All photos by Mini’s Memories. You can contact her through Instagram or X.
Photo Gallery: Three Days Grace, Volbeat, And Wage War At Toronto’s Budweiser Stage June 19, 2025
SunYears Unveils Americana Gem “Spanner In The Works” Ahead of Album ‘The Song Forlorn’
Peter Moren (Peter Bjorn and John) has been teasing his forthcoming album under the SunYears moniker, The Song Forlorn, with recently released singles “Last Night On the Mountain” featuring Lisa Hannigan and Sam Genders, “Dark Eyes” and “(Going To A) Cruel Country.”
In addition to Lisa Hannigan and Sam Genders, The Song Forlorn will feature guest appearances and collaborations from Nicole Atkins, de clair and Madison Cunningham. The new album, due August 21, 2025 via Villa, includes the catchy Americana-tinged – pedal steel and all – “Spanner In The Works” which is out today alongside its accompanying music video.
A colorful, swinging journey through decades of devotion to songcraft. This one goes full circle – and lands right at the heart. These tunes, delightful and delicately crafted alternative-folk music, are the first he’s shared since his debut full-length, Come Fetch My Soul!, which featured collaborations with Jess Williamson on the title track, Ron Sexsmith and Eric D. Johnson.
Speaking on the song, Moren says “This song is an allegorical tale inspired by my life in music. All the wondrous things it has given, pleasure, excitement, creative fulfillment, but also the pitfalls, dead ends, and rocky roads. It has continuously changed my personality and outlook on things.”
“Spanner In The Works,” in addition to appearing on the upcoming album, also serves as the title track of an EP out today featuring two additional covers, “Absolute Beginners” by David Bowie and “Like an Old Fashioned Waltz” by Sandy Denny. Speaking on the songs, Moren says “…the great pedal steel player Roger Gustafsson invited me to guest at his club at a suburban Stockholm cinema where he plays with musical guests. I sent him some originals and some covers we could try, and ‘Like an Old Fashioned Waltz’ felt like a perfect fit. I do love a waltz-time gem, and this is just such a beautiful, yearning lyric and melody.” As for the Bowie cover, he recalls “I have loved ‘Absolute Beginners’ since it was released when I was a wee boy. The fantastic form which keeps shifting and building, the chords, the melody, the words – high drama and so much emotion. To me, it is a shiny pearl of a composition and, as a pure song, one of his very best and most eternal. I always dreamt of singing it. But it seemed so tricky. After Bowie sadly passed, I was one of the organizers behind a charity tribute concert at Sodra Teatern in Stockholm, and the chance finally came. It feels lovely to have captured the passion we feel for it on tape. Hope you all enjoy! Extra points to Andreas Nordell’s gorgeous harmony singing on both numbers here – and to our mate Ruben Engzell at Studio Skutan who recorded and mixed it all!”
Sister Sadie and The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys Team Up for Bluegrass Benefit “Just a Holler Over”
The bluegrass world has been abuzz since the venerable International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) announced last year that it was moving its annual World of Bluegrass festivities to Chattanooga, Tennessee after spending nearly more than a dozen years in Raleigh, North Carolina. Now, a special collaboration between two GRAMMY-nominated bluegrass groups — the all-female Sister Sadie and modern traditionalists, The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys — have joined forces for a Mountain Home Music Company musical celebration of the fact that the new location is “Just a Holler Over” from the old. And by way of thanks for the inspiration, the artists’ earnings from the track will be donated to the IBMA’s Bluegrass Trust Fund, established to help musicians and industry professionals with emergency financial needs.
“I wrote this song with Robin Macy after she had the idea, when the International Bluegrass Music Association moved from Raleigh to Chattanooga,” says Sister Sadie’s co-leader, IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year and IBMA Board member Deanie Richardson (fans with long memories may recall Macy as a one-time member of the Dixie Chicks). “She asked me to help her finish it and I was honored to do so. I felt Sister Sadie needed some help on this one and the perfect people for that were The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys. I knew Jaelee and C.J. would make this tune a great duet.”
