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The Muse's News |
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Issue 11.2 - May 2008
ISSN 1480-6975
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This issue sponsored by:
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I n T h i s I s s u e :
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@-- Editor's Musings
@-- Music Reviews - Bhasker Gupta, JJ Biener & Chip Withrow
@-- New Artist Spotlight Additions
@-- Songwriting Book Review - by Ed Teja
@-- Musical Notes - Songwriting Contests & Market Info.
@-- Muse's Clues - Songwriting Web sites that inspire - brought
to you by singer/songwriter & teacher, Irene Jackson.
@-- Featured Article - Music Life: 1 - Creative and Everyday Can
Co-Exist - by Brian Donovan
@-- On Site Featured Article - An article already online for your
viewing pleasure.
@-- Classifieds & Useful Services
@-- Contact information
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ISSN 1480-6975. Copyright 1998-2008 - Jodi Krangle.
For more contact information, see end of issue.
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FIND WHAT YOU NEED AT THE SONGWRITING STORE ON THE MUSE'S MUSE
All sorts of products and services especially for songwriters,
negotiated so that you get the best price possible. You'll find
means of promotion and distribution, songwriting aids,
educational products, musical instruments and their accessories,
and lots more. Find the perfect gift for that songwriter in your
life, too - even if it's you!
http://www.musesmuse.com/songwriting-store.html
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S p o n s o r M e s s a g e :
(Many thanks to the sponsors that help support this newsletter!)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ENTER THE INTERNATIONAL SONGWRITING COMPETITION TODAY!
The International Songwriting Competition (ISC), is now accepting
entries for the 2008 competition. With $150,000 in cash and
prizes (including $25,000 cash) and the worlds best judges, ISC
is recognized as the leading songwriting competition in the
world. Judges for 2008 include: Tom Waits, Chaka Khan, Loretta
Lynn, Neil Finn (Crowded House), Robert Smith (The Cure), Ray
Davies (The Kinks), Weird Al Yankovick, record label execs from
Virgin, Universal, Lost Highway, MySpace Records and many more.
Entry deadline Oct 15 2008.
For entry information and list of winners from the 2007
competition, please go to: http://www.songwritingcompetition.com/~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
E d i t o r ' s M u s i n g s :
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Hi folks. Welcome to spring! (Or summer, depending on where you
are). Wow. A few weeks back, I was up to my waist in snow.
Now? The birds are singing, the grass is green and the flowers
are blooming. Unbelievable. No in between here, it would seem
(north of Toronto). We went straight from the dead of winter to
the beginning of summer. I'm just relieved the snow is gone,
frankly. Having it around that long was just getting
*depressing*. :) (And you folks in California and Florida and
those other places that never see snow? Don't rub it in. :D
Please.)
You still have until May 15th to enter and win a $200 gift
certificate for the August Retreat, "How Songwriting Really
Works"! You're running out of time though! All you need to do
is send your name and email to bryan@reorafting.com before the
deadline with "Muses Muse $200 Prize" in the subject.
There's a new Radio Muse program online now too! Radio Muse #18
can be found at http://www.musesmuse.com/radiomuse-18.html and is
once again hosted by the ever polished and dynamic Kevin King at
Blind Dog Audio (thanks, Kevin!). Drop by and have a listen to
your fellow songwriters, show them some support and consider
sending your own music in for consideration! All the
instructions on how to do that are located at
http://www.musesmuse.com/radiomuse.html . There's also an RSS
feed (if you're interested) at
http://www.musesmuse.com/radiomuse.rss - and you can now find the
show in the iPod Store!
We also have a new columnist joining us. Brian Donovan has been
blogging on this subject for a while, but decided to talk with us
over here at The Muse's Muse directly - and I'm very glad to have
him on board. :) He'll be talking about how to make your
creative life and your everyday life peacefully, and
productively, co-exist. You can visit his columnist section
here:
http://www.musesmuse.com/col-briandonovan.html and there's a
portion of his first article in the "Featured Article" section
below for your reading pleasure. I think you'll find it
enlightening!
