Vitamin Indie

Things To Look Forward To

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 01:49:00 +0000

Hello everyone! As you know, tomorrow is another album release Tuesday! A lot of other albums are coming out within the next few months that you should be aware of, as well as a long list of great artists coming to the Orlando area soon that you'll want to check out.

Album Releases:

August 21st: Yeasayer and OWL City
August 28th: Circa Survive, Minus the Bear, and Alanis Morissette
September 4th: Matchbox Twenty, Imagine Dragons, Animal Collective (which you can stream here now), and Two Door Cinema Club
September 10th: The Avett Brothers (looking forward to this album!)
September 11th: Bob Dylan, ASAP Rocky, NOFX, Dave Matthews Band, and The xx
September 14th: will.i.am
September 18th: Pink, Mika, The Killers, Aimee Mann, Ben Folds Five, and Kreayshawn
September 25th: As I Lay Dying, Lupe Fiasco, No Doubt, Patrick Wolf, Mumford & Sons, and Green Day
October 2nd: Muse, Van Morrison, The Vaccines, Matt and Kim, Three Days Grace, and Papa Roach
October 8th: Ellie Goulding
October 22nd: Taylor Swift

Listed above is one of my favorite bands, Mumford & Sons. I have been awaiting this new album for quite some time now. They have released one song so far, check it out!

As for shows coming to Orlando I have created a list that you might enjoy as well.

This weekend on the 24th Manchester Orchestra will be playing at The Social. I have seen them live before and they are awesome. It's sold out but I'm going to try to score a ticket at the door.

August 23rd: Jay Brannan at The Social

August 30th: Matisyahu

September 5th: Bombay Bicycle Club

September 9th: Ed Sheeran

September 15th: Citizen Cope at The House of Blues

September 22nd: Circa Survive

September 27th: Metric at The Hard Rock Live and M83 at The House of Blues

September 30th: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros at The Beacham

October 1st: Fiona Apple at The Hard Rock Live

October 3rd: Pretty Lights at The UCF Arena

October 8th: Gotye and Givers at The House of Blues

October 10th: Andrew Bird at The House of Blues

October 13th: Matt and Kim at The Beacham

October 15th: Ingrid Michaelson at The Beacham and Band of Horses at The House of Blues

October 19th: Ani DiFranco at The Plaza Live

October 20th: The Neighbourhood and The Temper Trap at The House of Blues

October 22nd: Passion Pit at The House of Blues and Xavier Rudd at The Beacham

October 23rd: Cursive and Minus the Bear at The Beacham

October 26th: Stephen Kellogg at The Social

November 2nd: Mayday Parade at The House of Blues

November 6th: Taking Back Sunday at The House of Blues

November 11th: Weezer at The Hard Rock Live and Yellowcard at The House of Blues

November 14th: Regina Spektor at The House of Blues

November 15th: Keller Williams at The Social

November 28th: Eddie Vedder and Glen Hansard at Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre

I hope you find that to be a useful list in the next few months! I know I find that it is hard to keep track of all the shows coming up and I definitely don't want to miss any!

Leave a comment and tell me about your favorite concert experience! Live music is good for the soul.

Music Cities

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 03:19:00 +0000

I can't believe graduation is so soon! My time at Full Sail flew by. In just a few short weeks I'll have completed and presented my business plan, graduated with a Master's degree, and will start the job hunt. It's scary yet very exciting. When I think about the music industry and where I fit into it, I first think of the location. I know NYC and LA are the big ones, but I just don't see myself there (not yet anyway). So where?

Nashville has always been in back of my mind. It seems like the perfect fit for so many different reasons. A music city that is close to home (Kentucky). I have always thought of Nashville as the place where the best music has been discovered and showcased. I stumbled upon a great article a few days ago that has really helped me think about my future career, and where it could potentially be located. Check it out!

"The Geography of America's Music Scenes" is a self explanatory article that lists Nashville as the #1 music city! A quote from the article that I particularly liked was "But size is not everything, as Nashville's dominance and the performance of other smaller metros show. Smaller places can develop significant clusters of musicians and the music industry. The key here, as it is in so many other fields, is the clustering of talent, as talented musicians are drawn to and cluster around other talented musicians." I couldn't agree more, size is not everything in the music industry and I couldn't be more happy about that. I'm not so sure I have what it takes to survive NYC just yet, but Nashville, yes please!

Other cities that made the list that I would enjoy moving to were: Seattle, Portland, Denver, and even Louisville, KY! I used to live in Lexington, which is only an hour away from Louisville. Both cities are unique when it comes to their music scenes, and I was pleased to see that one of them made the list!

When you think of the music industry, and your favorite kind of music, what city do you think of?

Bonnaroo Recap

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 03:51:00 +0000

I don't know about you, but I've had the Bonnaroo blues lately reading all of the reviews and seeing the great photos of my favorite bands playing to music lovers alike. I mean, just look at the Bonnaroo lineup! When I started to search for any and every Bonnaroo recap I could find, I noticed something. On one hand, it was cool and exciting to read the music industry's side of things, for example Paste Magazine's list of the top 10 moments this year. On the other hand, I realized not everyone that went this year got to see all of those things; they had different experiences that aren't found on sites like pitchfork and other music sites and blogs. I decided to look at my Facebook newsfeed to see if I could get a good review there, but all I found were pictures of my friends at their campsites so I decided to interview a friend of mine, Janelle Hougland, who attended the festival to get a firsthand recap of Bonnaroo 2012.