Indeed, that collaborative spirit is evident throughout the track, as Sister Sadie’s reigning Female Vocalist of the Year, Jaelee Roberts, and Po’ Ramblin’ Boys leader and IBMA Board member C.J. Lewandowski trade lines throughout each verse before joining with Sister Sadie’s Dani Flowers in a trio that offers the song’s rousing chorus:
Just a holler over you will hear
The fiddles and the banjos drawing near
When you hear that whistle blow, that’s when you will know
You have found a home in Tennessee
Similarly, solos are divided between Sister Sadie’s banjo player, Gena Britt, mandolinist Lewandowski, Richardson and The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys’ guitarist John Gooding to recreate the ever-shifting focus of the kind of bluegrass jam session that characterizes the World of Bluegrass. The track even manages a sly nod to another bluegrass tradition by complementing a lyrical reference to the old-time fiddle tune, “Cattle In The Cane,” with a snippet of its melody.
“Sister Sadie, Po’ Ramblin Boys and Mountain Home Music joined forces to make this song come to life,” Richardson offers. “And since it was sparked by the IBMA move to Chattanooga, we decided to donate all proceeds from this song to the International Bluegrass Music Trust Fund. Hope you enjoy this tune and help us raise some money for a great cause.”
Cowboy Mouth Revs Up ‘Cover Yo’ Azz’ With The Replacements’ “Can’t Hardly Wait”
One of the great American rock bands of the last four decades, Louisiana stalwarts Cowboy Mouth have released “Can’t Hardly Wait,” the searing second single from Cover Yo’ Azz, a brand new collection of recordings paying homage to some of their favorite songwriters of the last 60 years.
Vocalist/drummer Fred LeBlanc has a special affinity for the songwriting chops of The Replacements. “(They) particularly captured my ear and heart. Not only with their devotion to classic pop and punk rock but also their attitude of IDGAF to the entire music industry.”
The fevered take on “Can’t Hardly Wait,” which Glide Magazine dubbed, “innovative and powerful,” along with the previously released Appalachian infused spin on Queen’s “Fat Bottomed Girls,” comprise a pair of advance singles amping anticipation for Cover Yo’ Azz, which arrives August 15 via Symphonic Distribution. The 10-track collection marks the band’s first full-length of newly recorded material since 2014’s ‘Go!’.
LeBlanc explains the title and the impetus for the recording, “There’s no rhyme or reason. It just kind of… happened. For CYA, we compiled a bunch of songs we liked and threw them together. Everybody brought a different sound and vibe to the tracks, and we had a blast re-creating some amazing songs – with a CM twist.”
Adds guitarist/co-founder John Thomas Griffith, “Music of any flavor has a way of being your own personal sage advisor. Listen closely, and you will hear the wind blow.”
Flanked by bassist Brian “Bruiser” Broussard and guitarist Frank Grocholski, the band enflames Southern boogie on the Ian Hunter/Mick Ronson penned, “Just Another Night” (arriving July 11) while injecting a cacophony of rhythm on the 1971 Cher-classic, “Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves,” the original written by Bob Stone.
“Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves always fired my imagination, because the original recording sounded like a circus,” offers LeBlanc.
Elsewhere, the band adds heft to perennial jukebox heroes, The Who (on “The Real Me”), Fats Domino (on “I’m Gonna Be Wheel Someday”) and Frank Sinatra/Elvis Presley/Sid Vicious (on “My Way”) but downshifts on gorgeous renditions of the Rodney Crowell masterwork, “‘Til I Gain Control Again” and Hootie & the Blowfish’s “City By A River,” a tribute to an elegant song about “longing for the intangible.” “Maybe it’s heaven, maybe it’s home… maybe it’s both” but also to their lifelong friends from Columbia, SC. Joining the proceedings is Hootie guitarist Mark Bryan, who elevates spirits even higher.
Elevating the collective mood is the band’s primary groove. Through the end of the year and beyond, the quartet is on the road, playing to rapturous crowds from coast to coast. A little bit rock, a little bit revival, a little bit rodeo, when Cowboy Mouth bellows, anything goes.
