Madalyn's Blog

by Madalyn Sklar

What drives your music? When did you first know you had to do this thing called music or bust?

Hmm...those are good questions! What drives my music? Well, I have always been inspired by music, since I could remember radio, musicals, MTV, I awe-struck by music, fascinated by music--it's not quite something that I can put my finger on, rather I find that music is a vehicle for me to explore. Music gives me permission to feel and to be in touch with my inner-being. I am first drawn to the chords, the beat, the vibe of a song and I am last drawn to the lyrics. Nine times out of ten, I'm not sure what a song may even be lyrically saying until I've made it a point to focus on the lyrical content! I know, probably many people are just the opposite and that's why that first lyric line of a song can make or break somebody's desire to hear the rest. With me, though, I am initially more in tune with using my right-brain to process a song, automatically asking myself, "How does this song make me feel?" With my classical piano background, as well, lyrics weren't really an integral part to the repertoire that I learned, rather interpretation was based more on melody phrasing of the notes. This stuck with me...until I started writing my own music a few years ago and then not only did I intuitively gravitate towards finding chord structures that allowed me to express myself, but I also "woke up" and realized that, "Wow, I have a lot I want to say and I'll be darn if lyrics aren't also important...maybe even more so!" So, to finally answer "What drives my music?" I'd have to officially say the combination of unique and compelling chord structures that allow me to explore the depths of my feelings, combined with the fact that for a long time, my voice was silent, dominated by others...until I went through some life-changing events that compelled me to find my voice and to lyrically speak "me." I have also been wildly driven by the question, "What makes people tick?" One of my favorite subjects is psychology and social psychology, so I find that I enjoy writing about people.

Describe your music style and name three musicians you have been inspired by and why.

My musical style is indie-pop-rock mixed with some modern-classical chord-structures. To my surprise as well, I have written with some jazzy chords, too, and those have turned out to be my favorite songs! Go figure, as I am primarily a musical lover of alternative-pop, grunge, radio hits and anything that's heavy :) I like loud, "balls to the wall" (pardon the expression!) music. I'm thinking, though, that my jazzy influence came from my love of soundtracks and Broadway musicals as a kid. Three musicians or artists that have greatly inspired me are: 1) Tori Amos for her stunning, stunning piano presentation mixed with compelling, thought-provoking lyrical content. Wow! I wanted to "be her." 2) U2 for their absolute dedication, musical prowess and gifted ability to "make an arena sing in peace." I also admire their vision to unite, their fearless approach to politics and their attempt to merge earthly "desires and destructions" with an outer-worldly approach. They have also managed to stay together and in a world where many things seem to be falling apart, I applaud that. As well, as a young child whose Irish, Air Force Pilot father was absent from my life, U2 filled this emotional space--their earliest albums some of their best. And they've always worked with tremendous producers! 3) Well, for number three, I'm going to combine a few, a) Lenny Kravitz, b) Seal and c) Soundtracks. While there is not a whole lot of correlation between the three (LOL!), I have to single-handedly say that without a doubt, I love Lenny Kravitz--I think that his music and his style rock! Amazing artist. Seal--wow, what an incredible voice, gifted and uplifting...beautiful, but with sadness. Soundtracks--what can I say--I adore soundtracks! A few of my favorites have been "Strange Days," "9 1/2 Weeks" and "A Chorus Line." I also have to mention Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Dinosaur Jr. AND Urge Overkill (love them!)--for my generation, these bands did it for me, too.

What's your ideal venue atmosphere?

Intimate, as it ups the ante. Although, my dream is to play an arena show! Haha! I know--but I have this love for the way the crews move in and out of these shows, they set up imagination and when the lights go down and the show comes alive---wow, fabulous!

Describe how your music career has evolved since you first started performing.

Since I first started performing, my music career has expanded in the sense that what i bring to the live setting is somewhat different than my recorded work, so in essence, people who see me live see a different side of me.

How would you describe the music scene in your area?

Well, living in Los Angeles, the music scene is vast! As well, there are many of us here who are trying to pursue our dreams and play for the love of playing as often as we can. I find the hardest part is that for me personally, I want to be out there supporting other artists all of the time, alas much of the time I am also playing that same night, or rehearsing, or writing...and I think that many of us do the best we can to support each other, as well as try to gain our own audience and following.

What was the inspiration for your latest release?

Well, hard times--emotionally and financially! I was going through life-changing events that I couldn't understand, I had so many questions, I didn't know what I was doing, what my role was---I wanted to ask and answer the "why" question of it all. I was focused on writing about my inner-dialog mixed with my external experiences and I think when I aptly titled my album, "To Be Human," when I look back, I realize that title summed it all up. "To Be Human" was the question and the answer. Through it all, I found some resolve. Writing my album was one of the most beautiful experiences--out of the pain comes light.

What do you think is number one for a musician to think about before preparing for a CD project and do you have any tips on saving time in the studio?

Your songs! By all means, if there is anything that I have learned over the past couple of years, it would be to not be afraid to "face your own music." Take a look at your song structure, your opening lyric line, are there any details you can add, or change to make the story even that much better. Write from your heart and don't be afraid to say what you feel. Go to song critiques and get feedback BEFORE you go into the studio. I would say the number one ingredient in preparing to record your CD project is pre-production! As well, I might add, that for me, at least...if I hadn't had the best producer in the world (haha, I really believe that!), I'm not sure what my CD would have sounded like. Wow, though, a good engineer / producer can make all the difference in your final product. As for saving time in the studio, I feel that comes back to pre-production on the songs themselves. ALSO...one of the best things I did as a singer-songwriter, was that when I went into the studio, I was not "stuck" on exactly how I wanted the songs to sound--it's okay to leave some of your chords open--allow other players who come in to do their own interpretation--that brings in the magic. I firmly believe that when I work with somebody who is also creative, be it a producer, my graphic designer, a business partner--I WANT them to bring their own style and ingredients to the mix. So, in essence what I'm saying is "trust." Trust them to do their job!

What makes or breaks a musician just starting out in your opinion?

I think every musician has to learn to find a place of trust within themselves. This can be a very tough business. I know, I've been on the business side of it, worked for labels...I've seen how tough it can be. I am now on the artist side and I think, for me, the one thing that has been the toughest lesson to learn, to grow from and to build on is: Trust yourself, be true to you. Nothing else matters! "They" can go take a long walk! Haha! Love who you are because at the end of each song, each day--you have to live with you.

Describe your toughest moments in your quest for a music career and tell us how you overcame them.

The toughest moments for me in my music career quest have been balancing the left brain and right brain activities it takes today to really develop your own career! Today is so much about the 360 concept--being your own business, too!

What advice would you offer up and coming artists that get discouraged other than don't give up?

Network. Network. Network. Get out there. Meet people. Attend trade-shows and music conferences. Get feedback. Help others when you have learned the ropes! Have a plan A. Have a plan B, too! Remember your passion.

Tell us something you want the music world to know about you.

Well, I'm really excited that I just got singed with Gotham Records Music Placement! Woot! And on a completely different note, my biggest dream has always been in the International realm. I have always wanted to work for the UN, or work on peace-keeping missions, I have always wanted to help bridge communication gaps between people, nations.

What have you gotten out of being a member of the GoGirls community?

GoGirls Rock!! I have so enjoyed the community aspect of GoGirls--it is truly a fabulous gathering of female talent and artists and one of the most inspiring aspects of GoGirls from my observations and experience is that each member cares about their own community, their surroundings--they give back and work together to support each other. I remember the first time I saw Madalyn before I knew she was the founder of GoGirls--I had seen her on some instructional video talking about how to make your Facebook artist page work--LOL! I was so completely enthralled with this "cool chick" who seemed to know what she was talking about in the technical world (as that is my blind side) and she had it so together and then when I discovered GoGirls and realized that she was also the "fearless leader," I said to myself, "Wow, well, this has to be one helluva organization!" And it is!

Learn more about Kathleen at:
http://www.kathleenblackwell.com/
http://www.myspace.com/kathleenblackwell

Copyright © 2009 Madalyn Sklar/GoGirlsMusic.com

Madalyn Sklar is a music business coach & consultant, blogger, social networks expert and author. She has spent over 13 years helping independent musicians and music business professionals achieve greater success in the biz. Her motto is: working smarter not harder. She also founded GoGirlsMusic.com, the oldest + largest online community of indie women musicians.

Madalyn's Sites:
GoGirlsMusic.com
Social Networks for Musicians

Labels: gogirls interview, Kathleen Blackwell

by Madalyn Sklar

What drives your music? When did you first know you had to do this thing called music or bust?

From a very young age, I've wanted to do music. I hardly watched TV; I listened to music instead, fantasizing being on stage, but I was extremely shy and had severe stage freight. I would write lyrics to future songs, sing them in my room or the shower, and just kept hoping I could be good enough and fearless enough to get on stage someday. Thanks to living in Japan and being dragged to karaoke bars, I got used to singing in front of people. I was a late bloomer. When I started my first band, there was no turning back.

Describe your music style and name three musicians you have been inspired by and why.

I tend to weave my genres; it's not a conscious thing, but I chalk it up to my multi-racial background, growing up on R&B and rock. I like to sing in a bluesy way, I like to write stuff I can dance to, and I love hard guitars, bass and drums that I can headbang to.

As for my songwriting style, I wrote journals for years, so that autobiographical style/viewpoint seems to be prevalent in my lyrics.

Three musicians... difficult to limit to three. But Living Colour was particularly inspirational because, for one, it was the first concert I'd ever been to. I didn't know who they were, a friend invited me, and I was blown away. Of course for their unbelievable power and musicianship, but also because I'd never known there were African-Americans like me who loved rock music. A big eye-opener, and very liberating.

I really love Pink for her songwriting, her resilience and humor, and I like the way she (and her producers) can do different genres on the same album and make the album sound totally cohesive.

I love Chaka Khan for her singing range, her attitude, you name it. She can sing any genre, she can sing any cover and make it her own. She's an R&B legend, but to me, she's a funky rock chick. I want her to do a rock album so badly.

There are so many more...

What's your ideal venue atmosphere?

I'm sure everyone says this, but a great sound system with competent people to run it! I did the bar band thing for years, and from that experience I've learned that I love a venue where people come to discover something new, and actually appreciate it. I don't mean silently listening, though. I like an active crowd, dancing, headbanging, responding in some way. And if they sing the hook back to you, ahhhh.....

Describe how your music career has evolved since you first started performing.

When I first started, I knew absolutely nothing about music (!) and had no idea who I was as an artist. I just basically got on stage and sang cover songs I liked. I let my band handle everything else, from the arrangement to setting up the PA for rehearsals. I certainly didn't know anything about the business/marketing/promotion end. Now, I know my voice, I know how I sing and what types of arrangements complement me. I do my homework, am prepared, keep up with the business/marketing/promotion, and let my existence known to various bookers, venues, and others in the industry. I'm my best and most enthusiastic cheerleader.

How would you describe the music scene in your area?

Like most cities, venue attendance is down, including in Osaka. But there is definitely a market for "niche" type artists. The Japanese like quirky stuff and are very group-oriented, so once you find a group of fans, word will spread quickly, and they'll be loyal to the end. The underground scene seems to rule right now. My music isn't particularly quirky, but I am unusual enough in that I'm a plus-size foreign woman with a huge afro doing rock in English, so I stand out, so I guess that puts me into a niche. I've been getting more attention lately, so I'm looking forward to the next several months to see where this new attention leads.

What was the inspiration for your latest release?

My latest (May 08) and only release (so far), "The Blazing Heart", represented my determination. I'd spent years trying to get my music together, but it always seemed like my music would never see the light of day. It took years to find someone who understood my vision and could arrange the songs the way I wanted, or even surpass my vision. Of the four songs on the EP, two are older songs I'd written years ago; the other two were new at the time. So I combined the old me and the new me, and gave it the title "The Blazing Heart" to remind myself of how far I've come, and to remind myself to keep going.