How long have you been attending Bonnaroo?
3 years total now.

How have your experiences there differed?
My music taste has changed, so that made it different. In the beginning I was into hip hop and things like Girl Talk, but after 2008 my music selection expanded and I knew more indie bands that were on the lineup. So over the years, I got to see more bands I knew and loved.

Who all did you get to see this year?
Big Gigantic, Mimosa, Tune-yards, Radiohead, Bon Iver, Phish, Santigold, Temper Trap, Civil Wars, Skrillex, Ludacris, Rodrigo y Gabriella, Beach Boys, Alice Cooper, Childish Gambino, Two Door Cinema Club, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Trampled by Turtles, and The Antlers.

Who was your favorite?
Tough decision, it's a toss up between Radiohead and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Both put on a phenomenal show. I really connected to Radiohead. Being able to see someone I've admired musically for so many years was amazing. He had an incredible light show as well that really made the show stand out among the rest.

To someone who has never been to Bonnaroo, how would you describe it?
It's very diverse. You see people you would never think you'd see come out to listen to the same bands you know and love. You get to meet so many different people who you have so much in common with, yet are completely different. The music brings people together, it's like you form bonds with strangers. It's a nice chill getaway and the camping adds a fun aspect to the whole thing.

What would be your biggest complaint about Bonnaroo?
Scheduling conflicts. It's so hard to see everyone you really want to see, because they play on so many different stages at the same times. I think they should move some of the good bands to the earlier days instead of putting all the big names towards the end and all at night. Some of the bands that were in tents should have played on the big stage and things like that. Also, the distance to Centeroo (where the shows are) is so far away from the campsites. You have to really prepare for Bonnaroo or else you'll miss out on a lot.

How does Bonnaroo set itself apart from other music festivals you've been to or heard of?
Bonnaroo brings all different kinds of bands to their festival. Some really big named bands which attract long time fans, and then other small up-and-coming bands that after Bonnaroo usually get on the radar. The location is unique as well; it's in the middle of a field in Tennessee.

After interviewing Janelle I watched a few videos from the festival myself, trying really hard not to be too bummed I missed out on it. Here's my favorite one I've found so far, a song called "Blood Bank" by my one of my favorite artists, Bon Iver.

Did you go to Bonnaroo 2012? If so, leave a comment with your favorite performances and/or highlights of your festival experience! Or you could be like me, the girl who wished she could have been there, and leave a link to your favorite performance you find online.

Fun.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 12:17:00 +0000

Have you ever watched an artist or a band grow and evolve? I've watched it happen numerous times as a fan of all kinds of music. For example John Mayer, when he first came out with the song "No Such Thing" I was in high school and in that song he sang about running through the halls of his high school. As a fan, it was as if I grew with John Mayer. As I got older and matured, his music was doing the same thing album after album. The same thing happened with the band Fun.

When I first became a fan of the musician Nate Ruess he was the lead singer in a small band called The Format circa 2001. Some of my friends and I would drive hours to see them perform live, because their tour lineup was so limited. As the years went on, they added more and more cities to their tour as their music became more popular. It was one of those bands that I found and loved from the beginning, and was with them every step of the way. In 2008 the band announced on their blog that they weren't going to make another album. As a huge fan I was deeply saddened by the news. I had just seen them play in my hometown not long before that and got a chance to talk to Nate and he said "we're doing big things", hence my confusion when they broke up.

Fast-forward just a few months. Nate and a few others created a new band, Fun. I instantly knew that was what he meant when he said he was doing big things. So as a fan, of course I started following this newly formed band. At first I was hesitant because the music was a bit different than what they had been creating in The Format, but I knew it was headed in the right direction. Did you watch the Super Bowl this year? If you did, I'm sure you remember hearing a song called "We Are Young" during the Chevy commercial. That was Fun. featuring Janelle Monae. After that commercial, that song was everywhere. It's on the radio just about every five minutes, in stores, dance clubs, you name it that song has everyone singing along. My mind was blown. I watched a small band for years go unnoticed, change their name, label, and style, and get connected with the right people at the right time to place their song perfectly. I watched the MTV Movie Awards last night and the opening music act was Fun. Yet again, my mind was blown. After their performance I was sitting there thinking back over the last few years and how far they've come since I've been a fan. I thought about how that one commercial made them huge, and then something else happened as I was watching TV. The next commercial break came on and I saw, well I should say heard, a new Bing commercial. I have recently discovered a newly formed folk band called The Lumineers, and have been playing their song "Ho Hey" on repeat ever since. There it was, "Ho Hey" playing on TV. I had the same feeling I had when I first saw the commercial playing Fun's music, and pictured The Lumineers opening up for an MTV award show next year. I love when bands break through and make it big, and I love being that fan from the get go, growing with them every step of the way.

