. Far fewer realize such levels of wealth health, of course. But you can make a golden impression and
turntables and other such record-related issues. Is a book on records the same as a record on books? #RhetoricalQuestion. shorturl.at/gjrD6
looks at records from 78s to 45s and everything in between. Written by several in-the-know music folk (not to be confused with folk musicians), it also addresses the record-pressing process,
the lollipops, nimble and nuanced argument would be required to qualify using these as practice. But it may ignite a caffeine-charged inspiration, which is at least a stir in the right direction. shorturl.at/diFHX
MUSIC-THEMED HOLIDAY STOCKING $9.99
Some may say that this music-themed, 18-inch holiday stocking is too on the nose. But since stockings are worn on the feet, this objection is overruled on the basis of frivolity. Now: to matters at hand. Or feet. What musician wouldn’t enjoy waking up on Christmas morning to find this piece of haute holiday hosiery decking the halls? Most certainly would, but there’s at least one who wouldn’t. First name: The. Surname: Grinch. Do not attempt to approach or apprehend. shorturl.at/emnv3
BLUETOOTH HEADPHONE BEANIE HAT $15.99
This tech-loaded lid is both warm and cool. Additionally, there are no earbuds that can fall out,
$17.99
Everyone has a friend or family member who owns a guitar but doesn’t know the first thing about how to play it. Every time they happen upon it, they renew the pledge to themselves that they’ll learn how to jam “This year for sure!" You can enable such promises with this book as an excellent starting point for budding musicians. It’s accompanied by online audio and is one of Guitar Center’s top-selling items. tinyurl.com/3fkpshxm
MINIATURE EDDIE VAN HALEN AND 1957 LES PAUL GOLDTOP GUITARS $49.99 each
On Van Halen’s 1982 record Diver Down, the band included the diminutive ditty “Little Guitars.” As the name
suggests, it was played on a miniature Les Paul lookalike. It might be hard to pull off “Eruption” on this little guitar, but EVH was fond of saying “If you’re not cheating, you’re not trying hard enough.” Also note that actual 1957 Les Paul Goldtops command five- or even six-figure prices these days. That’s a conversion rate of 2,000 of these little guitars to one real one. Both are officially approved. tinyurl.com/29znkepu and tinyurl.com/35658t39
January October2023 2022 June 2023 December May 2023 October
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GIFTS UNDER A GRAND • 2023 N E WN ETWO YT SO Y S
barry@barryrudolph.com – BARRY RUDOLPH barry@barryrudolph.com – BARRY RUDOLPH
FENDER VINTERA II STRATOCASTER For players who want the style and sound of Fender’s golden era, choose the Vintera ‘50s Stratocaster. Equipped with the coveted features that defined the decade including period-accurate neck profile and hardware, along with re-voiced pickups, this guitar has all the chime and articulation that made the Stratocaster a legend. For authentic, vintage-style tone you get a trio of single-coil Stratocaster pickups to sound more like the originals. Crystalline and bell-like, these pickups deliver the crisp, articulate tone that puts Fender on the musical map. The updated “Soft V”-shaped neck has a 7.25”-radius maple fingerboard with 21 vintage-style frets for classic playing feel. A vintage-style, six-point synchronized tremolo and vintage-style tuning machines provide original-era aesthetics, rock-solid performance and tuning stability. Other features include vintage-style strap buttons, 5-way pickup switching and the traditional Strat control layout. Includes a deluxe gig bag.
$959.99 fender.com/en-US/electric-series/vintera-ii
AUDIENT ID 24 Audient’s ID 24 is a premium two-channel audio interface designed to deliver ultra-low noise and low distortion with a touch of classic analog warmth. ID24’s two Audient Console mic preamps are the same as found in Audient’s high-end recording consoles and deliver a clean, accurate and true to source translation of your audio. Class Leading AD/DA Converters let you hear every nuance and every aspect of your audio. 1 x ADAT Input & Output allows expandability. 2 x Fully Balanced Inserts let you integrate your favorite outboard FX prior to conversion and start creating signal chains that rival the very best. Assignable monitor control speeds up your workflow with three programmable function buttons.
$399.00 audient.com/id-audio-interface-range
SONY MDR MV1 REFERENCE HEADPHONES SONY’s MDR MV1 Reference Headphones are professional-grade open-back studio Monitor headphones for creating spatial and stereo sound with wide frequency range and soundstage feel. Designed for mixing and monitoring in stereo, binaural, or spatial audio, SONY’s MDR MV1 Reference Headphones are designed with comfort in mind. Featuring lightweight construction with padded headband and soft, breathable suede ear pads, SONY’s MDR MV1 Reference Headphones are perfect for extended listening sessions. The earcups fold flat for easy storage.
$398.00 pro.sony/ue_US/products/ headphones/mdr-mv1
MACKIE DLZ CREATOR Mackie’s DLZ Creator is an adaptive digital mixer for podcasting and livestreaming designed around a 10.1-inch high-resolution touch screen. Mackie’s DLZ Creator features four professional-quality microphone preamps borrowed from Mackie’s Onyx series of professional mixers. You can have the Mackie DLZ Creator stream directly to your DAW or OBS via the available USB-C port. Mackie’s DLZ Creator is super easy to get up and running and walks you through the entire process of configuring and setting up your input and gain levels. The Mackie DLZ Creator has three selectable user modes: Easy, Enhanced and Pro, which unlock progressively more sophisticated audio and routing features depending on the end user’s level of experience.
$799.99 mackie.com/en/products/livestreaming-podcasting/dlz/dlz_creator.html 16 December 2023
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APOGEE DUET 3 LIMITED EDITION Apogee’s DUET 3 limited edition set includes the latest version of Apogee’s DUET two-channel audio interface, docking station as well as a full suite of software and plug-ins. Designed to deliver Apogee’s award-winning digital audio conversion and crystal-clear sound, Apogee’s DUET 3 audio interface set can be used as a desktop interface or used on the go. The re-designed breakout cable makes connecting instruments and microphones a breeze.
$699.00 apogeedigital.com/duet3-limited-edition
NATIVE INSTRUMENTS TRAKTOR X1 MK3 UNIVERSAL AUDIO GALAXY '74 TAPE ECHO AND REVERB Universal Audio’s Galaxy ’74 is designed to capture the authentic, iconic tones of a mid-70’s Roland Space Echo upgraded with modern flexibility. Universal Audio Galaxy ‘74 Tape Echo and Reverb is built upon Universal Audio's award-winning UAFX dual-engine processor that allows you to create separate stereo instances of each reverb and delay for three-dimensional stereo effects. Get authentic tape textures and incorporate double delayed times to create rhythmic subdivisions not possible on the original hardware. The Galaxy ‘74 authentic 70’s spring reverb even includes a dwell control.
The Native Instruments Traktor X1 MK3 is a compact, flexible, modular DJ controller built to integrate seamlessly with Native Instruments' flagship DJ app, Traktor Pro 3. Personalize your performances with the Traktor X1 MK3’s expanded functionality for effects control, playback manipulation, looping, mixer mapping and more. With the Traktor X1 MK3, you're able to map each button and color-code them to identify specific functions in the heat of the moment. A built-in three-port USB hub means you can simply connect to your CD player or turntable, or daisy-chain more Traktor X1 MK3s for more advanced setups.
$299.00 native-instruments.com/en/products/ traktor/dj-controllers/traktor-x1
$349.00 uaudio.com/guitar-pedals/galaxy-74-tape-echo-reverb.html
ALESIS NITRO MAX DRUM KIT The Alesis Nitro Max is an eight-piece electronic drum kit featuring mesh heads and Bluetooth capability. The Alesis mesh drumheads deliver a highly accurate and response playing surface in any acoustic environment making them a perfect choice for home use. Nitro Max includes an amazing collection of drum and percussion sounds including classic and modern drum kits. Great for new or experienced drummers, the Alesis Nitro Max is designed to provide the tools you need as your skills advance.
$399.00 alesis.com/products/view2/nitro-max-kit
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GIFTS UNDER A GRAND • 2023 NEW TOYS
– BARRY RUDOLPH barry@barryrudolph.com
CASIO CDP-S360 Casio’s CDP-S360 electronic keyboard delivers piano authenticity, a huge collection of Tones and Rhythms, and music production tools in a slim, unibody case that's barely larger than the keys themselves. Weighing only 24 lbs and capable of running on either its included power supply or six AA batteries, the CDP-S360 provides portability and convenience, and goes way beyond piano with 700 Tones, 200 Rhythms, six-track recording and more.
$899.99 casio.com/us/electronic-musical-instruments/product.CDP-S360BK
AKG ARA USB MICROPHONE The AKG Ara two-pattern USB microphone lets podcasters, YouTubers, gamers and musicians capture pro-quality, high-resolution audio right from their desktops. Whether you’re streaming or recording, capture audio at 24-bit, 96kHz resolution for crystal-clear speech clarity and stunning vocal and instrument tracks. Ara’s dual pickup patterns let you focus on a single voice or instrument or everyone in the room.
$105.00 (on sale for $49) akg.com/Microphones/Condenser%20Microphones/AKG-C22-USB-LS.html
FIX AUDIO DESIGNS THE BUCKET The Bucket is an 8-channel 500 Series Rack with DSUB in and out, both paralleled for multing or linking. Each pair of channels has a standard LINK Jumper for linking compressors. The Bucket is made from steel, and comes with 8-channel rack, set of rack ears, steel handle, 18 knurled screws (for modules), Wolff Audio 2 AMP PSU, IEC power cable (international kits available). This is the same Bucket used in Fix Audio consoles and has an available XLR adapter unit to convert the DSUB outputs to XLR.
$499.00 fixaudiostore.com/products/the-bucket-500-series-portable-or-rack-mount-module-rack
JBL EON ONE COMPACT The JBL EON ONE Compact packs a professional speaker, a full-featured, 4-channel mixer and Bluetooth control into JBL’s most compact battery-powered PA, weighing in at just 17.6 lbs (8kg). Sound your best in seconds with premium Lexicon and dbxinspired effects and presets that you can customize right on your phone or tablet using the JBL Compact Connect app—no engineer needed.
$649.00 (on sale for $499) jblpro.com/en-US/products/eon-one-compact
18 December 2023
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THE CAD AUDIO GXLIEM The CAD Audio GXLIEM In-Ear Wireless Monitoring System provides musicians with a cost-effective and easy-to-use monitoring solution, enhancing their performance during live shows. ScanLink technology scans 16 frequencies and selects the cleanest channel for clear audio up to 100 feet. The system includes CAD’s MEB1 earbuds and rack mounting hardware.
$295.00 cadaudio.com/products/gxl-series/gxliem4
AUDEZE MM 100 Designed in collaboration with multi-Grammy Award-winning mixing engineer Manny Marroquin, Audeze’s MM100 professional headphones are designed to be comfortably worn for even the longest mixing sessions. The MM100 features Audeze’s planar magnetic drivers that are fine tuned for production-grade accuracy. The headphones feature premium magnesium and steel construction. Audeze’s high-efficiency drivers deliver studio quality sound anywhere your work takes you.
$399.99 audeze.com/products/mm-100
PIGTRONIX COSMOSIS STEREO AMBIENT REVERB The Pigtronix Cosmosis is a state-of-the-art ambient reverb effects pedal. Years in the making and the first of its kind, the Cosmosis allows musicians to manipulate the three provided stereo spaces—Theater, Temple and Cosmos—in real time. Controls to adjust the size of the reverb space, adjust the wet/dry blend, and filtering are provided. Use the morphing control to blend the reverb spaces to create elegant, subtle or over-the-top reverb effects.
$219.00 pigtronix.com/pedals/cosmosis
TECH 21 SANSAMP CHARACTER PLUS FUZZY BRIT Weighing in at just 12 ounces, the Fuzzy Brit is the latest addition to Sans Amp’s Character Plus series. Combining classic 70’s style British amplifica tion and a vintage fuzz effect, the Fuzzy Brit is both a fuzz pedal and stand program with a full EQ stack for endless tone shaping options. The Fuzzy Brit has two channels, each with its own drive control making it a perfect fly-rig sized platform for rhythm and lead work. Put the Fuzzy Brit on your pedalboard to take your amp tones from mild to wild or use it as a standalone preamp to power a studio mixer or PA. Road worthy build quality and legendary SansAmp preamp circuitry, not to mention a cost-effective price, should put the Fuzzy Brit on the short list for your next multi-effects pedal.
$279.00 tech21nyc.com/products/sansamp/characterplus
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BOOK STORE
Party Like A Rockstar
Poster Child: The Psychedelic Art & Technicolor Life of David (hardcover) $28.00 Chart-topping (and three-million-selling) song- Edward Byrd By J.T. Harding
writer J.T. Harding shoots from the hip in his briskly entertaining and informative book about his life and career. Songwriters looking for tips, tricks and insights about steering a songwriting career in today’s music industry will get plenty out of reading Harding’s new book.
Energy Follows Thought: The Stories Behind My Songs By Willie Nelson, with David Ritz and Mickey Raphael (hardcover) $50.00
Having celebrated his 90th birthday earlier this year, Willie Nelson shares the stories behind the lyrics of 160 of his favorite songs for the first time. From his earliest work in the 1950s to today, Nelson looks back at the songs that have defined his career, from his days of earning $50 each, to his biggest hits, from the deep cuts that are incredibly meaningful to him, to his concept albums.
Body Count (33 1/3) By Ben Apatoff
(paperback) $14.95 This is the first-ever book about Ice-T’s all-Black hardcore band, Body Count, known as “the most incendiary band in the world” and one of the most important stories in music history. Body Count (33 1/3) is about a set of high school friends who shattered musical boundaries, brought explosive live performances and raised questions America's lawmakers didn't want to answer, overcoming some of the country's most powerful forces to reshape the world's cultural conversation.
20 December 2023
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By David Edward Byrd & Robert von Goeben (hardcover) $45.00
Here’s a beautifully presented biography of the rock poster artist who created iconic posters for Bill Graham’s Fillmore East and worked with Jimi Hendrix, Lou Reed, KISS, The Who, the Grateful Dead, movies and musical theater. Presented as an oral history, the interviews with the artist himself are continuously entertaining and enlightening.
Miles Davis And The Search For The Sound By David Chisolm (hardcover) $39.99
Expressive and atmospheric, this handsome hardcover is a cut above the usual graphic novel. Written and drawn by trumpet player, cartoonist, composer, and educator Dave Chisholm—and with narration adapted from Davis’ own words and an innovative visual style that shifts to reflect the artist’s constant musical changes—Miles Davis and the Search for the Sound deftly explores the often volatile journey of Miles Davis and his world-renowned music.
The Who & Quadrophenia By Martin Popoff (hardcover) $50.00
Here’s a handsome, deep-dive examination of The Who’s 1973 song cycle. As he’s done previously (most recently with Alice Cooper, AC/ DC, Pink Floyd) Popoff examines a multitude of angles: the writing process, the recording sessions, the gear, and much more, including rare memorabilia. Dedicated Who fans will relish and devour this meaty beaty book.
December 2023
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UP CLOSE
–– JONATHAN JONATHAN WIDRAN WIDRAN
Cosa NostraRoom Studios The Greene cosanostrastudios.com greeneroom.com
Our Thing: While continuing her link career independent From the Ground Up: There’stoadevelop fascinating on as thean Studio Tour rapper recording artist, SAAVI creatingstate a dynamic, one-of-awebsiteand page of The Greene Room,isaalso full-service of the art studio kind environment for engineer musical creatives at Cosa Nostra (“CNS”), launched by veteran Marc Greene in 1999. It’sStudios a step-by-step the independent state-of-the-art Burbank was studio shefrom developed fromup photographic essay of how the structure built the ground the ground upresidential after she relocated from the BayCA, Area in 2022. on an empty lot in Sherman Oaks, followed bySAAVI’s images of passion hip-hop came from her dad,under and when he passed how thefor rooms inside were developed the sonic designaway guidance when she Klein’s was 19,Sound she abandoned her industry ambitions, wentAngeles’ to UCSB, of Steven Control Room, considered one of Los and became a paralegal for years at an intellectual property leading acoustic design and consultation firms. Greene builtlaw his firm. own At some point, whileafter still years with that she decided to revisit her early commercial space as ajob, successful freelance engineer in the ambitions andworking connected veteran engineer Mateo, who ‘80s and ‘90s, on with a diverse array of high Renson profile and independent convinced pursuelike a career an independent artist. projects ather top to facilities Wallyas Heider’s in Hollywood, as well as at Having once had to work four jobs to support family, SAAVI apCherokee, Devonshire, Enterprise, Evergreen and her Capitol. plied her DIY work ethic to building up an arsenal of equipment and launching Cosa NostraGreene’s Studios—one the fewwas female-owned facilities Diversity of Projects: goal atoflaunch to offer an auxiliary in the for L.A.himself area. Partly an homage to her mother’s Sicilian heritage,” room and fellow engineers to track small rock and pop projthe moniker translates in Italian “our thing”—which ectsclever – but The Greene Room has grownto through the digital erareflects to include her to develop not only a room for commercial but filmmission work (including overdubs and individual instrumentsrecording on the 2022 aanimated safe gathering space Family for a close-knit group actors of creatives to dialogue), develop film Addams 2), ADR (where replace their craft. men are welcome, she is actively working to build editing andWhile mixing of choirs and orchestras and shooting videos. Thea tight-knit community of talented femaleincreatives. Cosa Studios’ studio also offers mixing and mastering stereo and 5.1 Nostra Surround, full grand opening on Aug. 12,recording, 2023. band and drumwas tracking, vocal tuning and repair, recording of small string groups, location use for film, TV and video, Pro Tools instruction, audio restoration and noise reduction, voice overs, narrations, audio books and podcast recording.
