1-minute tip for artists and bands – Say thank you to those that have inspired you.
With 250M+ Streams, Alt. Rapper, Singer/Songwriter & Producer Blacklite District Calls on Minecraft in New Video, “Falling”
Alt. singer/songwriter, rapper and producer Blacklite District has released his latest single and Minecraft-created video, “Falling” — available now.
Produced by Young Kxge and with visuals by Wifey, the track is Blacklite District’s second to be released in 2020 — with “Over This” landing before it. With songs stacking over 250 million streams across across all platforms, “Falling” adds to the music man’s growing roster of previous projects, including mixtapes Souled Out (2019), Through the Ages (2018), Instant Gratification (2017), and To Whom It May Concern (2016). His first official album is set for release later this year.
“I make songs from real life experiences, and based on the real things I’ve been through” says the artist of the track and his creative direction at large. “I feel like I’m writing the best music of my career so far, and the music is really developing into a defined sound.
“‘Falling’ is a great example of where I want to be in terms of sound and feeling,” he continues. “The song is real, raw, and emotional.
“I’ll let the music do the talking.”
“Falling” is available now.
French Art Pop Artist Bizar Continues Artistic Reveal in New Video, “Goudja”
Parisian indie art pop artist Bizar has released a new video for his latest single, “Goudja” — available now!
With the video by Paul Abderrahim, the track itself was produced by Bizar and POG (Bon Enfant Production, Shawondasee), with the mix by POG and mastering by Benjamin Joubert.
First formed in the mid-2010s, Bizar embodied one — and just one — singular, overarching goal for frontman Alexis.
“Hit music only,” he recalls.
From there, he dedicated himself to “1000 hours” of looking for the perfect chorus, crafting creative paths between pop and every genre possible. His love for puns is on full display within many of the French lyrics, and, on his latest and sophomore EP, 2019’s Greatest Hits II, there’s even a tribute to the six months he spent in Brazil with the Portuguese lyrics of “Eu Ela.”
“Making a song always starts in my bedroom, focusing on melodies with a guitar or synth,” Alexis shares. “Once I’ve got a decent demo, I visit POG to make it shiny and add weird noises.
“Then,” he continues, “I go live with my three old friends — Nico and Xavier on synth and live vocals, and Louis on bass — with the amazing pleasure to see the crowd sing along to the lyrics.”
If fans were looking to Bizar’s socials to first place a face to the man behind the music, they were out of luck; Alexis has kept his identity under wraps until recently.
“For the first EP (Greatest Hits I, 2015), there is one video for each of the five songs and you can’t see my face a single time,” Alexis explains of the revealing rollout. For the first sets of videos off Greatest Hits II, you progressively discover who’s behind Bizar.
“The more I release stuff, the more I understand people need to see who they are listening to.”
“Goudja” and Greatest Hits II are available now.
What to post on social media when you’re stuck for ideas
Another 60-second video, designed to get you thinking about what to post when you’re all out of ideas.
https://youtu.be/Mlz4SRfql_o
Saskatoon’s Autopilot Is The House Band For The Best Rock And Roll Party In The Country
Ahead of their US tour, Saskatoon, SK’s indie/alternative rock trio Autopilot have shared a new music video for the title track of their latest album Afterglow. The video for the shimmering rock song shows a riotous house party in reverse with the band supplying the live sound in a cramped basement. The low ceiling is enough to make anyone with the slightest bit of claustrophobia feel uneasy, but the killer blend of airy guitars, punchy beats and warm melodies will make you stick around. So who was the owner that let their house be ravaged for the sake of Rock n’ Roll?
“We got home from a recent tour to find our neighbor had sold his house and it was set to be demolished,” explains frontman Marlon Harder. “We convinced the new owners to let us throw one final house party, and surprisingly they agreed – on the conditions that we didn’t have the cops show up and didn’t burn the place down. We called up our friends at the local breweries, got some kegs, and ended up with an insane crowd and had a classic house party (with a little extra destruction). While most of the gear didn’t survive the night, my favorite guitar did make it through the crowd surfing. It’s definitely the most fun we’ve had shooting a video, and the only party we never had to clean up after.“
Toronto Singer/Songwriter Christien Paul Won’t Let You Forget His New Single, “Je n’oublierai jamais”
Toronto singer/songwriter and French pop artist Christien Paul is out with his new single, “Je n’oublierai jamais” — available now.
Meaning ‘I’ll Never Forget’, the track is the first to land ahead of March’s release of Welcome to Lyon, an intimate and candid collection of songs that circle the French pop artist’s personal line in the sand when it came to navigating his career — and life.
“At 15, I created my first band, a pop punk group called FST, and the following year I joined my first professional group, a ska punk band called The 420 Club,” Paul recalls. “We released three studio albums and performed at festivals… It was my first taste of the artist life!
“At some point, around ten years later, I buried my ambitions and pursued a more stable life as a video producer and IT consultant.”