Last but certainly not least, right before I get to announcing
the newest raffle winners (and remember that all you need to do
to be eligible for a raffle prize is to email me with your name
and contact information along with your top two choices for
raffle items you'd like to be in line for!), I want to make a
general call for articulate and dedicated folks who might be
interested in reviewing CDs here on The Muse's Muse. Your
reviews will appear in this newsletter, you'll have your own menu
page on The Muse's Muse, and your information will be displayed
at http://www.musesmuse.com/musicreviews.html along with some
other very dedicated reviewers. Besides that, CDs are sent
directly to you and you get to hear some *great* music. I only
ask that a reviewer provide at least three reviews per month, if
at all possible (I'm not a slave driver though, promise. :) ).
Email me at editor@musesmuse.com if you're interested, ok?
And now on to the raffle winners for the month! They are:
* Patrick Bonier, from Blaine, MN, has won a copy of
Virtual Studio Systems' Lyricist software
(http://www.musesmuse.com/vss-review.html).
* Chris Spencer from Los Angeles, CA, has won a free 3 month
membership to SongU (http://www.songu.com/), an Internet-based
learning environment providing online coaching, co-writing and
pitching opportunities, in addition to over 70 multi-level
courses developed by award-winning songwriters.
* Sarah Honkala from Washougal, WA, has won a copy of
Bronson Herrmuth's "100 Miles To A Record Deal"
(http://www.songrepair.com/bookforweb2.htm).
* Lynn Julian (aKa Cookie Cutter Girl) from Ipswich,MA, has won a
copy of Sean Farrington's "The Little Black Book of Band Profit
Secrets" (http://www.bandprofit.com/).
* Guy-Michael Grande from Nashville, TN, has won a 6 month
subscription to the Onlinegigs (http://www.onlinegigs.com/)
service. This valuable service is a powerful tool for musicians,
agents, record companies and managers designed to virtually
automate the administration of booking and promoting a band or
bands.
* Lorna Hunt, from the Dayton area, OH, has won a copy of
Indie-Music.com's Musician's Toolkit CD
(http://www.musicianstoolkit.com/muse/)
Lots of cool stuff in this month's newsletter, so time to get to
it! Hope you're all enjoying the wonderful weather. I know I'm
find it inspirational. :)
All the best,
--Jodi
P.S. - In case any of you are interested, I have new demos online
on my Voice Overs & Vocals website at
http://www.voiceoversandvocals.com/demos.html . Feel free to
drop by and have a listen (I'd love to hear your opinion!).
And if you need a voice for a project, let me know! :)
Back to Menu
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S p o n s o r M e s s a g e :
(Many thanks to the sponsors that help support this newsletter!)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LAST MONTH TO ENTER THIS YEAR - USA SONGWRITING COMPETITION
Win $50,000 Grand Prize worth of cash, cool music gear from Sony,
Ibanez Guitars, D'Addario Strings, Audio-Techica, Ik Multimedia
and more! Not to mention radio airplay for winning songs. Judges
include A&R from Universal, SONY/BMG, Capitol Records and Warner.
Hurry, this is the last month to enter! Get entry from here:
http://www.songwriting.net/mm.html
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M u s i c R e v i e w s : Bhasker Gupta & Chip Withrow
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Would YOU like the opportunity to review great music and have
your name up in lights? ;) Email me at editor@musesmuse.com if
you're interested in becoming a reviewer for The Muse's Muse.
Your fellow artists will thank you!
