Introduction

[Laura Sterner]

Hi, I'm Laura. I've been playing music for a long time, writing songs here and there also for a long time.  Wanted to start networking with some other creative people with the hope that I can find some new collaborators.  

 

I record at home and can fly in tracks from anyone who has a decent recording setup and knows what to do with it.  Here are a few recent tracks that I've either just written or remixed:  

 

A ballad:

 

Something funky:

 

 

Something a little jazzy:

Hope you enjoy the tracks and I hope I'm able to contribute something useful here!  Thanks for the opportunity!  

 

Edited August 17, 2020 by Laura Sterner

[Cody]

welcome  

[Peggy]

Hi Laura,

Welcome to Songstuff! If your looking for collaborations you might want to check out the Collaboration board.  Looking forward to listening this evening to your songs.

 

If you have any questions just ask. Nice to have you join in with us.

Peggy

 

 

https://forums.songstuff.com/forum/119-collaboration-requests/

[john]

Hey Laura! Welcome to Songstuff

 

Do you have plans for your music?

[Laura Sterner]

10 hours ago, john said:

Hey Laura! Welcome to Songstuff

 

Do you have plans for your music?

Nope, just want to make music and share it with people in whatever way makes sense.  I checked out of chasing the dream a long time ago; the best way to make a million dollars in music is to start with two million.  Nowadays I'm just writing for the enjoyment.  

[john]

5 minutes ago, Laura Sterner said:

Nope, just want to make music and share it with people in whatever way makes sense.  I checked out of chasing the dream a long time ago; the best way to make a million dollars in music is to start with two million.  Nowadays I'm just writing for the enjoyment.  

Still sounds like a plan.  
 

I wasn’t meaning the fame game. Sometimes plans are about success, though success means many things to many people. More often plans are just a simple plan about going in a rough direction, nothing more 
 

It can be just fun, building a small following, releasing a vanity EP, a vinyl 12 inch, hearing your song on radio, getting songs recorded, playing a gig, recording in a studio, playing a sister’s wedding, getting our music heard, having our music well received or sharing it with people in whatever way makes sense.
 

We generally plan, or at least hope for something for our music other than it sitting on a shelf. Don’t get me wrong, I think if professional goals are realistic, you can make a good living out of music, but it takes time to build, knowledge, and a lot of hard work. Certainly no get rich quick scheme.
 

The fact that you stand a better chance of winning top prize in a lottery than becoming a big celebrity is a sobering thought but sadly too many still believe in chasing that dream, betting everything on it. Weirdly even more still hold out a vain hope that it will be presented to them on a silver platter.

 

I was simply asking because in knowing the goals of new members, whatever they are, maybe we might be able to help in some way. It’s certainly harder to do that if we don’t ask. I didn’t mean to come over all “snake oil salesman” lol

[Laura Sterner]

No worries, John.  You didn't come across that way at all.  I've been playing music for quite a while, so what future I have to plan for is a bit limited, and that's why I say that; but I enjoy making music and doing what I can to bring it to an audience.  It's never too late and you're never too old to do what you love

[Cody]

2 hours ago, Laura Sterner said:

the best way to make a million dollars in music is to start with two million

 

🤣 If only that wasn't so true with nearly every venture in life

[Cody]

In a bit of a listening burnout,  have heard more recorded music last few months than I usually do in a few years, but really enjoyed something funky up there  

[Laura Sterner]

5 minutes ago, VoiceEx said:

Anyhow. Unfortunately those tracks you uploaded were either set on private, or have been removed, by the time I am seeing this. So I was unable to hear your stuff. Is there an alternative? and on a different note, i`m glad to see that you are making music for the love of it, and not for the sake of "chasing the dream". Too many people days are under the illusion that fame ensures stability (or happiness for that matter). I`m glad to see you have a good head on your shoulders.

Thanks.  Yes, I often use SoundCloud and YouTube as staging areas for stuff that I later refine or revise, so right now the only public things on my SoundCloud account are three other songs.  

 

Here's the account; you should be able to hear all three of those tracks from here.  I appreciate your interest!  

 

 

Edited July 16, 2021 by Laura Sterner

[Laura Sterner]

3 minutes ago, VoiceEx said:

 

I see. Thank you very much!

You're very welcome  

 

Most of those tracks on the YouTube account were, unfortunately, given to me by a collaborator who did great mixes but only sent them in MP3 format and I could not get the hi-def files from him, even though I wanted to pay him for those.  It was just a casual collaboration and he moved house and I think things just got lost in the shuffle.  

 

So Precious was redone, and I paid him for his arrangement contributions on that, but the other two are still languishing.  

Edited July 16, 2021 by Laura Sterner

[Laura Sterner]

1 hour ago, VoiceEx said:

 

He only gave you the MP3 files? sounds like quite the casual endeavor. I don`t know if the subject of royalties is in this equation, but I hope that you are able to contact him. Either way it would be a shame if the original files are just sitting on someones hard drive, collecting dust.

Well, I wrote the songs, he was just playing around with piano parts and arrangement points.  I liked what he did, but I can hire session players to duplicate it if I really want to.  I didn't spend anything but time with him and if I use other arrangements I'll pay him for those, too.  I've never been against paying someone for the work they do. 

 

I am not sure what he was thinking.  We connected on a music forum and I sent him some demos, he asked for tracks and sent back some arrangements with him playing a bunch of parts, some of which I didn't think needed fixing, but his arrangements were good so I didn't mind so much.  It felt a little like stealing my credits, but whatever.  Yet I never got anything else from him beyond his MP3 mixes.  I would have liked to have received his raw tracks.  

Lesson learned, though.  I only hire session guys now who will send me tracks for pay.  None of this casual collaborator stuff anymore.  

Edited July 16, 2021 by Laura Sterner

[DavKDK]

Wow this is so good!! Welcome