The Studio Layout: “Because The Greene Room was literally built from Creator’s Camps: Driven “La Famiglia” CNSelectricity is now the ground up rather thanby bySAAVI’s converting an existingconcept, space, the hosting regular creator’s camps, inviting people to meet other creatives is correct, the floors are floating, the walls have the perfect soundproofand, as she “pressing play” body of work would to ing and the says, correct quiet flow of on air any conditioning. The they ceilings arelike 12 feet share andthe receive constructive on. Theroom, gatherings are high and rooms (a 320 sq ftfeedback main recording 300 sq. ft. intended control to bring artists, and producers the event in room and threesongwriters, smaller isolation rooms) aretogether. set on a At diagonal to lend September, a female rapper in and inspired SAAVI toSteven createKlein bars of a feel of spaciousness whilecame avoiding acoustic problems. her on job the of way to a tuning deeperthe collaboration. “Wenot let the results did own a great nicely rooms. They’re gigantic butspeak they for themselves,” “In an industry that sometimes marginalizes sound amazing. she We says. designed it together based on my input from years of females, I want give women a sanctuary where they studios. can feelThe comexperience as atomixing and tracking engineer at large best fortable and,this most of all,iswhere they can feeland appreciated and intimacy heard.” althing about space that it’s very quiet focused. The SAAVI alsotohopes to launch camps around different lows you hear every detaileducational that you might have trouble with increative a much disciplines. larger commercial facility room.” Now Available Booking: Cosa Nostra Studios is a two-room, MacVintage Analogfor Equipment: Having started his career in the analog era, based withkeeping an Apple Studio display. vocaltechnology chain consists Greenestudio balances ultra-current withThe the new whileof Neuman Neve 1073 SPX, the intouse an of LAsome 2A, then anbest Apollo Twin,analog whichequipgoes maintaining and offering of the vintage into Protools Logic. The mics for recording include Neumann menteither he used in theor 80s and 90s. His collection of vintage equipment is imU87 and aand TLM-103. is alsoAKG a podcast recording space pressive includesThere Neumann, and Sony tube mics, RCAfeaturing and Royer two Shure mics.API Forand clients who need engineers, she has contracted top ribbons. Neve, Trident Mic pre’s. UREI compressors, Lexicon and local talent. The walls are blacked is white accented Bricasti reverbs, keyboards, guitarsout andwhile amps.the In space his words, “It’s not about and by cool LED light right”—and strips. SAAVI “When just illuminated sounding good, but sounding hesays, will find the someone mics and walks in here, to the experience great vibe makes them equipment thatI want work them best for client. A afull list of histhat digital and analog feel they’re aton home.” gearlike is available the website. Contact 818-732-9118 ContactCosa The Nostra GreeneStudios, Room, 818-781-1144
1622 November December2023 2023
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inroom all songs because familiar, is treated withthey’re different acoustics to create unique recording envithey’re universal.” ronments. Bennett has also integrated a full DMX lighting system so artists Often asked to work with legacy – ANDREA BEENHAM artists, Israel says that—while riskier— – JONATHAN WIDRAN he finds it much more fulfilling to work with new artists, and confesses that he learned far more from the failures of those who did not succeed (or who The Storyteller—Tales of Life Introduction to Music quit) than from those who did. He says lyric-writing presents the biggest Finding Flow for artists, and and Music creative challenge he recommends immersing yourself Publishing for Musicians Davenote Grohl in the lyrics of hit songs,By taking of what is done right. Israel believes By Bobby Borg & Michael quarto.com/motorbooks Eames “Have hobbies. Haveneed other Dosincere, other things that fulfill and and (hardcover) $29.99 the words of a song tointerests. be honest, conversational, (paperback) $34.00 inspire you, andhave you'llaPublishing: write better music,” says risingU.K.-based singer-songwriterdisciplined. “To song that does well on Spotify, DSPs, radio, or in aais Leader in Illustrated Launched in 1976, Quarto Fighters frontman Dave Grohl has penned Worth every penny, this is a producer down-to-earth new(bornFoo Delacey Brittany Marie Amaradio). “I have writtenWhile setting, it has to connect,” he counsels. alive longtime leader in the world of illustrated non-fiction vivid memoir that conveys bothpublishing. the ordinary and book written by two musicians and industry some of my biggest songs when I've taken over time away, lived my life for Israel emphasizes keeping things simple to avoid losing the and adding numerous imprints the decades, itslistener, the extraordinary moments and events ofongoing his life. pros (and Music Connectiondiversifying contributors) with inspiration, and come back in that poetic frequency.” and says that lyrics should include devices to be effective. “A song mission has remained the same—to make and sell books that entertain, Standouts include decades of experience. They’ve organized it Havingand “New York City” (The Platinumis never a co-written solo effort,” helives adds. order forChainsmokers), me the to share my emotions, I educate enrich the of “In readers around world. One of the most some harrowing into seven clearly-written sections that will help certified “Boyfriend” Cameron), “Ruin The Friendship” literally have to manifestations have(Dove you understand… What from is a song ifMinneapolis-based you're the only incidents with exciting current of this Gold-certified comes their musicians, students, songwriters, beat makers (Demi Lovato), and Diamond-certified/No. Billboard Hot 100-placing onegetting who understands it?” Quarto acquired1 in Nirvana bandmate Motorbooks imprint, which 2007. Since 1965, Motorand others save time and avoid screwed. “Without (Halsey), journey started with aKurt passion for Israel musical Recognizing AI as aDelacey’s helpful new tool for writing powerful lyrics, Cobain as books hasMe’ been among the world’s leading transportation publishers, Topics include theater. Beginning on piano at age 5, teacher Darrolyn Fennelly allowed penned guidebook, Want to Write the Best Lyrics of Your Life? OpenAI is well as heartfelt the basics of creating volumes about cars, motorcycles, aviation, racing, etc. her to play Weapon original compositions during lessons and perform in theLooking Secret You Need!.the Admitting that AI-written lyricsthem are unlikely moments with copyrights, to expand beyond transportation topic, publisher Zack recitals. Says “I'm really grateful it really didwhat cultivate to betypes hits, he says prompting ChatGPT for a story about you wife and are of Delacey, pub- that Miller and executive editor Dennis Pernubecause launched a Grohl’s dedicated music something inside me that lasted. She gave permission to play andbook actually kids. Experiences trying to express provides a new lens through which to write. lishing income, program in 2021, drawing on Pernu’s prior experience in music enjoy [music].” Cindy Smith was also aPress pivotal influence. AtPantera, 10 orcreative, 11, Smith with John Israel also stresses the importance of finding and connecting with a publishing their publishing under Quarto’s Voyageur imprint. Under insisted that Delacey sing and perform in every musical. “That really stuck Fogerty, Tom mentor, but only if you are fiercely committed to working on your craft companies and visionary leadership, they have built on the success of their first book— with me,” admits Delacey. “It theadvice course of my whole life.Pop, I don't Petty, Iggy at the highest level. Still getting regular his mentor, Doug types of deals, the authoritatively written (bychanged Dave Hunter) andfrom lavishly illustrated John Paul Jones, know if 75 I would have creative matMessenger (producer andsung.” Van Morrison guitarist),ofIsrael reveals that Fender Years, the ever officially licensed celebration the legendary Paul Manhattan graduation, she wrote on her guitar ters ofto music heMoving learned most of whatafter he knows aboutof music fromsongs him McCartney (as well as instrument company—to publish a series dynamic works celebrating and others nonstop. When an offer artists came for a photography job, shemake knew publishing, recording many projects at histhrough studio). some of rock’s greatest and albums. autobiography and things you she“All couldn’t stay in New York. Back in California, shethis officially adopted of our favorite artists wrote a song that resonates, makes us run a satisfying read.Park Award-winning Americana songwriter need to know her childhood nickname as her moniker (Delacey), with friend Eddie faster, makes us sad, makes us hug our loved one, makes us fly,goal makes The Anniversary Aesthetic: According to Pernu, Motorbooks’ about music becoming her manager and helping to us drive really fast or really slow. It changes our state because it’s notisthe with the linereleases of heavily illustrated upscale music 5th album oncoffee-table September 8books publishing’s secure herunique firstContinues publishing deal. Paying artist’s song.” Israel, ”Your audience has to feel understood. It's Rock Concert to merge text with archival artist and memorabilia images from future. just $10,000.00 up front, it Gutbrain landed her my story. When I listen, when I sing along, when I seeHe myworks favorite band, By Marc Myers by agencies, individual photographers, andRecords collections. closely first co-writing opportunity, and opened they're my song. That's kind oftosharing is the roottooflife. it.” (hardcover) $30.00 with thesinging company’s talented artit—that department bring the books to songwriting as a profession. Made in Hollywood:herAlleyes Access There’s plenty of information to glean www.BobDavoli.com “I came home with some of songsMedia I'dfascinating Contact Mike Cubillos @the Earshot / mike@earshotmedia.com from Myer’s oral history examination with The Go-Go’s written in New York,” she says. “I had no Experience Loren Israel at: lorenisrael.com of the the rock concert business, from the By Gina Schock idea if they were good, evolution but I criedofwhen wild west (hardcover) $40.00 I wrote them and they were really‘50s realtotothe corporatized ‘80s. Myers does it with insightful statements from prominent 8 October 2023 musicconnection.com me.” Go-Go’s drummer Gina Schock takes fans insiders (Seymour After placing “New York City” for the behind the scenes for a look at her personal Stein, George Chainsmokers (which she wrote on the photos documenting her band's wild journey Wein, Henry Diltz, trip to Manhattan), to the heights of fame and stardom. Featuring her lyricism began to Marshall Chess, build momentum. A new manager took posters, photographs, Polaroids, and other Michael Lang), overMade from Park 07-25_October2023.indd 8 and got Delacey into memorabilia from her archives, In Holperformers (Ian 4/24/23 2:38 P bigger rooms, where she worked hard for lywood also Anderson, Todd five years. “I was getting so many album includes stories Rundgren, Alice fromwith eachartists and it was really releases Cooper) and the member of so thebroke that it felt like great, but I was fans in the stands, alongshe confesses. “it was I wasband, not legit,” with special attenother culhardwith to believe that I was actually in the tion to milestone tural even luminarindustry, though I definitely was.” events such ies likesays Kateshe just needs chords Delacey as Woodstock, Jodie and Pierson, something to say in order to begin her process, and sees herself as a Altamont and Live Foster, vessel. “I feelDave like when I write music that it's not me writing Aid. it―I become Stewart,she Marpossessed,” reveals. “If that thing doesn't happen to me, I don't pursue thait.” Quinn writing She isand baffled at the idea of songwriting with A.I. saying, “there’s Carpenters: The Musical Legacy PaulinReubens. no heart that. You're asking your computer to tell you your feelings. I just By Mike Cidoni Lennox & Chris May thinkwant that'stosoapproach sad―generating other people's feelings, collecting “We these artists and historic recordings fromthem different (hardcover) $35.00 together in such programmed way. It's so so@50 creepy.” angles than thosea published previously,” heweird. says. It's “The and @75 Three Pianos: A Memoir Proud of standing forof herself credit, Delacey feels concepts offer a freshup way telling thegetting stories and allow our authors By Andrew McMahon The story ofand one of the most enduring and she brings something unique to songwriting and hopes that she can some leeway in curating the high and low points of a career. We (hardcover) $27.95 endeared recording artists in history—thecreated beingbands brave,and emphasizing that it remains difficult for women acontinue list of artists, albums that have anniversaries and birthdays Carpenters—is told for the first time from the to The Something Corporate and Jack’s carve out aMannespace as producers in the music approaching. Our criteria included which are industry. still touring, their popularity perspective of Richard Carpenter, through quin frontman delivers an engrossing memoir Her latest project took three yearsand andalbum involved a lot personal and of overseas, cross-generational appeal sales over the course about the challenges and triumphs of his child- more than 100 hours of exclusive interviews professional “I cry when I hear most itfrom still (even though their careers.challenges. We’re alsoand starting to200 branch away of from thethe anniversary some photographs artist’s hood and career, I've heardbut it athat’s million times) because of what I was going through when concept, been a strong starting point for this program.” personal archive. as seen through the I made it,” admits Delacey. “So much of what we do isn't making music. This nicely illuslens of his personal When I was growing up, it was all about making music—but no one Celebrating Iconic Artists: In September 2022, Motorbooks kicked off trated book takes connection to three heardcurrent it. I was justofplaying it inElton my bathtub acoustics, and it was you G. through theso their slate titles with John @ for 75 (by Gillian Gaar) and pianos. McMahon multimillion-selling, different than I make it for now. It's hard to remember that person, Bowie 75 (bywhat Martin not only@recounts his Popoff). Their early 2023 titles include Alice Cooper Grammy-winning but75I feel like this a lot me Dark tryingSide to get in touch her @ (byefforts Gary Graff), Pinkwas Floyd andofThe of the Moon with (by Martin grueling toalbum duo’s formative again.itI as feel I did@that [and] I amPopoff). really excited forthis it tofall be outOzzy there Popoff), andanlike AC/DC 50 (by Martin Coming are @ make indie rightWho up and and(by for it also to belong 75 Daniel Bukszpan), KISSpeople.” @ 50 (by Martin Popoff)years and The artist, but how to other 2020’swith––and Black(by Coffee accrued Spotifythrough streams formark“Cruel Quadrophenia Martin Popoff).over Also32inmillion 2023, Motorbooks willtheir be he dealt 1970s stardom Intentions” and 24 million for “The Subway Song.” Delacey’s sophomore ing the 75th anniversary of the LP with a broad, illustrated history. prerailed over––a and Karen’s solo with project, The Girl Has A Dream, is out now. bout leukemia unfortunate end. Contact Motorbooks, 612-344-8186 at age 23. December 2023 musicconnection.com 23
SONGWRITER PROFILE
BOOK S T ORE U P C L O S E
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STUDIO MIX
GRANT AVENUE
The legendary Hamilton, ON-based Grant Avenue Studio—established in 1976 and home to the likes of Gordon Lightfoot, Johnny Cash, U2, Sarah McLachlan and more —has officially changed ownership. It was sold to music and film industry pros Mike Bruce and Marco Mondano.
PET PROJECT STUDIO 606
Pet Project recorded their debut album at Studio 606 on the famous Sound City Neve mixing board. The SoCal band consists of current members of Feed the Kitty and Pet the Dog. Pictured (l-r): Jack Maher Jr., producer John “Lou” Lousteau, Jed Mottley, Mathieu Brousseau.
WALTER THE PRODUCER
Walter The Producer has created a sound all his own—an infectious blend of indie, disco-pop, and alt-R&B that has compelled the music world to take notice. Released via Slumbo Labs, his viral debut project, No Substance Mixtape, has been a launchpad for his career and landed him on an impressive number of personal playlists. Walter is pictured working at Slumbo Labs.
CHACHO IN AMERICA
Working on his upcoming album, Universal Germany artist Chacho (third from right) has found a home at Skip Saylor Recording with producers Edward "Chokobeats" Cortez, Bobby "Klydbeats" Ortiz, Victor "Shadow" Saavedra, and Patrick Sawodsky. Engineered by Lestor Mendoza and Alan Pohl.
PRODUCER PLAYBACK It’s all about the most simple and direct way to tell the story, to move the audience and to make them understand what’s going on. It doesn’t matter which style of music is used—I need to write in all styles. What’s important is to get the story across in the simplest way possible. – YAO WANG (Film, Video Game Composer, Immersive Audio) 24 December 2023
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– JOSEPH MALTESE josephm@musicconnection.com
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ToRECORDING STUDIO STUDIOScould be a more TRACK Quo The Fla truly understands theCLOUD business After se keys fo P.O. Boxwoodrumproductions.com, 1059 y 1101 E. PikeProjects: St. wards that night, and I Cube, Luther Keiko credits Matsui, Dave Web: Notable Crazy Town, Taylor Projects: U2, Burna Boy, Andy Pixies, “The Tr Wilmington, VT 05363 ithVandross, co-writing includingNotable Ben Platt, Ryan Tedder, crophon Basement affordable substitute for an attorney—especially consult then ta ged female, 802-464-2234 facebook.com/michael.woodrum Dayne (My Heart Can’t Change Dance and mewithoutYou, Veruca Salt, Lisa Loeb, etc. Hollister, Luther Vandross, Johnny Gill Finding Flow was special. ByMiller, Dave James Grohl Maslow, R3HAB, and Alex Alono, Seattle, WABy Finding Flow Jake Borg & Michael Eames thing Ih Grammer, the mod yrights inEric cases when is not a 98122 lot Bobby of money being Notable Projects: Prince, Clapton, Joss there Club Remixes), Shifty, Tino Coury, Sky Felix Email: info@northerntrackstudio.com Compa on the 206-209-0977 By Bobby Borg & Michael Eames (hardcover) $29.99 Web: northerntrackstudio.com (paperback) $34.00 Stone, Snoop Dogg, Wayne Kramer,for theyour songs (producer), Alex Cantrall Rhona MARC DESISTO Email: info@cloudstudiosseattle.com STEVEN BARRY COHEN rising years–– The R-1 artist-songwriter-producer Devin Kennedy is gaining serious context, timing, territory, offered and/or when the(producer), risk iami-based indie artist, Julia Bhatt first started in the at Ian C Basic Rate: $60/hr ssion, iami-based rising indie artist, Julia first in the (paperback) $34.00 Web: cloudstudiosseattle.com unforgettable moment Neptunes Bennett, Brandy, 40Gloc, Dina Rae. MIX LABhatt STUDIO D started c/o Lake Transfer Artist & Tour Management the artis enginee momentum asnew an artist. With over three million monthly Spotify listeners, price) of loss is extremely low (like when the deal is this is a down-to-earth Contact: Doug Foo Fighters frontman Dave has penned a drama room at school, but soon found herself immersed in range o *We accept allWilkerson types of music submissions TARZANNA, CA.Grohl Worth every penny, 12400 Ventura Blvd. Suite 346 drama room at school, but soon found herself immersed in OLDchance MILL ROADto RECORDING you had the Basic Rate: foraownership rates them to weight, Worth every penny, this is a down-tohis album racked 2.4 million streams on day marcdesistoaudio@gmail.com one. WOODY call studio tour to meet with Email: a non-exclusive deal,**Please there iscallfor no Old Mill Road Studio City, CA 91605 vivid memoir that conveys both the ordinary and membe music. Her were music fans, and there was book written byandtwo musicians and industry ). I think it316 music. Her parents parents were avid avid music fans, and there was always always ribbon on. was online East Arlington,VT 05252 Allied Post Audio the producers Web: marcdesistoaudio.com (818)-508-7158 says. “T book written by musicians and Playing drums, guitar, bass before theWhile age ofBhatt 10 (his grandfather and… transfer involved, or the dealpros is for a short term). ELECTROKITTY theand extraordinary moments and events oftwo hisIvan life. Hisinm r an eclectic mix going navigated (and Music Connection contributors) withof 310-392-8280 Notable Projects: U2, Don Henley, ve you met 802-430-7398 her in person Email: info@laketransfer.com an eclectic mix of sound sound going on on at at home. home. While Bhatt navigated 4415 Densmore Ave., N. Sandov beach pros (and Music Connection stry policiesEmail: andinfo@oldmillroadrecording.com practices Free services mayLENISE alsoWA be available you. was alaketransfer.com concert and his fatherto worked music for challenged television and Standouts include Email: info@alliedpost.com BENT What Yi Neville,in Melissa Etheridge, Stevie Nicks, Dwight contribu Web: Seattle, 98103 decades of to experience. They’ve organized itpianist anxiety and lacked the confidence perform, she was in oldmillroadrecording.com choose oneWeb: of her songs anxiety and lacked the confidence to perform, she was challenged in Raleigh Music Studios Miami held atogrand party atScorpions, theirsome new location.They’ve late Edd 425-358-1441engineer) problem Web: alliedpost.com For instance, The University (producer, Yoakam, Tommy Emmanuel decades ofWynwood experience. orga Recent Projects: Brown (Expansion of California Los film), Kennedy grew upfriend listening to opening Thesome Beatles, Led Zeppelin, harrowing into seven clearly-written sections that will help 9th grade by aSheree family originals, so she aa formerl ou”] to cover? Email: electrokittyrecording@gmail.com 9th grade byand aattended family friend torepresentatives record some originals, soMiami she gathered gathered Styles: rock, jazz, STUDIO remixes, hip through trip-hop, Los Angeles, CA Professional Recording, Mixing/Producing and TANK RECORDING Records UK), James Holvay (Conqueroo / record Mob which c into seven clearly-written sections tha derstand what is fairand and Angeles has the Music Clinic where Over 100 guests including of ASCAP and the Mayor's Producer acclaimed singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile is the featured guest Eric Clapton, others. His first two concerts were Paul McCartney Web:Industry electrokitty.com incidents with becaus 322 N. Winooski Ave. musicians, students, songwriters, beat makers sample friendly Email: soundflo@aol.com Mastering all genres of music group of students friends in school band Town Records), King SKmusic (Big Money Records, (her o meet her, and yes, I group of talented talented music students (her sister’s sister’s friends in the the school band felt that Contact: Garrettmusicians and VT 05401 musicians, students, songwriters, bea derstandingBurlington, what your they provide free help to rising and John Mayer. “I fell in love with music done at the highest level. [The] Web: linkedin.com/in/lenisebent *No unsolicited material L.A.), Candyboy f/ Mari Y. (Lake Transfer Music Nirvana bandmate fan,” Sc office. The 2,500 square foot studio features four studio rooms, a live room and a 400 on the latest episode of the highly popular TEC Award-winning Produce Like A Pro andand others getting screwed. Format: Digital Analog save time and avoid 802-448-2655 program) for the Her parents helped Bhatt to entertainment ing to talk to her was program) for the project. project. Her parents helped Bhatt to find find entertainment Styles: Americana, Blues, JAMES DUNKLEY ASCAP)), Trina McGee-Davis (Boy World lenges and others save time and avoid gettin comes withEmail: experience, bands. There the Rate: Indie Resource, Basic callArtist for more infoWorld, Rock, Pop, Jazz info@tankrecording.com Beatles’ songwriting is the north star every songwriter, and John Kurt Cobain as Mayer speaks Topics include square foot lounge. Pictured areMeets Steven Storchof(co-President Raleigh Music Group), Eli educational channel on YouTube (withisanalso audience over 740,000 subscribers), f the many Web: people who I lawyer Janine (who she continues working with today) to NotableofProjects: Blondie, the Knack, Suzi 169-B Belle Forest Circle ABC/Disney), JackySmall Cheung (Hong Kong /Univ tankrecording.com INDEPENDENT ENGINEERS lawyer Janine Small (who she continues working with today) tosongs viable Top checking out additional which provides free templates. is up there,” shares Kennedy. “I've always tried to make the best well as heartfelt tially, bs LONDON BRIDGE STUDIOS Format: Pro Tools Ultimate 2013/2015 Mac Pro, the basics of Quatro, Robert Fleischman, Primal Kings, Rich Nashville, TN 37221 Music Grp), Sylvia St. James (House of Blues), life in the country music protect her songwriting interests and, recognizing her potential, Collazo (Studio Manager) and Peter Raleigh (co-President Raleigh Music Group). Small hosted by noted audio educator/producer/engineer Warren Huart. ROBERT ADAMS protect her songwriting interests and, recognizing her potential, Small 20021 Ballinger Way, N.E., #A just 32 SCOTT Channels ous exp the Money, andApogee Success by But whomever you get to assist you, DelGrosso, Gary Allegretto, Lance Baker Fent, 615-662-1616 UNIV/NBC (“Let It Grow” film), “13” (The Band possible—that's where I have the most fun.” moments with will ben copyrights, Shoreline, WA 98155 Director of Job Placement & Student Services things about her—one, connected Bhatt with (credits include Ingrid Steely Dan, Supertramp, Email: pr@clynemedia.com, - Rock), Taylorhis Dayne (Arista/BMG), FriendsElliott connected Bhatt with producer producer Elliott Jacobson Jacobson (credits include Ingrid Ition. could copy 206-364-1525 and it sometimes comes beApplied sure you get someone who is highlyJaniva Magness VERMONT RECORDING STUDIOS Meeting father’s producer-friend Pat Regan atGrohl’s just 12 years old, he wife and Omega Studios’ School of It’s types of(RCA pubrobert@clynemedia.com e always writes songs that of Distinction Legacy/ BMG), El Chicano Email: info@londonbridgestudio.com 1057 Quarry Road Michaelson, Elle King, Vérité) to help expand her artistry. Bhatt now uct.Schu The Recording Arts & Sciences Michaelson, Elle King, Vérité) to help expand her artistry. Bhatt now type eral deals early on where recommended. And don’t be a cheap-ass was encouraged to sing and taught to produce the music he played in kids. Experiences Web: londonbridgestudio.com Chester, VT 05153 CLIFF BRADLEY Web: clynemedia.com Project (The Brown Sound / SOLA Label), “Fair lishing income, to do that with my life, – ROB PUTNAM 12712 Rock Creek Mill Road, Ste. 14A – ANDREA BEENHAM – ROB PUTNAM describes Jacobson as her greatest mentor and friend. – ROB PUTNAM Format: Vintage Neve 8048 / Studer A-800 MKIII 802-631-0707 " T H E S O N G W R I T I N G C O M P E T I T I O N T O – ANDREA BEENHAM provide – sailed ROB PUTNAM (Producer/Programmer) Notable Projects: Anthrax, Fun Lovin’ lishir ngineer and erstwhile studio manager Crystal Carpenter into describes Jacobson as herstudio greatest mentor and friend. at all (particularly in either. If you are making $2,500 on a synch Game” (Film score Michael Whaley), Shanice ngineer and erstwhile manager Crystal Carpenter sailed into his pop-punk band inhe high school. “It was definitely life-changing for me,” with Pantera, John began publishing Rockville, MD 20852 24-track 2” Analog tape deck, Protools HD3 Email: Studio@VermontRecordingStudios.com ne night when was five, Jim VanCleve was with his parents atshe a in that way. ront-of-house (FOH) engineer Drew Thornton embarked on his Entertainment, Criminals, AmonWhile Amarth Wilson (Motown/UMG), Patrice Rushen (w/for Having dabbled in guitar aher school class, Bhatt confesses 0ons mone pub Basic Rate: please call forLLC rates Web: VermontRecordingStudios.com the profession onthe the wings offrom turntables. attending The like small films and deal, you can afford Bradley to hire someone. You get Having dabbled in the guitar for aW school class, Bhatt confesses shefor to 301-230-9100 the profession on the of her turntables. While attending The Fogerty, Tom and I thM says Kennedy. so him. produced two albums T Alocal K Eodyssey N“Iand Olearned T E O Fwings .much .heartland . "(RCA N E Y OWe R K Twhistle IM E S companies steakhouse. He was tapped to play a train alongside Email: cliffbradleyent@gmail.com Sheree Brown), Evelyn Champagne King really fun song that I sang Social: @VTRecording audio from the of Kansas. He studied engineering didn’t learn much, but that she uses the instrument as aarecords tool for her Email: shannon@OmegaStudios.com just pocd com what you pay for. Web: University of Tennessee atme Chattanooga, she’d spin at night, didn’t learn much, but that she uses the instrument aslife tool for her cliffbrodsky-entertainment.com MIRROR SOUND STUDIO Contact: John Sawyer Petty, Iggy Pop, believe University of at Chattanooga, she’d spin records at night, Legacy /Sony), Sam Salter (LaFace/Sony) LUCAS FACKLER my band and that really led to becoming a producer.” old-school Tennessee fiddler Ralph Blizard and a devoted to types of deals, like 11 or 12. I think I Web: Omegastudios.com inChampagne Arizona and thenand made for New York City. he honed his ooe sure to check 301 N.E. 191st Format: Studiothe One, Pro Tools, Solid StateSo Logicnow thatStyles: RockSt. how to pitch writing, creating hooks melodies lead to her lyrics. While most Tipp Evelyn King (RCA/BMG), Tattoo Email: lucasfacklermusic@gmail.com type out Okay! you know which came with abuilt-in built-in education inthat sound engineering. Friends began writing, creating hooks and melodies that lead toThere her lyrics. While most John Paul Jones, track–– music thereby drew itsstudying first breath. Heinnow plays fiddle with NashvilleKennedy says that production, songwriting, and business at which came with aRecords) education sound engineering. Friends began Notable Engineers: Jim Curtis, Scotty creative matSchool Seattle, WA 98155 SuperAnalogue Mixing Console & DAW Controllers. ECLECTIC LADY LAND ward the melody. That’s Ink (Notorious Enemy Web:and lucasfackler.com audio expertise through 5,000-plus shows more than eight years e WEST VIRGINIA e In addit kids juggled their senior year schoolwork and the start of a worldwide 206-440-5889 crea Basic Rate: Please call forLLC more information e moving on to our final like a pro, you should really be ready to start OToole, Phillip DiMercurio, Malcolm Jackson, based outfit Appalachian Road Show and produced the band’s 2022 to ask her to engineer their records and that’s when it dawned on her kids juggled their senior year schoolwork and the start of a worldwide RECORDING RANCH, Paul McCartney ‘What Berklee “really set me up for staying independent and running my own to ask her to engineer their records and that’s when it dawned on her terscombat of musicat Rockwood Music HallStyles: than att ANDREW BUSH ul pop,city’s rock, indie, electronic Email: yy JAMIEinfo@mirrorsound.com PECK PRODUCTIONS Immer of FOH on the Lower East Side. Bill Mt. Mueller, John Melvin,out Isaac 341 DallasNeal Rd. Keller, sending artists ters lockdown, Bhatt her first your music to allWarehouse of those wonderful Grandma’s record Jubilation. Web: mirrorsound.com ERIC CROSBY and others make that this could beareleased acareer. career. Following graduation, she became the studio cool thit lockdown, Bhatt released her first business coming out of school.” While publishing, that this could be Following graduation, she became the studio VIRGINIA progra uy 216 Longvue Acres Rd. Breslau, Andrew Friday Harbor, WAMastroni, 98250 Flow Contact: Ken Fordyce 64 inpu Later graduated to“Marco,” such storied venues as Radio City Music Hall 355 Glendale Blvd. Chao Pack Entertainment JOHN FALZARANO By Dave Grohl viewer Finding By Dave Grohl puba she athings protégé ofwhile country producer Mark Bright, thethis lessons he learned places discussed in previous chapters. Are you three singles (“Tall,” and “I’m Bobby Borg & Eames By Bobby Borg & Michael Michael Finding Eames Wheeling, WV 26003 By Dave Grohl autobiography Bachar 360-298-4249 manager atFlow Atlanta’s Bad Boy South, and 2019 she stepped into the three singles (“Tall,” “Marco,” and “I’m By Bobby Eames his band fell apart he was in and you Format: 24By track at Atlanta’s Bad Boy South, and ininAngeles, 2019 she stepped into the when CUE RECORDING STUDIOS age to maintain aOFprivate Los Angeles, CAdigital-analog 90026 Borg & Michael manager Atlanta, GA Los Atlanta A Pass and Colorado’s Redand Rocks Amphitheatre, asconvey well Nashville, asand festivals including studio’s 304-277-2771 Email: Basic Rate: Please call forhappy rates about the emotions a band is trying to the best ways to of the a ARIES and excited?! We hope so. On that note, (hardcover) $29.99 Cool”), turned 18, graduated. 