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  • Songstuff Writer and Artist Development Challenges

    By john

    Independent writers and artists face several large disadvantages when they are compared to signed, mainstream writers and artists.  Disadvantages that add up to making it a competition that indies can’t win. Hell they can’t even compete.   Lack of budget and poor contacts are fairly obvious disadvantages. Lack of experience and a lack of knowledge restricts songwriters and artists alike. Lack of an overall strategy, and a limited set of incomplete tactics, makes for a critical problem
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The Writer's Blog

Band Practice (&c.)...

Band practice went good; the ones we do best are, not surprisingly, “Dead Things in the Shower, “Un-Easy Street,” “Tillamook Railroad Blues” and the Southern Pigfish classic, “For Their Own Ends.” They’re all different, but they all default into a “groove” that’s just plain comfortable. “She Ain’t Starvin’ Herself” was good, too—I think because I’ve played it regularly at that so-called “country jam” in Wheeler (where they do not play country music, and if I have to perform anything, I’ll do a

roxhythe

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FinnArild's Blog

A February Update

The interview I was supposed to be having with Mark Deren on Radio Heemskerk today was postponed due to problems with their radio streaming, so I thought I'd get some blogging done instead. Reviews are coming in and I have set up a new web page linking to those here. Most of them are not in a language I read though - so I've had some good laughs reading what google translate make of them. I'd be happy for any help in translating them. If you want to have a listen to Testament you can reque

FinnArild

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The Writer's Blog

So We Need A Website...

Two people, now, have contacted me saying Deathgrass needs a Website. (I do agree.) They’ve both advised when you google “Deathgrass,” you come up with nothing (which I have advised is Google’s fault, not ours—it simply proves Google does not and cannot know everything). But I’d agree a Deathgrass Website is not only desirable, but necessary. I’m just not sure how to do it. (Technological dinosaur, y’know.) Here’s my idea of what a Deathgrass Website should do. It should be simple—acc

roxhythe

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The Writer's Blog

In Which "the Play's The Thing"...

A new wrinkle for The Play. (Yes, I’m obsessing about The Play. I tend to do that. This is the third play I’ve written for the “Pig Wars” sock-puppet cast, and they are a lot of fun to write for. I keep suggesting stitching numbers on them and retiring them like football jerseys, but I keep running into new opportunities for them. We may do the whole Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen lexicographies before we’re done.) The “Sleeping Piggy” script is getting peer review; it’ll g

roxhythe

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Dee's Blog

Next Instalment

Everything I Do has come to a halt only because I thought I might try to put a melody to one of my own songs - well a chorus anyway. I tinkled on the keyboard and was happy with the very simple/basic tune and even wrote the music down on a... stave! Me a composer! Who'd have thought it. Played it over and over and then proudly showed it to my piano teacher. She smiled a sympathetic smile and said "er... not bad... not quite right though." She pointed out the various things I had d

Dee

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kisswithguns' Blog

Organisms Input, Organized Output (A Little Rap Over Some Instrumental Tune)

you put inputs of conditioning into the organisms additioning to reorganize their will of behavior, empires enslaved ya who got the guts to say what? the questions marked savior, revolutions of the prayers cut down to truth of care i swear, my square is drawn up by majors levels so rebels, Who told the x was there? who left the battles stared? i share where you can bare - the loss of whom was chaired chained locks - but wit my five grips of the hip hop

kisswithguns

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The Writer's Blog

Failed Economy Show Post-Mortem...

The Failed Economy Show came off good. Smaller crowd than I’d have liked, but everybody brought lots of food (bags worth, instead of the 2-cans-each we’d asked for), and we had some people in the audience who’d never been to one of our concerts before (and I didn’t think to ask them where they’d heard about it). We ended up not having a drummer—Chris was helping deliver a baby, of all things (when we have crises, they are at least interesting ones)—so we just apologized for his absence, to

roxhythe

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Songstuff Stuff

A Good Example Of When Justification Of Piracy Falls Apart... Your Help Is Needed...

I'm looking for some help from Songstuffers, for a fellow Songstuffer (not me). Many of you will know Finn Arild as a member here, and as one of the Songstuff admins. For the last two years Finn has been working hard on his second album and it was released just before Christmas. i couldn't have been happier for him. He's not made a song and dance about it in any way (coughs at the play on words). He's not asked for any special promotion as a member of the site or the staff. Well, I was

john

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Dee's Blog

Everything I Do Melody Coming Along.

Hi a quick update. I'm happy to report that I have written the first few bars? of the melody. I'm up to "and when you find me there, you'll search no more." Actually I'm up to "Don't tell me" and now am trying to figure out "it's not worth fighting for" So any advice would be...NO, NO. I must figure this out for myself. Just a little clue.... NO. Absolutely not. Cheating will get me no where.

Dee

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The Writer's Blog

Pre-Failed Economy Show Thoughts (&c.)...

THREE DAYS until the Failed Economy Show concert. Delivered a few more posters (never stop selling), and since we didn’t have band practice, baked some of the cookies (still want to do some with cranberries, for those poor, poor folks who are allergic to chocolate). Tuesday night was the first session of the Wil Duncan video class; Thursday night, if the band isn’t practicing, I’ll go to the “country jam session” in Wheeler for more finger-strengthening exercise. Won’t get to play music Frida

roxhythe

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Industry News

Finn Arilds Long Awaited Second Album Is Now On General Release.