What do you think is number one for a musician to think about before preparing for a CD project and do you have any tips on saving time in the studio?

Fortunately, I hired a very organized producer, and I learned a lot from him. He had a time schedule, he knew exactly how he wanted the song to go, the exact drum pattern, the exact tone of the guitar, and he hired experienced session musicians who could take direction. He did a lot in pre-production. So this saved a lot of time.

As for preparation for a CD project, I think the number one thing is to know your song and how you want to play it and sing it. Any song you plan to record, you should really have it down pat, by playing it live as many times as possible, not just in band rehearsals. New ideas - lyrics, phrasing, melody, chords - will always come. In a live situation, friends can give honest feedback, and you can see how the crowd responds to certain songs. The more you perform a song, the tweaks get worked out, so the smoother the studio session will be. So it's best to go into the studio with a song that you're confident in; that you'll be satisfied with. Because once it's recorded, that's it.

What makes or breaks a musician just starting out in your opinion?

The ability to handle the fact that not everyone will like your music. Or the courage to venture out of your comfort zone and perform at a venue in a different state or somewhere far, in front of total strangers who aren't into you at all. You really need to be thick-skinned. It's cliche but true: Only the strong survive.

Describe your toughest moments in your quest for a music career and tell us how you overcame them.

A great opportunity that never came to be... Thanks to a GoGirls opp, I was to be featured in a print magazine called "Figure" earlier this year. But the magazine went bankrupt, so my feature/interview was never published. That kind of exposure meant so much to me. Really broke my heart.

Lots of money wasted/lost on a promoter who I realized didn't really promote me at all, during my acoustic tour of L.A. last November. That made me feel really stupid, totally violated and taken advantage of.

Both the good and (especially) the bad are learning tools. What you do with the new knowledge is the important thing. I know I won't make the same mistake next time.

These setbacks made me tougher, and made me change my strategy. So I decided to market myself where I live and perform (Osaka), even though I wasn't sure the Japanese audiences would dig me singing originals in English. But it turned out to be a very good decision, as things are really picking up, and I feel very confident and excited for the first time in a long time.

What advice would you offer up and coming artists that get discouraged other than don't give up?

You really have to do your homework, not just the performing side, but the business side. It takes patience, time and consistency. Do research. Read books. Read biographies of famous artists, to see what they went through before hitting the big time. Be prepared for the setbacks and enjoy the big opportunities, but with a grain of salt. When something doesn't go your way, you have to be able to say to yourself, "That opportunity wasn't right for me," instead of thinking "I'm not good enough." You can't sit back and wait someone to "discover" you and help you. You have to make it happen for yourself. Even when things look bleak, or don't turn out as you'd hoped, you have to keep your focus, keep believing in yourself, keep selling yourself and take control, of both your career and your emotions.

Tell us something you want the music world to know about you.

I am the Rock n' Roll Soul Chick!!

I'm working on material for my next CD project, and one of those songs will be used for my first music video. Hopefully I can shoot it by next Spring. The material this time will have simpler arrangements but with a harder feel, perhaps more blues-rock/hard rock, and the lyrics...hmmmmm....I'll need a "Parental Advisory" label for this one! LOL.

Would love to visit my hometown Philadelphia (go Phils!) next summer and be able to do a few shows.

What have you gotten out of being a member of the GoGirls community?

Though I live in Japan and as of yet there's no chapter here (I've been thinking of starting one, actually), and I can't really fly out to do showcases, I still think GoGirls is such a valuable resource. Members offered advice when I was planning my tour of L.A. last year, and I even met a few face-to-face while there. What a cool group of chicks! :-) There are always new opportunities to check out and new things to discover from the websites and group discussions. Even though I'm far away, I never feel alone. Sounds corny, but true. I always recommend GoGirls.

More on Davina Robinson at these sites:

WEBSITE http://www.davinarobinson.com/
FACEBK www.facebook.com/davinarobinsonmusic
YOUTUBE www.youtube.com/rocknrollsoulchick
CD BABY www.cdbaby.com/cd/davinarobinson
MYSPACE www.myspace.com/davinarobinson

Copyright © 2009 Madalyn Sklar

Madalyn Sklar is a music business coach & consultant, blogger, social networks expert and author. She has spent over 13 years helping independent musicians and music business professionals achieve greater success in the biz. Her motto is: working smarter not harder. She also founded GoGirlsMusic.com, the oldest + largest online community of indie women musicians.

Madalyn's Sites:
GoGirlsMusic.com
Social Networks for Musicians

Labels: Davina Robinson, gogirls interview

by Madalyn Sklar



What drives your music?

Not too sure, there is something within that keeps telling me to not stop this... seem to always end up at music somehow?

When did you first know you had to do this thing called music or bust?

Think it goes beyond music, I discovered early on I wanted to be center stage, even though I am very very shy and always screaming inside... when it comes to switching into performance mode I just know I feel it and able to own it...

I have felt that way since elementary school plays and playing cello with the UT String Project concerts.

I just have always felt very comfortable performing whether it is dance, acting or music

Describe your music style and name three musicians you have been inspired by and why.

As far as my band Scorpio Rising, the music style is very Motown slash Rock style.

Me personally - I dig music period... and hate trying to label or separate into specific genres..

I can feel deep into music like some old school Pink Floyd or King Crimson to hot driven aggressive Rob Halford with Judas Priest... Rob is very inspiring he is so great. So hard to narrow down to 3 individuals when I have been inspired by maybe just one song from a band to an entire record from 1st to last song... but as far as power and success Madonna is pretty darn cool to admire and be inspired from. I have always said that Gene Simmons was a good inspiration, that dude just keeps pumping out the products in so many forms it is insane but as far Gene the bass player in the band and his character - fuckin’ rox, I love that stuff!

What's your ideal venue atmosphere?

As far as a music venue and performing... good PA with monitors and a sound engineer that knows the room and really runs sound while you play.

Scorpio Rising will play to any cliental and with any other band on a bill.

Playing a venue where the staff does not act as if you are a pain in the ass and waste of time is always really nice.

I don’t need a lot of bells and whistles for a club to be cool to me.

Describe how your music career has evolved since you first started performing.

I started performing in a band called Retarted Elf back in 89-90 to 00-01. We took ourselves serious and made a name for our selves. We were making $1500.00 guarantees at clubs across Texas on a regular basis... now... things have changed and people don’t go out to see live music as much, so hard to say it has evolved in a growing sense ahahah seems to have definitely changed though... its all about different media these days and what I see is how it affects the music career in how it is marketed, distributed and packaged now. Personally as a singer I have evolved more in the studio and perfecting my sound, I am always learning. The music career seems to be spinning.

How would you describe the music scene in your area?

Austin will always be one of the coolest cities to live and perform in. Austin is going through a lot of growth changes and the music scene is affected in many ways, however there always seems to be a place to perform but just not as much local support as you would think for the “music capitol” which means no money... no pay.

There are too many places that want to do live music but don’t know what they are getting in to... expect you to perform for no money and bring a PA! These places have no business trying to do live music in my opinion for some reason a lot of places expect to get rich off booking bands... but don’t support the bands they book.with advertising.... no promotion at all... sort of a loose - loose situation.

There are plenty of artists in Austin, not running short on that, just running out of good vibe venues to play with good vibe staff and location that know how to conduct business right.

What was the inspiration for your latest release?

To finish a project! Our inspiration was not having anything new and we had to get something out there with our new drummer!

The last CD was with our new drummer - having new blood is very inspiring.

What do you think is number one for a musician to think about before preparing for a CD project and do you have any tips on saving time in the studio?

#1 Homework - know your parts. The worse thing is to half ass it and then when listening to the final product saying, "oh man wish I would have done this or that."

You will probably end up with a box of CD’s sitting there for a long time so when ordering your numbers order in bulk to keep cost down but don’t get too crazy, unless you have 1000 pre orders... do not get more than that!

Have your art ready to go - that can hold your project up for ever.

What makes or breaks a musician just starting out in your opinion?

Seen more break than make to be honest... distractions and additions will always bring the musician down.

Just starting out - deal with it... you will be hungry starving... no money... struggling better have thick skin and be able to handle criticism. Be ready to have your heart broken and turn it into stone…hide the weakness!

Describe your toughest moments in your quest for a music career and tell us how you overcame them.

It has been tough the entire time. When my band Retarted Elf stopped playing that was tough to deal with... when there was a burning desire to rock the stage it made me get Scorpio Rising up and running in more full force. Scorpio Rising dealt with having our drummer quit right after finishing our CD “Vain Bastard” for release... that sucked... having to back up and put it in a different gear... but we managed to find another drummer and have put out a CD with him on it which is very cool

What advice would you offer up and coming artists that get discouraged other than don't give up?

Thick skin... and don’t show gaze, give the fans what they came for - practice.

Tell us something you want the music world to know about you.

I am Madame Scorpio here to rock with you.

What have you gotten out of being a member of the GoGirls community?

Couple shows, we are playing the GoGirlsMusicFest at Momos Oct 27th

Would like everyone to know we’re playing at Cactus Café in the Texas Union on UT campus Friday Oct. 2 - Wonderbred’s bday party!!! Would love some gogirl support!!

More on Scorpio Rising at www.myspace.com/scorpiorising and www.facebook.com/scorpiorising

Copyright © 2009 Madalyn Sklar

Madalyn Sklar is a music business coach & consultant, blogger, social networks expert and author. She has spent over 13 years helping independent musicians and music business professionals achieve greater success in the biz. Her motto is: working smarter not harder. She also founded GoGirlsMusic.com, the oldest + largest online community of indie women musicians.

Madalyn's Sites:
GoGirlsMusic.com
Social Networks for Musicians

Labels: gogirls interview, Madame Scorpio, Scorpio Rising

by Madalyn Sklar

What drives your music? When did you first know you had to do this thing called music or bust?

I think two main things drive my music. First I'm driven by the song writing process and the never-ending quest to write that "perfect" song. I love the potential and endless creative possibilities of not knowing what you are going to come up with next and always feeling there is room to improve. Second, I'm driven by the pure love of performing and being part of a band. After my last band, Slushpuppy, broke-up and my husband and I were busy having a baby, I thought I'd "take a break" from music.-- at least the performing aspects -- and it just felt like a lost some core part of me. A friend of mine even said "It's like Dawn isn't Dawn anymore" -- and that was my wake up call that I needed to get back on the saddle !

Describe your music style and name three musicians you have been inspired by and why.

My musical style is pure rock and roll -- classic rock, alternative rock, "pop" rock...basically anything that has distorted, chunky guitars and a great beat and strong memorable melody. Since I'm the lead singer, guitar player and main songwriter of the band, I have different musical influences for each piece -- but if I had to name top three: U2 , Foo Fighters and Pat Benatar --- all three of these have influenced me vocally, guitar-wise and in songwriting.

What's your ideal venue atmosphere?

My ideal venue is any place where there is an appreciative and attentive crowd that is there to really listen to what you are doing. I've played festivals/ venues with hundreds (even a couple thousand) of people and sometimes you don't have as satisfying of a gig as you do in the club where you played to only 20 people...because the audience of 20 was more attentive and there to really give you a chance and listen to your music...

Describe how your music career has evolved since you first started performing.

I've gotten a lot pickier with the gigs that my band will play. This is not due to being a "diva" or anything...but really more just a function of the fact that I am juggling a lot more in my life these days (a demanding day job and raising a family) and therefore have only limited, precious time to devote to my music. Also every time the band plays, I have to pay my side players and I have to pay a babysitter since my husband is in the band too --- so we really need to be careful about how much we spend vs. what we are making with the band. Sometimes I miss those days with my former band where we would literally just jump at any and every chance to play -- sometimes playing 4 or 5 gigs a week. Then on the other hand, I think that is also a sure fire way for an unsigned band to "burn out" -- these days you need to be more strategic about where , when and how you play. I also do a lot more acoustic solo gigs -- these are great b/c they don't cost me anything and I can have a greater flexibility to just show up somewhere on short notice. I used to be uncomfortable doing things without the support of my band behind me. Playing stripped down you feel much more vulnerable when you used to having all those loud amps and drums around you... but out of necessity I've forced myself to get comfortable doing it this way and it's been really good for me and well-received.