NEW MUSIC REVIEWS SINCE LAST MONTH INCLUDE:
Chip Withrow:
* Adam Burrows
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-adamburrows-never.html
* Andy Baker
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-andybaker-down.html
* Trapper Schoepp Band
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-trapperschoepp-change.html
* Chris Unck
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-chrisunck-countryroads.html
* Russ Glenn
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-russglenn-newearth.html
Bhasker Gupta:
* Neil Welch
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-neilwelch-narmada.html
JJ Biener:
* GromKo
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-gromko-convert.html
For bios on each of the reviewers, see
http://www.musesmuse.com/musicreviews.html . If you're
considering sending in your own CD for review, you can also view
that page to find out which reviewer reviews your genre. Thanks!
Back to Menu
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N e w A r t i s t S p o t l i g h t A d d i t i o n s :
Great music is only a click away!
Here are just some of the great CDs highlighted in the
Artist Spotlight section of The Muse's Muse at
http://www.musesmuse.com/artistspotlights.html
----------------------------------------------------------------- Johnny Om - Genre: SINGER/SONGWRITER
Johnny Om's first recording for Organically Grown Music is an
intriguing collection of catchy melodies, social satire, and
musical invention that defies categorization. Johnny's pleasantly
warped sound combines a variety of styles to create a compelling
and soulful musical journey into the contemporary American
mindset.
http://www.organicallygrown.com/
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Christopher Taylor - Genre: SINGER/SONGWRITER
Christopher's music subtly conveys a sense of spirituality and
self-inquiry. Strong melodies, solid rhythms and richly textured
harmonies make a powerful backdrop for personal evolution.
REMAINS TO BE SEEN offers unique ways of expressing the growing
pains of a world on the brink of evolving beyond itself.
http://www.organicallygrown.com/
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The Bodhi Brothers - Genre: FOLK
Organically Grown marks the Bodhi Brothers' first recording. This
is a fun collection of acoustic-based music, with flavors of
folk, blues, and country jazz. Largely instrumental, this CD's
mellow, front-porch-style playing features The Bodhi Brothers
doing what they do best, having themselves a good time in the
studio.
http://www.organicallygrown.com/ =================================================================
S o n g w r i t i n g B o o k R e v i e w : by Ed Teja
The Amy Winehouse Story by Nick Johnstone
http://www.omnibuspress.com/
-----------------------------------------------------------------I confess to a weakness for biographies. The lives of people who
have accomplished things can be inspirational in a variety of
ways. The story of what they have done wrong and right along the
way to success, how they dealt with setback and failure, make
fascinating reading. In the case of songwriters, understanding
where and how they struggled, whether with personal issues or
matters of craft, humanize them. Although the story of Amy
Winehouse is really just beginning (we hope), it has been
eventful, to say the least. With only two albums (and a rocky
start for the first) under her belt, her string of awards is
admirable. Critical reviews have suggested that she was
responsible for a resurgence of R&B in contemporary pop. Based on
this, I looked forward to reading about her musical roots and how
she managed to overcome the inertia the music business is filled
with to bring R&B them to popularity. Hey, I love R&B.
Much of this story is told from a distance. Many people
significant to the story, including Amy Winehouse herself, did
not participate in Johnstone's research for this book. As a
result, there are not as many insights into her character as you
might expect. It is an unauthorized story. From a songwriter
point of view, however, that worked out all right, because it
forced the author to spend more time on her professional career
and less on her personal life—although her personal demons
certainly figure prominently in the telling. The source material
is heavily dependent on her producers and people that worked with
her and her songs. And that last part—people who worked with her
songs—is important in understanding her body of work. After years
of being around recording and reading about the industry, I was
amazed to find how many people directly involved in Amy
Winehouse's two albums did not ever work with her. In some cases,
she simply recorded her voice and guitar, and left the final
sound to the producers. It wasn't even quite clear if that was
her choice, or someone else's, but that fact figures to a degree
in the end product that we hear. As a songwriter very attached to
my songs, I would have liked to learn more about that decision.
Again the wording is important. She left it to the producers,
because each of the two albums had two separate producers. They
worked in a different location, with different musicians.