Finn Arilds long awaited second album is now on general release. Norwegian multi-instrumentalist and composer Finn Arild takes a big bite on his second album. This time it is nothing less than an epic progressive rock concept album telling the creation of the universe, life and - almost everything. The answer is not 42, but over 60 minutes of non-stop listening experience - no pauses included. After finishing his art-rock debut album Serendipity, Finn Arild wanted to create something t

Songstuff

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Dee's Blog

I Would Like To Share Some News

I am feeling very proud of myself because I have written music to Twinkle Twinkle.. Ok, so you're not very impressed. It's kid's stuff I know but 4 weeks ago I didn't know a crochet from a semi breve. I really want to put these bloody songs in my head down on paper so for xmas I asked for piano lessons - just six weeks to gain some basic knowledge. My husband, relieved for once at not having to actually think about what to buy me, found a local piano teacher and off I went. The

Dee

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Music Publisher :D

Woooo

So..a couple of weeks ago i contacted a Music Publisher called Paramount Songs...they sent me a letter today telling me they loved my lyrics and they want me to sign a contract with them!! I am so happy right now i can't wait to get this off the ground and into process

Adam1234

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FinnArild's Blog

Selling Testament

It's hard for a creative musician to be a salesman, but it is very fun when interest is stirred and the reviews and radioplay starts coming online - which is starting to happen now. Last week I was featured on Italian "Radio Città" and today I will be featured on Radio Heemskerk - which has a progressive rock show every Sunday 21:00-23:00 hosted by "Mark from Holland". Scream magazine will be reviewing me in their February issue and I got a pretty nice review by Donato Zoppo at Movimentip

FinnArild

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The Writer's Blog

The Failed Economy Show On Cable Tv?

I did hear from the Video Lady, and I think she’s going to do it! Helps that the Senator is coming the same day (yes, it’s official), though not to the concert, and she wants to film his meeting. I got the Failed Economy show poster blown up to 2-feet-by-3-feet size to hang on the Dance Floor’s front door; everybody’s going to see it. If it happens—I hope it does—we’ll be broadcast throughout the county (just this county—Charter Communications finally compartmentalized their cable-TV system,

roxhythe

0
The Writer's Blog

Some Updates...

What did Robert Burns say about the best-laid plans of mice?” They “aft gae agley”? Drummer Chris will be out of town until after the weekend; that won’t leave a lot of opportunities for practice before the Big Event Feb. 5. I admit I’m the paranoid one; these guys are good, and the one gig we did last summer without any practice at all came off just about perfect. I still like the reassurance of me knowing for sure that we’re going to sound perfect. We may have a big crowd coming for this

roxhythe

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The Writer's Blog

Gig Post-Mortem (&c.)...

The gig was fun. Audience of 9, in a little group home up north. I was told they wanted to hear Cole Porter songs (they’re from that era), but I didn’t know any and didn’t have time to learn any; I told them instead, “But I know some Skip Johnson tunes” (not mentioning that Skip is still alive)—and gave ‘em “Next Time, I’m Gonna Get a Goldfish,” which really would be Dixieland jazz if someone other than me was playing it, and “Donohue,” which is straight old-time bluegrass. Most everythin

roxhythe

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The Writer's Blog

Three Things...

I’ve heard a number of folks comment, “Boy, you’re sure playing out a lot.” I’m probably not. I just talk about it a lot. I figure if there’s an audience out there, they probably need to know what you’re doing. Every now and then, I think I may just know enough about marketing to be able to teach it—and then I decide I ought to wait until I’ve had some success at it first. (And I am still waiting.) I figure if you’re going to compete effectively against the Big Boys, you have to (1) co

roxhythe

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The Writer's Blog

A Music Viudeo Proposal...

Sorry to have been out of touch... For the last five months, I had a job out of town (hey, it was a job) and didn't have much time at all. It's over, and I'm back. And trying to Do Stuff. Latest stuff is below... I’m going to do a music video of “50 Ways to Cure the Depression” (which is a popular song right now, with the state the economy’s in). Going to do it cheap, of course—like, for zero cost—but very competently. I think that’s possible with what I know now. There is a draft of

roxhythe

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A Producers Life!

Dropped Off The Planet For A While! Opening New Studio In Stockholm 2011

For those that have read my past few blogs you will notice a short gap (of a couple of months) since my last post! I have been studying away at trying to nail the Swedish language... pleased to say that it is going well! Anyhow, on the music front things are moving along and it looks like 2011 could develop nicely. I've been chatting to a guy I used to work for in Stockholm, who owned a studio, he's looking to open a new place sometime this year. Should be a nice place running Pro Tools HD

AndyC

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FinnArild's Blog

Blog in the new year

I am very busy promoting Testament these days, doing all those things I really don't enjoy so much - like writing my own bio, sending mails everywhere to try to get my album reviewed, distributed, played on radio and so on. It's hard work, I'm telling ya! When I finally get in touch with people it is always very nice, and most people seem to be very interested in my latest album. So far it is looking pretty good, Progrock.no, Progress Records, Record Heaven and CD Baby now stocks (or will

FinnArild

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