Since I'm sure you've all heard Fun's song "We Are Young", I'll leave you with The Lumineers' song "Ho Hey". I hope you enjoy it, you just might hear it the next time you turn on your TV!

Tuesday is my new favorite day!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 24 May 2012 13:58:00 +0000

I recently learned why it is that albums are released on Tuesdays. For a long time, I guess I never questioned it until taking a class on publishing and distribution and I wondered, why Tuesday?

I'll enlighten you! Billboard Magazine publishes its charts on Wednesdays. If an album is released on Tuesday, it has the full 7 days worth of sales to count towards that. Also, I read about how distributing music takes a lot of work, and oftentimes record stores have to have enough employees working to unload them and get them on shelves. Monday's would just be too early to release an album, because it might not be until late Monday night that they hit the shelves. If albums were to be released Wednesdays or after some people think that is too late in the week to get fans out to purchase the record, leaving that next Wednesday a sad day when the charts don't look like artists would hope. So there you have it, the mystery to Album Release Tuesdays has been solved! Now for the good stuff..

I am pleased with the new John Mayer album that just came out this past Tuesday. You should read Rolling Stone's review of it, I couldn't say it better myself! I was excited to hear that his sound has changed a little bit. I have been a fan of John Mayer since I first heard his single "No Such Thing" on the radio years ago, and I mean many years ago! It seemed as if John used his music in a very personal way, and as a fan I felt like I watched him grow up musically, as well as lyrically with the content and music changing as his life matured. This album wasn't just a grown up John Mayer, it was an all new John Mayer. A country-folk artist that emerged out of nowhere, but yet it seemed very strategic. John Mayer had gotten some bad press after a few incidents and then seemed to go into hiding for a while. This new Album, Born & Raised, is his perfect way to jump back into the light and show everyone what he's all about. You should check it out!

The Fall Back

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 24 May 2012 04:31:00 +0000

Hey Readers, I am excited to update you on some exciting music news! Remember Bridge 19? They just released an album titled "The Fall Back" and had a few release shows to celebrate and promote!

In Bridge 19's first official duo release, "The Fall Back", we get all the familiar qualities we are used to hearing from Bridge 19; the harmonies of course, spirited melodies paired with intense lyrics, agile guitar and layers of instrumentation. But there's a new feeling that comes with this studio release; the feeling that the duo went "all in" emotionally. With songs that expose the twisted, the angry, the desperate, and the paranoid; Bridge 19 created an album that transcends genre. Just when you think you have a singer-songwriter album, you get hints of pop, rock, folk, and even blues and country. Bridge 19 and their stellar band featuring guitarist and co-producer Ric Hordinski (Over the Rhine, David Wilcox, Phil Keaggy), David LaBruyere (John Mayer), and Josh Suerkamp really make these songs speak to the listener, matching melodies and soundscapes to the lyrics that expose passionate writers. With a robust roster of 13 songs, there is something for everyone on "The Fall Back"!

I had the opportunity to make a trip back home to Lexington, Kentucky to attend 1 of their 3 CD release shows. It was such a great night! Bridge 19 packed Natasha's Bistro with friends, family, and even more fans. They brought along another Louisville band, A Lion Named Roar, to start off the evening. Bridge 19 played every song on their new album, "The Fall Back". Of which included: Lowdown, Lie, Nothing Left, Waiting, Light of Day, Back to Me, Bring Me Back, Wrecking Ball, One at a Time, Addiction, Leave, Cabin Song, and Match Made in Hell. It was beyond exciting to finally hear the new songs we had all been waiting for. I was happy to be apart of such a great night and to have had the chance to work with such a great band. I couldn't be more proud of them for coming this far, and I know they have only just begun! Do me a favor and go purchase "The Fall Back", you won't be disappointed! It is available on ITunes as well as CD Baby (http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bridge19). Here are a few pictures snapped from the show.

Amanda + The Band

Audrey and Meg

William Fitzsimmons

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 03:55:00 +0000

I am very excited to share an interview I had with the one and only, William Fitzsimmons! I got to see him play for the third time a few months ago at the To Write Love On Her Arms event at the House of Blues in Orlando. After the show I caught up with William Fitzsimmons. The last time I had talked to him was when I saw him in Kentucky, where we talked about our mutual love for UK basketball and psychology. I was excited to tell him I left the psychology world, one of which he is very familiar with, to study music business at Full Sail University. He agreed to answer some questions for my blog, isn't he the best?

I've read about the role music played in your household growing up, at what age did you write your first song? Was your family the sole influence?

I think this is probably strange for most songwriters, but I didn't start writing songs until I was grown and had been playing music for much of my life. I wrote my first song when I was in graduate school. I guess I never really felt compelled to write songs until I thought I had been through some experiences that I couldn't find another way to process. If was a good way to do it for me, though. I spent years just immersing myself in other peoples' work; just being a student and learning from those who went before me.

‪Was folk music something you grew up with, or just your particular favorite genre? What other folk artists, if any, have influenced your music?