109 Parkrikkiswin@gmail.com Ave.,NOHO Ste. E PROMOTIONS (hardcover) $29.99 (paperback) $34.00 a satisfying read. to mos (paperback) $34.00 213-484-8844 (hardcover) $29.99 same role at Memphis’ 4U Recording Studios, a position she left recently. college, bandmate Jordan Greenwald need to know 404-465-4413 Cool”), turned 18, rising and graduated. 818-419-0323 iami-based indie artist, Julia Bhatt first started in the ably im same role at Memphis’ 4U Recording Studios, a position she left recently. (paperback) $34.00 era, and what’s value Web: jamiepeckproductions.com Format: Pro Tools & Ultra Hi-end Digital Mics - no iami-based rising indie artist, Bhatt started in the Falls VA 22046 P.O. Church, Boxthe 16741 Coachella and Lollapalooza. Thornton has provided FOH services to Billie passion deliver them have never left him.Julia Artists withfirst which he’s recorded format is the fi nee Email: andrew@grandmaswarehouse.com pitching! You can now start hitting Email: chaopack@gmail.com Email: recordingtruck@aol.com ORBIT AUDIO The debut EP 22engineering―a Steps Back soon Burt he converters! 703-532-9033 Contact: Jamie Peckthe send about music (of lovelytheband), who was playing As a woman in engineering―a field that’s been male dominated since The debut EP Steps Back soon pivotal drama room at school, but soon found herself immersed in As a woman in field that’s been male dominated since North Hollywood, CA 91615 Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl has penned a Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl has penned a drama room atPuppies, school, but soon found herself immersed in every new Seattle,grandmaswarehouse.com WAWorth Web: Worth every penny, this is down-to-earth new include Carrie Underwood the Louvin Brothers, among many others.a Web: chaopack.com Web: recordingtruck.com studio d Fooand Fighters frontman Dave Grohl has penned Email: info@cuerecording.com, Eilish, Vérité and Sick among others. in-app Worth every penny, this this is is aaa down-to-earth down-to-earth new Web: EclecticLadyLandRecording.com immers abo Format: digital Pro Tools HD penny, button. • 747-256-8911, 818-220-3423 followed, featuring “Miami” and led toam 206-381-1244 publishing’s for James Maslow (ofwere Big Time itfollowed, began―Carpenter experienced arange range ofgender-related gender-related roadblocks Keys featuring “Miami” and “Bird music. parents avid music fans, there was always itguitar began―Carpenter experienced a“Bird of roadblocks Styles: all book studiomanager@cuerecording.com Styles: Rap, Hip-Hop, R&B, Soundtrack, TV/ Styles: All and t that comes with living vivid memoir that conveys both the ordinary and Basic Rate: We are a retreat studio with housing vivid memoir that conveys both the ordinary and music. Her parents were avid music and there was always by and industry He was also a Her member of audio collective Basic orbitaudio@gmail.com Rate: pleasewritten call for info book written by two musicians and industry ). vivid memoir that conveys both the ordinary and compan Email: Shelby@ariesofnoho.com Email: The path to success intobluegrass/country/blues the audio world is fans, almost universally unique which i book written by two two musicians musicians and industry pub pan po ).e. Web: cuerecording.com record, Girl,” and Bhatt’s confidence grew Film/video game composer, Mixing Notable Projects: call for details on an awe-inspiring property with special project future. Rush), passed the torch Kennedy Like as hercareer career began coalesce. Those experiences prompted her tohelp help Web: orbitaudiorocks.com an eclectic mix of sound going on at While Bhatt navigated Girl,” and Bhatt’s confidence grew as her began totoBy coalesce. Those experiences prompted her to ou sign up Basic for it. People the extraordinary moments and events his life. Web: ariesofnoho.com/home Mountain Heart, was signed tohome. Ricky Skaggs’ label Family Records. the extraordinary moments and events of his life. Rate: please call for info pros (and contributors) with eclectic mix ofwhich sound going on at home. While navigated Marc Myers pros (and Music Connection contributors) with the extraordinary moments and events of his life. enginee Thus CAZADOR RECORDING and rife with curves, dead ends and U-turns. Few Bhatt jump from anof pros (and Music Music Connection Connectionan contributors) with rates futu 7.1 pan Format: Digital/Analog RHL AUDIO It’ll befae as she performed at more venues Contact: Shelby (producer, engineer) hook andinto lastyour tip on when he became too with his a track clear the path other women to$30.00 excel inaudio. audio. “Last weekend Iinclude DJ’ed anxiety and lacked the confidence to perform, she was challenged in clear the path for other women to excel inNICOLAS “Last weekend I DJ’ed atat as she performed at busy more venues lifepitching and VanCleve’s biggest obstacle during the production of Jubilation was Standouts include Standouts Basic Rate: $95/Hr, $750/day (Top L.A. Producer, Audio Engineer, Studio They’ve JIM D. FOURNIER decades of experience. organized itfor anxiety and lacked the confidence to perform, she was challenged in decades of experience. They’ve organized it DA SPOT RECORDING STUDIO Standouts include (hardcover) 703-628-3015 users h decades of experience. They’ve organized it in build engineering program to a world tour of the size and scope of Eilish’s. Format: Analog & Digital, Pro Tools, Tascam, allowin C A S H A N D P R I Z E S 00/Hour; I’ll bring (once playing for three hours straight nt that you 213 find an ELECTROKITTY own career. Playing guitar, keyboard, W Brookland Park Blvd. Pyram-Axis Digital and pe (Engineer, Mixer, Producer) LIVE Drummer/Programmer, Studio Vocalist, facing the ever-present danger of exhaustion. “I was trying to make this a Women in STEM [science, technology, engineering and math] event in re’s nothing wrong with 9th grade by a family friend to record some originals, so she gathered a a9th Women in STEM technology, engineering and math] event ina (once for[science, three hours straight Email: chris@rhlaudio.com some harrowing some harrowing into seven clearly-written sections that will help grade by aCA family friend toThornton record some originals, so she gathered into seven clearly-written sections that will help Fostex some harrowing feature WESTrhlaudio.com VIRGINIA into Coach, seven clearly-written sections that will help Richmond, VA 23223 “I owe aaplaying lot toto that little club,” observes ofinformation his near decadeby engi 4415 Densmore Ave., N. is capa Redondo Beach, 90278 Email: nickjfour@gmail.com is to ma In-Studio Vocal Composer, Songwriter) Web: There’s plenty of fascinating to glean ment attorney who for tips and a meal). “I really do like record work of art rather than just a few songs on tape,” he recalls. and helping put Maslow’s live million Styles: WA R&B, Soul, s on the person and howFunk, Old School, Gospel, Huntsville, Alabama,” she says.do “There aren’t alot lotofofwomen women thatwith are drawn than group of music students (her sister’s friends in the school band Huntsville, Alabama,” she says. “There aren’t anicolasfournier.com are drawn 804-649-2888 for tips and a meal). “I really like incidents incidents with musicians, students, songwriters, beat makers musicians, students, songwriters, beat makers Seattle, 98103 of talented talented music students (her sister’s friends in thethat school band incidents with 310-869-8650 Web: an Owner of Cazador Recording (ProTools10 HD6) group musicians, students, songwriters, beat makers Contact: Chris Murphy long gig at Rockwood Music Hall.of “I the never saw it [as being] big masteri JAMIE PECK PRODUCTIONS daspotrecordingstudio.com you wo 7.1, 9.1 Jazz, World Beat. “Burnout from the wear and tear road and never having ago from Myer’s history ofasthe blishing. AsWeb: they say, a performing,” she gushes. “People shows together, Maslow and knowin 425-358-1441 share and how much to audio engineering, because theyoral don’t seeitBhatt itexamination front them. I day go into program) for the project. Her parents helped to find entertainment to audio engineering, because they don’t see ininfront ofof them. Ibandmate into Email: music@pyramaxis.com Styles: rock, alternative, indie, pop, R&B, Nirvana bandmate performing,” she gushes. “People Nirvana bandmate Basic Rate: please info Hollywood, CA and others time and avoid getting screwed. 216 Longvue Acres Rd.call for save and others save time and avoid getting screwed. program) for the project. Her parents helped Bhatt to find entertainment Nirvana artists a Services: Studio & Video Productions, Voice and others save time and avoid getting screwed. as it turned out to be. Getting into Billie’s camp happened because masteri that wil Email: electrokittyrecording@gmail.com off was a challenge. As far as capturing the performance, there were Andy Web: pyramaxis.com evolution of the rock concert business, from the hip-hop orney may have a INNER EAR STUDIO By Gina Schock Wheeling, WV 26003 Kennedy became good friends. “I love might not always react the way you alone. S 323-655-0615 ing an just open book is fine, lawyer Janine Small (who she continues working with today) to schools and talk kids [about audio schools and talk totokids [about audio Kurt Cobain as Barrett’s maiden single, “I Hope,” Kurt Cobain as Overs, Sound Design, might not always react the way you Notable Topics include Topics include lawyer Janine (who she continues working with today) to WISCONSIN Kurt Cobain asThe the coui Web: electrokitty.com 2701 South Oakland StreetFoley, Audio Transfers, Topics include 304-277-2771 Styles: All styles -Small Mix+Mastering Specialist, By Gina Schock Projects: Death Cab for Cutie, of the connections I made there. some logistical issues. But I had access to several pieces of the world’s After of fun Email: cazador.jimmy@gmail.com Nashvil wild west ‘50s to the corporatized ‘80s. Myers Tape Repair. James,” gushes Kennedy. “He taught mostly want them to, but keep going.” daries. NotArlington, everything (hardcover) $40.00 VA 22206 was the first Top 10 Hot Country well as heartfelt Contact: Garrett protect her songwriting interests and, recognizing her potential, Small engineering] and the young ladies see engineering] and the young ladies see Web: jamiepeckproductions.com well as heartfelt want them to, but keep going.” the basics of BLAST HOUSE STUDIOS Remote, Distribution Vaccines, Of Monsters and Men, At The Drivethe basics of asprominent heartfelt protect her songwriting interests and, recognizing herwell potential, Small thatOne con the basics of Web: jimmyhunter.com, jimbojamz. com finest gear and our tracking For example, the drummer Adam The dB 703-820-8923, 703-521-7781 Notable Projects: Sheffield (Texas (hardcover) $40.00 Kevorki Contact: JamieDr. Peck does itengineer with statements from an attorney is zdz801@aol.com tom 16 Format: Digital and Bill Analog me how be aIndie, solo artist, what it insightful ing som spotlight. 1117aJonathon Notable Sony, Universal, in, Biffy Clyro The lockdown also brought Bhatt’s Songs debut by solo female artist moments with connected Bhatt with producer Elliott (credits include Ingrid that it’s possibility.” that it’saProjects: ato possibility.” moments with Email: copyrights, Styles: rock, pop, R&B,HD most styles, live The lockdown also brought Bhatt’s copyrights, Tornados), Tarsha current moments with connected Bhatt with producer Elliott Jacobson (credits include Ingrid Format: digital Pro Tools Go-Go’s drummer Gina Schock takes fans [Grammy winner] Shani Gandhi is Jacobson copyrights, Basic Rate: call for Rodgers more info(Rev. James pany’s Christgau who’s worked with is when Madison, WI 53713 Grammy and rec innerearstudio.com insiders (Seymour peoplebeing youWeb: trust. But LaGran looks like to be on the road and do come fl mans made in the drumming or programming, Basic Rate: please call for info first touring experience, opening five Cleveland), Karen Meeks (Marshal Tucker since October 2017. Grohl’s wife and Go-Go’s drummer Gina Schock take Michaelson, Elle King, Vérité) to help expand her artistry. Bhatt now Grohl’s wife and Managing apubstudio is aaopening timeManaging a studio is timetypes of types of pubfirst touring experience, five and mu Rate: $425 per day,it hourly rates available Grohl’s wife and y dad would talk about one of the best in Nashville.” 608-276-4446 Michaelson, Elle King, Vérité) to help expand her artistry. Bhatt now behind the scenes for a look at her personal MAURICE GAINEN PRODUCTIONS types of pub. . . lessons she’s learned as an . . . lessons she’s learned as an inline si “Back t [Australian singer-songwriter] Sia and Hunter has produced 5000+ songs since 1986 Stein, George orneys are not cheap Band), Patty Lacey (Luther Vandross), Dot indie ar . . . lessons he’s learned as a 25 December 2023 musicconnection.com clients interviews. He gave me that initial ve a right notsaid having learned LONDON BRIDGE STUDIOS shows for Mutlu Onaral being Email: mike@madisonmusicfoundry.com behind the177scenes for a look at her –Experiences JULIAN DAVID kids. describes as her greatest friend. consuming and challenging –ROB ROBPUTNAM PUTNAM 4470 and Sunset Blvd., kids. Ste. consuming and challenging lishing income, RHL AUDIO lishing income, Much ofJacobson Jubilation crafted atmentor bp shows for Mutlu Onaral after being doesn’t next to metoMASTER and when kids. Experiences –Experiences ROB PUTNAM PROFESSIONAL EPSON DUPLICATORS describes Jacobson aswas herafter greatest mentor and friend. photos documenting her band's wild journey lishing income, Notable Projects: JIMBOJAMZ Shelby (The Sounds of Blackness) the use SOUND Barrett sang “God Bless America” manager gotIt’s pro engineer and studio manager are:band's Miley Cyrus.” 20021 Ballinger Way, N.E., #A Wein, Henry Diltz, J U D Hollywood, Gengineer E S CAand I90027 Nstudio Cengineer L U D Eare: Web: blasthousestudios.com he has with you, you have to (reviewing a simple synch deal could cost $300 (engineer, mixer, producer) 703-628-3015 front-of-house are: touring experience, took a chance the world. You have to c for trac photos documenting her wild 0 Virginia Beach, VA 23452 asked to join him, and she began with Pantera, John with Pantera, John . . . lessons he’s learned as a Having dabbled in the guitar for a school class, Bhatt confesses she VanCleve’s home studio, which heJim endeavor. Despite the substantial publishing solo projects), Todd Stanford (4listCountry endeavor. Despite substantial publishing 0 going toShoreline, pulled was be likeWA a 98155 fullod asked to join him, and she began with Pantera, John ne night when he was five, VanCleve was with his parents at ne night when he was five, Jim VanCleve was with his parents at to website the heights and stardom. Featuring Make Your Own Audio/Video Discs - aa and Having dabbled inthe the guitar for aCahan school class, Bhatt confesses she publishing ashville-based usician and producer artist, engineer Andy andCD/DVD/Blu-Ray producer has dedicated KK Johnson more than was 60 Email: chris@rhlaudio.com ins Format: see forat equipment and tossed out(my the first pitch a of fame
JASON DERULO UNDERWATER
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PRODUCER CROSSTALK
– ROB PUTNAM
NOAH SIEROTA
N
oah Sierota, bassist with the Chino, CA sibling trio Echosmith, has dabbled in production ever since the band’s 2013 debut Talking Dreams. In fact, he was exposed to engineering from a young age through his musician-father Jeffery David. For the 2023 third Echosmith record, the siblings chose Noah to guide it. “Cool Kids” from Talking Dreams has earned more than 145 million YouTube listens and in total the band has amassed more than one billion streams. “I always knew what I wanted this record to be,” Sierota says of producing Echosmith. “I spent a lot of time figuring out how I wanted to tell our story through music. I approach my production as an artist first because I am an artist. I did bring in other writers, musicians and our [former band member] brother Jamie, who helped to co-produce. My sister Sydney’s input was also crucial. She’s a huge part of what we do.” Echosmith was recorded largely in Sierota’s home studio, which he’s assembled over the past several years. But parts—drums in particular— were locked in at Lucy’s Meat Market in Eagle Rock. Indeed, studio owner Pete Min was also recruited to engineer parts of the record. “He’s smart . . . lessons he’s learned as a and creative,” the artist observes. “We producer are: then brought in friends and even nonmusicians to show them what we’d • Give yourself space for contentment. done and to get their feedback.” • It’s okay to learn to do things in the Organically or intentionally, bands way that you want to do them. will nearly always evolve. Certainly that’s happened with Echosmith, • Find a balance between needing and which Sierota ascribes to each song appreciating outside input but not being like its own story or journal being directed by it. The song is what entry. “The storytelling on this record should direct the production. is more raw and honest,” he notes. “It feels more personal than before. Every song is related to a story or experience. Sonically it’s really different because we’ve grown as musicians and gave ourselves permission to do a lot more. I’m a big fan of capturing audio in high quality and then running it through something like a crappy foot pedal. You know: getting it perfectly and then humbling it.” Many creatives struggle with completing projects, not because they don’t have ideas but because when there’s no firm deadline, opportunities for change will always be found. Sierota isn’t immune to such challenges. “I don’t believe that a song can ever be finished,” he observes. “There’s always more that I could do. I’ll hear some of our old stuff and think ‘I wish I’d done something more.’ But there’s value in letting something be what it is.” Among his favorite studio gear is the Blue Bottle condenser tube mic, Hazelrigg compressors and Chase Bliss' CXM 1978 reverb effects pedal. “That thing is not just a guitar pedal,” he asserts. “I used it all over the record and it was a ton of fun. The sonic quality is incredible. Being able to use faders instead of knobs changes how you’re moving things.” U.S. dates are planned for the New Year. Meanwhile, Sierota aims to produce not only future Echosmith records but other bands as well. “When I move, I plan to build a full-on studio where I’ll bring in outside artists,” he says. “I want to be able to support them in the same way that I support my own band.” Experience echosmith.com, @echosmith, stem.ffm.to/echosmith; Contact Carla Senft and Amanda Curtis - Press Here PR, carla@pressherepublicity.com, amanda@pressherepublicity.com
26 December 2023
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October December 2023 September July2023 November
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INDUSTRY PROFILE
– ROB PUTNAM
Frank Joseph: HARMAN International F
rank Joseph is the senior director of marketing for HARMAN International North America, Professional Solutions. A lifelong musician, he built his own recording studio and later worked for Gibson Brands. Nearly ten years ago he joined HARMAN International and has been integral to the ongoing operation of their Professional Experience Center in Northridge, one of four throughout the world. The 15,000-square-foot facility allows the audio, video and lighting gear giant to showcase its various brands including JBL Professional, AKG Acoustics and Crown International. For audio aficionados, it’s like a visit to Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory except that they gorge on gear rather than candy.
it’s not just pro audio. It’s our pro, consumer and automotive business. We’re entrenched in several areas other than pro. We’re one of the companies that stand out because of that strategy. There’s also our ability to leverage our technology across the board. For example, AKG is now in Cadillac. MC: What’s unique about HARMAN’s Professional Experience Center in Northridge? FJ: It culminates all of our technologies in one space. So from arena sound to Martin Lighting
Music Connection: What’s your career path been? How did you come to work for HARMAN? Frank Joseph: I was a gigging musician for many years and had a recording studio. I was a young man at that point and I realized that I had no business being in business. I began a retail path through Guitar Center. I started at the stores and left as a vice president. I actually joined HARMAN on the consumer side, not the pro side. I started with headphones, helped build out that business and formed partnerships with companies such as Best Buy and Target. I ran the entire consumer marketing for five years before I started on the pro side five years ago and have been with them for almost a decade. MC: What’s been one of your career highlights at HARMAN? FJ: Some of the big activations like our road shows, our Pro JBL Masterclass that we just finished in Las Vegas and helping to bring some of our pro install audio products to market. We film our AKG YouTube show Stories Behind the Sessions at our Experience Center for which we bring in various artists and producers. For example, we’ve had members of INXS, No Doubt and several composers. They tell the stories behind some of their epic recordings. It allows us to leverage our facility and our brand. MC: What sets HARMAN International apart from other gear makers? FJ: HARMAN is one of a few manufacturers that fits into the category of a true multibrand, multi-vertical strategy. When you look at HARMAN across all the different verticals
28 December 2023
musicconnection.com
or in the case of Stories Behind the Sessions, they’re very planned and part of our roadmap. There are either customers coming through, lighting designers or front-of-house engineers touring the facility. It’s booked about ninety-five percent of the time. MC: What are some of the biggest challenges in your industry? FJ: The biggest is continuing to generate new customers. Not a lot of people are playing musical instruments. It’s more content and music creation and certainly we have tools that serve those needs. Another challenge is continuing to be innovative. From a marketing perspective, any organization that deploys a multi-brand strategy, defining the areas that are strategically important, investing in them and continuing to stay on-message are all key. MC: What’s one of your favorite HARMAN anecdotes? FJ: No Doubt was one of the bands that had come into South Coast Recording, where I’d interned, to record their debut No Doubt for Interscope. When [drummer] Adrian Young came into the Experience Center to record our YouTube show, we reminisced about that.
to our install business. We have the ability to bring in a customer, walk them through all of the different technologies in one location and see it all working together. MC: There are now four Experience Centers across the world. Are more planned? FJ: There’s been discussion of others but nothing is planned currently. The Experience Centers we have now round up a good amount of support for our global business. MC: The Experience Center acts as a studio occasionally for various shows. For example, YouTube mix program Pensado’s Place taped an episode there last year. How do you draw interest? FJ: It’s not really open for anyone to come in and tape. Usually bookings are made either through a partnership we have with a property
MC: What are the three most important lessons you’ve learned about working in music and audio? FJ: One, It’s not the music business. It’s the business of music. Two, Things ebb and flow. Everything isn’t at 100 percent at all times Being flexible and adaptable is important. And three, This is a creative business. It’s about the art of creating music. MC: What’s in HARMAN’s future? FJ: We’ll continue to leverage the Experience Center as a place to have our customers try our new products and have conversations that will help us build and define our future. We’ll also continue to update them with all of the latest and greatest HARMAN products. MC: What’s in your future? FJ: I’ve never aspired to a certain position. I’ve been blessed to work with some great mentors and I’ve learned a lot from them. Most of my jobs have been self-made; the result of bringing a new idea to the table. I’ll continue to do that. Contact pro.harman.com/lp/los-angelesexperience-center
BUSINESS AFFAIRS
OPPS
Netflix wants a Specialist, Music Services. The Netflix Music Services team is hiring a Specialist to facilitate music clearance, creative resourcing, licensing, and custom music creation for Netflix’s Music Services Team which supports the Marcomms group. Our Marketing and PR campaigns are a key part of Netflix’s ongoing success, and music is core to those campaigns. Apply at LinkedIn. Warner Music Group needs a Scheduling Coordinator. As a member of their scheduling team, you’ll be part of a group that functions as the first point of contact to find out about new products, and effectively organizes all releases to all departments needing to know details throughout the company. Apply at Talent.com. Universal Music Group wants a Product Manager. Support Brand Directors in day-to-day project management of ecomm, retail and licensing launches for a series of clients, coordinate the end-to-end merchandise approval process for all licensed products. Maintain team documents, including but not limited to client contacts, music release and touring calendars, artist one sheets, strategy presentations, and internal documentation. Apply at Geebo. For More Career Opportunities, check out musicconnection.com daily. And sign up for MC’s Weekly Bulletin newsletter.