While the routine and income may have been steady, Christien Paul had never felt more off-kilter. As it would turn out, a pre-booked 10-day spiritual sojourn to study ancient Buddhist practices would prove transformative in more ways than one. “The retreat brought me back to my pure essence of being a musician, I would say,” he shares. “I was 32 at the time, and those around me really tried to dissuade me. They said, ‘you’re too old,’ or ‘there’s no money in music,’ but I was determined to make music my first mission and live my dream, rather than dream of it, you know?”
Caution thrown to the wind, Paul added to the whirlwind chapter by picking up where he left off with an old flame; “I was already driven by my love for music, and ready to leave everything behind and start from scratch. She convinced me to move to France, and seize the opportunity to combine… Well, my two loves.”
The move panned out, even if the relationship ultimately didn’t, and soon Paul was booking multiple tours throughout Europe based on his signature style: honey-warm vocals, unexpected and unique use of the ukulele, and lyrics that blend melancholy yearning with earnest hopefulness for the future.
“I found even more inspiration in that time,” he says, some of which comes to pass in the song “Cuba” or sophomore live-acoustic EP, Sessions; his debut, After Runnymede, came out in 2011. “I just immersed myself in writing songs, and fought for my first love: music. Now I’m ready for the ultimate fight — that of fulfilling my dream.”
“Je n’oublierai jamais” and Welcome to Lyon are available now.
10 main mistakes when choosing a music tutor
The genius in teaching music is a very rare thing. So it is a great success to find a brilliant teacher.
An American writer William Arthur Ward said “The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” Where to find such a person?
Many people choose their music tutor based on price, skill level, or style of music the teacher specializes in. All this is important, but there is another effective approach when choosing a good teacher. Try looking at these pro music tutors from a different angle.
Based on the experience of students who have repeatedly encountered in the past many problems and difficulties in this matter, we offer you a list of the most important things to avoid in your future music tutor.
The teacher does not care about you as a person
Many tutors ask their students about types of music they like, what they can play, what they want to learn. But very few tend to discover something about you. In this case, the whole process is just mechanical studying. Such a teacher will not be able to get the greatest possible results from you. So if you do not feel any personal interaction with your tutor, it is very unlikely you will progress with him.
The teacher is too stressed
If you do not receive enough attention from your music tutor, it is most likely he is overloaded with too many classes. Find out how busy the teacher is during the week, and you will know if he has enough strength to deal with you.
The teacher does not know your goals
You will not be able to play the instrument the way you want it unless your tutor knows your expectations. He can teach you various things, but will they relate to what you want to achieve? The teacher should know your goals and have effective strategies for achieving them. A decent teacher will immediately tell whether he can guide to your aim.
The teacher has no methods to track your success
You will notice some improvement, even if it is not measurable. However, tracking progress in all areas of your playing is important, as you can have more success in one area than in another. Having an effective system for tracking progress will help you find flaws in your performance or weaknesses in teaching methods.
The tutor teaches directly from the book
Books are great, but the only thing they can offer is information. There are no two identical students, therefore, they should not be taught in the same way and in the same order. An individual approach is a must for each student. Consistency plays a big role in achieving your goals with minimal time. So, it’s good when your teacher uses the book, but it should not be just reading books throughout your class.
The teacher constantly teaches you something new
It is a common myth that students need to get new information continuously. This is wrong and can distort the whole learning process. New information feeds our brain with interesting ideas, but it also creates obstacles. A continuous flow of new things distracts you from achieving your goals. Music skills should never be taught in a rush. The tutor should give you enough time to hone your skills in playing, writing songs, and improvisation.
Very cheap classes
It is a sign that a music tutor is not very experienced. Of course, you can say that there are different rates nowadays. However, if the teacher’s lessons are cheap, then, as with fast food, they will lack flavor and nutrients. You can pay less for a lesson, but in the long run, spend more money on learning what another teacher would teach you better and faster.
The music tutor has no reviews from his students
Some teachers simply do not know the value of such feedback. In this case, you can just ask previous or current students if they have a good teacher. The received opinion of other students is very significant. The experience of the others will immediately create an image of your future teacher.
The teacher did not compose any music
Your tutor does not have to be a virtuoso to get good results from you. But he really needs to know how to write music. Undoubtedly, every teacher will be able to give you some tips. Though, if you wish to learn nuances on how to compose your own music, then your tutor should know how to do it.
A self-taught teacher or without a good education
It is not a must for the tutor to have a degree in music. But he is required to have a real, professional education to guide you through the world of music.
There are many approaches to learn music as all people are different. But the main rule when looking for a music tutor is to find a professional that motivates you and encourages you to learn. A good teacher should love music and love teaching. If he likes what he does, then he can share his knowledge with maximum results.
All the different kinds of videos artists can make, right now
Stuck on just the offical video and not sure what to make next? Here you go.
https://youtu.be/yORWYO_YIio
1-minute tip for artists and bands: 5 things every music artist needs for their website
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Worthy Portable Music System for Outdoor Events in 2020
When planning for an outdoor event such as a small party in the backyard or the lawn entertainment is a must. Or if you wish to save your mobile battery or laptop speakers are not that great, small portable speakers are very useful. For outdoor events though, a big powerful portable music system with the all-in-one facility is a great choice. These can be a good bargain over tiny speakers and big wired 5.0 channel speaker-subwoofer systems.