Folk music was what I spent most of my time with as a child. It wasn't really my choice, it's just what my mother raised me on. John Denver, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, etc... Years later I branched out and saw the beauty in a lot of rock and classic pop music, but I don't think those songs you grow up with ever really leave you. Besides the aforementioned, I'd say Nick Drake and David Wilcox have been huge inspirations. But really, anything that passes our ears leaves little traces.

‪What is the song writing process like for you? Did that process change from album to album, or have you always had one way of going about it?

I almost exclusively write at home, usually outside and usually very early in the morning, before the sun comes up and before your mind is muddied with distractions and mental anchors. It's been a relatively similar process, but from record to record I'll always throw in something divergent. Writing a song in the studio in an hour, writing on a new instrument, etc... Creativity is a fickle bird and you have to chase it and respect it.

‪What is a typical day like for you?

It's looks extremely different if I'm on tour or if I'm home. It's tempting to buck a routine when you're off tour because traveling can be so regimented and a great deal of choices are beyond your control. I usually give myself a bit of time to leave consciousness when I'm back home; I think it's healthy to indulge that, at least a little. But after a short time I get into a routine of working around the house, practicing, writing, researching, and reading.

‪Having a psychology background myself, I'm extremely interested in how psychology and your music are connected. Did you ever imagine how therapeutic your music would or could be for others, or at the time was it more of a personal thing for you?

It was entirely personal at the beginning and when I wrote those first songs I didn't really have any idea anyone else would ever hear them. Maybe if I thought they would have I wouldn't have made them so damn personal! But it's precisely the connection I observed others' having with the songs that let me believe making music was the right thing for me to pursue. It was difficult to leave therapy behind, but when I saw that the songs were doing a similar manner of work it seemed like I wasn't really leaving it behind, just going about it in a different way.

‪I read an interview with you once where you said "when music is digested correctly, it's beautiful. You just have to be careful you're not using it by itself" talking about using music in certain situations to get by. What is one artist or band you can remember listening to in a certain situation you were going through where you "digested the music correctly" and it was helpful to you?

David Wilcox has been a go-to for me for many, many years. I really was too young to understand a lot of the things he was singing about when I first got into his records, but there were always pieces in there which meant a lot to me and helped me understand things I was going through in a way that nothing else at the time did. Music is powerful like that; it can hit you harder than just about anything else sometimes.

‪Is it ever hard to perform such personal songs live for your fans? Is there one song you enjoy most performing live?

Yeah, it's not the easiest music to play night after night. Sometimes, if I let myself get too deep into it, it's a bit hard to come back from quickly. I had to make some hard boundaries that from the time I step on the stage to the moment I step on it I'm allowed to get into those old thoughts and ideas. But once I walk off, I have to leave that stuff behind. I don't know if it's the healthiest way to go about it, but it's the best way I've found to remain honest with the songs but not live in the past.

‪From the first time I ever heard your song Passion Play I've always wanted to know what that song was to you. What inspired it? (if that's too personal I totally understand, it's just a very meaningful song to me)

To me it's a song about wanting to cut out the dark part of myself. Not knowing how to walk around every day knowing I have the capacity for some very evil shit. But that's just what it means to me and honestly meaning in a song isn't owned by the writer. That's a mistake a lot of us can make. The substance we bring to a song as a listener is just as relevant as what the author brings. That's what makes music such a unique and potent medium.

‪What role do cover songs play for you? Your cover of the song "Heartless" is hands down my favorite cover, ever.

Thanks very much. Really, it's nothing all that complicated. Sometimes a song just strikes you out of the blue, or you hear some quality of it that you'd like to draw out further. A lot of times it's finding a song which has some message which is layered down and I give a hand at bringing it out in my own way.

‪The first time I saw you perform was at the Southgate House in Kentucky. You played upstairs with Rosi Golan and it was a very intimate setting. Do you have a favorite venue you've ever played? Or a perferred type of venue that is conducive to your style that you keep in mind when booking tour dates/destinations?

Intimacy is a high priority with the type of music I make and the type of shows I want to perform. The ideal is being in a place where there is the fewest number of obstacles between the audience and the players. It's about creating a milieu where each person feels as connected with the music and with the performers as is possible. I don't have one specific favorite place to play, there's too many great ones. But the style I generally like best is a theatre or old cathedral. Some place where you can actually feel a sense of reverence when you enter.

‪Speaking of Rosi Golan, what other singer/songwriters have you collaborated with? And how do you go about the collaborating process, do you have a certain sound in mind? Or do you have a certain artist in mind first?

I've been very lucky to get to play with quite a few wonderful folks. Julia Stone, Brooke Fraser, Leigh Nash, Ingrid Michaelson, Priscilla Ahn. Come to think of it, it seems I've got quite a penchant for female vocalists. A good collaboration is really about two things: 1) finding the right voice for the song and 2) singing with someone who is absolutely passionate about what they do. All those above ladies are beyond brilliant at what they do.

‪What records have you recently been listening to?

I've been pretty deep into The National the last several months. Particularly "Boxer" and "High Violet." Rosie Thomas has a new record coming out next month and the first song from it is just beautiful. I can almost guarantee that won't be leaving my cd player any time soon.

‪Do you have any advice for someone going into the music business?