Johnstone spends a fair amount of the book detailing this
process, and presenting viewpoints of some of the key figures
involved. Clearly Winehouse's mark is on the productions. Her
love of urban and early R&B music was taken into account as the
work went on. She liked Reggae grooves as well, and they come
through in the songs. Some top musicians helped make those albums
what they were. Interestingly, the bulk of the praise for her
work centers on the writing a (small) handful of songs and her
vocal treatments. Apparently she makes many listeners think of
older, mature blues singers. I find the assessment odd, but then
I would guess it depends on your own background. To me she simply
sounds like a young woman who listened to a lot of older records
and picked up some of the stylings. But then, I review books, not
singers.
If you are looking for the inside scoop on the life and times of
Amy Winehouse, this will probably only tease you. But if you are
interested in her recording career to date—some detail of how
labels and producers work with emerging talent—then this could be
for you.
******
ABOUT THE REVIEWER:
Ed Teja has been working on his own music and now his new CD --
"SOFT DREAMING BLUES" has been released released by Morrhythm
Records (http://www.outstandingmusic.com/). It's a collection of original
(written alone and with an international group of cowriters)
smooth jazz vocals and instrumentals. Ed has appeared at strange
venues in Hong Kong, Canada, St. Martin, Bequia, Venezuela,
Grenada and Trinidad, as well as the Silver City (New Mexico)
Blues festival and the Tucson (Arizona) Folk Festival.
You can hear some of Ed’s music at: http://www.myspace.com/edteja
If you'd like *your* book reviewed (as long as it has something
to do with songwriting, of course!), please do email us and let
us know!
Back to Menu
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S p o n s o r M e s s a g e :
(Many thanks to the sponsors that help support this newsletter!)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BRETT MANNING'S SINGING SUCCESS SYSTEMATIC VOCAL TRAINING SYSTEM:
It's the "secret weapon" used by some of the winners of the
world's most prestigious vocal awards, including the Doves, the
CMA Awards, and yes, the Grammies. Learn the one mistake even professional singers make, that drains
away 3 times more vocal energy and yields only half the needed
vocal power. Find out about the 3 simple exercises that allow
even a "beginner" to make rapid increases in range (this also
eliminates vocal strain). Learn Brett's secret for "dissolving"
your break, so you'll never have to flip into falsetto again, but
you'll still sing as high as you want--in full voice - and LOTS
more. The package includes 12 audio CDs (packed with 17 repeatable
lessons, including both technique--the simple, yet powerful
exercises, and style lessons for building vocal licks and
trills); a workbook for illustration; and a DVD for visual
reference and demonstration. It's a complete course - and it has
a money-back guarantee! Visit http://tinyurl.com/35t3lz for more details and start
yourself on the road to improving your vocal chops today!
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M u s i c a l N o t e s : Songwriting Contests & Market Info.
In the interest of conserving space, I will only be including
changes to this listing in this newsletter. All other contests
and market information that have already been listed here, are
displayed at http://www.musesmuse.com/contests.html &
http://www.musesmuse.com/markets.html . Please check there
regularly for updates!
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2ND ANNUAL HOW SONGWRITING REALLY WORKS RETREAT,
Nahatlatch River, British Columbia (near Vancouver BC)
August 10-15, 2008 with Wayne Chase, author of How Music Really
Works & Nancy Bos How Songwriting Really Works: Techniques & Secrets of the World¹s
Greatest Songwriters is designed for songwriters committed to
writing songs that will stand the test of time. Retreat leader
Wayne Chase is the author of "How Music Really Works", a
comprehensive presentation of the music and lyrical techniques of
writing classic songs. This retreat will be unlike anything
else available anywhere in the world. Wayne is a music scholar
and has studied music and language for over 25 years from the
perspective of how our brain processes words and music and the
emotional value of words. Wayne holds 5 patents in connotative
analysis and is one of the worlds leading experts on the
emotional meaning in language. Wayne is also the creator of the
Gold Standard Song List, a compilation of 5,000 of the greatest
songs of all time in 11 genres. Details on Wayne¹s work at
http://www.howmusicreallyworks.com/Index.html. Nancy Bos,
Seattle's premier vocal and performance coach, will lead several
interactive sessions that will be very helpful for all singer
songwriters. The all-inclusive cost for the 6-day event including
15 meals, beverages, snack, full use of resort amenities,
adventure activity ($125 value) and all workshop sessions starts
at just $850 US per person (camping option) and $975 US (shared
cabin tent option). http://tinyurl.com/29aajd for more details.