BRETT CALLWOOD CALLWOOD ––BRETT
LABELS•RELEASES SIGNINGS
Claire Rousay signs to Thrill Jockey Los Angeles experimental ambient artist Claire Rousay has signed with Thrill Jockey, and her debut album for the label will be released in 2024. “A meditation on loneliness, her new album is her most audacious work yet, synthesizing disparate and unexpected influences from throughout Rousay’s long and varied career as a performer,” says the label. Contact mike@thrilljockey.com for more info. Odetta Hartman pens deal with Transgressive Records. New York singer-songwriter Odessa Hartman has signed with Transgressive Records, and her long-awaited second album Swansongs will be released in March. “Odetta returns with her strongest set of songs to date—another fever dream of a record including the experimental pop of ‘Goldilocks,’ the dramatic string lead ‘Dr No’ and her radical re-working of the traditional ‘Motherless Child’ first made famous by her namesake Odetta,” they say. Contact jeremy. saunders@pias.com for more info. Nailah Hunter signs with Fat Possum Records. L.A.-based multi-instrumentalist and composer Nailah Hunter signed with Fat Possum in October, and her debut for the label will be the Lovegaze album, due out in January. That will be preceded by the “Finding Mirror” lead single
LUCKY DAYE CELEBRATES THE RELEASE OF THAT’S YOU Grammy-winning R&B star Lucky Daye has released new single “That’s You,” co-written by Bruno Mars. The single is accompanied by a video directed by Nick Walker (Future, Ella Mai, Playboi Carti). “I sang my heart out on ‘That’s You’,” Days says. “I felt like I was on the moon. I want people to think about that one person they just can’t be without when they listen. Hopefully that person is a good person.” Contact kristin.somin@ledecompany.com for more info. and video. “This song began with a bass line, which is not usually how I approach writing,” Hunter said in a statement. “Of all the tracks on the record, it is the most purposeful departure from the comfort I found in making ambient music in the past.” Contact judy@motormouthmedia.com for more info.
PROPS
Sony Music Latin celebrates Mexican music in L.A. At a star-studded event in Los Angeles, Sony Music Latin celebrated Mexican music with live performances by Conexión Divina, Joss Favela, Lupita Infante,
A lot has happened to Abigail Barlow during her career already. As one half of Barlow & Bear, she won a Grammy for The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical, in the Best Musical Theater Album category in 2022, despite Netflix filing and later dropping a lawsuit. She has a new single called “Rock Bottom,” which she has released herself, despite label interest following that Grammy win. She’s had an up-anddown time of it, and the song sees her reflecting on that. To be fair, it’s been quite a journey. “I’ve been singing and dancing since I was a wee babe, but songwriting became a main focus of mine in my teenage years,” she says. Barlow describes her solo sound as Katy Perrymeets-Alan Menken. “I love the bubblegum pop sound of the 2010s, with the theatrical storytelling and timeless melodies of the mastermind behind so many of my favorite Disney musicals,” she says.
As well as the “Rock Bottom” single, Barlow’s Princess Pop album will be released early in 2024. “‘Rock Bottom’ is the first single off my album Princess Pop: A Musical Fable, dropping in 2024,” she says. “This project has been a way to tell my story. To let my fans in on my POV, experiences I’ve had, and lessons I’ve learned. Each song was written with a different crew of collaborators at different times over the last two years, and tells a piece of my story through the lens of a different fairytale.” Having made the choice to do this herself, Barlow has no regrets. “The music industry is not what it once was, and that’s great in some respects and not so great in others,” she says. “As an independent artist, I try to look at the silver lining that being DIY means owning all of my music, having creative power over my project, and integrity in what my brand and messaging is.” For more information, visit abigailbarlowmusic.com.
DANICA ROBINSON
ABIGAIL BARLOW
December 2023
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BUSINESS AFFAIRS
– BRETT CALLWOOD
and Virlán García, as well as the presentation of Luis Ángel “El Flaco,” who recently joined the Sony Music family. Johnny López, the youngest son of Jenni Rivera, accepted a gold record on behalf of his mother for the successful album Misión Cumplida. Contact eadut@eadut.com for more info.
Kirk Hammett, of trash metal titans Metallica, and Epiphone have unveiled a 1979 Flying V, in partnership with the Gibson Custom Shop. “I am extremely honored to be able to put out an Epiphone Flying V today,” said Hammett. “Epiphone represents great sounding guitars at accessible prices, which is fundamentally important for up-and-coming musicians. I’m beyond pleased that I can offer the ‘79 Flying V in this capacity. It means so much to me to be able to put good guitars in the hands of young players.” Contact lcoffey@ primeprgroup.com for more info.
Guitar Center announces Gabriel Dalporto as CEO. The retail giant announced the appointment of Gabriel Dalporto, while also sharing that Ken C. Hicks has been named Chairman of the Board, and Tim Martin is returning to his role as Chief Financial Officer. Dalporto states: “Coming from a family of musicians, some of my fondest memories growing up were of visiting Guitar Center stores with my father where we obsessed over the incredible guitars and cutting-edge equipment.” Contact sarah.moon@edelmansmithfield.com for more info.
BRETT CALLWOOD has written about music for two decades, originally for Kerrang!, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and more in the U.K. He’s the author of two books, about Detroit proto-punks, the MC5 and the Stooges. He’s now the music editor at LA Weekly and a columnist with idobi Radio, as well as here in Music Connection. He can be reached at brettcallwood@gmail.com
THE BIZ
Kirk Hammett partners with Epiphone.
BABY TATE PINES FOR JERSEY As the golden period for women in hip-hop continues (and long may it!), Baby Tate has released new single and video “Jersey,” a Justin Tranter-produced tune from her album Baby Tate Presents—Sexploration: The Musical. The artist formerly known as Yung Baby Tate is clearly in no mood to mess around as she raps, “I’m in the middle of New Jersey, Cryin’ in the club, Thinkin’ about all the ways you hurt me, You don’t give a f*ck.” Contact aishah.white@warnerrecords.com for more info.
COLDPLAY COUNTER-SUES ITS MANAGER
BY GLENN LITWAK
IN SEPTEMBER OF 2023 Coldplay’s former manager, David Holmes, sued the rock group in London’s High Court for breach of contract. Holmes claims the band owes him over $12 million for alleged commissions. Holmes contends the group failed to pay him for work relating to the band’s next three albums. In October of 2023 Coldplay countersued Holmes, asserting that he owes the band over $17 million for expensive tour equipment that was not usable. The equipment was purchased before the band’s Music of the Spheres concert tour.
By way of background, Holmes began working for the group in 2000 and became their only manager on the 2005-07 tour. He stopped managing the band in August of 2023. In their countersuit, Coldplay asserts Holmes borrowed $20 million in 2015 from the band’s tour promoter, Live Nation, at an interest rate of 2.72 percent. In 2018, Holmes took out a second loan for $10 million. The group claims that Holmes used his job as their manager to finance a property development project in or near Vancouver, Canada. The counterclaim states: “To the best of our knowledge’’ Mr. Holmes used monies obtained from the loan agreements to fund a property development venture in or around Vancouver, Canada.” The band claims that the Vancouver investment was “profitable.” Live Nation apparently issued a statement stating that it had “a strong and longstanding relationship with Coldplay” and “any past dealings with
their management team were considered an extension of that relationship.” A manager is supposed to act in the best interests of his client, and not use his position to obtain loans that benefit him, and not the client. The group contends Holmes made various mistakes that cost them millions of dollars. The band states that before the tour started, costs increased dramatically and Holmes “Failed adequately to supervise and control the tour budget at all times,” which eventually cost the band an additional approximately $21 million. Coldplay asserts that Holmes had it incur a massive amount of unneeded concert tour expenses, such as $10.9 million on “bespoke stage pylons” and approximately $9.7 million on a “Jet Screen” which could not be used. Holmes told Rolling Stone magazine: “Coldplay knows they’re in trouble with their defense. Accusing Holmes of non-existent ethical lapses and
This article is a very brief overview of the subject matter and does not constitute legal advice.
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other made-up misconduct will not deflect from the real issue at hand; Coldplay had a contract with Holmes, they are refusing to honor it and they need to pay Holmes what they owe him.” Managers are supposed to advise and consult with their clients, not make decisions on their own. It will be interesting to see if Coldplay approved the expenses. It is difficult at this juncture to predict who will prevail in this lawsuit. GLENN LITWAK is a veteran entertainment attorney based in Santa Monica, CA. He has represented platinum selling recording artists, Grammy winning music producers, hit songwriters, management and production companies, music publishers and independent record labels. Glenn is also a frequent speaker at music industry conferences around the country, such as South by Southwest and the Billboard Music in Film and TV Conference. Email Litwak at gtllaw59@gmail. com or visit glennlitwak.com.
December 2023
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HOT 100 • 2023
NEW TOYS
– BARRY RUDOLPH barry@barryrudolph.com
LIVE UNSIGNED ARTISTS AND BANDS
ACEMO Electronic/DJ
BLURRY
instagram.com/acemo
itsblurrymusic.com
Alt-Pop San Antonio, TX
New York, NY
ADOBE COLLECTIVE CANNING Folk/Country/Psych Psychedelic` Chicago, IL
Joshua Tree, CA
canningmusic.net
theadobecollective.com
CHARLIE ROGERS Country
AFTER Pop/Trip-Hop
Los Angeles, CA
after95.bandcamp.com
Nashville, TN
charlierogersmusic.com
AJIT SINGH Indian Classical France
facebook.com/ajitsitar.varanasi
ALBA MUSIK Latin
COMBO TEZETA ‘60s-inspired Psychedelic Instro Cumbia Chicha San Francisco, CA combotezeta.com
New York, NY
albamusik.com
ANDREW RUDY Pop/Punk/Emo Los Angeles, CA
dorianplatinum.com
CRASHING WAYWARD Alternative Hard Rock Las Vegas, NV
crashingwayward.com
CYCLER Shoegaze/Post Punk
ANNABEL LEE Rock
Los Angeles, CA
instagram.com/cycler_music
Los Angeles, CA
annabelleemusic.com
DAVID STARR Blues/Americana
ASHLEY ELLE Indie-Pop
Cedaredge, CO
davidstarrmusic.com
Los Angeles, CA
ashleyellemusic.com
DERDE VERDE Indie Alternative Rock
BECK PETE Singer-Songwriter
Los Angeles, CA derdeverde.net
Los Angeles
DOVE ARMITAGE Alt-Pop Los Angeles, CA
dovearmitage.bandcamp.com
ERIC SLEEPER Singer-Songwriter Randolph, NJ
instagram.com/ericsleepermusic
ERIN GREIDER Pop-Rock Los Angeles, CA eringreider.com
ETERNAL Death Metal Phoenix, AZ
eternalaz.bandcamp.com
FEVER DOG Retro Psychedelic Rock Coachella Valley, CA
linktr.ee/feverdogrocks
FIIZ Electropop/Dance Brooklyn, NY
linktr.ee/fiizmusic
FLAMES OF DURGA Heavy Rock High Desert, CA
facebook.com/flamesofdurga
FRANK PELLIGRINO Indie Rock Los Angeles, CA
HAL HENKEL & THE FLYING CAMELS Blues Rock Funk Jazz Eugene, OR
facebook.com/haroldhalhenkel
HALF HEARTED Rock Hartford, CT
halfheartedmusic.com
HAZARD Rap/Hip-hop Ontario, CA
drankers.com
ILONA Pop
Los Angeles, CA
instagram@iamilonamusic
INSECT SURFERS Today’s Psychedelic Surf Instro Soundtracks Los Angeles, CA
JENNY STENGER Singer-Songwriter / Indie Auburn, CA
instagram.com/jennystenger
JEWEL CHANG Pop/R&B Los Angeles, CA
instagram.com/jewelchangmusic
JOEY QUINONES Chicano, Soul Los Angeles, CA
joeyquinones.com
JOHN M. Americana, Singer-Songwriter Nashville, TN johnm.com
JOJOMBER Ukelele-fronted joy-pop NYC/Columbus, OH
instagram.com/jojomber
JON GEIGER Blues-Rock Long Beach, CA
insectsurfers.com
jongeiger.com
IZZY RAYE Dream-Pop
JUDY PASTER Country/Americana
izzyraye.com
judypaster.com
Brooklyn, NY
J4 Pop
Nashville, TN
JUGGLER
Nashville, TN
Shoegaze Los Angeles, CA
J4sings.com
instagram.com/juggler.la
JARED BRADY Alternative R&B
KATIE FERRARA Folk-Pop
instagram.com/enjoyjaredbrady
katieferrara.com
Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles, CA
BIG EYES PARKER Folk/Country
DEVON GILFILLIAN Neo-Rock-Soul
instagram.com/frunkpellegrino
GEORGE COLLINS Pop/Rock
JASON HERNDON Country
KILO TANGO Dream Pop
instagram@bigeyesparker
devongilfillian.com
georgecollinsguitar.com
jasonherndonmusic.com
kilotango.bandcamp.com
beckpete.com
Pumpkintown, SC
Nashville, TN
Nashville, TN
Nashville, TN
Los Angeles, CA
BILL GRISOLIA BAND DOWN NORTH Blues/R&B/Rock Psych-infused Punk-Soul
GOOD RZN Alternative Pop
JB ELWOOD Alternative/Pop-Rock
KINGQUEEN Pop Rock
billgrisolia.com
goodrzn.live
instagram.com/jbelwoodmusic
kingqueenmusic.com
Long Beach, CA
32 December 2023
Seattle, WA
downnorthband.com
musicconnection.com
Los Angeles, CA
Austin, TX
Los Angeles, CA
MUSIC CONNECTION’S ANNUAL LIST OF UNSIGNED LIVE PERFORMERS puts the spotlight on individuals and bands who delivered unique excitement, expert musicianship and intriguing songcraft to stages during the past year. In addition to MC staffers and freelance writers, the contributors to this list include producers, club bookers, music attorneys, managers, agents and other industry professionals. Currently, MC has reviewers in Los Angeles, New York, Detroit, Seattle, and Nashville. Livestreams are also part of our offerings. So, to be considered for an aways-free live review, go to musicconnection.com/reviews/get-reviewed.
KING YOUNGBLOOD Hard-edged Emo Rock
MICO Indie-Pop
REBECCA SICHON R&B
STORMHOUSE Punk
instagram.com/micotoronto
rebeccasichon.com
storm-house.bandcamp.com
kingyoungblood.com
MOLLY HANMER & THE MIDNIGHT TOKERS Americana Rock Blues
Seattle, WA
LATASHA LEE Soul, R&B Austin, TX
instagram.com/latashaleesing
LAW R&B/Pop
Clifton, NJ
instagram.com/lawandmusic
LEE VILENSKY TRIO Instro Spy/Soul San Francisco, CA leevilensky.com
LILY LANE Retro
Dark Pop Soul Los Angeles, CA
instagram.com/lilylane
LOS PONCHO TONES Greasy Tumbleweed
Toronto, Canada
Los Angeles, CA
mollyhanmer.com
MORE FATTER Rock, Pop
Los Angeles, CA morefatter.band
NIIS Punk
Los Angeles, CA
niisla.bandcamp.com
PAR AVION Instrumental Music Ever Evolving Los Angeles, CA
vivaparavion.com
Vancouver, Canada
SUGARMILL SLIM Blues/Punk
rosslivermore.com
sugarmillslim.com
Nashville, TN
RYAN KINDER Country Nashville, TN
ryankinder.com
SABRINA SONG Ethereal, Multi-faceted Singer-Songwriter New York, NY
sabrinasongmusic.com
SANTA SALUT Hip-Hop Barcelona, Spain
instagram.com/santa.salut
SCHIZOPHONICS Rock San Diego, CA
schizophonics.com
SEAN C. KENNEDY Folk/Country/Pop Rock
MALAYNAH R&B
SETH GLIER Americana/Folk
Los Angeles, CA
instagram.com/malaynah
MARCUS MACKEY Pop Los Angeles, CA
marcusmackey.com
MC ABDUL Rap/Hip-Hop Palestine
music.empi.re/thepensthesword
MICHAEL ISAAK Indie Folk / Indie Pop Princeton, NJ
michaelisaak.us
Los Angeles, CA
instagram.com/photographic_ memory
PHALASEE Rap/Hip-Hop, Los Angeles, CA
instagram.com/phalasee
RACHAEL SAGE Americana Alt-Pop Folk New York, NY
rachaelsage.com
RANDI DRISCOLL Piano Driven/Singer-
Songwriter/Americana/Pop Nashville, TN randidriscoll.com
Los Angeles, CA
ROSS LIVERMORE Soul/Rock
PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY facebook.com/p/Los PonchoTones Emo, Hyperpop, Shoegaze (Instrumental) High Desert, CA
THE SWORDS OF FATIMA
Nashville, TN
seanckennedy.com
Shelburne Falls, MA sethglier.com
SHAYLEN Country Nashville, TN
instagram.com/shaylenofficial
SOLAR EYES Stoner Rock Los Angeles, CA
solareyes.bandcamp.com
STEVIE BILL Pop
NY, NY/Amsterdam steviebill.com
Los Angeles, CA
Femme-fronted Exotic Tibetan Spy Punk Los Angeles, CA theswordsoffatima.com
THE TRABANTS
Instrumental Garage of the Future Portland, OR
TERRY ILOUS &Flamenco THE VAGABONDS trabantsmusic.com Los Angeles, CA THE WORLD terryilous.com RECORD Power Pop THE ANDY Los Angeles, CA VIMAR BAND theworldrecord.bandcamp.com Blues Los Angeles, CA
instagram.com/andy_vimar
THE DIRTY SHIRTS Rock Austin, TX
thedirtyshirtsus.com
THE NOBLE PRIX Modern Garage Rock Burbank, CA
instagram.com/thenobleprix
THE OTHER DYLAN THOMAS Americana Blues Roots N. Hollywood, CA
instagram.com/theother dylanthomas
THE SIXTH CHAMBER Gothic Doom Rock Los Angeles, CA
thesixthchamber.com
THE RIES BROTHERS
Alternative Rock/Indie Rock Tampa, FL riesbrothers.com
TIERRA LEGACY Latin/Rock/R&B Los Angeles, CA tierralegacy.band
TRANSVIOLET Indie Pop Los Angeles, CA
instagram.com/transviolet
VELVET CHAINS Hard Rock Las Vegas, NV
velvetchains.com
VICTORIA WILLIAMS JOSHUA TRIO Improvised Ambient Joshua Tree, CA
THE STOLEN MOANS Female-fronted Avant-
victoriawilliams-joshuatrio .bandcamp.com
stolenmoans.com
linktr.ee/yagoboss
Punk Trio Los Angeles, CA
YAGO BOSS EDM Lima, Peru
December 2023
musicconnection.com 33
SONG BIZ Performing Songwriter Workshops
Registration is now open for 2024’s lineup of Performing Songwriter Creative Workshops. All workshops take place in Nashville and are limited to small groups to maximize learning. Guests and topics include: Gretchen Peters: “Songwriting from the Inside Out”—Jan. 3-6; Mary Gauthier: “Finding Your Writer’s Voice”—Feb. 14-17; Jonatha Brooke: “Discovering New Paths Into Songs”—March 27-30; Beth Nielsen Chapman: “Full Vocal Presence”— April 24-27; and Verlon Thompson: “The Art, Craft & Presentation of Your Song”—Aug. 18-21. Details at: performingsongwriter. com/creative-workshops
Durango At The Beach
DECCA/VERVE SIGNS RAKEI
Writer-producer-vocalist Jordan Rakei has signed for global recording with Decca/ Verve Forecast (U.S.), releasing Flowers. Now with four studio albums, he first worked with Decca reimagining Donald Byrd’s Wind Parade (2020). Rakei will headline the Royal Albert Hall in October 2024.
MAVI TO WARNER
‘80s analog sync Turkish band Mavi (founded by Mavi Solman with Arda— drums, Denizcan—bass, Ou—guitar) has signed a worldwide recording deal with Warner Music. First label single, “Sen Ve Yıldız,” is out now (English version to follow). The band is recording now in London, with three more singles out soon.
The Durango Songwriters EXPO returns Feb. 8-10 to Ventura, CA. With insights from industry experts, songwriter showcases, feedback sessions, one-on-one consultations, and next-level networking, Durango is the conference to attend for all songwriters at every level. Registration is open now. Details at: durango-songwriters-expo.com
BMI Honors Berg
The 71st annual BMI Country Awards brought a special presentation for Matraca Berg,
SoundExchange has awarded Latin singer-songwriter Prince Royce with their Hall of Fame Award. With 22 No. 1's, over 70 awards, and every album reaching multiplatinum, he has expanded the reach of Latin music. Pictured (l-r): SoundExchange CEO/President Michael Huppe, Prince Royce. 34 December 2023
musicconnection.com
Royalty Payment Disparity
Music royalty payouts for recording are doing better than musical composition payouts, due to inaccurate or incomplete data on compositions. While accounting technology is helping, the tools are not fixing the issue on a broader scale. In a recent webinar, royalty experts Jeff Price (CEO/cofounder of Word Collections, original cofounder of Tunecore) and Jack Cyphers (CEO/founder of BorderFox) discussed existing payment processing technology. According to the duo, “the data of sound recordings is usually accurate 70 percent of the time, whereas musical composition payouts are closer to 30 percent. You’ve got the system and the tech.” More at: bit.ly/3MlzLSE
JEN Adds Caren & AI Research
LARUE TEACHES GRACE
PRINCE ROYCE HALL OF FAME
as she was honored with 2023’s BMI Icon Award. In a career spanning almost 40 years, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee wrote her first hit, “Faking Love,” in 1983 and was the first woman to have five No. 1’s in a single year. With 11 Millionaire and 6 multiple Millionaire Awards, for songs including “XXX’s and OOO’s,” “Wild Angels,” and “I’m That Kind of Girl,” top hits include Deana Carter’s “Strawberry Wine” and “We Danced Anyway,” and Martina McBride’s “Wild Angels.” The groundbreaking songwriter joins alumni including Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, Kris Kristofferson, and Hank Williams, Jr.