Be committed to only making decisions that you really believe in. You'll be faced with a lot of bullshit in this field. Art is a beautiful thing. But business is not. And unfortunately both of those things are involved. There's a lot of goodness and a lot of really amazing people. But you have to look to find them. Find people who actually care about you and stick with them.

‪For my last question, I have to ask about your beard! Do you have any awesome beard stories? Best/worst thing about having a beard?

Haha, honestly it's not something I really think about. It's a bit like wearing a watch, you don't really notice it moment to moment. It's just a family thing that the Fitzsimmons men all adhere to. And I'm either too committed or too lazy to change it.

William Fitzsimmons

Interviewing William Fitzsimmons was such an exhilarating experience for me. I have been a fan of his music for quite sometime, and that was my first interview of sorts. I really appreciated that he took the time out of his tour to talk with me, and I had a blast learning more about him and his career. I hope you guys go take a listen!

Cotton Club

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 04:58:00 +0000

Full Sail University put on the Cotton Club showcase and beat battle in the FS Live building. Here is picture of Kelvin, Mo, Angel, and I at the show! You can read more about it here.

The Radio Biz

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 20:57:00 +0000

For this blog I interviewed my aunt, Stacy Yelton, who has been in radio for 31 years now. She currently works at WUKY, an NPR affiliated radio station at the University of Kentucky. WUKY was the first university-owned FM radio station in the country, as well as Kentucky's first public radio Station. Stacy was one of the reasons I had the courage to pursue an education in the music business and I keep in contact with her often about what I'm learning here at Full Sail. I had asked her to think about how negotiation fit into her daily routine at work, and a few days later we talked on the phone.

I discussed some of the topics we've covered in our negotiation and deal making class with Stacy, such as role, status, leverage and power, affiliation, and mutual benefit. It wasn't necessarily a question an answer interview, but it was a very good conversation that we had. She said: "There is a negotiation that happens between the radio station and representative of an artist. It's funny, because I never realized how often I actually negotiated until you asked me about it. When you think about it, the radio can't really negotiate per say. When a promoter comes to the radio station with a record, they can give us stats or chart numbers all they want. The disc jockey can argue that it isn't right for their audience all they want, and the promoter usually comes back with 'yes it is because...' and it is a weekly dance that you do. Music and program directors have hours upon hours in the week where the phone rings off the hook with people trying to get you to play a certain record. There's nothing they can do for you to make you play a record and you're sitting in such a position of power. The best music directors won't use that power, and they can easily just hang up. You are in control with every right to say 'no, we don't want to play your record.' I give credit to the promoters, especially when they understand who they are talking to and they understand where the power sits, which is with us, the radio station. DJ's are usually kind to the person on the other end of the phone, because from experience you realize they are just out doing their job. It's always a pleasure when a promoter calls and doesn't say 'Hey, I've got a hit song you need to check out' but rather says 'Hey, how are you doing? How did the pledge drive go?' When they do their research and seem invested, it's much easier to listen to what they have to offer. They know they aren't likely to get what they want, but they try to make it personal and take their chances that way. Sometimes you will play a lessor record simply because that promoter has given you so many hits in the past and you're willing to take a chance. It's interesting because with what I do, as a program director, I have nothing to lose. I still take those chances though, and occasionally it's panned out way better than I could have ever imagined. I'm known for going early on records. The beauty of public radio is that there are no consultants; you just get to follow your gut and go. I personally know within hearing the first 20 or 30 seconds of a song if I will play it on my radio station or not. It's all in the hook, and if I think I'll lose listeners because that certain feel isn't there, I won't play it. The promoters know that though, so that helps. I can say now that I enjoy the negotiating that I do every week, and I am very happy that I am the one sitting in the side of power. I wonder what it'd be like if I were a promoter for a day?"

Stacy didn't go into this story like I thought she would when she talked about how she's known for playing records early, but I'd like to share it. Stacy was the first person to play The Civil Wars on the radio, ever. I think it's crazy when I think back on it over a year ago. She called me up, told me a promoter had called and had a fantastic new band that she instantly loved and put their song in rotation immediately. Since then, The Civil Wars have made quite the name for themselves. In fact, they played their single on the Grammy Awards last weekend! A few days before the Grammy's were on, I got a chance to see The Civil Wars live in Orlando, and the whole time thought about how cool it was that my aunt was the very first person to get their music on the radio. I have a new way of looking at how negotiation plays a role in the music business every single day, and how exciting the outcomes can be.

Here is a video of The Civil Wars at the Grammy's:

and here is their performance. They performed the song "Barton Hollow", which was the song that Stacy put on the air.

Happy Album Release Tuesday!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 02:47:00 +0000

Hello readers! Guess what day it is? It's another lovely day full of new albums released into the world and I couldn't be happier. I literally just got home from my favorite record store in Orlando, Park Ave CD's, and I can't wait to dive into these new albums with you.