Reservations: 800-736-7238 (9-5 PM PST); info@reorafting.com
Organizer: Bryan Fogelman bryan@reorafting.com
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9th ANNUAL REO SONGWRITERS RETREAT, Nahatlatch River, British
Columbia (near Vancouver BC)
July 13-18, 2008 with Bonnie Hayes, Steve Seskin, Pat Pattison &
Jon Vezner
Enjoy one the world¹s most unique songwriters retreats in the
Canadian wilderness near Vancouver, BC July 13-18. Hosted at the
REO Rafting Resort, this riverfront adventure-style resort is an
incredible setting for songwriting. 2008 faculty include Bonnie
Hayes (³Have a Heart² recorded by Bonnie Raitt), hit songwriter
Steve Seskin, Berklee College of Music Professor and "Writing
Better Lyrics" author Pat Pattison, and Grammy-winning songwriter
Jon Vezner. A maximum of thirty-six international songwriters
from throughout the US, Canada, Western Europe, Australia and New
Zealand will gather for an intensive, focused week of master
classes, one-on-one sessions, group workshops, song critiques and
fantastic social events. The cost for the 6-day/5-night event
including 15 meals, beverages, snack, full use of resort
amenities and all workshop sessions starts at just $850 US per
person (camping option) and $975 US (shared cabin tent option).
Register and pay in full by May 15th and receive a free
whitewater rafting adventure on the Class 4 Nahatlatch River
($125 value). Spots are confirmed upon receipt of a
non-refundable $200 deposit.
http://www.reorafting.com/site/retreats/songwriter_retreat.html
http://bluecrushmusic.com/site/reo--s_songwriters_retreat.html
Reservations: 800-736-7238 (9-5 PM PST); info@reorafting.com
Organizer: Bryan Fogelman bryan@reorafting.com
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FREE MUSIC PROMOTIONS EBOOK!
The author of The Little Black Book Of Band Profit Secrets has
come thru again! He's just published: "Co-Op Synergy Power, Your
Fast-Track To Profit, Exposure And Free Advertising..." and
musesmuse.com fans can get it for free.
Click here> http://jodimuse.ssl4000.hop.clickbank.net/
And be sure to check out The Little Black Book Of Band Profit
Secrets while your there... It's worth the look.
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STUDIOTRAXX.COM: BREAKING NEW GROUND - FOR YOU!
StudioTraxx.com provides an e-commerce platform that allows
artists/bands to purchase and book time with musicians,
engineers, producers, and other music professionals for online
studio collaboration purposes. They facilitate the entire music
production process from beginning to end — from finding and
booking the right talent to managing all resulting collaboration
activities.
StudioTraxx is actively building its talent network and is
encouraging both those who offer services and those who need
services to sign up and register. There are no costs to join the
site. Creating an account is FREE.
http://www.studiotraxx.com/?partner=837
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THE INDIE GUIDE IS ON SALE FOR $10.95 AND INCLUDES THE INDIE
CONTACT GUIDE!
For a limited time only, North Shore Records, Inc, in celebration
of tour season and music success has put The Indie Guide on sale
for $10.95 plus shipping. The normal cost is $25.95 plus
shipping. In addition to the 190-page book, The Indie Contact
Guide, which contains thousands of contact names, address, email
addresses, phone numbers and contact names will be included.