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Cowboy Mouth Tour Dates
6/26 – Milwaukee, WI – Summerfest, US Cellular Stage (4:30p)
7/11 – Chattanooga, TN – The Barrelhouse Ballroom
7/12 – Huntsville, AL – Furniture Factory Bar & Grill
8/09 – New Orleans, LA – Louis Armstrong Park (Red Dress Run)
8/16 – Savannah, GA – Coach’s Corner (w/ The Ain’t Sisters)
8/17 – Isle of Palms, SC – The Windjammer (Sister Hazel’s The Hang)
9/18 – Denver, CO – Oriental Theater
9/19 – Colorado Springs, CO – The Black Sheep
9/20 – Boulder, CO – The Fox Theatre
10/9 – San Antonio, TX – Sam’s Burger Joint
10/10 – Houston, TX – The Heights Theater
10/11 – Plano, TX – Love & War in Texas
11/6 – Madison, WI – Atwood Music Hall
11/7 – Evanston, IL – SPACE
11/8 – St. Louis, MO – Old Rock House
1/18-25/2026 – The Big Easy Cruise (Fort Lauderdale to Cozumel)
Cowboy Mouth Cover Yo Azz Tracklist:
1. My Way (Sinatra/Elvis/Sid Vicious)
2. The Real Me (The Who)
3. Can’t Hardly Wait (The Replacements)
4. I’m Gonna Be A Wheel Someday (Fats Domino)
5. ‘Til I Gain Control Again (Crystal Gayle/Blue Rodeo)
6. Gypsies, Tramps, & Thieves (Cher)
7. Perfect Circle (R.E.M.)
8. Just Another Night (Ian Hunter)
9. Fat Bottomed Girls Queen)
10. City By A River (Hootie & the Blowfish)
Bruses Unleashes New Chapter with Heart-Wrenching Single “ME ESTOY RINDIENDO am0r :(”
Four-time Latin Grammy nominee, Bruses, returns with “ME ESTOY RINDIENDO am0r 🙁,” a raw and emotional song about what it feels like to lose yourself, stop recognizing who you are, and carrying emotions you don’t always know you can’t always explain. Released under RCA Records, this track invites listeners into Bruses’ world, one that’s unfiltered, emotional, and completely her own. “ME ESTOY RINDIENDO am0r 🙁 ” is now available on all digital platforms.
Since she teased a snippet on social media, the song has sparked over a thousand organic TikTok creations, a clear sign of the deep connection it’s building with her audience. This new release not only continues the emotional thread that runs through her music, but also marks the beginning of a new chapter in her career.
“ME ESTOY RINDIENDO am0r :(,” blends a melancholic piano base with a production that rises and falls in intensity like an emotional rollercoaster. The song builds slowly until it reaches a climax of sharp, rock-infused sounds that contrast with Bruses’ soft voice, evoking the feeling of someone crying out for help from deep within. Towards the end, the track erupts, breaking the calm, hitting the listener like a wake-up call. With lyrics such as: “I don’t know what happened, I don’t smile anymore. If they take pictures of me, you can see the emptiness. I used to be so happy ,now I don’t even remember. I think I broke, or maybe I’m giving up.” (“No sé qué pasó, que ya no sonrío. Si me toman fotos, se nota el vacío. Era tan feliz, hoy ya no me acuerdo. Creo que me rompí o me estoy rindiendo,”) she lays herself bare in a way that turns her feelings into something universal.
With 4 Latin Grammy nominations under her belt, Bruses marks this release as the official start of a new chapter in her artistic journey. Her latest tracks “I’M SO HAPPY,” “COMA PARTY,” and now “ME ESTOY RINDIENDO am0r :(,” prove that in Bruses’ universe, anything is possible. With each song, she opens new doors for listeners to discover who she really is: not just a performer, but one of the most authentic voices in Latin pop.
Lola Brooke Serves Up Grit and Glory on New Single “Bon Appétit”
Lola Brooke unveils her latest song today, “Bon Appétit,” alongside an official lyric video via Team Eighty Productions/Arista Records.