Benefits of a Portable Music System
The benefits of a portable music system come from its size and power. Tiny single-channel or stereo speakers that are made for laptops or smartphones are good only for indoor or a single room. But, for outdoor parties and events, you need more sound, more amplification, greater output in general.
- Today’s outdoor portable music system is wireless with up to 10 meters range.
- It is equipped with some kind of rechargeable battery that can keep it running for hours.
- These systems have splash-proof covers to keep them water repellant.
- These speakers can be all-in-one systems with a microphone for karaoke options.
- They have a multitude of connectivity options from USB, wireless Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and more.
Below we shall see some of the best selling portable music systems as of 2020 and list the pros and cons.
- ION Audio Pathfinder 2
We start with this particular portable music system because it has everything you need at a modest price point. Selling at $130 at BHPhotoVideo and $120 on Amazon, ION’s Pathfinder combines nice party looks and ruggedness. You can use ION Pathfinder anywhere without trouble.
- It is waterproof and powered by its internal rechargeable battery pack that offers up to 50 hours playback (also AC if you have it around).
- It comes with slide handles, telescopic luggage handle, and inbuilt wheels making it easy to carry.
- It packs 8” woofer, 3” woofer, and 100W peak power rated output.
- For music, it has integrated AM/FM radio, Bluetooth, a 3.5mm stereo input, USB and also a dynamic mic input.
- The supplied cables are neatly tucked inside while a complimentary LED bar lights up synced with the music.
The ION Pathfinder looks stunning and offers all one can imagine from a portable music system for outdoor events, particularly without electrical outlets.
Tip
ION Audio Tailgater (iPA77) was one of the best-sellers 3 years back and used ones can be a good deal.
- AOMAIS Go Bluetooth Speakers
This is a portable music system built like hand baggage not bigger than a lady’s purse. With that simple construction and compact package, AOMAIS offers a good deal for outdoor parties within a small lawn or backyard. This is one of the best packages you can get in 2020 for a modest price of just $70.
- It offers 40 Hours (at 50% volume) of playback with the 10000mAH inbuilt rechargeable battery packs, which can quickly charge under 4 hours. You can charge your phone with this acting as a power bank as well.
- This has two 15 watt full-range drivers, two 10 watt tweeters, and two 40 W stereo, delivering 80 Watts power.
- Built for parties and travel, it comes with IPX7 rating meant to withstand water splashes and raindrops. It is mudproof, snowproof, dustproof and sugged as in can withstand shocks and vibrations.
- With Bluetooth 5.0 (DPS and EDR), it operates wireless up to 10 meters at ease.
- The pack is waterproof as well, meaning it can be immersed under 33 feet water for up to 30 minutes and still work without issues.
There are lots of connectivity options and for the money; AOMAIS is one of the best portable music systems in the market in 2020.
Tip
AOMAIS Go portable music system comes with a custom-made AOMAIS Travel Case for better handling for about $15.
- Denon Audio Commander
Taking the price tag towards mid-high end products, Denon Audio Commander sells for around $550. This portable music system is a professional mobile PA system which comes with two wireless microphones. Thus, it is meant for pros and not for amateur travel and parties. Thus, the config is also relatively bulky yet portable compared to other professional products.
- It comes with built-in handles and wheels making it easy to carry around.
- There are inbuilt Bluetooth receivers and two integrated 16-channel UHF wireless receivers, all expensive equipment.
- It offers 200W RMS output with a class D amplifier, for professional events and hi-fi audio output.
- The package offers a 12” woofer, a compression driver tweeter, and an assortment of connectivity options, wireless transmitter belt and so on.
In short, this music PA system is meant for DJs, aerobics instructors working in open-air spots, presenters, or anyone needing a self-powered audio system.
Tip
Most professional outdoor audio systems would need a lot of work to assemble and can be quite elaborate and expensive ($2700 upwards) as well.
- JBL EON ONE Portable Line-Array
Another kind of audio system is called a line-array config, and there are several options in this category as well. In 2020, a portable music system with all-in-one linear-array PA systems is available for purchase from Bose, JBL, and many more. This particular sells for around $800 in Amazon or from BH and again is meant for professionals only.
- There are two variants: EON One and EON One Pro with several configs you can purchase with.
- In short, it comes with a rechargeable Li-Ion battery, 8” low-freq woofer, and 6×2” high-freq woofer, for better bass and well as clear audio.
- The 118dB maximum SPL is also noteworthy for a 7-channel mixer PA system with the linear array.
- The distinguishing feature is the line-array which is compact and hidden but extends upwards like a long antenna, which is fully collapsible and neatly packed at its rear.
Conclusion
In short, the likes of AOMAIS, JBL EON610 Portable which are under the price range of $100 for beginners and $300 for mid-range music-geeks are the best deals in 2020. For a portable music system, they offer a lot from portability, flexibility to withstanding shocks and waterproofing.