The other way my musical career has evolved is that I no longer am chasing around that always elusive major record label deal. The biggest mistake I with my prior band is that we never officially released a product -- we made "industry demos" and would shop them and then be completely at the mercy of all the labels. We would sell or give away those demos at our shows -- and since they weren't a complete packaged product, we always sold them for like 3 dollars.... we made at least 4 demos over the years and sold a couple thousand of them, but since we never had a UPC code or any way of tracking them...all of that went unnoticed and the money went to buy drinks, etc... instead of being systematically re-invested back into the band. I've learned since then to take more responsibility for the fate of my own career.



How would you describe the music scene in your area?

The music scene in the greater New York metro area is always a difficult nut to crack -- on the one hand, there are a ton of venues to play (especially in the city itself), but on the other hand trying to keep up with which venues are the "hottest" underground places to play is a daunting task. It seems to change weekly ! Secondly, there are just soooo many bands and musicians which makes the scene very crowded and very uneven. The clubs care more about how many people you can bring than how good you are. Quite frankly, it's not a great situation for the music fan -- Think about it, they come to a club to see your band play -- they pay the usually high-priced cover, then buy an overpriced drink, then the venue is usually running behind and the music fan has to endure one or more bad bands before getting to see the band that they came to see. Then the sets are only 35 minutes or so, so usually after that they want to stick around more...but again the band that follows may not be good. This is why what we always try to do is get on a bill with bands we already know -- or better yet, get the venue to let "us" book the entire night. At least this way we can ensure that all the bands are of the same caliber.

I live about 30 minutes outside New York City in a great eclectic town called Maplewood, NJ. There are a lot of musicians and music lovers out there and a bunch of us got together about a year ago to start a musicians collective called "Rock The House" NJ. We rent out the local community center and put on a rock show compromised of all local bands. It's all ages, so folks bring their kids. It's a great alternative to having to go trek into the city to see a rock show (and endure what I was talking about before). We've done 5 installments so far and have had over 200 attendees at each. We've just started to branch out and invite out of town talent onto each bill to keep the bill's fresh and not over exposure the same

What was the inspiration for your latest release?

Many of the songs on the latest CD were the result of personal heartbreak -- but not from a romance as one might think, but actually from the breakup of my former band, Slushpuppy. That band was like my family. In fact, each of the members (all male) were like my songs... since it was before I had any children of my own, I definitely looked over and cared about those boys like I was their mother (or at least older sister :) When the lead guitarist and bass player when behind my back and started jointly plotting to leave the band -- I saw it as a real betrayal and was devastated. They had both joined the band after the group had already been out there for number of years, they came in at a time when the band already had label interest, had carte blanche playing the top venues in the airing, and was getting radio play. Looking back, I don't think they realized how lucky they were and how much effort it takes to get a project to even that level. They left for the promises of "greener pastures" --- which of course never ended up materializing. The story is actually quite tragic b/c my former bass player ended up in a sever depression that he was never able to climb out of....and in fact, he is no longer of this earth because of that sickness. Looking back on it now with clearer vision, I can see that it was all just self-sabotage behavior on his part , but at the time I took it all VERY personally. Songs like "Misunderstood", "We Are" and "See Me Fall" were all written as a direct response to their actions. At the same time this was happening, my two best-childhood friends (who married each other in 1990) decided to get divorced after 14 years of marriage..... so... let's just say there's a lot of darkness on that record, which is a little weird for me now because I'm in a much happier place. Some fans have commented on the disconnect between my upbeat, positive outlook and the dark, aggressive lyrical content on the CD, but that is where I was in my life then and an artist can only do their best to represent what is going on in their lives (and in their heads) at that moment. I'm now in the midst of writing many more upbeat and happy songs. I have a new song called "You Are My Everything" that is written for my husband (been married 15 years) and that's getting a lot of good response.

What do you think is number one for a musician to think about before preparing for a CD project and do you have any tips on saving time in the studio?

Do a lot of pre-production ! Let a non-invested third party expert (e.g. a producer) listen to your tunes and comment on them. As songwriters and musicians we get so used to hearing things a certain way sometimes you can't see accurately what the song may need --- e.g. removing a verse, adding another chorus, shortening a part... etc... I also think that we are so lucky today to have such powerful digital editing tools -- and given that a musician should really be focused on capturing the energy of their performance as opposed to hitting every note accurately. Those little errors can be fixed with the magic of the editing... but no amount of editing can capture the "magic of the moment".

What makes or breaks a musician just starting out in your opinion?

I can think of two things that will break a musician: 1) trying to keep up with the "jones" and following trends in the industry as opposed to playing what is "authentic" for that artist and 2) thinking that you can just concentrate on the "music" part of the music business and leave all the business stuff for someone else to do.

Describe your toughest moments in your quest for a music career and tell us how you overcame them.

Well the Slushpuppy break up was definitely probably the toughest moment. We were getting played on KRock, had Jagermeister sponsoring us and talking about adding us to the next Ozzfest... we had lots of buzz and momentum behind the band, and when the guys all up and quit I was so hurt and angry I just didn't think I had any fight left in me to keep going it alone. I needed to take a break and really look in the mirror and think about what I really wanted from this thing called music. What I found was that I wasn't really being authentic in terms of the music I was writing or playing back then. I was trying to be something I wasn't just to placate the other members of the band (that wanted the music to be really heavy, angst-ridden hard rock). So I decided to retire Slushpuppy and start my current band, NEW DAY DAWN with music that was created on my own terms. Now when I get up on stage, I don't feel like a phony.

What advice would you offer up and coming artists that get discouraged other than don't give up?

I would say if you are pursuing music primarily for the reasons of becoming rich and famous, then you should really take another look at it. There's certainly easier and more guaranteed ways to make a living out there. The best advice I can give is to continue to take a good hard look at yourself and decide whether you are speaking your truth. If you are speaking your truth than your music will resonate with others. Also, redefine success. If you are doing what you love... even if it isn't making you rich or famous... isn't that in and of itself "success" ?

Tell us something you want the music world to know about you.

I'm not only a musician and songwriter, but a corporate lawyer by day...and a wife and mother of a very energetic 4-year old. Specifically, I am the Senior Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs for NBC Universal Television. This means I spend my days negotiating and drafting contracts for multi-million dollar content licensing deals and I also am an adjunct professor at NYU where I teach a course called "Music and The Law". Of course my legal experience certainly helps when I'm doing the "business" side of music, but at the same time it also can be a hindrance. When people hear that I'm an accomplished lawyer, they will usually dismiss my music as just a 'fun hobby' --- that is until they hear it and then I get the surprised "oh my god, you are actually really good ?" I used to try to hide my multi-faceted personality ... but now I'm over that. I am who I am :)

What have you gotten out of being a member of the GoGirls community?

As Madalyn always says, you get out of it what you put into it and to be honest, I have only started really getting involved in GoGirls over the past few months. That said, I'm looking forward to all the wonderful opportunities to gain exposure for my music and establish an ever better support group. Knowing that there is a group of women around the country (and beyond) that all share a similar dream (in one form or another) and all are willing to help each other is really invaluable. I can't wait to get out there and play shows with many of them and to meet many of them! It makes it especially great that we are all women -- I think that as women we have a unique way of seeing and interacting with the world, and we also need each other (especially those of us in the rock genre) since the field is so dominated by men!

Check out the following links for more on New Day Dawn:

http://www.newdaydawnband.com/
www.myspace.com/newdaydawnband
www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/New-Day-Dawn/26363442129?ref=ts
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnyVj0IOSj8&feature=related

Copyright © 2009 Madalyn Sklar

Madalyn Sklar is a music business coach & consultant, blogger, social networks expert and author. She has spent over 13 years helping independent musicians and music business professionals achieve greater success in the biz. Her motto is: working smarter not harder. She also founded GoGirlsMusic.com, the oldest + largest online community of indie women musicians.

Madalyn's Sites:
GoGirlsMusic.com
Social Networks for Musicians

Labels: Dawn Botti, gogirls interview, New Day Dawn

by Madalyn Sklar



What drives your music? When did you first know you had to do this thing called music or bust?

Fortunately, (or unfortunately.... depending on the day) I got infected with the "music bug" at a rather young age. I was playing in a rock band when I was 14 years old and began writing my own material out of frustration for all the covers I was having to play and for the lack of inspiration on popular radio. There really isn't anything I've been more passionate about than writing and playing music... so it's been "bust" from the get-go.

Describe your music style and name three musicians you have been inspired by and why.

It's hard to put music in a genre, I think. I've been called everything from "chick rock" to Euro Americana to alternative folk. I'd like to consider myself a singer/songwriter first, but playing live with a band certainly puts an edgier spin on the lil' folk songs I compose. I'm a huge fan of Chrissy Hynde because she not only rocks, but she is an animal activist and overall kind human being. She really inspires me to strap on my guitar, be feminine, yet give the songs hell when need be. I can't help but love the Rolling Stones. Great songs.... consistency.... legends that just wont stop. Ya gotta love it! Adam Duritz (counting crows) is my favorite songwriter... he fascinates me with his use of words, phrasing, and his melancholy approach.

What's your ideal venue atmosphere?

My expectations have changed drastically over the years.... my ideal atmosphere now is really a good sounding venue with people who love live music and songwriting in general. In the perfect scenario they would also know my material and be able to song along to what they may have heard on the radio or previous shows. I've become a bit burnt out with the club scene ..... I've outgrown having drinks spilled on me half the night and having Lynard Skynard request yelled from the back of the room by the drunkest local.

Describe how your music career has evolved since you first started performing.

It's been a great journey and I've learned so much. Looking back over the past 10 years I do have so much to be grateful for .... I've been promoting my own material...working from an indie label....doing basically my own radio promo and then finally having the opportunity to have a publicist work the latest CD in Europe. I've gone from having my music reviewed in my local hometown newspaper, to having reviews in countries that I can barely translate the language. It's more than exciting and at times seemed surreal.

How would you describe the music scene in your area?

I live in Maine, so the music scene is not as obvious as NYC OR LA... but there are definite opportunities to play and make your mark. We have great venues in New England.... I've lived close to Canada for several years and take the opportunity to tour Atlantic Canada at least once a year. Being in Maine has also forced me to travel a great deal, but it's been a great experience. It's actually quicker for me to fly London than LA anyway- you gotta love that!

What was the inspiration for your latest release?

I think I quit the music business every other day while I was writing this record. I was promoting my Better Days CD and was on the road pretty heavy and feeling like maybe it's not all worth it. I was going through a lot of personal stuff (who isn't right?) and just knew I needed to make some major changes.. professionally and personally. I really love this last CD. If it's my last, I'm very proud of how it ended this extreme adventure. That is why I titled it Laurie Jones... because I think it just about sums up everything. Maybe it should have been called "Meet Laurie Jones". Either way, I'm very happy with it.

What do you think is number one for a musician to think about before preparing for a CD project and and do you have any tips on saving time in the studio?

Plan ahead! Practice, practice, practice..... be prepared when you go in the studio. it saves so much time and money. If your taking a full band with you make sure you're well rehearsed for sure. On another note, be true to yourself and your vision. Recording is so permanent... make sure you're happy with the outcome and stick to your guns.

What makes or breaks a musician just starting out in your opinion?

Attitude is everything! Focus, Focus, Focus!

Describe your toughest moments in your quest for a music career and tell us how you overcame them.

I did the whole Nashville scene and recorded w/ a small label several years before my CD "After the Crash". To make a very long and sad story short... it ended up sour. I was very disappointed... lost a great deal of money and ended up with cases of CDs that I'm not happy with. I was heartbroken for several years over the experience. I was so naive, but gosh was it good for me! It made me understand the music biz a bit more and realize that I was in charge of my own destiny. No one was, or ever will be, handing over anything to me on a silver platter.

