From Consumer to Creator: A Strategic Approach to Audience Building The last two editions of Liner Notes focused on the art of listening while playing, with a reader spotlight on the issue of staying current without burning out. The Insider edition culminated in a report by The Unstarving Musician on digital overwhelm and the impact of information overload on musician health and artistry. This issue will focus on the question: instead of consuming everything, what if we focused on creating...
26 days agoĀ ā¢Ā 9 min read
Happy Friday! Here's another new episode for your weekend listening pleasure. š§ 330 Skulk the Hulking ā Merging AI Visual Production, Music, and Performance Art š AI music production is revolutionizing how independent artists create and present their work, and Steve Pasieka (Skulk the Hulking) is creating visual art at the forefront of this transformation. In this episode, Steve shares how he evolved from live performance art and noise rock to creating a multimedia project that seamlessly...
about 1 month agoĀ ā¢Ā 1 min read
"Listening should be at least half of what your brain is doing." āKid Andersen, Guitarist & Record Producer In the last Liner Notes, we explored the foundational skills of listening while playingāKid Andersen's 50% rule, practical strategies for dividing your attention, and basic techniques for musical awareness. These fundamentals are essential groundwork for what we're diving into today. There's a link to Part 1 of this series at the end of this email. Now we're moving beyond the basics...
about 1 month agoĀ ā¢Ā 5 min read
"Listening should be at least half of what your brain is doing." āKid Andersen, Guitarist & Record Producer I want to share a single anecdote about a moment when poor listening while playing led to a musical mishap or missed opportunity, but Iāve done it more than once. Listening to the rest of the band is a skill I possess and constantly work on, and Iām far from a master at this art. I'm also good at hearing when other musicians arenāt listening to the rest of the band. I'll hear it when...
about 2 months agoĀ ā¢Ā 5 min read
Happy Tuesday! Good morning (or good whatever time of day it is for you)! I've posted a new article for your reading pleasure. The game has changed completely In the early 2000s, if you wanted your music video seen, you had to pray MTV would pick it up. Today? You have the same tools as major labels to reach millions of people directly. I just posted a deep dive into why visual content has become absolutely essential for independent artistsāand more importantly, how to make it work even on a...
2 months agoĀ ā¢Ā 1 min read
The Skill That Separates Weekend Warriors from Pros What's the one skill that separates weekend warriors from working professionals? It's not speed, complexity, or expensive gearāit's the ability to play quietly. In an early episode of The Unstarving Musician podcast, former Managing Editor of Modern Drummer Magazine Mike Dawson said, "A drummer who can play quietly is hard to come by." Mike wasn't just talking about volumeāhe was talking about dynamic control, the secret weapon that makes...
2 months agoĀ ā¢Ā 3 min read
Happy Friday! Here's another new episode for your weekend listening pleasure. Timothy Reid ā Game Composition: From AAA Studios to Indie Freedom š Game composition opportunities have transformed dramatically in recent years, creating new pathways for musicians to enter the video game industry. In this episode, I reconnect with Timothy Reid, a guitarist-turned-video game composer based in Osaka, Japan, for his second appearance on the show since our 2021 conversation. Timothy shares his...
3 months agoĀ ā¢Ā 1 min read
Happy Friday! How are you? Doing anything musical this weekend? Here's another new episode for your weekend listening pleasure. 326 Anmara - Music Funding Success: From $150,000 in Grants to Record Deal š Music funding has been transformative for Anmara, with the Virginia-based singer-songwriter securing over $150,000 through grants, crowdfunding, and her recent Chrome City Records deal. In this episode, Anmara shares her approach to financing her music career, from winning a prestigious...
3 months agoĀ ā¢Ā 1 min read