Let's start with Kathleen Edwards. Her new album, Voyageur, was released today. I have been anxiously awaiting this new album for a long time now. Kathleen Edwards is one of my favorite musicians of all time and I can't wait to see what she's done with this new album. Her first one came out in 2003, and from what I've read this new one will be exactly that, new. New and different, but different can be good. I read on her website something she said after her album, Asking for Flowers, came out in 2008: "I do feel like I have grown some balls. I feel like I don't care so much if something doesn't sit right with somebody else or if the listener who liked my first two records doesn't like that song or this song on the record, because I feel really good about them. All I can do is go forward with a good sense of myself" I think it might be safe to say she probably feels the same about this album as well, and I would have the same attitude I think. I watched this video today, and it sums the entire album up beautifully. She called the new album "a clean slate of sounds". Justin Vernon, of Bon Iver, is Kathleen's new boyfriend and co-produced Voyageur with her. He is my number one favorite singer/songwriter of all time, and so far I am in love with the work Kathleen and Justin have created and produced. Check her out, you won't be disappointed.

Next up, Ani DiFranco. I know what you're thinking, how could she possibly come out with another album? Twenty years in the music business and she's still going strong! I think this is album number 22, not even counting EP's and collaborative stuff. Her new album released today is titled Which Side Are You On? On her website it describes this album as "an extraordinary snapshot of DiFranco's own life as well her sense of where the country stands at this particular moment in time." It then had a quote from Ani herself, saying "I'm testing deeper waters with the political songs on this album. I feel a little bit frustrated, politically desperate. After having written hundreds of songs over decades, I think, 'Now What? How far can I go with this? Can you sing the word 'abortion', can you sing the word 'patriarchy' - what can you sing and get away with? I guess I've been pushing my own boundaries of politics and art. Seeing what people have the ears to listen to. How big is my mouth? When can I get out of it successfully?" Paste Magazine had similar things to say about the album in this article that is worth checking out. After you read up on it, give it a listen yourself, even if you don't have the same views she does, at least appreciate the music.

And lastly, and not so folky unlike Kathleen and Ani, is Anthony Green. I have been a big Anthony Green fan since my high school days. Oh, and he's coming to Orlando at the end of this month and I can't wait! Here's a link for show info if you're in the area. His new album that was released today is called Beautiful Things. You may know of Anthony if you're a fan of the band Circa Survive, being that he is their lead singer. Beautiful Things is one of his solo albums and so far, my favorite on the album is James' Song, written about his son. Check it out!

Things to look forward to in some posts coming up:

Kelsey Harmon has a new video out that I'll so kindly share with you.
I not only got to see William Fitzsimmons in concert last week, but he agreed to an interview for this blog so get excited, because I know I am!!

A New Year of Music

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:13:00 +0000

Happy New Year everyone! I hope you all rang in the New Year with good music playing, as 2012 should be a great year for music (in my opinion). This post may seem all over the place, but I have a lot to share with you guys. Let's start off with how exciting the Grammys this year will be, especially for indie artists!

I came across several articles, such as this one, on billboardbiz that discussed the hype about all the indie Grammy nominations. Bon Iver, Mumford & Sons, and Skrillex are three indie artists/bands that surprised everyone when they were nominated. There was even a blowup on Twitter after the nominations were announced with people asking who Bon Iver was. There's a funny blog with screenshots from some of the tweets, here are a few of them:

I think it is about time that people start being exposed to indie music, and darn good indie music at that. There's a reason Bon Iver was nominated for 4 Grammys, one being best new artist. Oh, and record of the year. Justin Vernon and the rest of Bon Iver are extremely talented musicians and are finally being heard. It has been a few years now since Bon Iver put out their first album, but with the release of their latest album has come this new found, and well deserved, recognition in the music industry. I think it's great to see Bon Iver, and all of the other indie artists, on the bill for the Grammys in this new year of 2012. It's going to be a good one, just watch!

In other news, 2012 will bring me one step closer to my future career in artist management. I have been in contact with the band Bridge 19 and am very excited for what is to come! They are currently wrapping up in the recording studio and planning a few CD release shows. I have been able to help in the process of finding venues for them to play in May, and have started thinking about what other artists I can contact to see if Bridge 19 could open for them. I was able to sit down with Amanda and Audrey of Bridge 19 on my trip home to Kentucky last week and discuss how involved I can start to become with what they've got going on. I'm in the process of learning about LLC's in my business finance class, something they said they don't know a whole lot about. I can't wait to share my knowledge with them as time goes on in my program here at Full Sail! It's going to be a good year for Bridge 19, and for myself if I can keep working with them like I have had the pleasure doing so thus far.

I'll try to post a 2012 playlist soon. Happy new year of music to you all!

the "music" video

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 04:13:00 +0000

In my current class, Business Storytelling and Brand Development, I've been learning a lot on how business storytelling works. TED is a great place to find all kinds of stories and experiences told in an interactive and interesting way. As I watched countless videos on cool and inspiring business stories, I stumbled upon one that stood out to me.Jakob Trollback is a former musician and currently a designer who excels in video and motion graphics. I watched his story on TED and I think you should, too. He talks about his days as a DJ and musician and his love for music videos. It made me think about my love for music videos, as well. I think music videos should tell a story as it relates to the music/song. Jakob described most music videos as "reactive" and I thought about it and would have agree with him. What he said after that was what his story was about, he said "so I was thinking, can you remove us creators and try to make the music be the voice and have the animation following it?"so he did exactly that. Himself and a few other designers took a 25 year old track that dealt with rising water and religion and put animation to it. If you watch, on the TED video it shows their creation. It really is a "music video" to the core, and I found it to be fascinating. The animation moves and flows with the beats in the song, and they used words to write out the lyrics. It really was a true music video, and a very good one at that. It made me think of some of my favorite songs and how the music videos for them could be so different if there were like that.