What advice would you offer up and coming artists that get discouraged other than don't give up?

I would say that staying positive is so important. What you put out there in the universe is gonna come back to you.... see it, think it... believe it. Ultimately you ARE doing it.. perhaps on a different level than you may be satisfied with, but hell, you're living the dream girl! You're playing your music and have the courage to pursue it. That alone is success in my book.

Tell us something you want the music world to know about you.

I'm currently taking a breather to reassess the next big move and have cut way back on my gigs. I'm loving having the freedom to write new songs right now without the pressure of having to travel and keep up with a hectic tour schedule. I'm rediscovering how much I love being a songwriter... how rewarding it really is... and perhaps the songwriting really IS the best part. I'm working on a new project to touch back on my "folk tendencies" and I'm at a comfort level that I have not felt in years.

What have you gotten out of being a member of the GoGirls community?

It's been a great resource. I've been able to do showcases in other parts of the country... meet fantastic musicians.. network on so many levels. there is so much power in numbers! chicks do rock!

More about Laurie Jones at http://www.myspace.com/lauriejonesband

Copyright © 2009 Madalyn Sklar

Madalyn Sklar is a music business coach & consultant, blogger, social networks expert and author. She has spent over 13 years helping independent musicians and music business professionals achieve greater success in the biz. Her motto is: working smarter not harder. She also founded GoGirlsMusic.com, the oldest + largest online community of indie women musicians.

Madalyn's Sites:
GoGirlsMusic.com
Social Networks for Musicians

Labels: gogirls interview, laurie jones

by Madalyn Sklar



What drives your music? When did you first know you had to do this thing called music or bust?

For me personally, music saved my life in many ways. It is my anti-depressant, my best high, my love, my family. I simply can't live without it. :) For the rest of Rhythm and the Method, the love of music is very strong in each and every band members, especially the lead singer/songwriter Rhythm Turner. Music and creativity just seeps from her pores! Rhythm and the Method is driven by the following belief and mission:

The music we create is meant to awaken human beings to the realization that they themselves hold the key to unlocking their highest potential; that they, as all of us, are living during this certain time, under these certain circumstances, for a very profound reason: We all have deep, individual missions to fulfill in this life. Rhythm and the Method knows that our mission allows us to tap into our own limitless potential through our gifts of song and word. These gifts can (and will) change the world. Political struggle, social change, environmental awareness, and overcoming internal strife: These are topics often exemplified by Rhythm and the Method's poetically passionate lyrics. They signify the desire to contribute to the propagation of positive thinking, peaceful resolution, and the enlightenment of human beings as a whole in this lifetime.

Describe your music style and name three musicians you have been inspired by and why.

Rhythm and the Method's style is rock/blues/folk/funk/indie (in that order ;). So many artists/musicians which have inspired us all, here are a few that come to mind:

- Johnette Napolitano: singer/songwriter/bassist extraordinaire, I saw her live with Concrete Blonde many mexican moons ago and she has continued to awe and inspire me ever since. I also get inspired by her politics and activism, which is a big part of her music & performances.

- Annie DeFranco: This is one of Rhythm Turner's biggest inspirations, for alot of the same reasons above. she's a dynamo on stage and has blazed an amazing trail for independent artists.

- Nancy Wilson: damn that girl can play some guitar! Listen to her solo acoustic stuff and be amazed. Her musicianship has been very underrated in my opinion, and she still jams it out to this day. She was the first female rock guitarist I knew of when I was a kid, and really inspired me toward learning how to play rock guitar through the realization that yes, Girls indeed can ROCK.

What's your ideal venue atmosphere?

The ideal venue is one with a good sound system with an engineer who can run it, good stage lighting, and great vibes from management, staff and patrons. Also, good food is important! It brings in the peeps and allows them to stay longer for the music :) Lastly, the venue should put in at least an equal effort to promoting your shows.

Describe how your music career has evolved since you first started performing.

I started performing in rock bands when I was 18, and been hooked on it ever since. When I first started it was mostly parties organized by friends in a central CA town. Now performing consists of live TV spots, video tapings, and playing venues anywhere from 50 to 1000+ capacity all over Southern California. Rhythm and the Method has been together just over 2 years, and we are just starting to see a noticeable up-tic in publicity and being known as one of the top bands in the area. It took consistency, hard work and promoting to build it up to this point. GoGirls music has helped us tremendously along this road by opening doors, establishing new contacts and broadening our network US wide.

How would you describe the music scene in your area?

San Diego is a great music scene! Lots of diversity in sounds & genres, there's alot of great female singer/songwriter and female-fronted bands around these days too. More than I've ever seen at a given time. We team up frequently for "female bands that rock" type of nights at our residency venues. Of course just like anywhere else, there's some politics, cliques and other obstacles to contend with. Just need ignore, or go over/around them and continue to move forward.

What was the inspiration for your latest release?

We've released one CD so far, the printed copies are sold out but the songs can be purchased/downloaded from amazon.com or itunes.com. The songs on this 6 song EP release were inspired by Rhythm Turner, from social consciousness and matters of the heart.

What do you think is number one for a musician to think about before preparing for a CD project and and do you have any tips on saving time in the studio?

Number one is practice practice practice and nail down the songs prior to recording them! :) One of the things we've learned that saves us tremendous time in the studio is to record the songs slated for your CD project during rehearsals and listen back, so you can discuss / fine-tune the arrangement and dynamics as a band.

What makes or breaks a musician just starting out in your opinion?

Attitude is everything, it doesn't matter how great you sing and/or play, if your attitude sucks no one will want to work with you and the audience will get turned off by your demeanor very quickly. In other words, check any negativity, attitude, bad vibes at the door no matter what's going on, and show up with a positive demeanor, an open mind and an open heart. This does wonders in attracting your audience and keeping your band mates happy! :)

Describe your toughest moments in your quest for a music career and tell us how you overcame them.

One of the toughest moments (and the most recent) was when our lead singer was attacked in a hate crime. It has caused us a major setback in many ways, we've had to cancel many high paying gigs and lost out on some great opportunities as a result. We are still in the process of overcoming the fall-out from this attack, mostly by the tremendous support we've received from the music community (i.e. GoGirls music members), the LGBT community, and our love and support for one another. We have no doubt that we will come through this stronger than ever!

Watch the video of Rhythm Turner talking about her hate crime experience:


What advice would you offer up and coming artists that get discouraged other than don't give up?

Hit alot of open mics to build up your name and music biz contact list! Follow up with booking at these same venues, because open mics tend to help open lots of doors. Leverage your GoGirls music network, when you go to a GoGirls chapter city, hit up the local chapter community and ask what venues/open mics and any other gogirls music related events that you can participate in. Leverage the internet via social networking tips for musicians to build your network throughout the world!

Tell us something you want the music world to know about you.

Hello music world! I've been with you since I heard my first song on the radio, I love you and I'm here to stay ;) Seriously though, if anything I'd like them to know is that my personal goal in music is to make a positive difference in the world through the gift of music, continuously grow my skills and strive to become the best female bassist on the planet. I don't know if I will ever make it there, the most important part of going after my goal is enjoying the journey itself.

What have you gotten out of being a member of the GoGirls community?

All sorts of great stuff! including but not limited to:

- Connections for female musicians from all over the place! I've met fellow GoGirls music member Sharon Hazel http://www.myspace.com/sharonhazel when starting up the local San Diego chapter and we've hit it off instantly as musicians and friends. Sharon's music is a very unique blend of jazz/funk/folk and I've experienced a whole new level of creativity in bass lines by playing in her group. Also met Holly Ransom aka Snakeoil through GoGirls music http://www.myspace.com/hersnakeoil who's voice is alot like one of my fave vocalists, Chrissie Hynde's. Playing with different artists helps me to grow my creative and improvisational skills

- Useful tips and information from the GoGirlsmusic.com website. There is so much useful content to read, written by the women who know their stuff. We should call it "GoGirls Music University" ;)

- Concalls with fellow GoGirl members: what better way to figure out your next step or to overcome an obstacle in your music career than to have a sounding board of like-minded peers from all over the US?

- The overall GoGirls Music community. As they say, it takes a village...to make it in music and with the large community of strong, independent female of musicians available through GoGirls Music there's just no stopping us now!

Check out Rhythm and the Method at www.rhythmandthemethod.com

Copyright © 2009 Madalyn Sklar, GoGirlsMusic.com

Madalyn Sklar is a music business coach & consultant, blogger, social networks expert and author. She has spent over 13 years helping independent musicians and music business professionals achieve greater success in the biz. Her motto is: working smarter not harder. She also founded GoGirlsMusic.com, the oldest + largest online community of indie women musicians.

Madalyn's Sites:
GoGirlsMusic.com
Social Networks for Musicians

Labels: gogirls interview, laura payne, rhythm and the method

by Madalyn Sklar



What drives your music? When did you first know you had to do this thing called music or bust?

Strong emotions fuel my creative drive. My passion, compassion, anger and joy all connect with my need to make music. My music is a window into what’s going on in or around my life. I knew I wanted to be a musician when I was a little kid, but I didn’t know I wanted to be a singer until I was around 12 and I got my first guitar.

Describe your music style and name three (or 6) musicians you have been inspired by and why.

I live in a blended world and my musical style reflects that. My style is “Eclectic Soul” (how’s that for a new genre)! It’s soul music mixed with pop, folk and jazz musings. I dig artists like Paula Cole, Dionne Farris, Annie Lennox, Brenda Russell, Donnie Hathaway and Peter Gabriel. They are such phenomenal songwriters and listening to them inspires me to get out of my songwriting comfort zone and try new approaches.

What's your ideal venue atmosphere?

Intimate rooms, like De Badcuyp in Amsterdam, are where I love to perform my mid-tempo, groove-driven, up close and personal set. Big venues, like festivals, allow me to play higher energy tunes and bring that intimate feeling in a larger arena.

Describe how your music career has evolved since you first started performing.

I interrupted college to go sing in a Funk/rock band and went on to sing in all kinds of cover bands. It was a great experience. I learned how to handle myself on the road and eventually teamed up with some wonderful musicians and began doing originals. I worked for many years at record labels, learned a lot about the industry and eventually started my own label, Orisha Records, to release my own material. I’ve been blessed to have songs featured in a movie (Spike Lee), on TV (HBO) and to do voiceover work (Grand Theft Auto IV). I’ve co-written with songwriters in Germany and Holland and I absolutely love being a singer/songwriter.

How would you describe the music scene in your area?

NYC is a magnet for every kind of music in the world. It’s teeming with musicians and it can be difficult to be heard. But come across the bridge to Brooklyn and a vibrant, music community is on the rise. Lots of music venues have opened up, the Knitting Factory is even moving over.

What was the inspiration for your latest release?

The inspiration for my last album, “Yummy”, was based on the first song “Blood”, which is the story of my family’s evolution. Something very personal, yet universal, which is always the challenge in songwriting. The desire to record and release this song kept me focused on the project. The other songs on the album continued in that vein, they are songs that needed/wanted to be written.

What do you think is number one for a musician to think about before preparing for a CD project and do you have any tips on saving time in the studio?

Artistically, be ready to speak your truth, don’t hide what is unique about your music and don’t waste time comparing yourself to what’s already out there. Then, before you set foot in the studio, practice your singing, rehearse with the musicians and develop a production plan. The biggest money/time killer in the studio is being unprepared. I like to do as much pre-production in my home studio then I bump up to a big studio for vocals, overdubs and mixing.

What makes or breaks a musician just starting out in your opinion?

Professionalism and graciousness will get you far in any situation. Music is no different. Be on time, be prepared, be open to change, check your attitude before you go through the door and don’t forget to say thank you. Sounds like what your mama used to say.

Describe your toughest moments in your quest for a music career and tell us how you overcame them.