Lola spins the block with her latest release, bringing forth a stark reminder that she’s not the one, or the two, to be messed with. The gully, gritty production draws listeners in with an ominous vibe while Lola delivers back-to-back verses that capture the essence of authentic street rap. Her charismatic rawness and bling-bling bars add the needed heat to the rap scene of the now.
“I mean it when I say I whipped up “Bon Appétit” super-fast. I came up with it on the fly, just trying to give back to the streets, and now it’s finally getting released because folks seem to be hungry for this side of me. That’s dope. I’ve been keeping a lot inside, so think of this as me just letting it all out and dropping what I want whenever I want,” Lola shares exclusivity as it relates to “Bon Appétit.”
Fresh from headlining Baltimore’s Maryland Pride, where she delivered her first live performance of “Bon Appétit,” it’s evident that Lola is bringing the thrills that the summer of 2025 needs. With more new music on the way and a successful recent run highlighted by songs like “Disgusted” and “You The One,” there’s no telling what to expect from Ms. Lola Brooke. Stay tuned and check out “Bon Appétit” today [HERE].
Few have stayed true to the roots of Brooklyn, New York while possessing the necessary charisma and talent to transcend its world-renowned identity. However, Lola Brooke has shown herself to be just that, while also making a stand-out case as one of the new heavyweights in a city that might boast the best legacy of Hip-Hop. Though petite in stature, her lyrical presence and personality cast a skyscraper-sized shadow over the game. With quotable lyrics and unforgettable bars, she delivers street-influenced songs with unwavering confidence and an unpredictable cadence that evokes an essence reminiscent of the golden age of Hip Hop as she leans into the future of music with genre-busting fire.
Lola’s love for rap started early; she dropped her first music video to a freestyle titled “2017 Flow” and instantly began to build a buzz in the city. She continued to release numerous songs, each displaying her incredible rapping skills and starlike persona, but her song “Don’t Play With It” started to grab people’s attention. Soon after, she began to perform at events such as Rolling Loud NYC, Break The Internet Fest, and HOT97’s “Who’s Up Next” showcase, as well as a halftime performance for her beloved hometown team, the Brooklyn Nets. During the first half of 2023, Lola embarked on her first nationwide tour with A Boogie wit da Hoodie, signaling her rising super-stardom status felt outside the East Coast. Later that year, she embarked on her first international touring stint, taking center stage on festival stages at WOO HAH! X ROLLING LOUD Festival in Rotterdam, Rolling Loud Portugal, Rolling Loud Germany, Splash Festival in Germany, Wireless Festival in Finsbury Park, London, Openair Festival in Frauenfeld Switzerland, and brought the efforts back to the states with acclaimed performance at Hot 97 Summer Jam, Rolling Loud Miami and Broccoli Festival.
Lola Brooke’s talent and hard work have not gone unnoticed. Her hit single ‘Don’t Play With It’ featuring Billy B earned her a Platinum certification from RIAA and debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, a testament to her growing popularity. She made her television debut at the prestigious 2023 BET Awards, where she was nominated for ‘Best New Artist ‘. Lola’s breakthrough was further recognized with a nomination for ‘Best Breakthrough Hip Hop Artist’ at the 2023 BET Hip Hop Awards and a feature as a 2023 XXL Freshman member. In November of 2023, Lola released her debut project, Dennis Daughter, a deeply personal reflection of her life experiences and a showcase of her versatility and range as a powerhouse artist.
Lola’s music is a reflection of the unbridled energy and resilience of Brooklyn. Her dominant flow and powerful rhymes captivate and mesmerize new fans daily, drawing them into the world of Brooklyn’s music scene. As she continues to assert herself as New York’s next hometown hero, her growing body of work, which has already tallied streams and views in the millions, is a testament to her undeniable talent. Standing at just 4’9″, Lola Brooke is not just a rising star, but potentially music’s NEXT BIG THING, a symbol of Brooklyn’s enduring spirit and musical prowess.
Chloe Stroll Unveils Healing New Single and Video “You’re OK”
Rising singer-songwriter Chloe Stroll unveils a new song and accompanying video, “You’re OK.”
“‘You’re OK’” was a big healing song for me. I wrote it about my grandmother,” Stroll explains of penning the song after her grandmother’s passing. “She and I were very, very close, and the only thing that really gave me comfort in that moment was knowing that she was OK.”