To Your Music Success! http://www.theindieguide.com/
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FREE SONGWRITING, FILM, TV, AND VIDEO GAME SUBMISSIONS AT
MUSICGORILLA.COM!
MusicGorilla.com works with Songwriters, Bands, Musicians, and
Artists to get their original material into the eyes and ears of
industry members who have the ability to take their careers to
the next level. We work with Reps from all facets of the Music
Industry. Our artists have the opportunity to submit their songs
to established artists looking for new material. In addition, our
clients get access to submissions for film, TV and video games,
all of our submissions are FREE. MG Artists are eligible for free
live label showcases, digital distribution with MSN and Loudeye
and more. We don't take any piece of any deals made on our site,
and have had many successes including placement, songwriting and
publishing deals.
Muse's Muse artists get 10% off of memberships!
Just enter the promotional code "muse" during registration.
http://www.musicgorilla.com/
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THE INDIE VENUE BIBLE - A GROUNDBREAKING VENUE DIRECTORY FOR ANY
ARTIST PLANNING TO TOUR IN THE US OR CANADA!
26,000 live music venues of all sizes are featured including
clubs, bars, restaurants, lounges, coffee shops, theaters, halls,
churches, book stores, community centers, house concerts and open
mics. There are also 1,500 festivals listed as well as over
1,000 colleges for any artist that wants to plan a college tour.
Jumpstart your tour today!
Visit https://nt4.magma.ca/bigmeteor/ivbmuse_order.cfm
for more information!
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INDIE ARTISTS: JOIN MYBANDSMUSIC.COM & YOU COULD WIN $1000!
Come and join a new site called MyBandsMusic, dedicated to indie
artists where you can create a profile, upload tracks and videos,
start your own blog, open a storefront, post announcements and
events, get input from fans, and more. The best part is that it
is all free!
Currently we are running a contest until the end of March. The
artist that has the most fans sign up on their MyBandsMusic
account wins a check for $1000!! Visit MyBandsMusic.com for more
details.
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SONGWRITING CONSULTATION SPECIAL OFFER:
Pete & Pat Luboff will pay for the phone call for Muse's Muse
songwriters who use the Luboffs' songwriting consultation
service. The service provides detailed, constructive song
analysis, answers to all your creative and business questions and
references to contacts when appropriate. Visit
http://www.writesongs.com/consults.htm for more information.
Back to Menu
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M u s e ' s C l u e s : by Irene Jackson
©1998-2008 Moonstone Productions All Rights Reserved.
Used By Permission
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The New York Times has been carrying an online blog for a few
months now called "Measure for Measure"
(http://measureformeasure.blogs.nytimes.com/)
with contributions from songwriters Andrew Bird, Darrell Brown,
Rosanne Cash and Suzanne Vega.
The blog states "With music now available with a single, offhand
click, it's easy to forget that songs are not born whole,
polished and ready to play." It goes on to describe how the four
contributing songwriters will "pull back the curtain on the
creative process..." writing about their work and discussing
their works in progress.
Darrell Brown's "We Are Emotional Spies" is an interesting
insight into how we can use the experiences of others, and even
our own life events to come up with song titles or ideas when we
are ready to write. Let's face it, as songwriters we are always
on the lookout for interesting or unique song topics. Darrell
describes how an event in his life planted the seed of a song,
and then he goes on in great detail to show how he used it when
he sat down with a co-writer not long after. As an aside,
sometimes you'll see a little box called "Grace note" which
provides extra tips and tricks related to the article. And
samples of the songwriters' work is also available to listen to.
Andrew Bird's blog entry "Natural History" is about the process
of recording his most recent album. Something that is
interesting to me is how he doesn't "settle" on his song's melody
until he gets into the studio, and even then, he tends to
continue to improvise his melodies even when he's performing.