Making the transition to a performing songwriter has been challenging. It’s hard to play live shows in a market that doesn’t seem to place a high value on musicians. Too many venues want you to “pass the hat” instead of paying a working wage. It’s extremely expensive to pay my musicians, so I don’t play a lot of full band shows. When I play overseas it’s a different story. Music, and the people who play it, are valued and paid decently.

What advice would you offer up and coming artists that get discouraged other than don't give up?

Feeling discouraged will pass. It always does. In the meantime don’t lose your sense of humor. There are days when I feel like throwing my music gear out of the window, packing my suitcase and going off to join the circus. So, I’ve learned to allow myself a “pity-party”, which is a couple of hours to call my friends and bitch about what’s wrong in my career, my life, the world …whatever! By the time I’m finished hating-on-folks, I have to start laughing myself and usually decide that the circus gig would probably suck – they have to get up too early in the morning.

Tell us something you want the music world to know about you.

Ok, here’s the thing. If there’s anything you need to know about me, just listen to my songs. It’s all there and so am I.

What have you gotten out of being a member of the GoGirls community?

I’ve met some amazing people by being a GoGirls member. I participated in one of the Mastermind groups and still keep in touch with some of the ladies.
Having a music career is all about relationships. I found people that I can vibe with, hang with and grow with. It’s a beautiful thing.

Check out Pantera at http://www.panterasaint.com

Copyright © 2009 Madalyn Sklar, GoGirlsMusic.com

Madalyn Sklar is a music business coach & consultant, blogger, social networks expert and author. She has spent over 13 years helping independent musicians and music business professionals achieve greater success. Her motto is: working smarter not harder. She also founded GoGirlsMusic.com, the oldest + largest online community of indie women musicians.

Madalyn's Sites:
GoGirlsMusic.com
Social Networks for Musicians

Follow Madalyn @ Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn

Labels: gogirls interview, Pantera Saint-Montaigne

by Madalyn Sklar



What drives your music? When did you first know you had to do this thing called music or bust?

When Tracy and I first formed our band South85, we were already good friends. We shared the same passion and drive for music. We both wanted to help and inspire others. Making music and performing is not all about the glitz for us. Our aim is not to get our picture on the front of People magazine (though we wouldn’t turn it down or the cover of Rolling Stone!!) We love making people smile and having them be a part of the fun. Once we started out, we knew it was meant to be because it consumed us!

Describe your music style and name three musicians you have been inspired by and why.

Our style is country rock. Tracy has an excellent full country vocal, but we like to rock out onstage too! We love outlaw country artists like Waylon, Loretta, and Willie Nelson for their rebellious writing and standing up for what they felt country music should be and also what they believed in. Kathy loves alternative artists like Gillian Welch and Lucinda Williams who paint different pictures in your mind and can give music a surprising twist to the ear.

What's your ideal venue atmosphere?

We enjoy outdoor settings a lot like amphitheaters and festivals. We love places like this where we can closely interact with our fans and be accessible to them!

Describe how your music career has evolved since you first started performing.

Well, we didn’t expect to have things take off so well as they have already! We’ve been together for three years and in that time a lot has changed. We’ve grown as musicians in how we play, sing, and entertain as well as become a lot more professional onstage. We’ve tried to take on specifics like watching other performers to see what they do, especially when it comes to audience participation – most importantly making sure they have a great time! We never thought within three years we’d open for big acts like Little Texas!

How would you describe the music scene in your area?

Spartanburg, SC has produced some truly great undiscovered talent – many people know about The Marshall Tucker Band that is based here, but also groups that have spawned lately like The Belleville Outfit, the Watts, Shane Pruitt and more. Fayssoux Mclean calls Spartanburg home and frequently still plays out with Brandon Turner. “Sparkle City” is an undiscovered gem, but it may not stay that way for long with all this talent!

What was the inspiration for your latest release?

Our debut CD El Camino encompassed a lot of the independent cowgirl attitude that we share. We hope a lot of females can relate to it, but in general we wanted everyone to experience a full range of emotions from laughs to serious reflection. Kathy was most inspired on her trips to Arizona where she found her love of the desert.

What do you think is number one for a musician to think about before preparing for a CD project and and do you have any tips on saving time in the studio?

Have great songs together first. Don’t feel like you have to do everything yourself and don’t be scared to ask others, especially industry folks to help you or give you feedback. It’s always helpful to have extra tunes to pick from, and rehearse as much as you can before you get in there because it can be pricey! If you can talk to a more seasoned artist beforehand that’s great, especially if you haven’t sang or recorded in a studio a lot (it can be quite shocking to hear yourself in there the first time!). We are lucky to have our lead guitarist Mike who’s a wiz with music recording and devices. We can record a lot of our demos out beforehand with him before we even get to the studio. There are some pretty inexpensive home recording software packages available now.

What makes or breaks a musician just starting out in your opinion?

For a band, it’s probably keeping the group dynamics in check, making sure everyone is on board with the same goal, keeping the bigger picture in mind and being patient through the slow and crazy times. Many times you won’t be doing music full time as your main income so things can take a toll on you personally with all the multitasking and even stress your relationship with your significant other.

Describe your toughest moments in your quest for a music career and tell us how you overcame them.

For a full electric band it was finding capable musicians with the same professional attitude that had the same goal in mind. It takes a lot of hard work, patience, and practice. Balancing your “real job” and life until you hit the big time can be pretty stressful. It’s all about making sacrifices. You have to choose how you want to spend every bit of time in 24 hrs and prioritize your day.

What advice would you offer up and coming artists that get discouraged other than don't give up?

It truly has to be a passion in your heart, a yearning. You may ask a lot “will it ever happen?” If it’s truly meant to be, giving up won’t even be an option. Things will come together for you, but take the steps now to be ready for it – play play play for anyone who will listen, take notes from other pros, and don’t take criticism personally. Your friends and family want to see you succeed!

Tell us something you want the independent music world to know about you.

We love our fellow artists in the indie world and we think there’s exciting things to come for all of us! We want to help others out as much as we can and share our love of music.

What have you gotten out of being a member of the GoGirls community?

We’ve played with and met some fantastic artists in this community and love inspiring and supporting women in music. GoGirls is invaluable! It’s a great resource for networking, learning the biz, and making a difference. Finally, a place for us chicks who love to rock and can share that process and all that goes along with it!!! :o)

More about South85:
http://www.south85.com/
www.myspace.com/south85band
http://www.facebook.com/pages/South85/29317923712
http://twitter.com/South85

Copyright © 2009 GoGirlsMusic.com

Madalyn Sklar is a music business coach & consultant, blogger, social networks expert and author. She has spent over 13 years helping independent musicians and music business professionals achieve greater success. Her motto is: working smarter not harder. She also founded GoGirlsMusic.com, the oldest + largest online community of indie women musicians.

Madalyn's Sites:
GoGirlsMusic.com
Social Networks for Musicians

Follow Madalyn @ Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn

Labels: gogirls interview, South85

by Annette Warner

What drives your music. When did you first know you had to do this thing called music or bust?

I'm driven by a passion that's always been too strong to ignore. When I was three years old, I would sit at the piano with my sister while she practiced her piano lessons. It wasn't long before I could pick out the songs by ear. She showed me what keys the notes were and that opened the flood gates. Soon after, I began my formal training. Much to my instructor's delight, I learned at fast pace and much to his chagrin, I'd discovered Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard. Later it was Stevie Wonder and Billy Preston. Dr. Prunty was very cool about letting me play what I wanted as long as I played what he wanted.

Describe your style and name three musicians you have been inspired by admire and tell us why.

My style is kickin' ass. Because I have no preference of musical style, I love it all as long as it speaks to me. I've been playing and composing for so long that every day, week, month, year, and decade hold something special for me and drives my passion. I mentioned my piano heroes from my early years, these days I lean more toward the "band" format. My favorite bands are Tad, Nirvana and my band mates, Larry Love and Dave Dred, in Blister. I love them because they ROCK! I came into this world kickin' and screamin' and I'm going out the same way!

What's your ideal venue atmosphere?

Parrrrrr-ty! I like it packed with everyone having as much fun as we are.

Describe your music career's evolvement since you first started performing? And tell us about your music scene at home.

I started as a classical pianist and retired at 28 because it just wasn't fun anymore. There was a short time doing the six string acoustic guitar thing, but it didn't last. My heart now knows true fulfillment playing bass in Blister. We started playing local gigs. Six months later we put out an EP that did very well on the internet. We had regular rotation on all the top sites for all three songs. On the strength of that EP, we made it to the semifinals of the "Best Unsigned Band" contest for Musician Magazine. Over the last years we've been listed in several tri-state music magazines "Best Of" issues. In 2000 we received a B.E.A.M. Music Grant from Jim Beam's Benefiting Emerging Artists in Music Grant Program. The next year we headlined The Jim Beam Stage of the Atlantis Music Conference in Atlanta. Since then we still make some prestigious "Best Of" lists only now it's on a an international level. We've put out 6 CD's, the last three we engineered and produced ourselves and we are currently working on a new CD. We've done three movie soundtracks and are working on our fourth as we speak. We get a big fat check every month from our music downloads, the majority sold in the Australia, England, Germany, the Netherlands and recently Japan. We also have sales in North America and South America.

The music scene is tough right now for everyone everywhere. We're based out of the Raleigh, NC area, but play more out of town concerts than local, we gotta' spread the love around. We actually get more money and respect on the road than we do here. The press in this area only write about the same bands they've been writing about for the last ten or fifteen years. They're too lazy to actually go out and look for talent. And, if it's not main stream middle of the road, you're out of luck until someone from somewhere else tells them you're good. Many of the venues here are pay to play, they're going to take the first $150 out of the door cover and you get to split what's left with the other bands or they just pay the touring bands.

Tell us about the inspiration for your latest release; what inspired the name and how has your music evolved since the first one.

Most of the time we write about the human condition. Some of the time ours, but most of the time, other's. Our latest release is called "Lipstickin' a Pig". We called it that because some of it's not real pretty and no amount of polishing is going to make it something it's not. Also, we had our difficulties getting it done. It's not easy getting the lipstick on the pig. We recorded it in 2004, the year of the pig according to the Chinese Calendar. We felt it pretty much described the CD. We got a lot of mileage out of it because of early buzz and the election thing. We are planning the official release party this summer. We delayed the release to go back into the studio to record music for the zombie western, "Fistful of Brains". We wanted to get that out of the way before touring in support of "Lipstickin' a Pig".

Our first release was a self titled EP demo called Blister. We later recorded three more songs and remixed the EP and combined them and called that one, "Moment". Next came "Live". We wanted listeners to know exactly what we sounded like at a show. After that we started recording at The Blister Compound, a huge leap for us. It takes a lot longer to make a CD this way, but it's more cost effective in the long run and we don't have to deal with other people except for mastering. Our fifth CD was "Blister VS. The Theory of Evolution" and was different from previous CD's in that "VS" was a departure from our high energy fast and loud predecessors. All three of us write and have different influences so we used "VS" as a showcase for our other material. As we prepared to record "Lipstickin' a Pig", we found out that another band we played with had recorded a show we did with them. After we took a listen, we thought there was enough material for another CD. That one is called "Alive Again". And finally, we have "Lipstickin' a Pig". Over time we've gotten better at recording and more diverse in our writing. "Blood in the Wind" is a single release for "Fistful of Brains". We had music in two previous movie by independent film maker, Christine Parker. She came to us with the idea that she wanted to do a zombie western and asked if we could write something for that period. Blister, write a cowboy song? Why not? We were very pleased to see the premier at The Ava Gardner Film Festival and "Blood in the Wind" got the opening credits. The first question of the Q & A following the movie was someone asking who wrote that first song, "It was perfect." When she said Blister, you could hear people gasp. So there seems to be no end to what we can do when inspired and we're inspired all the time.

What do you think is number one for a musician to think about before preparing for a CD project - and do you have any tips on saving time in the studio?