Stroll continues, “My grandma was spectacular. She would always sit in this big yellow chair in her bedroom and wait for us to come and visit her…You could never call enough, you could never see her enough.” She goes on to explain, “So I painted the picture that I remembered, of her sitting in the chair… I painted that picture, I wanted to capture the sadness, but also turn it into something that felt healing for me. ‘At least one of us is OK.’
Further new music is imminent.
Born and raised in Montreal, Stroll wrote her first song at seven years old. As a teenager she attended a Broadway boot camp but eventually turned her focus to other ventures including business and fashion. However, music always remained close to her heart, and she returned to her true passion full time with the release of her debut single “Run,” which Popdust raved is “a sensational entry into the industry, Chloe’s melodic tone and crushing lyrics will have you begging for more.”
Last year found Stroll releasing several singles, including “Thin Air,” “Water Over Sand” and more. She performed 2023’s “Pedestal” on The Kelly Clarkson Show, and of the song The Knockturnal details “it takes the feelings commonly associated with broken bonds and is described through expressive lyrics combined with a variety of soft tones and melodies. This song incorporates a range of raw emotions that many listeners can relate to due to past or current experiences.” Artists that inspire Stroll include Lana Del Rey, Billie Eilish, Whitney Houston, Barbara Streisand, and Adele, also drawing inspiration and meaning behind many of her songs from a deep love of her family and husband, Scotty James.
76 Amazing Facts About Lionel Richie
- Lionel Richie was born June 20, 1949, in Tuskegee, Alabama—because the universe knew music needed him.
- Before he made hits, he made marching band memories at Tuskegee Institute as part of the Crimson Pipers.
- He grew up on campus in a home gifted by Booker T. Washington to his grandparents—yes, that Booker T. Washington.
- Lionel was a tennis star in high school. Your move, Serena.
- He almost became a priest, but the world clearly needed “All Night Long” more than a sermon.
- He couldn’t read music, but he could feel it—and we’ve been feeling it ever since.
- He’s a lifelong member of Alpha Phi Alpha and Kappa Kappa Psi.
- Lionel joined the Commodores in 1968, which means the ’70s immediately got funkier.
- His saxophone skills got him in the band—but his voice made him a legend.
- “Easy,” “Still,” “Sail On,” and “Three Times a Lady” were all Lionel-led lullabies from the Commodores.
- In 1980, he wrote “Lady” for Kenny Rogers—proof that Lionel could turn country into gold.
- “Endless Love,” his duet with Diana Ross in 1981, became one of Motown’s biggest-selling singles ever.
- His 1982 solo debut album included “Truly,” which hit #1, because of course it did.
- The album sold 4 million copies and made Lionel a household name without even needing a last name.
- Then came Can’t Slow Down in 1983, which didn’t just slow down—it sped up to 20 million copies sold.
- “All Night Long” was the party anthem of the ’80s, danced to on Olympic stages and wedding floors alike.
- Lionel co-wrote “We Are The World” with Michael Jackson—casually saving the world through song.
- “Hello” in 1984 made you feel everything and inspired a thousand clay head memes.
- “Say You, Say Me” won him an Oscar and a Golden Globe—truly saying a lot.
- The Dancing on the Ceiling album in 1986 had five Top 20 hits because Lionel was simply unstoppable.
- He took a recording break from 1986 to 1996—and we still missed him every year.
- He came back in 1996 with Louder Than Words, because his voice deserved to be heard again.
- Lionel’s Coming Home in 2006 gave him his highest U.S. charting in a decade.
- He performed at Michael Jackson’s memorial in 2009 with “Jesus is Love,” and the world wept.
- His country duet album Tuskegee in 2012 hit #1—because country can’t resist Lionel either.
- He lit up Glastonbury in 2015 with a set so joyful, it sent him back to the top of UK charts.
- He’s been a judge on American Idol since 2018, mentoring the next generation of greatness.
- He received the Gershwin Prize in 2022 from the Library of Congress—because melodies like his never fade.
- He’s a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, finally—and we’re only surprised it took that long.