GRAMMY Award-winning singer (The 5th Dimension) Florence LaRue shares insights on growing gracefully with style, beauty, fitness, diet, and mindset with “Grace In Your Second Act.” Vibrant and successful at 81, LaRue shares from her 58 years in music. See: amzn.to/40hHXsM
Mike Caren (Founder/CEO of record label and publishing company, Artist Partner Group) has joined Music AI Venture JEN (from Futureverse) as founding partner, alongside Shara Senderoff (Futureverse Co-Founder), Aaron McDonald (Futureverse Co-Founder) and Dr. Alex Wang (Futureverse Head of AI). Caren brings decades of experience from his time with Warner Music Group, Elektra Records, and Atlantic Records and has written/produced with Beyoncé, Kanye West, Bruno Mars, and others. JEN intends to collaborate with artists, producers, and creators. Initial research showcased the advancement of music AI and introduced JEN-1, the first of an unprecedented high-fidelity model of text-to-music generation. More at: futureverse.com
– ANDREA BEENHAM
Perkins’ Retreats and Critiques
The Brett Perkins Songwriting Retreats are gearing up for another year. Registration is open now for California and Denmark (see: listeningroomretreats.com/currentretreats), with more locations opening soon. Online song consultations for song critique and development are also available with Alan Roy Scott. With a career spanning multiple decades, Scott has recorded over 200 songs across genres with artists including Celine Dion, Notorious B.I.G., Cyndi Lauper, Patti LaBelle, Gloria Estefan, Journey, Ricky Martin, Luther Vandross, The Neville Brothers, Cher, and Ray Charles, as well as television and film credits (including Top Gun, Fame, Coming to America, First Wives Club, and Beverly Hills 90210). Referrals through the Listening Room receive special rates. See: lrconsulting.mono.net
Iconic Nash
Iconic Artists Group (launched by Irving Azoff) has acquired the music rights to the catalog of legendary musician Graham Nash. With work including his time with the Hollies, as well as with Crosby, Stills & Nash, and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, the deal with the GRAMMY winner and Rock and Roll and Songwriters Hall of Fame (x2) inductee covers solo work and all three groups. Songs include The Hollies “Stop Stop Stop,” “On A Carousel,” and more. Work with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young works include “Marrakesh Express,” “PreRoad Downs,” “Lady of the Island,” “Teach Your Children,” and “Our House.” Solo work includes albums Songs For Beginners, Wild Tales, and Now (from 2023).
future show at Almost Famous Wine Company, as well as sponsor giveaways.
Milestones At MIME & 4U
Made in Memphis Entertainment (MIME) CEO David Porter has been honored by Belmont University in Nashville as part of an exhibit recognizing Tennessee songwriters. Highlighting the 2005 Songwriters Hall of Fame Award David Porter received with Isaac Hayes, along with handwritten lyrics from multiple Hall of Fame songwriters, students in Belmont’s songwriter program will soon be studying materials from the exhibit. MIME’s state-of-the art 4U Recording Atlanta studio has also been nominated for the Best of Georgia Awards in the Movie and Recording Studios Category. MIME also cheers MIME Publishing songwriter-producer Real Red and 4U Recording Memphis studio engineer Kyle Javello for work with GloRilla, Moneybagg Yo, and others. Javello engineered track “F.N.F. (Let’s Go)” from Hittkidd & GloRilla, received RIAA Gold and Platinum certification plaques for sales of 500,000 and 1 million. ANDREA BEENHAM (aka Drea Jo) is a freelance writer and marketing consultant based in Southern California. The South-African born, Canadianraised California transplant has a passion for music, people and fun. She can be reached at drea@dreajo.com
WASSERMAN’S CENTRAL CEE
Record-breaking British rapper Central Cee has signed for worldwide representation with Wasserman Music, following a joint venture with Columbia Records and Sony Music U.K. Wild West entered at No. 2 on U.K. charts, stayed in the Top 100 for over 40 weeks, and was 2021’s best British debut.
ASCAP CEO WARRIOR
ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews was recently awarded 2023’s SONA Warrior Award for her tireless creator advocacy. Tributes included MoZella, Stephen Schwartz, Ne-Yo, Marcus Miller, Desmond Child, John Platt, Ashley Gorley, and more. Pictured (l-r): Jimmy Jam, MoZella, Elizabeth Matthews, Terry Lewis.
West Coast Showcase
Looking for an opportunity to showcase your music? Join the West Coast Songwriter (WCS) for their winter showcase at Almost Famous Wine Lounge on Sunday, Feb. 25. Deadline for submissions is Monday, Dec. 4 at midnight. Featuring selected performers chosen by a panel of distinguished judges, submissions are open to members and the public. Select three original songs and apply at westcoastsongwriters.org/ showcase. Selected performers receive a WCS Performance Certificate and a one-year membership to West Coast Songwriters. Winners secure a spot as an opener for a
BIG LOUD BIZZY
Big Loud Rock (alt/rock imprint of Big Loud Records and home to HARDY, etc.) has signed alt-pop songstress BIZZY. After wrapping her FRENSHIP support tour, “I Don’t Get Breakups” is out now, after “My Age,” “Out Loud,” and “I’d Never Tell You.” Her TikTok debut, “Anybody,” hit 10 million streams.
50TH ANNIVERSARY OF WAR
Celebrating 50 years since 1973’s The World is a Ghetto, The GRAMMY Museum hosted a Q&A between WAR founder Lonnie Jordan, producer xx, and EXTRA’s Adam Weissler, before the band’s performance. Collector’s Edition box set is out now. Pictured (l-r): Jeremy Levine, Lonnie Jordan, Jimmy Jam. December 2023
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also taking my time. It’s just enough to understand when I’m going to get the . . . lessons he’s learned as a best take from myself. There’s also the musician and producer – ANDREAare: BEENHAM challenge of having the patience not to push [an idea] on someone. Let the • The three most important lessons he’s music make that decision. That’s what’s learned as a musician and producer are: best for the song.” • Don’t over-prepare. I’ve done it many When Ctrl dropped in 2017, a times and then had to pivot. number of opportunities materialized orn in Chattanooga, TN and raised in Dallas, TX, singing in church for Lang including a publishing deal • Practice your instrument and school choirs, Shaylen (born Shaylen Carroll) seemedbetween destined with Warner Chappell Music. Recently sessions and record you do. for a career in country music. Instead, an audition for aeverything Christian that deal was renewed. “I didn’t have pop group launched a 10-year career in pop• Dig (that included contracts with back and see if you have any interest a manager then and I wanted to be Cash Money, CAA and Universal Music). A move to Nashville on the heels in the music of the past. Having that careful,” Lang recalls. “I needed to of being released from her label, Shaylen’s sound has pivoted back to her genre library in your head gives you the develop my team first. I learned in country roots, and she has never felt more authentically herself. edge of recognition. school and from Chance not to give With vocal, piano, and guitar lessons from an early age, and filming The away my publishing. By entering into Wannabes television show from age 14 (as a member of the pop group the contract, I learned the importance Savvy), Shaylen moved to Los Angeles at 18 to grow her career. Unfulfilled of having some skin in the game and that publishing is a way that by the music being released, 2020’s lockdown brought an opportunity to music gets monetized. I’m also developing new ventures along with reevaluate her unfolding career, and a trip to Nashville to write for other my manager David Waltzer. We met at a session in 2017. At the time, I artists brought clarity. Co-penning debut country single, “What If I Don’t,” needed to link with someone who’d be down in the field with me more Shaylen left the studio sobbing, recognizing that she was finally singing than I needed a publishing deal.” and writing the way she wanted to. “It's funny when you step out and let go Essentially, there are three key moments in a song’s creation lifecycle: of ego,” shares Shaylen. “I came here for other people, and found myself.” the beginning, when it assumes a life of its own and then, of course, Returning to Los Angeles, she asked her label about switching genre, completion. How do artists know when a song has merit and is beginning but ended up being released from her contract. Without a label or to work? “When it comes naturally, artists start to get excited and words management, she moved to Nashville to start over independently. seem to come out of nowhere,” the producer observes. “You want to grab “Your big breaks are at the most detrimental, uncomfortable moments onto it like it’s a flow state. When a song’s finished, all the parts that are of your life,” says Shaylen. “Record deals there are the best version of that thing. When I listen to something and have been awesome, but I think the most know that it’s beautiful the way that it is, I know that it’s done.” uncomfortable moments—making the All artists and engineers have favorite pieces of gear and their choice you are terrified to make—level preferences are as varied as the songs that they create. “My gear is always you up. You do it and create the next shifting and changing,” Lang explains. “But right now I love to experiment stepping stone for your path. Those are with the most primitive aspects of tone on the Serge synthesizer. It allows monumental. The stepping stone is just me to get in touch with a new side of music. I also love my [Yamaha] CSevolving as a person.” 60, which finds its way into a lot of tracks because it’s a warm, organicHer experience with cadence, melody, sounding synth. There’s also the MPC 1000, which I’ve used for years.” and writing in Los Angeles helped to open doors in Nashville. Refraining doing @iam_c_lang; Contactfrom Instagram: research on people before sessionsSamantha.Brensilber@ledecompany.com helped Kristin.Somin@ledecompany.com, Shaylen navigate Nashville less fearfully while pitching songs for writing rooms. Powerhouse trio Seth Ennis, Phil Barton, and Lindsay Rimes formed her first session. “I didn’t realize who I was in the room with,” Shaylen admits. After writing “What If I Don’t,” she knew it was big (it reached 10/16/23 3:53 PM over 2.2 million streams in two months). Looking back, she had been writing country melodies all along. “I got more support than any days doing pop,” she says. “This is what I’m supposed to be doing.” Follow-up singles, “Roots” and “Do It Right The First Time” followed, each garnering over 500,000 DSP streams in month one. “Other genres have become such a character-based thing,” says Shaylen. “It’s about the clip you post on TikTok that you hope becomes a trend. Country music… I love it. It’s just about the damn song. I respect everybody in pop that’s killing it. You have cracked a code that is hard. I fell out of love with it, but the knowledge I gained from writing pop? I wouldn’t trade it for the world.” Reframing the loss of major label validation, Shaylen says she now gets to choose how things look. Inspired by people in coffee shops, long drives, and Pinterest quotes, her music is all about building chords, confessing, “I’m a big melody girl. The lyrics come later.” A tattooed reminder on her hand about temporary feelings helps her navigate the conflicting ups and downs of being an artist. “I remind myself that maybe it’s not right now, but it has to be out in the world,” she says of her art. Referencing Kate Bush’s success with “Running Up That Hill,” she adds, “It doesn’t mean it’s not going to work one day.” Shaylen says her new management is incredible. “My work ethic has never changed, but it’s like a vintage car,” she says. “somebody sees trash, [but] somebody [else] thinks it‘s the coolest thing. Sometimes you have to put yourself in a different setting with different people to realize you’re valued.” Latest single, “Cowboys Never Cry” is out now. Additional tour dates and an upcoming full-length album follow shows in San Diego, Tucson, and Las Vegas.
SONGWRITER PROFILE
Shaylen: Return To Her Roots
B
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Contact Taran Smith - Milestone Publicity, tsmith@milestonepublicity.com; Experience Shaylen: instagram.com/shaylenofficial
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FILM•TV•THEATER•GAMES
DROPS
Grammy-winning composer Lorne Balfe has released the albums tied to the Netflix original series, Life on Our Planet. The soundtrack features grand motifs to accompany the stunning nature docuseries with themes including dinosaurs and ocean life. In partnership with Industrial Light & Magic, the series “uses the latest technology and science to bring long-extinct creatures back to life.” Life on Our Planet is narrated by Morgan Freeman and executive produced by Steven Spielberg. The soundtrack albums were recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra and The Royal National Orchestra and featured Anna Lapwood on the organ. For further details, contact Chandler Poling at chandler@ whitebearpr.com.
TANYA TUCKER
After a long production hiatus, Live from Daryl’s House returned in November on Hall’s dedicated YouTube channel, with a brandnew season of six shows, one a week, through the end of the year, starting with Squeeze singer-songwriter Glenn Tilbrook, including Atlanta psychedelic jam band Blackberry Smoke singer-guitarist Charlie Starr; King Crimson guitarist and Daryl Hall solo album producer Robert Fripp; singer-songwriters Andy Grammer, Lisa Loeb and U.K. synthpop pioneer Howard Jones.
are authentic to the 1920s Oklahoma setting. Robertson spent much of his childhood on the Six Nations Reserve as part of his mother’s Mohawk community, and for the film, he studied the music of the Osage Nation and researched popular 1920s music. Contact Marygrace Oglesby at marygrace@costacomm.com.
“I’m unbelievably excited about the new season,” says Hall, who paid for the initial shows out of his own pocket before finding both sponsors and distributors, including the Tribune Company for broadcast TV, MTV’s Palladia (later MTV Live) for cable, and AXS-TV through the years, executive-producing the series via his Good Cop Bad Cop Productions with longtime manager Jonathan Wolfson. “I love all the guests and I think we’ve gone to places, musically, that we’ve never gone to before,” says Hall. For more, contact felix@ wolfsonent.com
Co-composers Antonio Naranjo and Meiro Stamm collaborated on Build-A-Bear Entertainment and Foundation Media Partners’ animated holiday feature Glisten and the Merry Mission, which released in theaters on Nov. 3. The holiday film (featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, Dionne Warwick, Chevy Chase and Freddy Prinze Jr., among others, as voice actors) was scored by the Canadian Screen Award-winning Naranjo, who has worked on projects including Detention Adventure and Mittens & Pants, as well as Stamm, who has 20 years of experience in scoring film, television and stage productions. Contact kate.twilley@ impact24pr.com for more information.
Sony Music Masterworks has released Killers of the Flower Moon (Soundtrack from the Apple Original Film), with music by the renowned and late guitarist and composer Robbie Robertson featured in Martin Scorsese’s new western crime drama based on true events. In addition to the original score, the release features six additional tracks heard within the film that
Film, TV and video game composer Stefan L. Smith scored the animated feature Batman: The Doom that Came to Gotham, which is now available in digital and physical formats and is a nominee at the upcoming Grammy Awards. In addition to being one of
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the first Black composers to work on a Batman film, Smith has also scored 20 episodic shorts and composed 20 original songs for Super Why’s Comic Book Adventures, a series of 2D animated shorts to help expand the literacy skills of preschool and kindergarten children. He won the 2022 HMMA Award for Best Score in an Animated Short Film and the 2021 ASCAP David Rose Award for Film Scoring. Contact kate.twilley@impact24pr.com.
OPPS
You can apply to perform or otherwise participate at the annual Super MAGFest, which will take place Jan. 18-21, 2024 in National Harbor, MD. The event celebrates video game music, art and culture and supports game developers, composers and others within the industry. Learn more and find deadlines and more information for participating and showcasing your work at super.magfest.org. The Berlin International Film Scoring Competition offers emerging composers a chance to showcase their work and win awards. Jan. 15, 2024 is the deadline to submit your work, with winners announced March 1. For more information and to submit your composition, visit bifsc.org.
– JESSICA PACE j.marie.pace@gmail.com Submissions will be accepted for the 2024 Submissions for the 2024 Contemporary Dance Choreography Festival until Jan. 31, 2024 to perform at the event on July 27. Selected dancers will be notified by Feb. 28. Learn more at cdcfest.com/submit-your-work.
for scoring the acclaimed film Life is Beautiful—also each received a Lifetime Achievement Award this year, while Volker Bertelmann won the Film Composer of the Year Award. For a complete list of winners, visit worldsoundtrackawards.com.
PROPS
The Game Awards, which hit 103 million live streams last year, annually recognizes the best in the video game industry, including the best score, original song and/or licensed soundtrack; best audio design; and more. This year’s awards will be held Dec. 7 and streamed live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. See a list of this year’s nominees and vote for your favorite at thegameawards. com/nominees/bestscore-and-music.
Now in their 16th year of graduating industry leaders, the Nashville Film Institute, flagged as a “top 25 film school” has recently added several new faculty members. Industry Pioneer and Clio Award winning Director Billy Rainey, who directed MTV’s The Real World and who executive produced and directed PUNK’D with Ashton Kutcher, has joined the 2023 NFI faculty. Also new to the NFI faculty is super-indie Director and Producer Scott W. McKinlay (Creep Van, GAG, BOIL, Ram Trucks) and former Program Director, Los Angeles Film School and former Department Chair at Full Sail University, Robert Perry. Get more info about the Nashville Film Institute at nfi.edu and follow NFI on Instagram. The inaugural CMT SMASHING GLASS: A Celebration of the Groundbreaking Women of Music, debuted in November to celebrate the women in music who broke records, defied stereotypes and blazed trails for other female artists. CMT honored the careers of musical BILLY RAINEY legends Patti LaBelle and Tanya Tucker, who have appeared in films and television as well as been credited with helping to pave the way for fellow women in music. Through once-in-a-lifetime performances and documentary storytelling, the program featured performances by the two honorees as well as tributes by artists they inspired. Contact cmtcommunications@cmt.com for further details. Simon Franglen received the Discovery of the Year Award at the 23rd Annual World Soundtrack Awards, which took place Oct. 19-21 this year. The award celebrates the best emerging talent in film music. Veteran composers Laurence Rosenthal—whose career spans more than six decades of composing for film, television and theater— and Nicola Piovani—perhaps best known
It has been announced that the 14th Annual Guild of Music Supervisors Awards will return to the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles on March 3, 2024 to celebrate the best in the music supervision industry, which brings music to the screen through film, television, video games, advertising and trailers. Learn more about the upcoming ceremony, categories and past winners at gmsawards.com and contact Chandler Poling at chandler@whitebearpr.com. CBS will present Willie Nelson's 90th Birthday Celebration, a concert special honoring the legendary career of music icon Willie Nelson, Sunday, Dec. 17 (8:30-10:30 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on demand for Paramount+). The star-studded special, recorded live earlier this year across two nights before a sold-out crowd at the legendary Hollywood Bowl, celebrates Nelson’s milestone 90th birthday and the 12time GRAMMY® Award-winner’s contributions to popular culture and music. JESSICA PACE is a music journalist-turnednews-reporter based in Durango, CO. She is from Nashville, where she started a writing career by freelancing for publications including American Songwriter and Music Connection. Contact her at j.marie.pace@gmail.com.
OUT TAKE
Eric Foster White
Musician/Producer/Screenwriter Web: linkedin.com/in/ericfosterwhite Contact: Mike Jones, mjones@shorefire.com Most Recent: MusicClubKids Eric Foster White credits his alma mater, the University of Miami, for drastically raising the bar for his musical standards and setting him on the path to becoming the Grammy-nominated songwriter, producer, musician and screenwriter he is today. A trombone player who once toured with Frank Sinatra, Foster White traded the horn for a career in producing and songwriting after his demo recordings led to a contract with Jive Records. He then went on to write several hit records for the likes of Whitney Houston, Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys. These days, White is working on MusicClubKids!, a YouTube musical show for kids in which White—with the permission of the original artists and songwriters—has transformed some of the day’s biggest pop hits into kid-friendly songs and narratives. The idea sprang from a car ride with his three-year-old niece. “Ed Sheeran’s ‘Shape of You’ came on the radio, her mom clicked it off because of the lyrics, and my niece was perturbed, because she loves that song,” he says. On the spot, White came up with the idea for the more age-appropriate “I’m in Love with My Doggy”—an adaptation of Sheeran’s song. “It’s like Weird Al-meets-KIDZ BOP,” White says. “And we don’t want to denigrate the original artists’ songs; the idea is just to introduce these pop songs to the next generation.” MusicClubKids! has just released a holiday album, which adapts OneRepublic’s “Runaway” to the new “Holidays,” and Ed Sheeran’s “Bad Habits” into “Ask Santa.” White says that industry opportunities are actually better for aspiring songwriters today. “Music is less a monoculture; there are more niche markets and niche styles,” he says. “It’s still competitive, but now there are lots of other artists, maybe of lesser stature, that you can start out writing for."
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MIXED NOTES RAYE AT 9:30
After a summer of festival dates and supporting SZA on her sold-out S.O.S. Tour across Europe and the U.K., Raye is headlining her My 21st Century Blues World Tour. The south London-native is pictured at tour opener at the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C.
EVERCLEAR SOCAL SOUND
Everclear frontman Art Alexakis visits with SoCal Sound 88.5FM’s Nic Harcourt to talk about all things Everclear, including their latest U.S. headlining tour as well as their new Live at The Whisky a Go Go album, out now on Sunset Blvd Records.
EMINEM IN ARABIA
At the Battle of The Baddest main event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, boxer Francis Ngannou won against Tyson Fury. Eminem, who performed, is pictured in attendance.
BTO IS BACK
For 25 years, Randy Bachman didn't have the rights to the name Bachman-Turner Overdrive or BTO. But he does now and they are on the road. Mike Gormley and David Forman were at Mercury Records when BTO broke wide open. The three of them got together at L.A.'s YouTube Theater when BTO recently came to town. 40 December 2023
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– JOSEPH MALTESE josephm@musicconnection.com
Tidbits From Our Tattered Past
2000–DJ Quik–#12
WU TANG FOREVER
Pictured (l-r): Inspectah Deck, XX and GZA of Wu-Tang Clan perform onstage during their NY State of Mind Tour—coheadlining with Nas—at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN.
In this vintage issue of MC, DJ Quik made one thing clear: “I never wanted to be mainstream. I ain’t mainstream material. Underground people should stay underground when they’re real.” The issue also features an interview with legendary producer Jack Douglas and former Talking Head turned producer Jerry Harrison, who said, “I don’t want to be known for just one kind of thing. Not only because I could go out of fashion, but because I don’t want to get bored.”
HALLE’S ANGELS
Halle Bailey recently announced the recipients of the “Angel Scholarship” and awarded a $10,000 scholarship to each to be used toward furthering their respective education in the arts. The selected students include: Aliyah D. Walker of Memphis, TN, Crystal Ike of Houston, TX, Melodee Pouponneau of Brooklyn, NY and Phyllise Tolliver of Atlanta, GA.
AVETT BROTHERS
The Avett Brothers played to a full house at Vina Robles Amphitheatre in SoCal. Pictured (l-r): Paul Leatherman (Vina Robles Amphitheatre), Mike Marsh, Scott Avett, Bob Crawford, Tania Elizabeth, Bonnie Avett-Rini, Cindy Huang (Nederlander Concerts), Joe Kwon, Seth Avett.
2013–Fall Out Boy–#5 Our cover story interview with Fall Out Boy yielded this invitation from Pete Wentz: “If you see me, hand me a demo. I listen to all that stuff. That’s how Fall Out Boy tried to get found, and that’s how we found Panic At The Disco.” The issue also features a revealing Signing Story on country band Paramalee: “We were out there for 10 years before we got signed.”