Number one; figure out why you're making a CD. Do you just want to be heard or do you have something to say. If you're on the clock in the studio, have your gear ready to go. I've heard stories about people changing their strings or drum heads when they get there! Have your music completely written and arranged and have yourself and other musicians rehearsed and polished, unless you're paying top dollar for a producer and he asks you change something. There can be a big difference in the end product if you haven't taken the time to find the right studio, engineer and producer. Make sure your expectations and budget are in line. You're not going to come out with a product that can compete with the big dogs if your buying a $400 demo package and, it's probably not going to be mastered. If you want radio air play or a record deal, mastering is essential. When mastering, go with a true mastering house, don't be fool with one stop shopping. Time is money, but you should be comfortable and feel that you've made an informed choice. Never mix after hours of recording, your ears will get tired. We usually only mix for a couple of hours at a time. Make sure the people you work with have good equipment and know how to use it. I know it's hard when you're new to recording, but don't get too excited about hearing yourself for the first time, it can be pretty heady. When you do mix, don't let the guy at the studio turn up the volume really loud. Bad engineers can hide a lot of crap that way. Your playback should sound good no matter the volume and you'll be better off in the long run.

What makes or breaks a musician just starting out in your opinion?

Not owning a tuner.

Your mama and your friends are going to think your great, but keep it real. Music can be a harsh mistress. You have to spend time honing your craft. No matter how long you've been doing it, there is always something new to learn or master. Be kind to other musicians, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything. Music is not a competition, there's nothing wrong with being confident in what you do, but that doesn't mean that you're better than someone else. And, just because you're not into the style that someone else plays, does not mean they suck. Different strokes for different folks. If someone has taken the time to put together a band and written songs or they do covers and they're on the stage, they've spent a great amount of time getting the gig, respect that. If you're playing with other bands, stand out front and support them. When you're done playing, stay till all the other musicians have played and support them. There's nothing worse than playing with a band and they leave and take all their fans to go out in the parking lot to hang out. Or, they leave one guy to collect the money and the rest leave with the people they brought. Don't fuck with or steal other peoples equipment, that is so not cool. And, this one is really important to me, get on the stage at the time assigned and get the fuck off when your time is up!

Describe your toughest moment in your quest for a pro music career so far and tell us how you overcame them.

Sometimes it feels like I'm beating my head against a brick wall when trying to book shows. I get really fed up with the assholes in this industry. It's hard to be professional when you're dealing with jerks, but because I am a professional, I conduct myself that way, no matter what. I just keep on keepin'. This happens all the time and I don't expect it to change so I'm still overcoming it everyday.

What kind of advice would you offer up and coming artists that get discouraged other than don't give up?

You have to find your own special niche. The music I play is not what I'd call user friendly. Not everyone likes it and I'm okay with that. If you really want to perform, you're going to have to get some thick skin. Play what you love for yourself, but play it well. There's always someone to put you down and someone that's going to think your great. Who are you making music for? Cause if it's not for yourself, you'll always be looking for validation from someone else and you'll always be disappointed.

Tell us something you want the independent music world to know about you.

I kick ass!

What can your fans expect at a show and after a show?

Blister kickin' their ass! After the show, hangin' out with the fans.

On gogirls music...

Go Girls Kick Ass!

More about Blister at:
http://www.blister.tv/
www.myspace.com/blisterusa

In addition to being the Founder, and Editor of CoffeeHouseTour.com, Annette Warner is a freelance sales Copywriter and Web Resource Developer with her own business; Awesome Webs. She also enjoys duties as a part time event planner and booking and music entertainment manager for several local festivals. She holds the position of Editor with the oldest and largest online community for Women in Music, http://www.gogirlsmusic.com/ and is the SC and NC Chapter Coordinator for the organization. She organizes and promotes the Wilmington, NC based and successful AWEsome 'Live Performance' Songwriting Competition now in it's 11th year. She is the owner of A. Warner Entertainment, a Live Entertainment Publicity Planning Agency. In short..."Some serious A'netteworking since 1995." Annette resides in Wilmington, NC with her tiny Chihuahuas, Kirby and Sofe. You can reach Annette at Awarner at coffeehousetour dot com.

Labels: Blister, gogirls interview

by Annette Warner

Entering a third decade in this independent industry with over three grand in performances under her mic, having turned down twice what would be anyone else's dream, and I do mean pick any musician, Sarah Montes, perhaps puts it best, when she says that "One needs to possess the ability to understand and work with the reality of the music business and not let it undermine their self-esteem." I believe that statement to be totally true. Can we all be as strong and confident enough with what we want to achieve to flatly refuse the fine print as necessary? Enjoy our March interview with Sarah and then go check out her tunes. She'll win you over and you'll just have another reason to feel good about yourself !
~ Annette Warner - Editor

What drives your music?
That music has the ability to evoke emotions and to touch lives; even if only for a moment. When the song I’m singing puts a smile on someone’s face or moves them for a particular reason; for me, that is the greatest joy.

When did you first know you had to do this thing called music or bust?
At 16 I was hired to sing with a casino act here in Las Vegas... the first night I performed; everything else went out the window and my life became all about the music.

What kind of advice would you offer up and coming artists that get discouraged other than don’t give up?
Be who you are and be original. Find the one thing that you do best; cultivate it and strive to continually do better... make your niche.

Describe your ideal venue.
I have performed Supper clubs to stadium arenas and I find both equally wonderful and comfortable.

Describe your music's evolvement since you first started performing?
I have run the gamete; singing and writing in every venue from Rock to Pop, Jazz, R&B to Country and finally settling back in to the Jazz arena. (It only took 20 years and 3,012 performances to figure out where I belonged. HA!)

Tell us about the inspiration for your release "Long as the day is !" What inspired the name and how has your music evolved since?

As I was writing new songs and adding them to my show, certain songs were very well received and repeatedly requested by the audiences. Those songs became Long As The Day Is. Long As The Day Is, was taken from a line in one of the songs from the CD and the rest of the story is on my CDs trivia card so you’ll have to listen to the lyrics on the CD or go to my website to find the answer. http://www.sarahmontes.com/

What do you think is number one for a musician to think about before preparing for a CD project - and do you have any tips on saving time in the studio?
Know what you expect to accomplish from recording your CD. Is it personal or commercial? If it’s commercial, I feel it’s important to have a business plan and course of action of what to do with your CD once you have it... distribution, marketing, budget etc. For years I have done an incredible amount of studio work across the country and the single most important thing you can do is to always be completely prepared; yourself, with your band, or if you are hiring studio musicians, have your music charted and a schedule set so that you maximize your studio time and dollars. If it’s not working out to your expectations, STOP... end the session and re-evaluate your position. It will save you time, dollars and heartache.

What makes or breaks a musician just starting out in your opinion?
Disappointment. One needs the ability to understand and work with the reality of the business of the music business and not let it undermine their self esteem.

Describe your toughest moment in your quest for a pro music career so far?
Turning down a major label deal; not once, but on two separate occasions. (In a contract; what one glorious line giveth…the fine print taketh away.)

Are you planning a tour and if so…where do you plan to take your music?
We are in the process of solidifying the material for the upcoming new CD release and the rest of my time is occupied with performances, writing and studio work but I am very much looking forward to performing again in the E.U.

What can your fans expect at a show?
My show has been advertised with the following... WARNING: Listeners will be subjected to refreshingly sassy Jazz; humor and quick whit that is lyrically engaging, songs that are musically expressive and well defined in character! Please listen responsibly by quenching your pallet with a savvy martini or soothing beverage of your particular fancy while also indulging in rich morsels of decadent chocolate.

On gogirls music...
I’m new to GoGirls but I am thrilled to see the camaraderie with in the GoGirls society and it’s great to have someone like Madalyn with her obvious enthusiasm and productivity as the driving force.

More about Sarah Montes at:
http://www.sarahmontes.com/
http://www.myspace.com/sarahmontes

In addition to being the Founder, and Editor of CoffeeHouseTour.com, Annette Warner is a freelance sales Copywriter and Web Resource Developer with her own business; Awesome Webs. She also enjoys duties as a part time event planner and booking and music entertainment manager for several local festivals. She holds the position of Editor with the oldest and largest online community for Women in Music, http://www.gogirlsmusic.com/ and is the SC and NC Chapter Coordinator for the organization. She organizes and promotes the Wilmington, NC based and successful AWEsome 'Live Performance' Songwriting Competition now in it's 11th year. She is the owner of A. Warner Entertainment, a Live Entertainment Publicity Planning Agency. In short..."Some serious A'netteworking since 1995." Annette resides in Wilmington, NC with her tiny Chihuahuas, Kirby and Sofe. You can reach Annette at Awarner at coffeehousetour dot com.

Labels: gogirls interview, Sarah Montes

by Annette Warner



GoGirls: What drives your music? When did you first know you had to do this thing called music or bust?

What drives my music and songwriting is my heart. I have been singing and writing songs since I was 12 years old in Detroit. Music has always been a huge part of my life. I started singing in choirs, at school, in little garage bands and in my house. My 1st garage band hit was a cover of “Proud Mary”. It was exhilarating and I felt so good letting go and singing. I also sang in church like a lot of girl singers in Detroit. That’s where it got into my heart….the songs, the feelings, the true expressions and passions that I felt for life.

GoGirls: Describe your style and name three musicians you have been inspired by admire and tell us why. 


In this day of music, with the business the way it is, who knows what my genre is! My music is very introspective and I think my lyrics say what a lot of women feel about life, love, sorrow & joy. I am a singer because of my love & admiration for Joni Mitchell’s songs. I appreciate intelligent lyrics and think that my songs reflect that. But I cannot just pick 3 musicians that have inspired me. Joni Mitchell, Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, Annie Lennox, Carole King, Eva Cassidy, Bonnie Raitt, Phoebe Snow, Sade, Stevie Nicks & Kate Wolf

GoGirls: What's your ideal venue atmosphere?

My studio in San Francisco is my favorite place to play music. Also small, intimate venues like The Throckmorton Theatre in Mill Valley, Ca and bigger venues like The Great American Music Hall in San Francisco because of the history in that place.

GoGirls: Describe your music career's evolvement and about the music scene in your hometown?

My music career has come a long way from that 1st little garage band in Detroit. After raising my sons (now 21 & 22) I started writing again. I was picked up by a music management company in the Bay Area and spent the next 3 years trying to work with the men in that company who had no clue what to do with a woman in her 40’s who wasn’t singing jazz. It was very frustrating and I tried to stay open and teachable. I fought for my songs and the integrity of my music. I opened Lilysong Records in Marin County, California and put out a record there. It was a very good experience where I, again, learned to have my voice and protect my songs and the essence of who I was as a musician and songwriter. After parting ways with my producer, who did not seem to trust me enough to give me the space for the magic to happen, I opened Harrison Street Records in San Francisco and have been happy ever since. I have 2 finished projects “HOME” and “ANOTHER WINTER” both available on iTunes. The trick is to stay true to yourself. The rest will follow. As for San Francisco, it is an amazing place for indie artists. We have a strong community of talented musicians and supporters. I am so grateful for it all.

GoGirls: Tell us about the inspiration for your latest release; what inspired the name and how has your music evolved.

My latest record is called “Another Winter”. The inspiration was a rough couple of years in my life and the songs reflect my feelings….saying goodbye to old friends, old behaviors and old relational issues. As for the name “Another Winter” it comes from the lead track which is about how sometimes in relationship’s a little hope is enough to hold onto. My music has gotten more concise and honest. I used to hide behind my lyrics…pretty words where I could hide. I don’t do that anymore. I say what I mean and do not edit myself.

GoGirls: What do you think is number one for a musician to think about before preparing for a CD project - and do you have any tips on saving time in the studio?

Yes, absolutely. Stay true to your heart. DO not compromise your musical intentions and DO NOT worry about what or if anything will “happen” with the record. Just make it and stay in your heart. As far as time in the studio, there are so many indie studios where people are still making music for the sake of music. Find one and go there. They will support your dreams. I have had some of the sweetest and most honest relationships of my life with musicians.