- Lionel Richie is a beloved superstar across the Arab world—he’s even been called Iraq’s favorite singer.
- He nearly performed in Baghdad, where “All Night Long” was played the night U.S. tanks rolled in.
- He was married to his college sweetheart Brenda Harvey and adopted Nicole Richie as their daughter.
- Nicole Richie made him a grandfather in 2008—twice the joy, twice the lullabies.
- Lionel had throat surgery four times before discovering it was just acid reflux.
- Grand Marnier was his drink of choice—and not just because it sounded fancy.
- In the 1970s, he was the balladeer of the decade—silky, smooth, and irresistible.
- He co-wrote “Missing You” for Diana Ross—because she still missed him after “Endless Love.”
- Richie’s friend Eric Clapton once tried to join The Band after hearing Lionel.
- He headlined the Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle in 2023—King Lionel, anyone?
- His voice made Van Morrison and Michael Jackson go, “Wow.”
- “Say You, Say Me” was from White Nights—and yes, it won an Oscar for a reason.
- His Grammy for “Truly” in 1982 kicked off a very golden decade.
- He’s a breast cancer research champion and raised $3.1 million for the cause.
- He loves soul food and classic suits equally—truly a man of style and soul.
- He became the first artist to receive an RIAA diamond album award.
- Lionel’s voice can melt butter—scientific fact (or it should be).
- He’s sold over 100 million records globally—and somehow still underrated.
- He recorded “All Night Long” in one night—and we still haven’t stopped dancing.
- His influence is everywhere from pop to R&B to country to Latin dance clubs.
- His favorite compliment? Being told his music still brings people joy.
- He was inducted into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame in 2022—long overdue.
- His music videos in the ’80s were stylish, strange, and unforgettable—like Lionel himself.
- His mustache has its own legacy—name another one that iconic.
- His childhood home was once a gift from Booker T. Washington. That’s called destiny.
- He played with the Commodores on tour with The Jackson 5—humble beginnings.
- He wrote “Happy People” for The Temptations before he had his own hit.
- He once said his writing process feels like “shoveling smoke”—mystical and poetic.
- He’s still collaborating with younger artists—because genius has no expiration date.
- He once topped Billboard and Oscar charts in the same year—casual greatness.
- He’s the reason wedding DJs never run out of slow dance options.
- He’s received honorary doctorates, Kennedy Center Honors, and yet still greets fans like old friends.
- His name is synonymous with love songs—and honestly, who minds?
- “We Are The World” has raised over $60 million for humanitarian aid.
- Lionel Richie is the reason America still believes in the power of a good chorus.
- He helped bring USA for Africa together with Michael Jackson—music changing the world.
- He co-produced Kenny Rogers’ Share Your Love album—swoon included.
- Lionel’s kids include model Sofia Richie and Miles Richie—talent runs deep.
- He’s made a biopic about Curtis Mayfield happen because legends honor legends.
- He headlined multiple jazz festivals, proving funk and elegance can be best friends.
- Even at age 76, Lionel still sounds exactly like the record—proof of vocal miracles.
- 1982 debut solo album, Lionel Richie, contained three hit singles: the U.S. number-one song “Truly”,
- His ballads don’t age—they just ripen with more meaning.
- You can say “Hello” and people will still sing back the chorus.
- Lionel Richie makes melancholy sound magical and heartbreak feel healing.
- He’s living proof that music can comfort, connect, and carry us—all night long.
- Lionel Richie didn’t just write the soundtrack of a generation—he made every lyric feel personal.
Happy birthday, Lionel Richie. You’re not just a legend—you’re the reason love songs sound the way they do.
10 Tips for Making a Home Studio Sound Pro
Let’s get one thing straight: you don’t need a million-dollar room to make million-dollar music. Some of the best tracks I’ve ever heard came out of bedrooms, basements, and closets lined with towels. But if you want your home studio to sound pro—even if it doesn’t look like Abbey Road—there are a few things you can do right now to level up.
Here are 10 tips I’ve picked up producing everything from indie folk to industrial noise, all of which will get your sound tighter, cleaner, and way more “release-ready.”