Also, to prepare for this album he took himself on a couple of
field trips to get ideas for lyrics when he realized that nature
was going to be its theme. You can listen to a couple of clips
of the songs as you read the blog.
One of Roseanne Cash's entries is titled "Well, Actually It IS
Brain Surgery" where she talks about her recovery from surgery
(yes, brain surgery!) and how she had to turn her "songwriting
engine" back on again after the death of a songwriting friend, on
top of her own physical problems.
Suzanne Vega talks about her first attempts at songwriting when
she was a teenager in her blog entry "Teen Beat". Sounds a lot
like how I started! Not knowing the names of chords and coming
from a very unpredictable and spontaneous place in her
songwriting, writing at odd times, and finding answers to her
songwriting "puzzles" in her dreams, were all a part of the early
process, much different from how she, and how I, write today. At
least she can afford to hire someone to clean her house!
Another interesting aspect of the blog is the fact that you can
post your responses or comments to each of the songwriters, which
are almost as fascinating to read as the blog entries themselves!
Maybe you need to get your songwriting engine revved up these
days, I know I do. Measure For Measure may be a good place to
start!
******
Irene Jackson is a performing songwriter from Victoria, BC in
Canada. Aside from writing, recording and performing, she also
maintains a website for songwriters that includes tips, articles
and a songwriter's messageboard.
Songwriting Tips: http://www.irenejackson.com/tips.html
Homepage: http://www.irenejackson.com/
Songs: http://www.soundclick.com/irenejackson
Back to Menu
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F e a t u r e d A r t i c l e : by Brian Donovan
Music Life: 1 - Creative and Everyday Can Co-Exist
(© April 2008)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
See, as a creative person, myself a musician, I've always seen my
music AS my life instead of an incredibly enriching part OF my
life. It's challenging to balance my two sides: the creative
side that can sit in a room all day, alone, writing music, and
the rational side that reminds me of my needs to eat, pay bills,
spend time with family and friends and even use the bathroom.
(Yes, many a day I had gotten out of bed, and entered my studio
to record a quick idea, only to emerge, what I thought were
minutes later, to find the sun had set, I was completely famished
and in desperate need of the facilities.)
All of that is mere child's play though compared to the feeling
you have when you know you've created something from nothing.
Something that can explain part of your soul. But we can't lock
ourselves in a room for eternity and create. It's impossible.
Here's why: after a while, your inspiration will dwindle, and
your creative spark will dry up. Why? Have you heard of art
imitating life? Well, believe me, that old adage is very real.
Yet some musicians will misinterpret their art AS their life as
opposed to part OF it.
Now, when was the last time you wrote a killer tune? For most of
us, the muse came to visit right after we parted ways with out
last boyfriend/girlfriend. This makes sense. All of a sudden,
you've got an enormous amount of emotions welling up inside you
and a heap o' free time left by their absence. So, we sit down
to write:
My girl has left me
And she don't even care
How I am feelin'
My life is now so bare
Okay, I'm sure we're all in agreement that these lyrics suck.
What now?!
For the rest of this article, visit:
http://www.musesmuse.com/col-briandonovan-coexist.html
*****
Brian Donovan began his musical career by the age of 13 when he
and his friends wrote and produced their first record, albeit
somewhat goofy. Brian quickly developed a love for everything
musical and after years of study, he earned a degree from Berklee
College of Music. After graduation, Brian moved to California
and has been working as a songwriter, guitarist and vocalist. He
has also used his knowledge of production to great effect by
recording tracks for some of today's best known artists for the
last 12 years.
As well as finding ways to foster that next big wave of
creativity, Brian is a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist
living in southern California who currently writes songs for
individual recording artists, tv and film.