GoGirls: What makes or breaks a musician just starting out in your opinion?

Trusting the wrong people. There are a lot of amazing people out there and a lot of untrusting people too. I had 2 bad producer experiences…my 1st one, where I was taken advantage of because I didn’t know what I was doing., He charged me for things like mastering which he never did and did not really believe in my music. The other guy was very narcissistic and was so focused on himself that he could not make room for me in the process of creating MY music. Both good lessons…I have also had some wonderful relationships with producers…check out how you feel about people and trust your gut. If something seems too good to be true, it is.

GoGirls: Describe your toughest moment in your quest for a pro music career so far and tell us how you overcame it.

Getting caught up in the “what will happen with the music” idea and trying to figure things out. The second I get into my head and out of my heart, I am in trouble. Also allowing music “exec’s” to choose where I fit in. Just follow your heart and stay teachable and open…and get a day job so that you don’t have to compromise the music in any way.

GoGirls: What kind of advice would you offer up and coming artists that get discouraged to not give up?

Get on Myspace music and talk to other artists for encouragement. Everyone has down days. Just to know that others are going through it is helpful. Stay in the center of your songs and music. All will be well.

GoGirls: Tell us something you want the independent music world to know about you.

That I am out here and that I have songs for people to hear. I also have a free song download about addiction. It was written as a response to the strong feelings I have had watching so many people that I have cared for lose their souls to addiction. Check it out and please pass it around.

GoGirls: What can your fans expect at a show and after a show?

Truthful heartfelt music and an AMAZING band. Check out my band page on www.michelleschmitt.com to see who I play with.

GoGirls: On gogirls music…

A great support to me as I navigate through this internet marketing. I want my songs to get out there and I also don’t want to be all in my head about how to get them there. Tish & Madalyn have been blessings from heaven for me. I trust them and really appreciate their wisdom. Thanks girls!!!!

More about Michelle at:
http://www.michelleschmitt.com
http://www.myspace.com/mslilysong
http://www.reverbnation.com/michelleschmitt

In addition to being the Founder, and Editor of CoffeeHouseTour.com, Annette Warner is a freelance sales Copywriter and Web Resource Developer with her own business; Awesome Webs. She also enjoys duties as a part time event planner and booking and music entertainment manager for several local festivals. She holds the position of Editor with the oldest and largest online community for Women in Music, http://www.gogirlsmusic.com/ and is the SC and NC Chapter Coordinator for the organization. She organizes and promotes the Wilmington, NC based and successful AWEsome 'Live Performance' Songwriting Competition now in it's 11th year. She is the owner of A. Warner Entertainment, a Live Entertainment Publicity Planning Agency. In short..."Some serious A'netteworking since 1995." Annette resides in Wilmington, NC with her tiny Chihuahuas, Kirby and Sofe. You can reach Annette at Awarner at coffeehousetour dot com.

Labels: gogirls interview, Michelle Schmitt

By Annette Warner



GoGirls: What drives your music. When did you first know you had to do this thing called music or bust?

I have been doing music without knowing it since I was 4. My dad's a musician so I was going to his gigs when I was little, singing along... Then when I had my first concert in high school, that was the revelation, how I felt on stage while performing my songs was indescribable!

GoGirls: Describe your style and name three musicians you have been inspired by admire and tell us why.

My recordings are chill-out with trip-hop beats behind my vocals and piano and other electronic sounds. When I perform live it is down-tempo voice/piano accompanied with strings. How to pick 3?... Madonna for her strength; I admire Imogen Heap for her creativity and independence, and producer William Orbit for his sounds.

GoGirls: What's your ideal venue atmosphere?

I like both big and small crowds. In a big room it is more challenging to reach out to people but once you got them the energy is overwhelming. A small venue is fun too, I like performing when people are almost sitting next to me! Very intimate!

GoGirls: Describe your music career's evolvement since you first started performing? And tell us about your music scene at home in France.

I started with an original electro-pop band as a teenager, singing, programming and composing, recording on 4-tracks. Then I played in several cover bands, I wanted to experience real instruments! I tried out blues-rock, rock, punk, etc... as lead singer and back-up as well. I wasn't happy with the music scene in France, it was more of a DJ scene, and music education is too conservative (no offense!). I knew I would go live in the US, it was all around me. So when it finally came to me, I took the big step and moved all alone! I had an original rock-pop band 3 weeks after I got here! I learned the guitar but didn't keep with it as an instrument. After one album release the band broke up -just like a lot of bands, so I joined another band, this time more established. With them I wrote and sang melodic hard-rock songs, and had the chance to record in a major studio with a top-notch engineer. I received so many technical compliments from him that I realized I was capable of doing much more. He introduced me to another producer, Sean Bilovecky, who showed me the trip-hop/alternative sound and I totally loved it and continued in that direction. We did the song "I Saw You" together. It was Sean that encouraged me to get Pro-Tools and build my own studio. I started to record and in the same time I had a vision of singing with a piano. I took piano lessons for that purpose, and here I am!

GoGirls: Tell us about the inspiration for your latest release; what inspired the name and how has your music evolved from the first release to the latest.

My last EP includes 3 audio tracks and the music video for "I Saw You" which received a Best Music Video Award recently. The audio was mixed by a 3-time Grammy winning engineer Marc Urselli. One of the songs on there, "Your Imagination" has a deep message that goes to everyone who just goes on and on everyday without keeping their inspiration safe. I believe that dreams and imagination keep you alive; whether you're an artist or not.... I think my songwriting has improved a lot since my first release, with more confidence I am more open and I am not afraid of being emotional with the words as well as with the voice.

GoGirls: What do you think is number one for a musician to think about before preparing for a CD project - and do you have any tips on saving time in the studio?

Get your own studio!... Well, I know some musicians don't want to have to deal with recording though. If you've booked a studio, just be really prepared, make sure your songs are finished, practice all your instruments lines beforehand, if you're a singer, prepare your harmonies before hand too! Find a way to record yourself at home to make sure everything you wrote is in tune. Get some sleep, eat well, and relax. If the engineer is pretty fast you'll have to keep up with him/her... and be prepared to change a song! That can happen too, sometimes it sounds good until you hear it through the speakers of the recording room.

GoGirls: What makes or breaks a musician just starting out in your opinion?

I think it's kinda hard to define this considering how the music industry has been revolutionized by the new media. I think now any musician has a lot of different ways to reach out to an audience. I would say it's wanting it, and surrounding yourself with the right people and positive energies, and networking.

GoGirls: Describe your toughest moment in your quest for a pro music career so far and tell us how you overcame them.

I probably haven't lived the toughest moment yet. If I were to mention something, it would be how many people are out there trying to take your money, they know music is your passion and they think you're dumb and that you'd pay anything for anything. Almost makes you think sometimes it's because you're a woman! It's important to keep a clear mind, take your time, investigate and be firm!

GoGirls: What kind of advice would you offer up and coming artists that get discouraged other than don't give up?

Try to have another activity on the side of doing music, make sure that you can find energy in something else and put that energy back into your music and business.

GoGirls: Tell us something you want the independent music world to know about you.

Last spring I launched a fundraiser online and it covered all the expenses for my EP.

GoGirls: What can your fans expect at a show and after a show?

I perform with my heart and make people feel involved. I sing in English and sometimes in French. I absolutely love meeting new people, talking with them about what they're doing, where they come from, etc...!

GoGirls: On gogirls music…

I have a learned a lot on music business through the teleseminars & meetings and I am very happy to be an Elite member! I grew up in the 90's with the "girl power" kind of movement and I always wanted to be a part of something that would encourage women, because, after all, chicks rock!!!

More about LiLi at:
http://www.liliroquelin.com/
http://www.myspace.com/liliroquelin
http://www.youtube.com/liliroquelin

In addition to being the Founder, and Editor of CoffeeHouseTour.com, Annette Warner is a freelance sales Copywriter and Web Resource Developer with her own business; Awesome Webs. She also enjoys duties as a part time event planner and booking and music entertainment manager for several local festivals. She holds the position of Editor with the oldest and largest online community for Women in Music, http://www.gogirlsmusic.com/ and is the SC and NC Chapter Coordinator for the organization. She organizes and promotes the Wilmington, NC based and successful AWEsome 'Live Performance' Songwriting Competition now in it's 11th year. She is the owner of A. Warner Entertainment, a Live Entertainment Publicity Planning Agency. In short..."Some serious A'netteworking since 1995." Annette resides in Wilmington, NC with her tiny Chihuahuas, Kirby and Sofe. You can reach Annette at Awarner at coffeehousetour dot com.

Labels: gogirls interview, LiLi Roquelin

By Annette Warner

In reviewing our candidates for our GG's monthly interview feature - we try to really connect you with artists that have great insight into the needs of musicians and their dreams as well as the business of music. Linq provides us with a simple, and brief common sense approaches in her words, about maintaining excitement as artists beginning work on your projects. As Linq relates; pushing ourselves away from our comfort zones, is actually necessary to our budding careers, if we ever hope for it to fully blossom - and Linq confirms that passion is first and foremost - the fuel to get wherever it is you want to be. Enjoy! And make sure to write her and thank her for appearing here, your GoGirlsMusic.com. ~ Annette Warner - Editor



GoGirls: What drives your music. When did you first know you had to do this thing called music or bust?

I started my music career very late in life. Music had always been important to me, and I had always dabbled, but recently I entered a hugely creative space and realized that I didn’t want all these songs that were channeling through me to die unheard. The wonderful audience response to my first stage appearance confirmed that I was meant to do this, and I realized that I might actually be able to make a positive difference in the world through my stories.

GoGirls: What kind of advice would you offer up and coming artists that get discouraged other than don’t give up?

Recognize that your greatest passions in life are what fuel your soul.

GoGirls: Describe your ideal venue.

I love a space with great acoustics, a good sound engineer, and an attentive, open-minded audience. It’s not the size, it’s the ambiance.

GoGirls: Describe your music's evolvement since you first started performing?

I constantly push myself out of my comfort zone, and that moves me forward into new musical territory and opens me to the creation of unique, genre-blurring tracks.

GoGirls: Tell us about the inspiration for your 2007 release "Change the Picture, George!" ... what inspired the name and how has your music evolved from the first release to the latest.

CTPG is a 2-song EP that includes a CDr version of my first music video. The title is a combination of the tracks, “Change the Picture” and “George Orwell Where Are You”. Coincidentally there seems to be a consensus that the “other” George needs to make some changes. The songs are actually part of my next project called LIFE GOES ON, which is due for an early 2009 release. However, I felt an urgency to release them right away to spread their messages rather than wait for the entire project to be finished.

My first full-length CD, JOURNEY (2004), is somewhat of a “break-up” album with some political statements thrown in, and it embodies my actual journey onto a musical path. FAST MOVING DREAM (2006) is really just that. It reflects the whirlwind of creativity that I have experienced. I’m quite excited about the upcoming release of LIFE GOES ON. I’m still growing as an artist, and I hope that the songs will encourage conversations and evoke thought. I am also close to finishing my first intentionally-themed CD. I was a pharmacist and independent pharmacy owner until recently, and I’m using that life experience to create a healthcare/business CD that won’t necessarily be popular in corporate boardrooms. It’s called RX and the SIDE EFFECTS, and it will be released later in 2009.

GoGirls: What do you think is number one for a musician to think about before preparing for a CD project - and do you have any tips on saving time in the studio?

I think that it’s important that the artist is truly excited about the material before bringing it forward as a CD project. A great way to save time in the studio is to be prepared for the session. Using experienced studio musicians and having charts available for their use speeds things up, too.

GoGirls: What makes or breaks a musician just starting out in your opinion?