Which led me to pull up an article I just recently read about my favorite Artist, Bon Iver, and what his band did with their new album. The article talks about how Bon Iver put out a "deluxe album" of their critically acclaimed album, Bon Iver, via iTunes. It is composed of ten short films, one for each track. The article talks about how it was ideally made for iPad users, but I think even people without the iPad will still want to acquire this and watch it elsewhere. The videos, of which were made by different people, go along with the actual music. The article states "while the short films themselves are hypnotic and enchanting, the "Deluxe Edition" is less notable as a catalog of music videos than as a rethinking of the way albums can engage the consumer in a high-tech world." in my opinion, I think it's awesome either way, and could be changing the music industry as we speak. Here is an example of a "music video" on Bon Iver's deluxe album, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. (my favorite is when it gets to the 2 minute marker and how the colors and motion go with the music as it gets louder, you'll see)

South By South What?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 13:17:00 +0000

Have you heard of SXSW (South By Southwest)? When I first heard about it I thought it was just another typical music festival, but I was wrong. I just recently found out what it's all about, and I think I'm still wrapping my head around it all. Check out a quote I found, it explains it all:

"Every March, thousands of young, jeans-wearing techies, filmmakers and musicians descend uptown Austin, Texas, harboring dreams of getting noticed and hitting it big. They come not just for the balmy weather or the Tex-Mex food but for South By Southwest, a collection of conferences and festivals that's considered one of the most influential happenings on that annual cultural calendar." - CNN

How awesome is that? A music festival plus a conference with all of the music industry's major players. I couldn't even imagine. As I read more on their website, I learned that SXSW has become the leading music industry event in the past 25 years and that this year is to be the best yet. This March, so many people will attend SXSW, to be more exact over 16,000 music industry professionals will attend and over 2,000 acts will perform at over 90 music venues. I started to wonder who specifically got to go to such an event and I found these demographics from last year.

I spent hours playing on their site, learning everything I could about this event. I found this marketing guide to be very interesting, as well. I even checked to see if my spring break was the same week, because having the opportunity to go would open so many doors for me. The networking alone would be unreal, not to mention seeing some of my favorite indie bands perform in such a cool music city, all the while doing business and learning from the best, maybe even finding a band to manage. Another quote that stood out to me so much that I got goosebumps was this one from the New York Times:

"While the Internet has made it easier for people to discover music from a distance, SXSW long ago acquired the critical mass that keeps people returning. Among the people with name tags are those who might sign musicians, book a tour date, do an interview, offer a management deal or pick a song for a commercial or soundtrack"

I really would love to be able to attend SXSW someday. I've been to a few conferences before, and they are the most fun you can have while learning/absorbing so much important information at a fast rate. But a music conference? Sign me up!

The Art of Planning

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 20:50:00 +0000

This month I have been taking a class called Project and Team Management. I've learned a lot so far about teams, planning, and budgeting and have tried to relate that to the music industry. As a fan of music/musicians I never really thought about what all goes into a show or an album, I just simply enjoyed the final product. I think I have seen only the beginning of the business side to music, and I’m excited to learn more! I asked my friends Amanda and Audrey, who play together as Bridge 19, to tell me a little bit about what they’ve experienced as a duo in relation to planning, budgeting, and teams. This is what they said:

“As an independent artist, budgeting/planning is imperative. You're responsible for recording/paying musicians/ CD replication/merchandise/website/gas/lodging etc. It's important to play enough shows to cover your expenses, which is where planning/budgeting come into play. Communication is an important part of the team because any money that one person spends directly affects the other. We compared it to managing a family’s budget.”

I’ve been able to see first hand a glimpse of the business side to Bridge 19. As they said, they play enough shows to cover their expenses. I used to live in Lexington, Ky. Bridge 19 would travel from Louisville to Lexington to play at a local café called 6 Friends Café. This is a post Audrey had written on 6 friends Facebook page:

“Just going to throw my 2 cents in here. It's not every day as an independent musician that you find a venue like the 6 friends. They pay us appropriately for the job we do there. They feed us. There is ALWAYS a crowd to watch us. Every. Single. Time. They request our original music. They purchase our cds. They talk with us and become friends. They invite us back to do it again. It IS those people and those places that keep us moving in our music; letting us go further. You take that away, and everyone loses. We will be back. No doubt in my mind.”