1. Treat Your Room Before You Buy That Mic
I’ve said it a thousand times: don’t drop $1,000 on a condenser mic if you’re recording in a kitchen. Invest in acoustic panels, bass traps, or even thick blankets and rugs. Kill flutter echo and standing waves first—your mic will thank you later.
2. Monitor at Low Volumes
If you have to crank your monitors to hear detail, your room isn’t doing you any favors. Pro engineers mix at around 70–75 dB for a reason: it reduces fatigue and helps you hear more accurately. Your ears are your most valuable gear—protect them.
3. Learn Your Room Like You Learn Your Instrument
Whether you’re mixing in a shoebox or a spare bedroom, know your space. A/B your mixes on car speakers, cheap earbuds, and smart TVs. Take notes on what translates and what doesn’t. Experience is the best plugin you’ll ever download.
4. Use Reference Tracks Religiously
Import two or three professionally mixed tracks in the same genre into every session. Toggle between your mix and theirs. Don’t copy—calibrate. It keeps you honest and helps train your ears to know what “finished” really sounds like.
5. Get a Decent Audio Interface (and Use It Right)
A reliable interface like the Focusrite Scarlett, Universal Audio Volt, or Motu M2 is the nerve center of your setup. Watch your gain staging. Clipping isn’t “vibe”—it’s just a bad habit. Clean input, clean mix.
6. Don’t Sleep on Headphones
Open-back headphones like the Sennheiser HD600 or Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro are a godsend in untreated rooms. Great for late-night mixing when monitors would wake the neighbors—or your dog. Trust your headphones after you trust your room.
7. Mic Placement Beats Mic Price
I’ve made charting vocals on a $100 SM58 just by finding the sweet spot in the room. Move the mic. Angle it. Experiment with proximity. A well-placed budget mic always beats a poorly placed expensive one.
8. Limit Your Plugin Obsession
You don’t need 50 EQs. You need one you understand. Learn stock plugins inside and out before chasing boutique ones. CLA didn’t become a legend because of his plugin folder—he became one because he knows how to use them.
9. Bounce Rough Mixes Constantly
Export your mixes often and listen to them away from your DAW—on your phone, in your car, at the grocery store. You’ll hear issues you didn’t notice when you were staring at waveforms for six hours straight. Distance = clarity.
10. Finish Songs, Not Settings
Tweak less, release more. Pros don’t get stuck perfecting reverb tails—they make decisions and move on. Don’t be afraid of committing. Perfection is the enemy of output. And no one ever streamed a plugin preset.
Bottom line? A home studio is only as pro as the person behind the DAW. Trust your ears, learn your space, and keep showing up. Because in the end, it’s not about gear—it’s about getting it done.
Band Mascots, Logos, and Artwork You’ve Always Wondered About
From dancing bears to metal monsters, the world of band logos and mascots is a wild ride through pop culture, fantasy, and what happens when musicians say, “Hey, what if we had a skeleton riding a tank?” These little symbols become shorthand for everything a band represents—and sometimes, they’re just weird and awesome for weird and awesome’s sake.
Here are some of the most iconic and mysterious band mascots, logos, and album art you’ve always wondered about—until now.
1. Iron Maiden’s Eddie
He’s been a zombie, a cyborg, a pharaoh, and a space alien—and that’s just in the ’80s. Eddie, Iron Maiden’s terrifyingly cool mascot, first showed up on their debut album and never left. He’s basically their sixth member… if their sixth member was undead.
2. The Grateful Dead’s Dancing Bears
No, they’re not high. Well, maybe a little. These colorful, happy bears debuted on the back cover of History of the Grateful Dead, Volume One (Bear’s Choice) and were originally a tribute to sound engineer Owsley “Bear” Stanley. They don’t actually dance—but in your mind, they do.
3. Nirvana’s Smiley Face
That lopsided grin and squiggly eyes? It’s been on more dorm walls than actual paint. Kurt Cobain allegedly designed the iconic smiley for a 1991 party flyer, and it stuck. Whether it’s a stoner, a symbol of grunge, or both—it’s unmistakably Nirvana.