If you enter the music industry because you love what you do, are willing to stay true to your musical vision, and are able to just keep working hard and moving forward, I think that you will reap rewards. A musician friend of mine once said to me that he knew that if he didn’t play that he would just wither up and die. On the other hand, if the intent is to just jump in and make lots of money and be famous, I think that disappointment is usually in order.

GoGirls: Describe your toughest moment in your quest for a pro music career so far?

I don’t know that I’ve had a single “toughest moment” because I’ve allowed myself to move forward organically without unrealistic expectations. Perhaps my biggest challenge has been to become totally comfortable on stage.

GoGirls: Are you planning a tour and if so... where do you plan to take your music?

It has never been a goal of mine to spend a lot of time living out of a suitcase, so I’m rather atypical in that sense. I do perform fairly often in the New England area and will continue to do so in support of my new release.

GoGirls: Tell us something you want the independent music world to know about you.

I was able to successfully make a total life change in my middle fifties onto a musical path, so I hope that any of you out there who might be hesitant to try it because you think that you’re too old will use me as an inspiration to follow your heart.

GoGirls: What can your fans expect at a show?

A performance by Linq is an electric-folk/rebellion-rock experience. They can expect an edgy collection of stories and songs drawn from personal experience and issues of social justice.

GoGirls: On gogirls music...

My GoGirls membership has provided me with networking, educational, and performing opportunities, contacts within and exposure to the music industry, and support when needed. Now how cool is that???

More about Linq at http://www.linqmusic.com.

In addition to being the Founder, and Editor of CoffeeHouseTour.com, Annette Warner is a freelance sales Copywriter and Web Resource Developer with her own business; Awesome Webs. She also enjoys duties as a part time event planner and booking and music entertainment manager for several local festivals. She holds the position of Editor with the oldest and largest online community for Women in Music, http://www.gogirlsmusic.com/ and is the SC and NC Chapter Coordinator for the organization. She organizes and promotes the Wilmington, NC based and successful AWEsome 'Live Performance' Songwriting Competition now in it's 11th year. She is the owner of A. Warner Entertainment, a Live Entertainment Publicity Planning Agency. In short..."Some serious A'netteworking since 1995." Annette resides in Wilmington, NC with her tiny Chihuahuas, Kirby and Sofe. You can reach Annette at Awarner at coffeehousetour dot com.

Labels: gogirls interview, Linq

by Annette Warner

Marian Call is smart, motivated and besides being talented, also ready to take on this industry with some tenacious stamina. Take a moment to read our interview and learn from her point of view about being a successful rising musician, as well as a bit about her new release "Vanilla" - which besides being my favorite aroma, is also now one of my fave independent CD's. - Enjoy! Annette Warner



What drives your music. When did you first know you had to do this thing called music or bust?

I grew up in a musical family and always studied classical and choral music, but I swore I'd never be a professional musician. After college I stopped participating in music for a couple of years, and realized for the first time that I'd probably spent forty hours per week making music for my whole life. There was a gaping hole there, where rehearsal and performance used to be. So I had to get back into it. At the same time, I discovered singer-songwriters and independent musicians I could really respect, folks like me who were classically educated but wanted to sing in a more soulful style. With those new role models I was able to find my own voice, and "break out" a couple of years after college with a sound that was my own. That's when I knew I had to try to make a life out of this.

What kind of advice would you offer up and coming artists that get discouraged other than don’t give up?

1) Learn to be a businesswoman. There are so many great artists out there today, and honestly, the ones who succeed will be the ones with business skills. That means good grammar, good people skills, writing, networking, financial savvy, attention to detail, and even some graphic design and computer skills. If you don't have these, find someone who does to help you. Because with these skills you can start making progress where you won't if you only devote yourself to your music.


2) Celebrate your victories. If you move on to the next thing directly without celebrating your milestones, you'll get discouraged very quickly indeed.

Describe your ideal venue. I know you love the coffeehouse atmosphere... tell us about it and why!

I love coffeehouses that also serve food, beer, and wine. That's the perfect mix of social scene and listening atmosphere, in my mind -- friends can talk in the back of the room, people can listen in the front, teenagers and families can enjoy it, but adults can feel like adults. I have some favorite places in Anchorage that are usually privately owned, not too pretty, and extremely friendly to folks from all walks of life. Playing there is a joy. But even more than cafés, I love house concerts. That's how music should be enjoyed -- in community.

The studio is my favorite place to be, though. I like writing and recording more than anything. Especially weird stuff, like my first punk song, the theme to the movie "Zombie Cheerleading Camp." That's my most creative space.

Describe your music's evolvement since you first started performing?

I recorded an album before I had ever performed any of the songs live, so the recording really came straight out of my head. Even the musicians playing on my first album didn't really know what the songs were supposed to sound like. That was good in that I really got to develop my own voice. But it was also limiting, because it was only my voice.

When I started performing live, to sell the album, the songs started evolving wildly. Since I don't play for myself -- I only sing and lead the band -- every musician approached the songs differently than I had imagined, and that gave the music much more life. I came to like the fact that I'm dependent on others to interpret my songs, because that keeps me from getting into ruts. I know people who perform their songs in exactly the same way for years, whereas my songs sound very different from one month to another. No two concerts are alike.

I also learned that though I love doing quiet, meditative ballads and gentle folk songs in the studio, when I'm doing live shows I prefer to rock out. It's just more fun. So now I write more upbeat songs, and I look for ways to reinterpret my slow songs such that they're a little more funky than the original recordings.

Tell us about the inspiration for your first major CD release 'Vanilla"..what inspired the name?

Compared to a lot of other artists and musicians, I used to feel a little "Vanilla." I'm a little white chick with a little-ish voice, and I don't really drink or smoke or misbehave. I've only had one boyfriend, who became my husband, I did well all through school, and I get along with my family really well. I don't really want to be any other way, but sometimes I used to feel boring as an artist, and unattractive, even unsexy for having such a humdrum life compared to the "bad girls." Not much heartache or nasty feelings or big adventures to write about.

But after a certain point I decided that I don't need to apologize for having a simple life and simple needs. So "Vanilla" as an album is my honest assessment of a simple life. The life most timid folks like me lead -- less late night adventures and disastrous love affairs, and more tiny crimes, like eating one too many donuts or telling a white lie when you didn't need to.

I'm comforted that because I wrote the album this way, I've had it resonate with people from across all demographics. Teenagers and seniors love it, Republicans and Democrats, geeks and nerds. Because everyone commits tiny crimes, and a surprising number of people think their own lives are a little bit "Vanilla." It is the most popular flavor.

What do you think is number one for a musician to think about before preparing for a CD project - and do you have any tips on saving time in the studio?

Be. Really. Really. Organized.

I had over thirty people in and out of the studio to make "Vanilla" over eight consecutive days. That took months of preparing all the charts, rehearsing, e-mailing to coordinate schedules, and keeping multiple different, cross-referenced checklists in the studio. I even bought a cheap $39 printer to have on hand there, for when people forgot music or we needed an extra copy of something. We used it many times. And once in the studio, we never once fell behind schedule.

It helped that I didn't know or care how big a task I was taking on. My engineer (whom I'd never met before the project) told me near the end, "When you contacted me, I didn't know you were a producer. I thought you were just a singer." "I'm a producer?" I asked him. "What does a producer do?" "What you're doing," he told me.

The biggest time saver, honestly, was learning to edit and mix the material myself. Instead of focusing on perfect takes, I was able to cut together takes I liked, and we got to work two or three times as fast on our expensive studio schedule. Plus, I had many "happy accidents" in the editing process that would never have happened if we'd recorded things in exactly the final form with no mistakes (or if I'd had someone else edit and mix the music). That saved me tons of money and took the album to a whole new level.

What makes or breaks a musician just starting out in your opinion?

There are lots of good musicians out there now. I think two things will distinguish folks who learn to make their music into a sustainable living:

1) The willingness to study, grow, and most of all, edit. Lots of songwriters believe the myth that the song just comes, in a rush of inspiration, and that editing that inspiration is sacrilege. But I have never known a song that doesn't improve with editing. And I've never known a songwriter (self included) who couldn't do with more music theory training. Even if you don't use theory to do something flashy, it's good to know why you're making the musical choices you're making, and it's bad to be limited by only knowing a few chords.


2) Business smarts and people skills. Musicians who don't treat their music like a business from the get-go can be awesome musicians, but will probably have trouble making a living at it. To make a living now, a musician has to write good letters, maintain websites, have a marketing strategy, do graphic design, treat everyone with courtesy even when it's hard, and network with strangers everywhere from the gas station to the symphony hall. Not saying I have all these things -- but that I know I'll need them, or people who have them, on my side.

Describe your toughest moment in your quest for a pro music career so far?

This fall I worked very hard and did everything "right" to produce my biggest concert to date. I got guarantees from dozens of friends that they'd be there, landed a major newspaper article, did two radio interviews, advertised on NPR, and fliered like crazy for a month. But the show was on a Sunday night -- and in the end that couldn't be overcome; not nearly enough people showed up. A lot of friends just bailed, and their absence made all the difference. After that night I had to really ask myself if it was worth all the work to keep playing, given how hard it is to get even friends out to a concert. But I decided that I'm still young and thick-skinned enough to give it a few more years at least. And I decided that I can save shows that big for Fridays and Saturdays from now on.

Are you planning a tour and if so…where do you plan to take your music?

I'm sort of permanently touring the western US and Canada for the next year, only very slowly. I'm trying to stop in each city long enough to really make a dent, rather than breezing through. Sure, that means playing a little less, but when I leave I have real friends who care about coming out next time, and I have a good feel for what I want to do there. Plus it's not so exhausting as rushing from place to place all the time. We plan to hit the west coast as well as Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, and possibly Wyoming, Colorado, and Idaho, before returning to our home state (Alaska) next spring.

Tell us something you want the independent music world to know about you.

I may not look like much -- no flashy costumes or sexy outfits, and terribly awkward dance moves -- but I have the songwriting power to stick with this business for decades, whether I'm writing for myself or for someone else. I plan on a long and fruitful career collaborating with all sorts of different artists across all disciplines. Getting to sing and play live is just icing.

What can your fans expect at a show?

Live shows are always relaxed, fun, and soulful. I alternate between humorous and heartfelt songs -- you'll probably laugh and might choke back a tear. As an audience member you'll probably have to participate a little at some point, whether it's shaking goat toenails or singing the zombie song. You can expect a few cover songs and maybe a little jazz, depending on the venue. And most audiences get a brand-new song or two, because they're added to the program all the time. This summer I did a live premiere at every show for two and a half months.

On gogirls music…

GoGirls music has given me lots of hope. It's good to have a support network, especially in such a competitive and sometimes discouraging business. I've found the GoGirls by and large to be very warm and friendly, and the opportunities they've provided have been more accessible by far than any of the other music networks I'm a part of. Props to Madalyn for all her hard work! I was thrilled to get a song on the GoGirls compilation CD. It was a little frenzied getting the paperwork off from Alaska, since mail can run a little slower and more expensive here, but all in all it was a painless process compared to some other compilation projects I've worked on. And I'm excited because it sounds like the copies of this CD will be put to really good use, and be heard by the right people.

More about Marian Call at http://www.mariancall.com

In addition to being the Founder, and Editor of CoffeeHouseTour.com, Annette Warner is a freelance sales Copywriter and Web Resource Developer with her own business; Awesome Webs. She also enjoys duties as a part time event planner and booking and music entertainment manager for several local festivals. She holds the position of Editor with the oldest and largest online community for Women in Music, http://www.gogirlsmusic.com/ and is the SC and NC Chapter Coordinator for the organization. She organizes and promotes the Wilmington, NC based and successful AWEsome 'Live Performance' Songwriting Competition now in it's 11th year. She is the owner of A. Warner Entertainment, a Live Entertainment Publicity Planning Agency. In short..."Some serious A'netteworking since 1995." Annette resides in Wilmington, NC with her tiny Chihuahuas, Kirby and Sofe. You can reach Annette at Awarner at coffeehousetour dot com.

Labels: gogirls interview, Marian Call