In August the café had an issue with a neighbor of theirs who complained of noise and loud music every time they would have a musician playing indoors. It was quite a shock when the café was told they were to stop having live music until further notice. Not only did it affect the café and their business, but it affected the artists who play there on a regular basis as well. Amanda and Audrey have been playing shows like those at 6 friends to save up some money for their album they are in the process of recording. In the end, a city council meeting was held and 6 Friends was able to have music again. Audrey was right; they would be seeing everyone there again. When I went home for a visit this past month I was able to see Bridge 19 play at 6 Friends and I cannot begin to explain how happy everyone was to have the music back! Supporting our local musicians is important, and I hope it continues. I’m excited for Bridge 19 and their future. I hope they continue playing enough shows to raise money for their album and to keep entertaining their fans.

If you want to learn more about Bridge 19, check out their Facebook page. Also, please read my first post on this blog, it's all about them! Then, you should go here and read more about them/listen to a few of their songs. If I had to pick a favorite it would be either "Song From Me" or "Chance". If you ever make your way to Kentucky, I hope that you’ll go visit 6 Friends Café, as well!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 19:38:00 +0000

Hey guys! A few friends of mine thought I should post a playlist on here, so here is my latest playlist that consists of some great artists you should check out:

1. Shake It Out by Florence + the Machine
2. Paradise by Coldplay
3. Holocene by Bon Iver
4. Nothing At All by Madi Diaz
5. Get Gone by White Arrows
6. Stay Young, Go Dancing by Death Cab for Cutie
7. How Come You Never Go There by Feist
8. Lights Out, Words Gone by Bombay Bicycle Club
9. Heavy Heart by Ghostland Observatory
10. Starry Eyed by Ellie Goulding
11. Poison & Wine by The Civil Wars
12. Wide Eyes by The Local Natives
13. Shake Me Down by Cage The Elephant
14. This is Twice Now by Lydia
15. Dreams by Brandi Carlile
16. When My Time Comes by Dawes
17. Kick Drum Heart by The Avett Brothers
18. Ashes & Fire by Ryan Adams
19. Midnight City by M83
20. Lotus Flower (Jacques Greene RMX) by Radiohead

Click here to listen!

Kelsey Who?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 18:49:00 +0000

Hey Readers!

I'd like to share with you another friend of mine, Kelsey Harmon. Who knew there was so much talent coming from Kentucky? Kelsey is now a student at Belmont University, which is located in Nashville, and she is studying music business. She is quite the talented independent singer/songwriter! Here is one of her original songs, called "I'm Happy". It is by far my favorite song of hers.

Kelsey describes her style as folk/blues. I think there is a rise in the popularity of folk music these days, which I couldn't be happier about. Kelsey's voice sometimes reminds me of Ingrid Michaelson, who is rather famous in that realm. Kelsey's sound is also unique and captivating. She plays most of her shows in local Nashville venues, bars, and coffee shops.

Kelsey and her friend Adam playing a show in Nashville

I think she's on the right track, and has potential to make it in the music world. I'm hoping to make it to Nashville for one of her shows; I would love to work with her in the future. She has met a lot of people in her program at Belmont, and has a lot of other friends who are extremely talented as well. Having friends on the actual music side helps me on the business side; it's a perfect place to start out for me. I am thankful for social media, allowing me to keep up-to-date with her latest videos, shows, and other exciting news. You can check out her Facebook page here! You can also watch more of her YouTube videos here, she even has some cover songs on there. Another cool website to hear her music is Pure Volume. I recommend listening to all of the songs posted, but definitely the song "Save Me". I find Kelsey's voice to be extremely refreshing and I hope you do, too.

Bridge 19

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 03:26:00 +0000

Bridge 19 is an alternative folk band made up of Amanda Lucas and Audrey Cecil. Amanda and Audrey are harmony driven and extremely passionate about their music. They have shared the stage with artists such as: Ben Sollee, Garrison Starr, Girlyman, Company of Thieves, and many other musicians!
They are currently in the studio recording their first album that is to be released this spring, that of which I am very excited for! Amanda and Audrey are from Louisville, KY, which was only an hour away from where I lived the past few years. Over those years I became more than just a fan of theirs, I was their good friend. Folk is my favorite genre of music, and I love Bridge 19's sound. I think they are amazing musicians who are going to make it big. I believe in their music; it inspires me. As time went on and I realized I wanted to go to Full Sail University possibly for artist management, it was as if a light bulb went off in my head. I had to somehow start off my future career by working with them. My first opportunity to do so was two weekends ago when I had the pleasure of joining my friends of Bridge 19 in Georgia for the Atlanta Pride Festival. Their band was one of the numerous bands/artists who played live music for tons of festivalgoers. I helped them, in a small way, by passing out handbills to potential fans and selling their merchandise during their set.

Although my role was small, I was extremely happy they asked me to help. Giving me backstage access and working along their side opened the door for me into the music business for the first time ever. I felt as if my heart belonged in the music industry, and that feeling has gotten me even more excited about my current education and future career goals. I have high hopes for Bridge 19; they are incredibly talented and together they are an unstoppable duo. Their energy is through the roof, and I truly hope I get to work with them on a more permanent basis in the near future. Give them a listen, and then go check out their Facebook page! You can also read more about them and/or find their concert schedule on their website.

I snapped this photo of Bridge 19 in ATL at the Pride Festival