This post was written by Kat Stanley and originally posted on Bandonkers. Some people are more creative than others, but everyone can be creative to some degree. Usually more than they realise. I find I have days when I play new and interesting sounds and others when I just don’t seem to get going. It doesn’t seem to follow any pattern. Start with something you like A lot of music is created from music! Someone plays their favourite tune which really engages their mind. This engagement will often push them to add bits here and there and before you know it you’ve got a new song. Starting with a ..read more

I’ve worked full-time in the music industry for 14+ years; before that, I worked on my craft since I was a child. My passion for music has been my main driving force throughout the years.  But I’d be lying if I said having my heart in it has always been easy. The Beginning Everyone in this business remembers how it felt the first time they realized this was it. I remember being obsessed with listening to my favorite songs from my dad’s record collection, then learning to reproduce the same feeling with chords and melody on a piano. Or learning a tune on the clarinet or guitar. Then I saw ..read more

So here we are, it’s the start of a new year which is usually a time for planning and preparation for the year ahead. With the internet playing such a huge role in how we connect with others and promote our work, I’d like to share some thoughts on the role your website will play in 2023. Photo credit: Pexels releasing new music: What role should your website play in promoting your new music in 2023? Your website should make it really easy for people to hear / buy / stream your latest release. Make sure you’re taking advantage of the streaming pre-save / pre-order features, and ..read more

As a musician, sound mitigation is an age-old problem. Just when you think you have your recording space masterfully sound proofed to prevent complaints from the neighbors, you realize that your efforts resulted in an annoying echo that makes recording professional tracks impossible. Fortunately, there are a multitude of high-quality acoustic panels that can perfectly suit your needs in 2023. The question is which one to choose. To help in this regard, keep reading for a detailed breakdown of the various acoustic panels types and which one is right for you. Polyester Panels   One of the ..read more

Image Source: Pexels Being a musician is an enriching experience. Whether you pursue it as a career or as a hobby, it is an invaluable creative outlet and technical activity. However, you may find yourself experiencing challenges that disrupt your progress. One of the most common of these is chronic pain. One study of professional musicians found that 66% of respondents reported experiencing chronic pain. While there can be various influencers of this, the outcome tends to be a reduced ability and joy in pursuing the craft. Yet, this doesn’t mean you should give up. There are options to miti ..read more

  Image Source: Unsplash (https://unsplash.com/photos/OtDBA1br4CI)   Whether you are a full-fledged rockstar or you are an intermediate musician, if you also have kids, then you’re going to have some issues. You’re often stuck between a rock and a hard place. On the one hand, you need to be there to nurture your children and help them grow, but you also need to practice so you can pay the bills and keep a roof over their heads — so what do you do? Luckily, you are not the first musician to have to juggle your music career with raising a family, so there are many helpful ta ..read more

Image Source: Pexels   For the last two years, concerts and festivals have been at a halt thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, more artists and venues feel comfortable enough to get back to “normal” and start playing shows again. If you’re a musician, you’re probably breathing a sigh of relief, and you also probably have a lot of excitement rushing through your veins at the idea of hitting the road again! However, after some time away from touring, it may be beneficial to recalibrate your checklists. It might be just like riding a bicycle, but it never hurts to make sure you an ..read more

How do guys like Antoine Dufour, Andy McKee, and Jon Gomm get those crystal clear and snappy drum sounds from their guitars? Well, keep reading this post to know the secret! These are 4 tips that’ll help you get a super-crisp percussive sound from your acoustic guitar. 1. Invest in a Great Microphone If you’re going to mic your guitar, then the majority of the sound will be determined by the quality of the microphone itself. Something like the Rode NT-USB or AKG P170 is an excellent microphone for the price. Andy McKee likes to use the Rode NT4, and if it’s good enough for him, it’s good enoug ..read more

TikTok vs Douyin vs Instagram Reels vs YouTube Shorts vs Triller: How to go Viral on Short Video What is Short Video? It is the video content that is made and shared on TikTok and similar video platforms like Instagram reels and YouTube Shorts. In China they have Douyin (TikTok’s big sister), Kuaishou, Watermelon and Bilibili.   How To Get Your Music On Short Videos Go to the App, make the video, add your music and upload yourself. This is important because by posting your own videos and music, your audience will get to know you and find your music. What if you don’t have any audience ..read more

There’s a huge demand for original, vintage band t-shirts, with over a quarter of a million people (276,200 in January) searching for band tees every month. But why? And what puts certain bands in such favour for the real deal?  Well, for starters, the industry has changed. Merch’s role within music has become more important, as smaller artists need more support than just a stream to make a profit. To take a deeper look at the changing state of music, Everpress has sourced monthly search volumes for band t-shirts (for example, ‘nirvana t-shirt’) and multiplied this with the t-shirt sellin ..read more