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eadlining coast-to-coast shows with her Joy’All Ball, joining the Beck and Phoenix Summer Odyssey tour, and in performances from Madison Square Garden to The Hollywood Bowl as a member of The Postal Service on their historic 20th anniversary tour with Death Cab for Cutie: With the release of her fifth solo record, Joy’All, Jenny Lewis is undeniably high-profile. From a show business family, Lewis successfully survived her extensive childhood acting career to first emerge musically with Rilo Kiley, a band whose pensive songs became touchstones for a coming-of-age generation in the new millennium. Her solo debut Rabbit Fur Coat (with The Watson Twins) cast her as a sympathetic chanteuse cloaked in vintage fashion, imbued with quirky, approachable cool. As the title might indicate, the Blue Note/ Capitol release, Joy’All, helmed by Nashville producer Dave Cobb, is charmingly upbeat, in contrast to the paradoxical asides, existential truths, and new chapters of hardwon wisdom that are revealed within.
much limited to within these relationships. I never have done co-writes with any other writers in Nashville, or artists. For me, the most important thing has been finding my autonomy as an artist in the world, and honing in on my true voice. On this record, I really wanted it to be conversational. And going into the studio with Dave Cobb, talking about what we were going to make, I made it very clear to him that I wanted the vocals and the stories to be very present, as if we are having a conversation throughout the record. MC: Joy’All is so mellifluous, so when lyrics come in that are edgier, deeper, and darker, it’s an interesting contrast. There is a lot of air in the sound of the record, enhancing the vocal clarity. JL: It’s very sparse. We cut it live on the floor at RCA Studio A in Nashville. It is just incredible to be in that building, and we cut it to tape. Dave is a big fan of miking the drums Beatles’ style,
MC: You are featured on a new segment of the television show, Austin City Limits. It is so interesting how the songs from the latest record translate in a live context. “Love Feel,” for example, is a barnburner. JL: Austin City Limits is so cool, because you get to do your full show, 70 minutes, or whatever you’re playing on the road, and then you get to pick the songs for the edited segment. But they make you pick the songs as soon as you walk off of the stage. So, you’ve just done this incredible thing with multiple cameras and a live audience, and then they say, “Okay—pick the songs now.” So, in keeping with the album cycle, obviously the new ones are the most exciting, but that was my third performance on ACL, so I had to remember what I had played in 2014, and with Rilo Kiley. So, it’s kind of a stressful situation. MC: You write by yourself, correct? JL: I do. I have, in my career, also written with my boyfriends, who I have happened to be in bands with. My co-writing has been pretty
MC: You are certainly candid in sharing what seem to be autobiographical elements in your songs. JL: I am creating a story. There is a twist in Rilo Kiley’s “Does He Love You.” That’s not a true story, but there are elements within the story that ring true. That song was inspired by “Escape (The Piña Colada Song)” by Rupert Holmes. I wanted to write something with a twist in the last verse. Real life is interesting. I have had such an interesting 47 years on the planet: growing up in a musical family in Hollywood, in the Valley, a ton of family stuff went on, so it’s always been right there for me to channel and write about. I’m just trying to get it down on the page, because it keeps happening. It’s wild stuff! MC: Having grown up in a show business family, one of the lessons you probably learned early was it is not all glamor and glitz. JL: In my family we were working class musicians, three generations of vaudeville performers, dancers, musicians; Las Vegas and Alaska lounge performers. My dad was in prison for a couple of years. He taught guitar to some of the guys up there. Music is the through-line in good times, prosperous times, and in tragic times. It’s always the music that has kept us together, and luckily I am a songwriter—the first songwriter in my family. So, I’ve been able to carve out a little spot for myself, because I am creating the material. But I come from covers, because my whole family would do them. And they were so good. But they didn’t write for some reason. That’s what differentiates me from the rest of my crew.
Music Connection: Greetings, Jenny. It certainly seems as if there is a huge upswing in your media visibility at this moment. Jenny Lewis: I think it’s just all happening at once. I’ve been in The Postal Service for 20 plus years. I’ve been doing my own music since 2006, and then I’ve been in a bunch of side projects. So, I’m always doing a couple of things at once, but the culmination of this 20year anniversary tour with my album release so close by is definitely a lot. I hope people aren’t going to get sick of me—because I’m sick of myself! MC: When do you sleep? JL: I sleep on a tour bus in the fetal position, with earplugs, a sleeping mask, and a night guard. It’s very cute.
but it’s in there. So you are feeling that tremolo, but it’s more in the mix now. I’m a big Nuggets (historic ‘60s garage bands) fan. I love all that. I would love to make a record one day that is as rough sounding as some of those recordings.
and it was a very small band. After we cut it live, Dave wanted me to play all of the keys, and all of the other additional parts. So, he would hum something, and I would play it on the piano, or the Mellotron, which we used quite a bit. I think he wanted to keep it true to the demos that I had cut at home in Nashville on my iPhone, because I don’t have a computer, so I do everything in Garage Band. And then when we mixed the record I thought, “This is a Nashville record, I’d love to have some pedal steel, and some extra bits, frequencywise.” So, we had Greg Leisz play pedal steel on a handful of songs, and then added Jon Brion, who shares a space with Greg Koller who mixed the record. I got to be in the studio with Jon as he was listening to the songs and finding those moments, like on “Apples & Oranges,” it’s a B-bender guitar. MC: “Apples & Oranges” reminds us of Tommy James and the Shondells. JL: Oh wow, you picked up on that! We had a “Crimson and Clover” tremolo on pretty much the entire track. Initially, we went overboard,
MC: The process of writing the songs for Joy’All came from an online songwriting workshop. Tell us about it. JL: Part of the record was written during a songwriting workshop that Beck put together in 2021 during the pandemic, while we were still at home. I had about half of the songs for the record already written. The workshop included a very eclectic and awesome group of people. Adam Green (Moldy Peaches), Sean Lennon, and Devendra Banhart who was there in the beginning. We would have prompts: write a song with 1-4-5 changes; write a song of all clichés—which is “Love Feel.” The prompts would come, and we would write and record and send the song to the group a day at a time. It’s not something that I had ever done before. I write from this magical channeling zone. You don’t know where it comes from, and then a year later you are like, “Oh, that’s what that song is about.” Writing with prompts, you will never run out of things to write about. MC: Songwriters will talk about sometimes channeling lyrics and melodies that seem preexistent. JL: There are different ways to it. Some people
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sit down every day to write. I imagine Ben Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie, The Postal Service) is very regimented with his schedule in writing. I’m writing every day, but it’s a little more freeform; not sitting down, but I’m out in the world where something will occur to me, and I’ll grab my voice notes, and go back home and figure it out on piano or guitar. MC: Do these fragments then become the centers of songs? JL: For the most part, a feeling or an idea, or I will be jamming in my music room. I have this drum machine that J.J. Cale used on his records, so I might hit that, and I’ll have my guitar or bass, pick a key, and then something will come out of that. I will typically carve it into existence over a period of time. But sometimes songs arrive fully formed like “Just One of the Guys,” from The Voyager. That one just arrived, and I don’t know how it happened. Then the homework comes. I am always editing up until I record the song. And I’ll record it on my phone and work on the lyrics as I’m overdubbing
drums, bass, and keys. I will do everything, and the lyrics come out of the production, as I’m figuring it out. Once I am going in the studio I will continue to edit the lyrics until the day of— moment of, occasionally. MC: We think of the meaning of words versus the sound of words. We like the use of the word “ruminate,” in the line from “A Puppy and a Truck” that says “…Time to ruminate/What the fuck was that?” JL: (Laughs) If there is a word for the pandemic, it would probably be “ruminate.” I spent March to October 2020 at my house in California, until I took a flight to Nashville that fall. I took it very seriously, and in some ways it was very good for me. I was totally alone. I had nothing on the books for the first time since I was a kid. When you are a performer, there is always this underlying anxiety. If you have a show coming up, it’s just part of the gig. So, all of that went away. For the first time in my life, I felt totally free. Obviously, I was scared, and experiencing everything everybody else was, but I felt off the hook.
MC: For some, it was a good excuse to grow a beard. I bet you didn’t. JL: I didn’t grow a beard, but I grew two marijuana plants that were, like, six feet tall. I grew them legally! They were beautiful. I did it totally on my own. Grew, trimmed, cured, jarred…it was absolutely incredible. MC: And you acquired a dog, Bobby Rhubarb, immortalized in your song “A Puppy and a Truck.” JL: I was never able to have a dog before. I’ve been on the road for 26 years, out there playing music, so my real life has definitely taken a back seat. Having a couple of years at home and being able to take care of an animal like that has changed me in such an amazing way. And I’ve become a bit of a stage mom, as is the family tradition. So Bobby Rhubarb has an Instagram account, and when we go out in the world some people say, “Oh look! It’s Bobby Rhubarb!” MC: The song “A Puppy and a Truck” is so likeable. JL: Thank you. I was very dear friends with
• The song “Psychos” from Joy’All became the first Jenny Lewis song to hit No. 1 on the Adult Alternative Airplay chart.
performed as Nice As Fuck, and released a oneoff collection in 2016.
• Also in 2016, Lewis flew to Haiti with Jackson • The Jenny Lewis touring Browne, to join a cast band is currently of global musicians in comprised entirely of a benefit project called female musicians. Let The Rhythm Lead: Haiti Song Summit, Vol.1. • As an actress, Lewis In her song “Under The appeared in over a dozen Supermoon,” Lewis finds teen movies, including solace from the world’s Troop Beverly Hills. Cast problems among her in a multitude of episodic new Haitian friends. television guest spots, She performed the song she also played Lucille with Browne and Malian Ball’s granddaughter in vocalist Habib Coite’. the short run of the Life With Lucy sitcom. • A line in “Under The Supermoon” chronicles • Her 2014 full-length her reaction to the 2016 The Voyager was an Presidential election emotional compendium with this couplet: “I’ve influenced by Rilo Kiley’s never had such a fright/I demise, and the death of gasped on election night.” her father, Eddie Gordon. • Past Lewis recordings • Among Lewis’ past side have enlisted illustrious projects was the duo players like Ringo Jenny & Johnny, with Starr, Jim Keltner, and Johnathan Rice, with Benmont Tench from The whom she shared a 12Heartbreakers. year relationship. • The video for “Puppy • Following her breakup and a Truck” includes with Rice, Lewis shared a character wearing a an apartment in New dog suit. As he removes York with Annie Clark, the dog head in the aka St. Vincent. With concluding shot, the friend Tennessee Thomas character is revealed to and Erika Foster, she be Harry Styles.
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Jimmy Buffett and his family. I was so lucky to be able to spend time with them, and learn how to be off the road. Jimmy had two dogs, they were with him everywhere, and there was this joy for life. And if you are hanging out with the Buffetts, you are getting in the water, even if you don’t want to. I’m not a beachy or boaty person, but they were like, “Get in the water Lewis,” and the dogs were there. Jimmy inspired “A Puppy and a Truck”. We miss him so much.
JL: I think we do. That’s the paradox of being a human being—we are getting wiser but our bodies are deteriorating. You come into the world so innocent, but the older you get, you learn a little more. Hopefully, you learn to be more compassionate—especially to be more compassionate with yourself, which is so important. MC: Your astrological sign is Capricorn. Do you like to plan? JL: I’m a Capricorn, so I’m climbing the mountain steadily, slowly but surely. As a kid, I used to make these handmade calendars. I couldn’t wait until the end of the school year. I am a planner by nature, but I’ve been doing a meditation practice since the first of the year, so I am trying to be more in the moment. With
Quick Facts
MC: You reference the late Nashville artist from the early ‘60s, Skeeter Davis, as an influence on Joy’All. She is an artist who is sometimes underestimated. JL: We know her songs, but we don’t know it’s her singing them. What a great songwriter. I made the record and I was doing the album cover photo shoot at my house in Nashville out with the other people who are doing with my friend Momma Hotdog—Bobbi Rich—
my schedule, I am forced to plan about three days in advance. I’m trying to enjoy the day, the moment, the was hour.the original • Kyle and Hauck Onstage, especially doing this tour with The drummer for GVF from 2012-2013. He Postal Service, three sold out shows also camewe upplayed with their name. at the Hollywood Bowl. And there were a couple of moments where had to say, “Take all • GVF has beenI just nominated three this in right for now. Take a breath and look out, times a Grammy Award. because this is as wonderful as it gets. This may not• happen again. Be present in the in moment. GVF won a Grammy Award 2019 Be grateful.” I looked out, and wasn’t nervous at all. for the EP From the IFires. 18,000 people out there, and I felt so connected • Their latest album to L.A., so connected to 20Starcatcher years of this record, at No. 8It’s onimportant the Billboard 200. and debuted my other records. to be in the moment, and appreciate these beautiful times.
• To date, GVF has released two EPs and three studio albums. Contact Jillian Condran, jillian@nastylittleman.com
what they need at the moment. So, it’s a lot about listening to what you need and there’s a lot of trust involved, too. At the end of the day I am very happy to be out on tour. I live for the chaos and I love it! MC: Live for the chaos. That sounds like a song title (laughs)! Wagner: It might be. I liked the way that came out. MC: What regions around the world seem to really respond to your band?
Wagner: It’s interesting to learn, as you’re traveling the world and doing shows, there are a lot of different countries that share certain genres of music as their favorites. There was the whole British Invasion thing in London and the U.K. And they’ve always liked rock & roll. So, itwe wasn’t that the firsttotime and went surprising into this vintage store lookwe for went over there decently something for mewe to did wear. On the well. wall of this Butcalled thereBlack were Shag someVintage interesting place was acountries green thatwhite seemed random at the time, but make and striped suit. We pulled it down, and We’d to goSkeeter over toDavis. Europe itsense, said itlike hadItaly. belonged The and do these month-long tours it was reference for the album cover wasand a classic always Davis Italy where able to her seek Skeeter photo, we andwere I’m wearing out muchonlarger venues than some costume the cover of Joy’All. There other are these countries. South America another one.right signs from the universe thatisyou’re on the TheyIflove in general, it doesn’t path. you music, pay attention, they and are there. have to be just rock & roll. They just love live music. bunch of Lollapaloozas MC: YouWe’ve toureddone with aHarry Styles—what an down therepairing. and the fans will follow you to interesting theItgates sometimes airports. It’s crazy, JL: was the first showatout of the pandemic almost Beatlemania there. I was that I didlike in the fall of 2021.down I was terrified. vaccinated, but I am asthmatic. There were a lot MC: Is thereHarry anything else haven’t of emotions. picked mewe to open the tour— itcovered? wasn’t a business thing. It was everyone’s first shows back. The crowds were so loving, and Wagner: We’re just very for the so open, and beautiful, andthankful sparkly with feather supportbeautiful we’ve gotten the new boas—a way toforcome backrecord. to playing We were a vulnerable state in Irecording music andat a massive undertaking. had never it. And it’s athis verybig, personal record for because us. So, done a tour but it felt intimate thank you underno we were in to oureveryone bubbles. that’s There taken was noitpress, theirbackstage, wing andand to dive into the and one we didn’t eatlyricism in restaurants. given it so much life. But,indie alsotour keep anever eye So it was like the biggest that out for what’s next because we’re constantly existed. It felt DIY, although it was massive.
writing. It almost seems like we’re a year
ahead of everyone else the lyrics world.from the MC: A question based oninyour title song, “Joy’All.” Do we all get a little bit Contact kendall.abelman@sacksco.com wiser every day?
Register Now namm.org/attend
January 25-28, 2024
Anaheim Convention Center • Southern California
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TOP 25 NEW MUSIC CRITIQUES N E WN ETWO YT SO Y S
– BARRY RUDOLPH barry@barryrudolph.com
Amanda Stewart . . . 9.0
Alyssa & Wayne . . . 8.6
Remy Riley . . . 8.6
Stacy Antonel . . . 8.8
Jenna Torres . . . 8.6
Don Lincoln . . . 8.4
Barely Legal . . . 8.8
Hazelrigg Brothers . . . 8.6 Jacqriot . . . 8.4
Zoe Butler . . . 8.6
Olivia Reid . . . 8.6
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Marilyn Scott . . . 8.4
• 2023 Nicholas Johnson . . . 8.2 Last Planet . . . 8.4
Raphael Fimm . . . 8.3 Ducky Neptune . . . 8.2
Parker Barrow . . . 8.4
Vine Sweetland . . . 8.3 Noah Riley Teal . . . 8.2
Onoleigh . . . 8.4
Marcia Hadjimarkos . . . 8.3
Hotboi Ty . . . 8.4
Hidden Guide . . . 8.2
Barricane . . . 8.2
CarbonWorks . . . 8.2 December 2023
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TOP 20 PROSPECTS • 2023 N E WN ETWO YT SO Y S
48 December 2023
– BARRY RUDOLPH barry@barryrudolph.com
Greg Adams & East Bay Soul . . . 8.2
The Soft Parts . . . 8.0
Supergloom . . . 8.2
The Scooches . . . 8.0
Coco Jones . . . 8.0
St. James Way . . . 8.0
Me Like Bees . . . 8.0
Amanda Ayala . . . 8.0
Circle The Earth . . . 8.0
Skinny Hightower . . . 8.0
Josy B . . . 8.0
Hot Bodies in Motion . . . 8.0
Lucie Tiger . . . 8.0
Renee Ruth . . . 7.8
Kinnfolk . . . 8.0
Babilonia . . . 7.8
Freefall Rescue . . . 8.0
Cuttaman 100Gran . . . 7.8
Briana Piedra . . . 8.0
Farah Camille . . . 7.8
musicconnection.com
BEST CAREER TIPS • 2023 FOR THE ARTISTS Tanya Venom “Hydrate the day before you sing, because it takes time for water to be absorbed by your vocal cords. Coughing and constantly clearing your throat can scratch your vocal cords, as well. Try to speak light and gently from the front of your mouth and, by all means, don’t sing when you’re sick!“
Miranda Lambert “I love modern music, but I love old music—it’s what I gravitate to when I’m listening in my car: old country, old anything. I hope that 30 years from now someone feels that way about my music. I want that nostalgia for people who listen to me. I think I pull from that stuff. It stuck out to me, because it mattered to me.“
Joe Bonamassa “Never compromise. If you know you’re good at something—it may not be the hippest thing—be the best damn accordion player in the world! If you’re rocking the sousaphone and have that drive and that thing, be the best damn sousaphone player in the world, or at least be the most enthusiastic—and be an entertainer.”
"Yes. People think you want the best label with the most well-known artists. But that’s not true. You’ll get shelved and that doesn’t, necessarily, mean you’re gonna win. You need somebody to work for you and with you. And that makes you wanna work harder for them." – DEREK DAY, CLASSLESS ACT
"Staying true to myself was my best career move. Not compromising my sound or my brand or who I am or anything. That’s the reason why my fans connected with me in the first place, they can feel it’s very much me, all of it." – KALI UCHIS
dives to just get you thinking about the world in a real and sensory way. I also think about how to make cool metaphors. Sometimes it may go nowhere or it may just get you thinking about things in a songwriter way.
Milky Chance Clemens Rehbein "Critics and hearing other people’s opinions can be helpful sometimes. But also trust yourself."
Kali Uchis "I think I would definitely work on developing myself more as an artist privately before putting everything on the internet. People develop themselves as artists first. I started performing when I barely had one or two songs out, so I feel like I spent a lot of time working harder instead of smarter."
"The music that was given to me by my family was eclectic and worldly. As I developed my own taste for music, I began with rock & roll. But as I became an adolescent, hip-hop became my language. I learned about a lot of different styles of music by exploring hip-hop samples." – VIC MENSA
David Porter “Study what has happened before. Respect what has happened before. Learn from what has happened before. Use what has already proven to work, find what makes you unique and palatable to a larger audience, and then do it.”
Rebecca Lovell Dead Horse Branding “Artists and companies need branding to cut through the noise and distinguish themselves.”
Loren Israel “Your audience has to feel understood. It's my story. When I listen, when I sing along, when I see my favorite band, they're singing my song. That's it—that kind of sharing is the root of it.”
“Before and after shows I religiously follow a vocal warm-up and cool-down routine. There’s absolutely no reason that a singer shouldn’t be experimenting with this aspect of vocal caretaking. I don’t drink on tour. And pending how my voice is feeling on any given day, I will limit my talking as well. Prioritizing vocal rest and hydration is always a focus for me.”
Florence Dore “I like to use a thesaurus. I try to write for 10 minutes every morning and do object deep
Delacey “Have hobbies. Have other interests. Do other things that fulfill and inspire you, and you'll write better music.”
Megan Moroney "As an independent artist, the most important thing is to keep the ball rolling; you need to put out good music consistently."
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BEST CAREER TIPS • 2023 FOR THE COLLABORATORS
Mike Gowen “From the beginning, I learned that successful PR is about building and nurturing relationships. Once I got to the point where I had all the systems in place and was able to have clients perform on late night TV and appear on prominent magazine covers, I felt my experience and risk tolerance level were at a point where I felt I could launch my own firm.”
Classless Act Franco Gravante "It took years to find the right people. We went through a lot of members, as well. But this time it felt right. We’re like five brothers in a way. But it’s mostly about working, writing and to never stop having a good time. I think that’s really important."
“I’ll write a first verse and maybe a chorus melody, and then I don’t mess with it. I’ll try to get a hook, a first verse with a fire first line, and a vibe for the chorus. And then I take it to the writers I trust." – BAILEY ZIMMERMAN
about. And make sure you have a good team―I’ve realized the importance of having a music editor, assistant and additional writers you can count on. They’ll be there when the deadlines are coming close.”
Jimmy LaValle
Judith Sherman
Julian Scherle
“There are musicians who’ve recorded regularly and sometimes I have to shake them and say ‘Hey, you can be perfect, but I’d rather you be inventive and use your imagination.’ Fortunately, that’s a skill that can be developed once you learn to trust yourself and the people in the booth.”
“When I listen to something, I ask myself, ‘Do I have a reaction to this? Does my gut say this music means something?’ I think that’s where your personality and your unique voice comes in.”
"I think it’s just that we share taste, and so our hit rate for each other is really high. When we miss, it’s not a big deal. Or, sometimes we’ll have an idea that is good but not right, and taking the time and not being satisfied until we get the thing that we’re most proud of, and not settling for something that functions, I think is a priority that we all have." – LUCY DACUS, BOYGENIUS
“My approach is, and always will be, song first, artist first. I always try to service the song and then the artist to push their vision through, whatever that may be. Our [own] opinions matter, but we’re not the ones putting out a song or album. The artist should be the happiest [one] in the process.”
“Being honest about boundaries and the type of composer you are is the best thing you can do and will best serve the project.”
Josh Gudwin
"Mixing is the easy part. Communicating what that artist wants is the hard part. It has nothing to do with the gear and everything to do with your bedside manner.” – CHRIS LORD-ALGE
FOR THE PRODUCERS Scotty Hills Sandro Morales-Santoro "Fellow composers should be seen as collaborators, not competitors. You can find community in the composing world. They’re all going through the same thing you are. Some are further ahead, some are just starting out, but they’re all part of a group of people who understand.”
Joy Ngiwe “Remember, it’s something you’ll work on for a while, so find the project you’re passionate
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“What makes a good song is the relentlessness to preserve the vibe that was originally started. If you got hit with some kind of heart dagger or something affected or inspired you to write, then you have a song. The best songs don't try too hard to be much more than that vibe—that thing that a small child that can barely speak should be able to explain—it's your melody.”
Rachel White “Experimentation is key. So many things are happy accidents and even if something dosen’t work for a song, you can save it for another time.”
Milky Chance Clemens Rehbein We never have anything in mind except the music itself. We’re driven by being in the moment. We work intuitively, so whatever comes out, whatever feels right, is what we go for. We never go into the studio and say, 'Maybe we should write a song about this and it should sound like that.' We just see what takes us.”
Rachel White “One of the hardest things to do while you’re working is to trust yourself. Sometimes you ask
yourself, ‘Does what I’m doing sound good?’ Learning how to be less critical in the creation stage is important. You have to accept that the things that have brought you into the room will continue to propel you.”
Jason Graves "You have to remember that technology is a tool you use to realize something you’re hearing in your head, and not as a crutch to help you finish something when you’re not inspired.”
FOR THE MASSES Holly Knight “Have some self-worth in order to not be blindsided by stupidity and the patriarchal attitude that still exists. Women who are successful have the chutzpah to just walk in there like they have every reason to be there and are going to show everybody how it's done. If you don't really believe that yet, if you're young and trying to get to that place, fake it ‘til you make it.”
you have to work on your craft, and then you have to work on your voice, which is what sets you apart from the rest and makes people interested in hiring you over someone else.”
be a stepping stone. But you have to stay persistent.”