4. Rolling Stones’ Tongue and Lips Logo
Designed by John Pasche in 1970, this famous tongue is actually inspired by the Hindu goddess Kali, not just Mick Jagger’s, uh, confidence. It’s loud, bold, and somehow still sticking out at everyone five decades later.
5. Led Zeppelin’s Four Symbols
No band name. No album title. Just four mysterious glyphs, each chosen by a member of the band. The most famous is Jimmy Page’s “Zoso” symbol—which he still won’t fully explain. It’s like rock ’n’ roll’s own secret handshake.
6. Radiohead’s Bear Logo
First appearing during their Kid A era, this glitchy, smiling bear was designed by Stanley Donwood and Thom Yorke. It’s cute, creepy, and confusing—just like the album. Some say it’s a comment on consumerism. Others just love the sharp teeth.
7. Pink Floyd’s Prism on The Dark Side of the Moon
It’s just a triangle and some light, right? Nope. Designed by Hipgnosis and George Hardie, this simple prism became one of the most recognizable album covers ever. It’s science, it’s beauty, and somehow… it sounds like the album.
8. Megadeth’s Vic Rattlehead
A skeletal figure with his eyes, ears, and mouth clamped shut? That’s Vic Rattlehead, metal’s edgiest mascot and a walking embodiment of “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.” He’s been thrashing alongside Dave Mustaine since the band’s debut.
9. Queen’s Royal Crest
Designed by Freddie Mercury himself, the crest includes the zodiac signs of all four members: two lions, a crab, and two fairies. Add a crown and a phoenix and you’ve got a royal logo fit for rock royalty. Freddie didn’t just sing—he branded.
10. Daft Punk’s Helmets
They never gave us facial expressions—just two space-age helmets that turned two French guys into global icons. The helmets became a symbol of mystery, coolness, and what happens when robots decide to make funky disco music.
11. The Misfits’ Crimson Ghost
That skull face? It’s not original—but it’s unforgettable. Taken from a 1946 movie serial, The Crimson Ghost became the Misfits’ forever mascot and punk’s most ghoulish grin. It’s like Halloween never ended.
12. The Beatles’ Apple Logo
Before there was a tech giant, there was Apple Corps—the Beatles’ own multimedia company. The logo is literally just a Granny Smith apple… but thanks to John, Paul, George, and Ringo, it became rock’s most literal fruit of success.
13. Pearl Jam’s Stickman
Drawn by bassist Jeff Ament for their Alive single, the wavy-armed stick figure became an unofficial mascot for angsty teens everywhere. It’s simple, weirdly triumphant, and says everything without saying anything at all.
14. Slipknot’s Nonagram
Nine members. Nine points. One chaotic energy. Slipknot’s star-like symbol reflects the unity and darkness of their masked madness. Looks like geometry class got a lot more intense.
15. The Who’s Target Logo
It’s a mod icon, a pop-art statement, and one of rock’s coolest logos. With the Union Jack, arrow, and bold lettering, it’s pure British swagger. The Who didn’t invent the bullseye—but they definitely hit it.
16. Green Day’s Heart Grenade
Featured on American Idiot, this logo looks like romance with a short fuse. It perfectly sums up the album: angry, emotional, and ready to explode. Bonus points if you had it on a T-shirt in high school.
17. AC/DC’s Lightning Bolt
It splits their name in two and zaps like a power chord. The bolt has been part of AC/DC’s identity since 1977’s Let There Be Rock—and yes, it goes with everything. Even school uniforms.
18. Weezer’s Flying W
It’s nerdy, angular, and somehow feels like math rock even when it’s not. The “flying W” is inspired by the old Wonder Woman logo but flipped and filtered through power chords and awkward charm.
19. Van Halen’s Winged Logo
Originally designed by Dave Bhang, the VH with wings took off in the ’80s and never looked back. It’s fast, flashy, and everything a shredding guitar solo should look like in graphic form.
20. Korn’s Backward “R”
Written by Jonathan Davis as a kid, the backward “R” was meant to look like a child’s handwriting. It fit perfectly with the band’s raw, emotional sound—and became a nu-metal badge of honor.