Michael Lockwood
“I’ve fallen onstage, struggled to hear myself or played to the bar staff. Until you’ve truly hit the ground hard and tested your own mettle, you won’t know what you’re fully capable of.”
“I know from experience that when you’re trying to create something, if you go down a path that’s already been gone down, that path gets narrower. You have to get outside it, look for a back door to it, and dream up different ways to do the thing you want to get done.”
" If you build it, they will come. If you do it the right way, and not try to skip steps, you’ll have a long-lasting career." – JOE BONAMASSA
“It does get a little bit exhausting, the travel, but you just have to put your mindset into the fact that for the next four months we’re gonna be living in and out of a suitcase, in a hotel, on a bus, in an airplane—”Alright. Great. It’s gonna be fun!” – ALICE COOPER
Rebecca Lovell
Bailey Zimmerman “If it seems too good to be true, it’s probably too good to be true. A lot of people out there are going to blow smoke up your ass. They’re going to tell you one thing and mean something else. And they’re going to give you the runaround.”
"You have to be active in giving people things. Even if it’s not your music. Something During the pandemic, for better or worse, once a week I did a reading of a song lyric. It wasn’t like we had 10 million people watching it, but it’s trying to maintain a connection with people in a non-traditional way. " – RON MAEL, SPARKS
Julia Bhatt Live in the moment a bit more—even if you're terrified—because once that [moment is] gone, you're going to regret running away from it.”
Clinton Sparks Molly-Ann Leikin “As a writer, it’s part of your job to know who publishes the hit songs/artists in your genre each week on the Billboard charts. There is no fairy godmother who will do that for you.”
Gemi Taylor
“The secret of my success is patience, making a plan, and sticking to it. A lot of times, people let a speed bump derail them. But a speed bump doesn’t stop you from getting to your destination.”
David Porter “If you know the purpose, you can lose yourself in that purpose, and not lose the authenticity and the credibility of what you're doing.”
“You don’t just pop out the room with a pen in your hand. You have to get hurt. Until you experience things, you can’t write about it or make somebody else believe it.”
Barton Stanley David
Sandro Morales-Santoro
Damon Elliott
“It’s a marathon, not a sprint. In the beginning, I always felt in a rush, worried about things happening fast enough, but you have to take it one step at a time. You have to network,
“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
“You have to stay persistent and honest with who you are. Never let anything sway you. Sometimes, when you think you just had your big breakthrough, it turns out to just
Rachel White “It’s vital to be calm in stressful situations. People appreciate it when the person steering the ship has an air of calm.”
J.W. Roth “I have always found you will make more money if you let passion drive you than if you let money drive you. It’s that simple. I don’t care if you’re making food or selling tickets or building an entertainment company. If you let passion drive you, you’ll win.”
Ben Johnson & Track45 “The amateur waits for inspiration to strike; the professional shows up to work and finds it. I think my thing is definitely showing up to work every day and chasing after inspiration, knowing sometimes it might not be there.”
Devin Kennedy “Whether you want to be a songwriter, an artist, a producer, or anything in between, consistency is absolutely crucial.”
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FAVORITE SIGNING STORIES • 2023 NEW TOYS
– BARRY RUDOLPH barry@barryrudolph.com
COMPLILED BY MARK NARDONE
ISABEL LAROSA
JULY
Label: Slumbo Labs / RCA Type of Music: Pop Management: Ron Shapiro and Joe Hegleman/ Have Fun Management Publicity: Amanda Charney, amanda@ blackpandapr.com, Amanda Zimmerman/RCA, amanda.zimmerman@sonymusic.com Web: isabel-larosa.com A&R: Jake Ottmann WE LOVE THE TAKEAWAY from this Signing Story in our July issue: Know exactly what you want to sound like and who you want to be. Isabel LaRosa learned jazz standards from her father at an early age, and older brother Thomas started on guitar. Jamming around Annapolis, MD, the sibling duo first began songwriting while Isabel was in elementary school, with Thomas interning at Slumbo Labs in New York after high school. Moving into an engineering position, Thomas began providing sister Isabel with feedback as she began to
release singles, and all of Isabel’s music has been written as a duo (with Thomas doing all the production). Following three independent releases (“16 Candles,” “Closer,” and “Game Boy,” all in 2021), LaRosa’s music started getting attention online, and she was approached about a record deal. She feels that her first RCA single, “Haunted” (from debut EP I’m Watching You), was where things “clicked into place,” and her music started gaining traction on TikTok. 2022’s “I’m Yours” garnered over 150 million streams, with LaRosa sharing that what landed for listeners was “the feeling, and the way the visuals matched that feeling sonically.” Of Jake Ottman, Sr. VP at RCA (and founder of Slumbo Labs), LaRosa says that he really helped her find who she was artistically by advising LaRosa to write about things that mattered to her—and to not just focus on cool lyrics. Ottman is quick to add that LaRosa stood out for him because “she had a vision as a young person, and a clarity that I found really well-formed and beyond her years. She knew exactly what she wanted to sound like and who she wanted to be.” •
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MEGAN MORONEY
SEPTEMBER
Label: Sony Music Nashville / Columbia Records Type of Music: Country Management: Juli Griffith and Hayley Corbett, contact@punchbowlent.com Booking: elisa.vazzana@unitedtalent.com Legal: Judith A. Ricci, judith@jarlaw.net Publicity: jensen@sweettalkpr.com Web: meganmoroney.com, instagram.com/ megmoroney A&R: Taylor Lindsey and Julian Swirsky WE REALLY ADMIRE HOW this savvy artist held off when labels offered her deals, choosing instead to self-release her music and grow her fan base. When country artist Megan Moroney pulled into Nashville three years ago, the seasoned singer-songwriter arrived with a degree in music business from the University of Georgia in one hand and a completed internship with artist and producer Kristian Bush in the other. Founder and one-half of country duo Sugarland, Bush connected her with manager Juli NewtonGriffith. Moroney released her six-song EP Pistol Made of Roses last year and got herself on as many tours. During one of them, her single “Tennessee Orange” dropped and hit big.
“When I moved to Nashville, songwriting was my number-one priority,” the artist explains. “I also started to grow my social media. Last summer I released my EP Pistol Made of Roses independently so I could have a project out and start touring. I immediately got five label offers. But Spotify also offered to promote my single ‘Tennessee Orange’ through their Fresh Finds program, so I cut off all record deal talks. I knew that if I got serious with a label, it would take a long time and they’d want me to hold off on releasing my single. I wanted to get it out and then reconvene. As an independent artist, the most important thing is to keep the ball rolling; you need to put out good music consistently. “Five days after ‘Tennessee Orange’ was released, it had a million streams,” Moroney continues. “Compared to my other numbers, it was pretty significant. It kept blowing up and I had around 20 record deal offers. Over the next two months I got to hand-pick my team and it’s been great.” •
KENTHEMAN
SEPTEMBER
Label: Roc Nation Type of Music: Rap, Hip-Hop Management: Melissa Keklak, MK Entertainment, instagram.com/melissakeklak_ Booking: Melissa Keklak Legal: Adam Zia, The Zia Firm, 610-466-8003 Publicity: Sasha Brookner, sashab@heliopr. com Web: Twitter and instagram.com/imkentheman A&R: Earl Johnson HOUSTON RAPPER Ken The Man kicked off her career nine years ago, and for the first four she handled her own affairs. That was until the many songs she’d recorded and uploaded paid off and manager Melissa Keklak discovered her on Instagram. Keklak’s nimble navigation
of the industry’s often turbulent waters ultimately landed the artist a deal with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation. Over the span of her career, KenTheMan has earned more than 50 million streams, 20 million just for her 2022 single “Not My N*gga.” “Melissa found and flew me out to show me how she moves and stuff,” KenTheMan recalls of her initial connection. “It was a free shot; she wasn’t charging me. She just wanted to show me what she’s about. Eventually she connected me with Roc Nation and I came to meet with them in L.A. A little later there was a bigger meeting in New York, so that I could get acquainted with the rest of the team. My lawyer came along and that’s when I realized it was serious, but it also gave me more confidence. Their deal was sent about a week later.” But Roc Nation wasn’t the first label to talk business. “I’d been offered bad deals before. But Roc Nation made me a good one. It wasn’t just what they wanted. They also allowed me to have what I wanted. Things like the fairness, the creativity, deadlines and project amount. There weren’t any fights. If a label won’t compromise at the beginning, you can imagine how your career is going to go.” •
FOR YEARS A STAPLE IN MUSIC CONNECTION, our Signing Stories show our readers how other artists have arrived at their deal with a record label, music publisher, or manager. The folks we talk to —artists, managers and A&R reps—give you the ups and down, the do’s and don’ts, of getting signed.
YONATAN WATTS
APRIL
Publisher: Position Music / Champagne Therapy Music Group (CTMG) Type of Music: R&B / Pop Publicity: Deborah Radel @ DR Publication Relations / deborah@drpr.us Web: positionmusic.com/artist/ NjE2NzAwLTJmYzQxYg A&R: Delmar Powell - Position Music SONGWRITER-PRODUCER Yonatan Watts has entered a new chapter, signing a global publishing deal in partnership with Position Music and Champagne Therapy Music Group (CTMG). With cuts for Arianna Grade, Black Eyed Peas, Machine Gun Kelly, The Weeknd, and many others, Watts was first inspired by his friends’ Japanese manga and anime cartoons. Singing along to the theme songs, he says “the unorthodox music for cartoons would inspire me to find my voice.” A member of a vocal trio as a teen, and finishing Top 100 in Canadian Idol, Watts moved to New York where he built his name in as an R&B/Pop engineer (Platinum Sound Studios). Eight years later, he relocated to Los Angeles. After meeting fellow Canadian Murda
Beatz at an industry event he was asked to create samples for Arianne Grande’s project by a colleague of Tommy Brown’s and, after a summer in a sketchy downtown apartment, delivered piles of options. Grande’s record was cut, but none of Watts’ work was included. Four months later, he learned that Grande had circled back and Positions was re-released as a deluxe edition—this time using Watts’ tracks on “Main Thing.” Meeting Tommy Brown on multiple occasions, Brown asked Watts to reach out if he found a worthy team to join and, after connecting with Position Music’s VP of A&R Delmar Powell through a fellow artist overseas, Watts presented the partnership with Brown. Watts says of Position “They have a different catalog and caliber of people—small, but mighty—and amazing at sync.” Says Delmar of Watts, “Beyond work ethic, when he goes in the room and presses Play, it’s a WOW.” •
PECOS & THE ROOFTOPS
JUNE
Label: Warner Records Los Angeles Band Members: Pecos Hurley, vocals, acoustic guitar; Brandon Jones, rhythm guitar; Zack Foster, lead guitar; Kalen Davis, bass; Garrett Peltier, drums; Hunter Cassell, guitars and keys Type of Music: Country Rock Management: Chase Cooper & Jeb Hurt, chase@ floatingleafentertainment.com Publicity: rick.gershon@warnerrecords.com Web: pecos-rooftops.com A&R: miles.gersh@warnerrecords.com SOMETIMES, YOU’RE NOT yet ready for a label deal . More work needs to be done. It takes discipline and confidence. Perhaps life as a Marine gave Pecos Hurley the qualities necessary for helming a successful act. Formed in Lubbock, TX, Pecos & the Rooftops have been triggering an avalanche of attention on their own terms since 2019, and then Warner began showing interest. The connection happened through their former manager, who
sent some fresh material to Miles Gersh. At the time, the group was especially green. “We weren’t ready for a major deal,” admits the titular songwriter and vocalist. They certainly hadn’t reached their current status of 350 million global streams. In the interim, other labels started catching on, including Columbia Records. None offered terms that the musicians found acceptable. Warner Records, though, was able to satisfy the band’s desires. Negotiations between the label and the group’s team happened without artist input. By the time Hurley and his posse learned of the contract’s development, it was already irresistible. Before signing, the gang visited Warner’s Los Angeles headquarters. “The people there were friendly and seemed eager to work with us,” observes Hurley. There, the band presented some of their new songs, which received positive reception. Gersh caught their live show. Hurley held the ultimate power to choose Warner. That said, he made sure his supporting players agreed with his assessment. “I wasn’t going to make a decision that the rest of the guys weren’t happy with.” •
JOSIE DUNNE
JUNE
Publisher: Prescription Songs Type of Music: Pop Management: Anthony Manker and Cooper Anstett, hello@thegroupprojects.co Booking: katie.germano@caa.com Legal: Anthony Manker and Cooper Anstett, hello@ thegroupprojects.co Publicity: Anthony Manker and Cooper Anstett, hello@thegroupprojects.com Web: josiedunne.com A&R: Chris Martignago HAVING ALREADY BEEN SIGNED to Atlantic Records, soul-pop singer Josie Dunne was familiar with Chris Martignago, her A&R rep at the legendary label. Eventually, that deal ran its course, as did Dunne’s previous songwriting agreement with Warner Chappell Music, which finished up at the beginning of 2021. Martignago had left for Prescription Songs in 2020. This confluence of events presented the perfect opportunity for the pair to once again join forces. Martignago took it on his shoulders to sell the rest of the song publisher’s deciders on granting a shot to the newly independent artist. With over 100 million streams under her
belt, it wasn’t a particularly difficult task. Dunne knew lots of people at Prescription Songs from her years of co-writing in Music City. “I love Nashville and don’t want to leave,” she proclaims. “And pop is such a big part of what I do that [Prescription Songs] was the perfect fit.” Additionally, she relishes the musical diversity that Prescription Songs allows her to explore. “I’m getting to write everything,” enthuses the singer. “I do a little bit of synch, a little bit of indie rock.” Another reason she’s content is that the publisher understands the importance of balancing songwriting with pursuing an artist career. It took about a year for the signing to go from initial mention to dried ink. Trial writing sessions helped Prescription determine she was a solid fit. The fruit of Dunne’s efforts is a three-year deal with an option to stay. Dunne credits much of her success to simply showing up. “Just get in the room and write a lot of songs,” she recommends to unsigned writers. “And send them to everybody you know.” •
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PRODUCT PROFILES
Native Instruments Kontrol S-Series MK3 N
ative Instruments just released the Kontrol S-Series MK3 MIDI Controller, an all-new upgrade to their Komplete Kontrol S-Series MK2 MIDI controllers. Now rebranded as the Kontrol S-Series, the Kontrol S-Series MK3 MIDI controllers are designed around a one-piece unibody design and are available in 49, 61 and 88 key configurations. Other than the 88 Key controllers hammeraction weighted keys, as opposed to the semi-weighted action keybed as will be found in the 49 and 61 variants, the specs on all three Kontrol S-Series MK3 Keyboards are identical. All three keyboards have user configurable velocity and after-touch capability. The Kontrol S-Series MK3 now has a completely redesigned front panel. Whereas there were two screens on the Komplete Kontrol S-Series MK2, the screen on the Kontrol S-Series MK3 is a single screen and features a completely redesigned screen layout. The brand new 9-inch screen on the Kontrol S-Series MK3 is significantly larger than was found on the Native Instruments MK2 S-Series controllers. The new screen of the S-Series MK3 has an overall larger viewing area and is made of highresolution glass. The screen is clear, vibrant, exceptionally detailed, and provides for a highly enjoyable and immersive user experience. The eight endless encoder knobs are touch capacitive and provide instant haptic feedback. The eight knobs are continuous rotary encoders and groupable by function to help fine tune your browsing experience. On the Kontrol S-Series MK3, you get four pedal inputs vs two on the Komplete Kontrol S-Series MK2. All parameters on the Kontrol S-Series MK3 are now accessible via direct integration with Kontakt 7, which means that individual or multiple instances of Kontakt can be open on any track without having to be opened in Komplete Kontrol, as was the case with the Komplete Kontrol S-Series MK2. Under the hood, the upgraded computer driving the S-Series MK3 is much more powerful than was found on the Kontrol S-Series MK2. Preset browsing on S-Series MK3 is virtually instantaneous, and in most instances loading even large samples available for any installed NKS products takes only a few seconds. Browsing through your available NKS supported libraries (plug-ins) you can browse real-time between banks, key types, sub types, characters and more at “think speed,” all of which makes for an enjoyable and immersive user experience. All available browsing controls are now accessible on the front page of the display, which allows the Kontrol S-Series to provide fast real-time editing and
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instantaneous user feedback. Another benefit of the on-board computer (in addition to quick and snappy preset browsing) is that it allows for more standalone functionality, such as on-board Play Assist, which is currently under development and will be released soon. Designed in collaboration with Fatar, all three versions of the Kontrol S-Series MK3 now feature polyphonic aftertouch—mono or polyphonic aftertouch is available and is fully user configurable. Polyphonic aftertouch allows you, for example, to hold a key and trigger different sounds and parameters simultaneously. Adding and layering effects, creating Multi’s on the Kontrol S-Series MK3 is easy. As was the case with the Komplete Kontrol S-Series MK2, VST and non NKS plug-ins are available, but
may be missing some browsing parameters. You can map the parameters yourself and then save it as a preset, as was the case on the S-Series MK2 Controllers. In DAW mode, all basic transport controls are available as well as mute, solo, loop metronome on off, tap tempo, undo, and redo functions. The metering in DAW mode on the Kontrol S-Series MK3 is full color, highly accurate and is the best metering display I have ever seen or worked with on any MIDI keyboard controller. Unlike the Komplete Kontrol S-Series MK2 which was powered by USB-2, the Kontrol S-Series MK3 connects to your computer via USB-C. There are two USB-C ports available. If your computer doesn’t have a USB-C port, or can’t provide enough power from the port, you will need to use an external USB-C power supply. Because of the increased processing power, the Kontrol S-Series MK3 has much more advanced browsing capability than the Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S-Series MK2. Purchasing a Native Instrument S Series MK3 gets you access to Komplete 14 Select, which includes synths, drums, percussion, studio-grade effects, and a wide range of customizable sounds. Stradivari Cello, Hypha,
Guitar Rig LE, are included, as well as IZotope Elements Suite, and Ableton Live Lite. Literally hundreds of libraries are available from Native Instruments and third-party developers. So, if you’re the current owner of a Komplete Kontrol S-Series MK2 controller, is it worth the cost to upgrade to a Kontrol S-Series MK3? If the new screen, NKS2 compatibility, and polyphonic aftertouch is important to you, upgrading may be well worth it. On the other hand, direct integration with Native Instruments Machine hardware controller on the Kontrol S-Series MK3 is gone, as well as the dedicated mute, solo buttons and track select buttons found on the Komplete Kontrol S-Series MK2. All these functions are accessible in DAW Mode, albeit with a bit more menu diving and button pushing. The screen on the Komplete Kontrol S-Series MK2, while not as vibrant or large as the screen on the S-Series MK3, is still perfectly serviceable. Looking ahead, Native Instruments NKS2 will, I’m sure, get more sophisticated and capable over time, and the Kontrol S-Series MK3 is designed to take full advantage of the NKS2 development platform. The Kontrol S-Series MK3 also supports MIDI 2.0. Bottom line, if you’re looking to future proof your investment, buying a Kontrol S-Series MK3 keyboard is likely worth the acquisition cost. At launch, the Kontrol S-Series supports most major DAW’s, including Ableton Live, Bitwig, Cubase, Digital Performer, Logic Pro, and Studio One. Integration with FL Studio is coming soon, and Pro Tools support is coming in late 2023. Using the current software and firmware, I found using ProTools (my main DAW) that most transport and browsing functions work correctly, albeit with some functions missing. (That, from my experience, was also the case on the Komplete Kontrol S-Series MK2.) It took me a while to fully get my head around how capable a MIDI controller the new Kontrol S-Series MK3 controller really is. Bottom line, the Native Instruments Kontrol S-Series MK3 keyboards are as close as any MIDI Keyboard Controller has gotten to integrating full workstation capability into what is arguably one of the most advanced MIDI controllers ever created. An ambitious technical achievement by any measure, the Native Instruments Kontrol S-Series MK3 is certainly one of the most important product releases of 2023 and will likely set the bar for what a MIDI Keyboard Controller is capable of for some time to come. Prices for the Native Instruments Kontrol S-Series MK3 controllers are MAP $749 for the Kontrol S49, MAP $849 for the Kontrol S61 and MAP $1299 for the Kontrol S88. Find out more at native-instruments.com/en
– STEVE SATTLER
A
Avid MBOX Studio
vid’s MBOX Studio is a professional grade, flexible 21 X 22 audio interface designed to be the centerpiece of your studio workflow. Featuring rugged construction and an innovative design, the Avid MBOX Studio’s large console style design is configured so that the input controls are on the left side of the interface and all the output controls on the right. MBOX Studio is relatively heavy and won’t easily slide off your desktop. With MBOX Studio, you’re getting premium quality AD/DA conversion and the same high-quality preamps found on Avid’s Carbon Pre interface which costs three times as much. All of the MBOX Studio controls and buttons are clearly and tastefully backlit and are designed to allow the interface to be effectively used in low lighting conditions. Workflow on the MBOX Studio is centered around two extra-large knobs which are to set input and output levels respectively. Selecting each of the six inputs (Two Combo jacks on the front of the unit, two on the back and two additional line inputs also on the back of MBOX Studio) is done by pressingwhe input knob which toggles though each available channel and which can be selected as mono channels or grouped into even and odd stereo pairs. Avid’s MBOX Studio supports not just Pro Tools but supports all major DAW platforms. MBOX Studio’s preamps sound clear and punchy and record extremely well. Also, on the front of MBOX Studio is a Hi Z enabled reamp output with ground lift and two headphone outputs with individual level controls. Input channels 5 and 6 are quarter-inch jacks. Two sets of send and return loops are provided, and double as additional line inputs for channels 7 and 8 respectively meaning you have up to eight simultaneous analog inputs on tap for tracking Drums, Live Bands, etc. A loopback channel is also available for mixing audio from your computer in with other signals for Podcasting etc. Pressing the Tune button brings up a tuner that can work with just about any instrument. The talkback microphone on the front of the unit allows you to tune your guitar or any other instrument. String names are displayed on the top of the unit. The tuner on MBOX Studiois designed to work with any acoustic instrument. The talkback mic actually doubles as an input source for the tuner. While the MBOX Studio user interface is intuitive and easy to use, pressing the control app button on the front of MBOX Studio brings up the MBOX Control app and which displays a comprehensive array of controls and settings. Within the MBOX Control app, user configurable
routing presets are available so you can call up different preconfigured routing options. There are two headphone outputs on MBOX Studio that are able to mirror the main outputs or have separate mixes. The separate mixes can have up to 8 channels sent from ProTools in addition to each of the physical inputs, Avid’s MBOX Studios has onboard DSP enabled effets that are accessible via the MBOX Control app and comprise Reverb, EQ and Delay. The onboard effects are available and configurable so that users can monitor inputs with low latency and effects on each channel. Four user definable buttons on the front of the unit are available to control user selected functions. The back of MBox Studio has two user configurable footswitch jacks for hooking
up momentary or expression pedals, Wah Pedals etc. The available EQ settings in the MBOX Control app Channel focus mode can be routed back to ProTools. Other niceties on Avid’s MBox studio include a full monitor section including switchable main and alt outputs asnd which has the ability to normalize the levels for both the main and alt outputs as well as the SPDIF output. separate Bluetooth inputs and outputs to connect wireless earbuds, Bluetooth speakers or connecting phone/tablet for external sources So, is the MBOX Studio a standout from the already crowded field of audio interfaces currently on the market? From my perspective and for me as guitar player, AVID’s MBox studio has some significant features that I have not seen on any other audio interface. Unlike any other audio interface currently available, Avid’s MBOX Studio can set impedance levels on virtually all the available I/O, meaning not only on the four combo jacks switchable between mic, line, and instrument but also the effects loops, footswitch inputs and
re-amp output. Further, each of the available impedance settings have “plus capacitor” options adds significant tube feel to your guitar tracks. Variable Hi Z impedance switching is also great for re-amping and for use on both effects loops, and also as an output to your guitar amps preamp input. While this might at face value does not seem like that big of a big deal, if you’re a guitar player and are used to using a DI and plugging effect pedals into your signal chain, MBOX Studio’s variable impedance capability will immediately make sonic sense. When correctly configured, Amp Sims inserted into your signal path in ProTools will sound better than a typical Jfet enabled input. The available two mono or one stereo effect Loops variable impedance and switchable High Z capability and the ability to output to your amp via the re-amp output combine to give you a highly flexible path which you can fine tune to your specific musical style. You can also use the two quarter inch footswitch inputs on the back of MBox Studio to connect volume or expression pedal combined for example with a delay pedal and then play through different guitars and experiment with high and low output of your guitar’s pickups. Using ProTools and MBOX Studio’s variable impedance capability you can also do things like double a melody line, record a DI Track amp and amp modeler track recording and then playback and re-amp your tracks. MBox Studio’s comprehensive impedance switching capability makes it easy to experiment with different guitar pick-ups and craft some great and hpyer realistic sounding guitar tracks on both electric and acoustic guitar. In short, from a Guitar plyers perspective,no other audio interface currently on the market that I know of has this much flexibility. With the purchase of MBOX Studio, you get a comprehensive selection of plug in,loops and more. You also get a one yearPro Tools Artist Subscription. That’s a $299 value included with the hardware, all of which makes purchasing a MBOX Studio a killer deal. After the first year, customers are free to change to any Pro Tools Subscription or Perpetual license Bottom line, If you’re a guitar player and are in the market for an audio interface, Avid’s MBOX Studio’s built in effects, comprehensive re-amping functionality, variable impedance enabled inputs , and flexible routing not to mention end to end pro level specifcations make it a solid choice and well worth checking out. AVID MBOX Studio is available now for MAP $899. Find out more at avid.com/products/ mbox-studio
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ALBUM REVIEWS
Cannons
8
Heartbeat Highway
Columbia Records Producers: Cannons and Jason Evigan
Neon highways and cotton candy fever dreams are the bread and butter of this rising electropop outfit. The theme continues with their fourth full-length recording, on which the quirky songsmiths stun listeners and radio programmers alike, lead single “Loving You” topping alternative radio and quickening pulses. Although the album’s subject matter never strays from matters of love, this quality suits Heartbeat Highway––Cannons’ thumping-yet-ethereal arrangements and the rollercoaster ride of romance both trigger a similar rush of endorphins. – Andy Kaufmann
Offset
7
Set It Off
Motown Producers: Various
Dying Wish
Symptoms of Survival
8
Sharptone Records Producer: Randy LeBoeuf
Portland’s Dying Wish get heavier—while also more vulnerable—with their second full-length. At times there’s an intentionality behind multiple rhythm guitars competing for your headbanging attention (“Symptoms of Survival”), while other tracks slip into the metal-core melodies we’re accustomed to. My only complaint is the track order: most of the catchiest bangers on the album are placed on the back half. Either way, these new songs are going to punch you square in the teeth before inviting you to two-step. – Andy Mesecher
PinkPantheress Heaven Knows
7
Warner UK Producers: PinkPantheress and Mura Masa
No longer a Migo, Offset searches for the right sound on his second studio album. Now in his early 30s, Offset appears to be optimistic, with a drive to prove that he can stand on his own, beyond Migos and Cardi B. With the recent death of his friend/ former bandmate Takeoff to beefing with haters, Offset appears to be struggling with where his current path may lead him. Set It Off is rather intermittent and entertaining; but I’m not quite sure if Offset realizes that he may never experience artistic greatness again. – Adam Seyum
Following the chart-topping viral success of “Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2” with Ice Spice, British singer-songwriter PinkPantheress’ longawaited debut studio album Heaven Knows is a triumphant progression of her signature dynamic downtempo and hyperpop sound. Her sweet whispery vocals carry strong through addictive choruses and atmospheric bass production. Highlights include the playfully addictive tune “The aisle,” the harp-driven Shakespearean track “Ophelia” and the melodic R&B choruses of “Feel complete.” – Jacqueline Naranjo
Sacha Mullin
Sonny & The7eventh Time 8
Casino Wilderness Period
9
Dog & Pony/Dipterid Records Producer: Todd Rittmann
Sonny & The7eventh Time Emory Music Group Producer: Sonny Emory
Singer-songwriter Mullin defies description on many levels. He’s pop, but not in a strict hip-hop sense. He’s jazz, but not in a traditional be bop manner. And he’s R&B, but extends beyond that parameter, as well. He kind of embodies all of these idioms and maybe adds a few more to his trick bag. One thing is certain, Mullin sings like an angel, with a range that can shift from falsetto to otherworldly in a heartbeat. And the songs are cinematic, captivating and arrestingly dynamic. – Eric Harabadian
Legendary for his work with Earth, Wind & Fire and pop and jazz legends (J Lo, Eric Clapton, Stanley Clarke), drummer Sonny Emory’s soul/funk/rock ensemble showcases his eclectic artistry in collaboration with bass great Sam Sims and Emory’s talented sons Nic Gibran on vocals/keys and engineer Ni Emory, who adds his prowess at the mic. Though most songs are written or copenned by Emory, he chooses a very offbeat “cover” obscurity—“Eminence Front” from The Who—to get the party rolling. – Jonathan Widran
The Kinks
The OddEven
9
The Journey: Part 2
Darkness
8
Eclipse Records Producers: Weed, E.T. and Frank Marchand
BMG Producers: Various
The Kinks compilation The Journey: Part 1 was released back in March of this year and, for the most part, that’s the “greatest hits” album. That’s the one with “You Really Got Me” and “All Day and All of the Night” on it. Part 2 is arguably more interesting, though, because it’s packed with deep cuts, b-sides and oddities that are all of immense interest to Kinks-heads. The new mixes are crystal clear, and we’re offered a reminder that the Kinks were way more than a “singles” band. - Brett Callwood
Call it post-grunge, modern alt-metal, stoner rock or whatever tag you choose, the bottom line is, this band can jam! Their method is not mere rabble rousing, but gutwrenching and emotionally invested songs. A Skin Yard/Jack Endino vibe blended with minor sci-fi and prog elements, hits you like a ton of bricks. The production is huge, with enveloping, atmospheric guitars that are heavy, yet melodic. And Chris Volz’s vocals are trance-like, articulate and compelling. It’s a cut above the fray. – Eric Harabadian
To be considered for review in the Album Reviews section, you must have a record deal with a major label or an independent label with an established distributor. If you do not, please see our New Music Critiques section.
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LIVE REVIEWS The Greek Theater Los Angeles, CA Web: drewholcomb.com Contact: danielle@stuntcompany.com Players: Drew Holcomb, guitar, vocals; Rich Brinsfield, bass; Nathan Duggar, guitar; Jonathon Wamble, drums
Musicianship: What can you say about Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors except that they sounded tight. Great musicianship encompassed Holcomb on all the tunes as these top-notch players had their way with the audience. Brinsfield and Wamble were on point as the rhythm section held the bottom end ever so groovily. Duggar added sweetness to the mix, as he doubled on guitar and pedal-steel guitar and was outstanding throughout the evening.
DREW HOLCOMB
Performance: Excellent. Drew came out swinging from the get-go and didn’t let up all night. The band had the audience dancing in the aisles and singing along to “Dancing with Everybody” and All the Money.” Drew and the Neighbors played flawlessly to 6,000 plus fans and had them all eating out of his hand by the time the set was over. Summary: Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors have been making music for the
PIERCE BROCHETTI
Material: Drew Holcomb is a country singer hailing from Memphis, TN who's crooning country tunes to his audience’s content. The songs are very country. Just shy of rock & roll, on one end, and just shy of traditional country on the other. Holcomb brings out the best in his band as he sits nicely in themiddle watching and listening to his audience soak up all of his lyrics; and even sing along to a few of the tunes, too.
better part of 20 years and are still going strong. The ballads, “Song of Gratitude” and “What Would I do Without You,” sum up what’s been in Holcomb’s heart this whole time—gratitude and love. Their very first No. 1 hit, “Find Your People,” from the Strangers No More album, shook the charts in 2023 and the band hit the road in support of the record. If you’re a country music fan (and even if you’re not), Drew Holcomb is worth checking out! – Pierce Brochetti
JOHN BEASLEY & MONK'ESTRA Zipper Hall Los Angeles, CA
Contact: Lorna Chiu, lorna@ johnbeasleymusic.com Web: johnbeasleymusic.com Players: John Beasley, conductor-arrangerpiano; Brian Swartz, Kye Palmer, Brandyn Phillips, Brendan Laronga, trumpets; Lasim Richards, Wendell Kelly, Ryan Dragon, Lemar Guillary, trombones; Bob Sheppard, Danny Janklow, Tom Luer, Kirsten Edkins, Tom Peterson, woodwinds; Reuben Rogers, bass; Terreon Gully, drums Material: Introduced by incomparable jazz patron and founder of host Jazz Bakery,
BOB BARRY
tempo pull, and overall moodiness. Charlie Parker’s “Donna Lee” (Beasley’s arrangement won 2021’s Best Arrangement, Instrumental GRAMMY) added more sax section magic, intermittent tight band shots, great upright bass saunter, and fabulous stylistic transitions—in particular from the trumpet section. “Ruby, My Dear” included guest musician Ralph Ward in a beautiful sax solo, and closely harmonized trombone layering and slide sections.
nonagenarian Ruth Price, John Beasley and the MONK’estra band shared their jazz stylings for over 90 minutes. In celebration of Beasley’s birthday, the anniversary of the birth of Thelonius Monk, and MONK’estra’s tenth anniversary, the group performed a collection of Monk arrangements, a Charlie Parker cover, and a handful of originals, enthralling the packed room of enthusiasts with their tight big band sound. Musicianship: “I Mean You” opened with Beasley on the grand piano alongside a growling tenor sax solo, followed by synthesized keys on “Locomotive,” adding on a warm saxophone solo, great drum
Performance: A medley of “Let Them All Talk” (from Steven Soderbergh’s film, composed by Thomas Newman and arranged and orchestrated by Beasley) brought a gorgeous sway and suspenseful feel, delicious walking bass line underpinning, and a muted trumpet sound, for a blend that presented the epitome of musical escapism. Monk’s “Oska T” revealed a stunning bass/ drumkit/piano section, soprano sax solo, fantastic drum fills and band shots for a true Old Hollywood sound. The stage was a who’s who of jazz players from around the Los Angeles area, and the evening included guest heavyweights Ralph Ward, Hubert Laws, and Greg Phillinganes. Summary: The “Rhythm-A-Ning/Evidence” mashup shared an intense drum solo and two tenor saxes trading eight, then four, then two bar solos. Between interspersed solo embellishments, instrumental growling, punchy horn shots, and dreamy soprano sax interludes, juxtaposed with full band syncopation, spontaneous on-stage cameos, and audience finger-snapping, Beasley and MONK’estra delivered a delicious combination of polished sound and improvised celebration. – Andrea Beenham
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LIVE REVIEWS The Viper Room W. Hollywood, CA
Material: Xavier Miller is “Good ol’ Rock & Roll” music. The tunes are a little rough, but they are straightforward, sometimes in-your-face ,and sometimes subtle and elusive. Most are hard driving, like the fan favorite, “Home,” and “Love Ain’t Nothin’.” Xavier cannot be pinned down to “sound” like anyone. He is unique, has a style all his own. Although “3 Days Gone” has an AC/DC-ish intro that caught the audience’s attention, the rest of his repertoire is inimitable. Musicianship: The musicianship is extremely good. Duke comes from a long history of playing with some well-known acts, including Rose Royce, (and had a hand in writing the big hit “Car Wash”), B.B. King and now, Xavier Miller. His bass playing added another level to the already rich lineup, which he kindly showed off on “Watch it Go Pop” and “Love Ain’t Nothin’.” Palmer is another big hitter who joined Duke in Rose Royce and has played with many well-known acts.
XAVIER MILLER
Performance: Miller was on fire, feeding off the crowd’s frenzy. He was dancing and grooving to all the tunes, regardless of the situation. There were some technical difficulties on the first tune, but he waved it off and moved forward, and that set the pace for the rest of the evening. Duke was on point from the get-go, as well as Palmer, and together they put out a respectable show.
PIERCE BROCHETTI
Web: xaviermillerofficial.com Contact: xaviermillermusic@gmail.com Players: Xavier Miller, guitar, vocals; Duke, bass; Danny Palmer, drums
Summary: Xavier Miller is a solid musical act who still has a few tricks up his sleeve. He pulled out a solid guitar solo on “There I Was” that might have blistered his fretboard. Good solid rock & roll all around with some radio-worthy tunes waiting to be heard, like the pretty “Rain” and the ballad “Little Darling.” Animated, unique and with very good vocals, Miller has it going on. – Pierce Brochetti
SUPERGLOOM
The Echo Los Angeles, CA
YRENE RAMIREZ
naturally through odd time signatures and polyrhythms to make the whole band’s sound accessible. As guitarists Betrand Vellky and Drew Aron lay the foundations for their wall of sound, keyboardist Peter Doherty paints pastel soundscapes to complete the spell. Vocally, the group shares lead vocal duties across the whole set. Each song plays to that singers’ strength, creating an engaging and cohesive sound. Drew Aron’s and Betrand Vellky’s vocals mesmerize over a shoegazy foundation in “Glass Ajar”, spiced with jazzy influences. Keyboardist Peter Doherty brings a soaring, Muse-like influence to the more epic numbers and did a stunning performance on their closing tune, “EONA."
Contact: Shane Graham supergloomband@ gmail.com Web: supergl00m.bandcamp.com Players: Shane Graham, drums; Betrand Vellky, guitar and vocals; Peter Doherty, keys and vocals; Ethan Walden, bass; Drew Aron, guitar and vocals
fusing elements of prog and alternative rock to create a lysergic, kaleidoscopic experience of hooks and grooves. The band elevated the recordings to another level during their live performance. “Old Friend” packed a punch, driven by bassist Ethan Walden and drummer Shane Graham. The synth-laden “Cycles” hypnotized the crowd, with haunting vocals soaring over the swimming texture of guitars.
Material: Celebrating the release of their EP, Immaterial, supergloom (sic) took The Echo by storm with their unique blend of psych rock,
Musicianship: Masterful musicians, every link in supergloom is strong. Graham and Walden weave catchy, danceable grooves, shifting
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Performance: The Echo is an excellent venue for this band. Immersed in live projections, the overall performance was well thought out and professional. Frequently bombastic, occasionally introspective, they took the audience on a journey through time and space. From their opening number, “Cut the Ties,” the band set the tone with high energy, lush tunes that got the audience moving. Each track follows a journey of its own, shifting through sections with builds and drops, always keeping the listener engaged. Singer-guitarist Drew Aron takes the band to its most intimate moment at the start of “Glass Ajar” and then quickly vamps the energy right back up to 11 on the chorus. Summary: This band’s stellar recordings are even better live. The experience becomes larger than even the band itself, with a captivated audience swaying to the collective consciousness of the sound and vision. These guys are definitely a band to watch. – Ian Stahl
TANNER USREY El Rey Theatre Los Angeles, CA
Contact: Jessica.Nall@atlanticrecords.com Web: site.tannerusreymusic.com Material: Opening with his trademark gravelly country sound and gorgeous vocal timbre, Tanner Usrey played to an excited, happy crowd in a 30-minute set in Los Angeles (opening for Ian Munsick). “Come Back Down” brought a warm, vocal feel to ease into the set, with “Til The Morning Light” bringing punchier
JOSH BEECH
control. Melodic new ballad, “Who I am” shared great octave leaps and storytelling with lyrics, “self-destruction at best” and “do you like the way I make you feel…or just the way I sing?” Syrupy ballad, “Last Goodbye” added melancholy, while “Josephine” revealed fuller, rounder vocal tone and invitational storytelling with lyrics, “her veins they look like tracks all across her skin; she used to be an angel, but she traded that for sin.”
vocals and lyrics (including the line “You’re trouble with a Bible verse tattoo. I know you read about me and you know that I’m bad news”), stronger projection, beautiful bluesy melismas, and some more upbeat strumming. Musicianship: A down-to-earth demeanor made for an easy-to-invest-in show. Usrey has the songwriting goods, and a straightforward approach to the guitar, while bringing a unique vocal sound and feel to his singing, with a gentle country vibrato and great breath
Performance: Having garnered millions of streams on Spotify following the release of 2019’s Medicine Man (“Come Back Down” and “Beautiful Lies” have reached almost 20 million streams each), 2021 brought the release of the SÕL Sessions EP (with “The Light” added to the Season 4 finale of Yellowstone). Usrey’s raw songwriting and lowkey, approachable attitude create a fun, engaging show atmosphere. Summary: Show closer “Beautiful Lies” added lovely phrasing and control, highlighted with a long-held, emphatic vibrato note. Delivering relatable, transparent lyrics, like “Oh, I won’t beg you to stay, I guess you wouldn’t anyway. … I know you’re leaving, walking out that door, and I can see the heartbreak in your eyes,” he subtly commands attention from the audience. Between tales of heartbreak and addiction, deception, love, lust, loss, and redemption, Usrey’s vocals are gritty and soulful, and he is refreshingly direct in his lyrics and presence. – Andrea Beenham
Nublu New York, NY Contact: fiona@thebloomeffect.com Web: waterseedmusic.com Players: Lou Hill, founder, bandleader, composer, drummer; Rahim Glaspy, vocals; Ten, vocals; Jentleman Sharp, keyboards, vocals; Grant Hudson, guitar; Willie Martin, bass; Robert Ramson, sax; Cinese Love, flute; Greg Banks, Flagboy Giz, special guests
Musicianship: The various grooves and continuous high energy the band maintains keeps the crowd thoroughly engaged. Hill sets
WATER SEED
the tone while offering a few tasty drum solos. Other band members also have their own solo moments while Glaspy, Ten, and Love, the three fronting band members, keep the focus on vocals and staging.
Performance: The band mixes it up by trading off lead singers and adding choreographed moves, matching the music note for note. To further drive home the New Orleans flavor,
MARK SHILOWICH
Material: It was all about New Orleans at Nublu’s on New York City’s Lower East Side. This energetic mashup of R&B, funk, and jazz, is reminiscent of acts like Rick James, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Sly And The Family Stone. Dubbed “Future Funk,” Water Seed is currently spreading Nola culture throughout the world, working with the Mayor’s Office of New Orleans and the NOLA Office of Cultural Economy. The material is uplifting, life-affirming and flat out danceable, characterized by tight grooves and notable theatrics. “Open Sesame,” encourages us to reach out and grab that brass ring because tonight is your night: Don’t you be afraid to be/ all the things that you want to be/close your eyes and count to three/open sesame. Slowing down the pace is the more R&B sultry love ballad “Rest Of My Life.” You’re the one I finally found/ the one I’m looking for/…I’ll do the time/I’ll be with you the rest of my life.
special guest Flagboy Giz, dressed in authentic full Mardi Gras Indian regalia, performed three indigenous numbers. Summary: Water Seed are true collaborators. They work well off each other while taking full advantage of their individual time in the spotlight. They have charted on Billboard and recently released a new EP entitled Sounds Of The Wasteland. - Ellen Woloshin
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– J. MICHAEL DOLAN
Partnering With The Future 21 Ways AI Can Elevate Your Music Career
I
n an era where technology continues to reshape the creative landscape, the fusion of artificial intelligence and creativity is yielding transformative possibilities for musicians worldwide. From marketing, to composing, to revolutionizing production, to audience engagement, AI is emerging as an indispensable “personal assistant” for artists seeking to update their toolkit, while they upgrade their mindset. This is important because a smart conversation about AI being your enemy cannot be complete without including AI as your partner! That said, here’s a list of 21 suggestions that scratches the surface of what is possible when you mix human talent and creativity with artificial intelligence: 1. Songwriting, Composition and Arrangement •U nlimited AI-generated ideas for original music compositions and melodies. •A ssistance in creating complex musical arrangements. •A ssistance in exploring new harmonies and chord progressions. •A I-generated ideas and suggestions for rhymes, lyrics, phrases, and song titles. 2. Real-time Collaboration •R eal-time AI-powered collaboration tools for remote songwriting. •L ive, AI-powered collaborative sessions with fellow musicians. •A I generated musical ideas and suggestions to inspire collaborators. 3. Instrument Recommendation •A I suggestions for adding new or different instruments to your music based on your style and preferences. 4. Sheet Music Generation •A I transcription of music to scores, and songs to sheet music. 5. Audio Fingerprinting and Copyright Infringement •A I-powered tools can identify unauthorized use of your music across all platforms.
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6. Royalty Tracking •A utomating royalty calculations and distribution. 7. Music Production •A I-automated mixing and mastering processes. • Intelligent audio enhancement. •R eal-time audio processing for live performances. 8. Remixing and Mashups •A I-assisted remixing of existing tracks. •C reative mashup suggestions using AI analysis. 9. Music Video Creation •A I-assisted video editing and effects. •A utomatic scene detection and synchronization. 10. Performance Improvement •A I real-time performance feedback and coaching. •V irtual rehearsal accompaniment. 11. Virtual Concerts and Events •A I-generated visual effects for live performances. •V irtual reality experiences for remote fans. 12. Audio Sampling and Remixing •A I-generated audio samples and loops. •A utomating the process of sample clearance. 13. Adaptive Set lists •A I-assisted creation of dynamic set lists that suit your audience’s preferences, gender, age, and energy levels. 14. Music Marketing •A I-generated ad copy and marketing content. •S ocial media post scheduling and optimization. •A I lists of venues and contacts.
15. Market Analysis •P redicting trends and popular genres using AI analytics. • I dentifying target audience preferences. •A nalyzing streaming and download data to optimize marketing strategies. 16. Fan Engagement •A I-driven chatbots for personalized interactions with fans. •A nalyzing social media data to understand fan sentiment. • I dentifying fan demographics for targeted promotions. 17. Tour Planning •A I-compiled lists of where to play (whether it’s in town or cross country), route optimization, scheduling gigs and planning tours. 18. A&R (Artists and Repertoire) • I dentifying promising emerging artists through AI analysis. •P redicting potential hits based on trends, patterns, seasons, and timing. 19. Contacts, Companies & Services •A I generated lists of artists, companies, venues, studios, services, etc. in any city, town, village, or country in the world. 20. Vocal Coaching •A I-driven vocal analysis and feedback to improve singing technique. 21. Music Education •A I-driven adaptive learning platforms catering to individual skill levels. Once again, this list only scratches the surface of what is possible when you mix human talent and creativity with artificial intelligence. J. MICHAEL DOLAN is the founder and former CEO of Music Connection magazine. He is also a best-selling author, beloved blogger, and private consultant to artists and entrepreneurs. He can be reached at: www.jmichaeldolan.com
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Even after a decade since their introduction, the K Family of loudspeakers, subwoofers and line arrays continues to be the standard for performance, quality, reliability and real, lasting value. With well over a million sold (and counting), it’s the world’s most beloved loudspeaker line. Visit qsc.com/k.2 to learn more.
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