Check out Brian's newest CD: "Mugu Point" at his
website:http://www.briandonovan.com/Back to Menu
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" O N S I T E " F E A T U R E D A R T I C L E :
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Consistency Is The Key - by Bronson Herrmuth
http://www.musesmuse.com/col-bronson-consistent.html
I'm adding this article for all of you "musers" who are
performing songwriters and recording artists. Hope you enjoy!
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Interview with Reggie Young - Part 1 & 2 - by Bronson Herrmuth
http://www.musesmuse.com/col-bronson-reggieyoung.html
http://www.musesmuse.com/col-bronson-reggieyoung2.html
Meet one of the greatest guitar players of all time - Reggie
Young
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3 Ways to get out of a Songwriting Rut - by Kole (Kyle Hicks)
http://www.musesmuse.com/col-kole-musicalrut.html
This article lists 3 different things I did to get through the
songwriting "ruts" I encountered while composing music for my
debut album "Exile."
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Blue Collar Survival #345 - I'm Gumby, Dammit!!! - by Mick Polich
http://www.musesmuse.com/col-mickpolich-musicmarketing.html
Hey kids, let's put out an EP/CD!!! Mick explores
what's-happening-now in the initial stages of putting out some
music to the market for the umpteenth time, and dealing with
combining art and business AGAIN!!
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Blue Collar's Hot Rod Tube Amp Mods, Volume #1!!!!
- by Mick Polich
http://www.musesmuse.com/col-mickpolich-moreamps.html
Here's an overview of some areas (simple and a wee more complex)
to get a little more pop outta your tube amps. DISCLAIMER (and
you'll see it again and again in the article): EXTREMELY
DANGEROUS AND LETHAL VOLTAGES!! CAUTION!!! If you don't feel
comfortable with any of the information to proceed on your own,
DON'T! Consult you friendly, neighborhood amp tech for advice,
info, and service!
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Do You Need A Producer? - by Jerry Flattum
http://www.musesmuse.com/col-jerryflattum-producer.html
Couple of months back, I decided to use Bob Katz for mastering.
After a few email exchanges and wrestling with his amazing book,
Mastering Audio, I told Bob I wanted to achieve the same high
quality recording with my studio as that which I've been hearing
on a slew of top commercial CDs (Celine Dion, as one example).
Bob Katz recommended using a producer. Just exactly what does a
producer do? Do I need one? Mick Polich, another Muse's Muse
Columnist, has some answers.
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Cross-Marketing (Linking): Selling Your Music - by Jerry Flattum
http://www.musesmuse.com/col-jerry-marketing.html
New ways to sell your music online is exploding. CD Baby is only
one of them. Of course you need your own website, but how does
anyone know where it is--how to find it? One way is to
cross-link, particularly with other sites that feature your
music.
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Untrained Melodies - by Trevor Krueger
http://www.musesmuse.com/col-trevor-interpretation.html
Inspiration begins the journey while interpretation completes it.
Here is one example of how one can sometimes deviate from the
other.
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C l a s s i f i e d s & U s e f u l S e r v i c e s :
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WRITE BETTER SONGS WITH MASTERWRITER AS YOUR SONGWRITING PARTNER
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If you have a high speed connection, you can download a 30-Day
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Receive a special ** $70.00 ** discount off the $289.00 list
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Please use discount coupon # 3004.
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THE 9th EDITION OF THE INDIE BIBLE IS NOW AVAILABLE!
The Indie Bible shows you where to get your music reviewed, your
songs played, and your CDs sold. Now in its Seventh Edition, The
Indie Bible has 330 pages of valuable contacts and music-related
articles.
The 9th Edition of the Indie Bible contains:
4200 publications around the world that will REVIEW your CD!
3400 radio stations around the world that will PLAY your songs!
500 vendors and services that will help you to SELL your music!
200 sites where you can UPLOAD your band's MP3 files!
500 helpful resources and sites where you can PROMOTE your band!
52 articles that will help your career to MOVE forward rapidly!
Listings include web, e-mail and physical address, as well as
phone and fax numbers.
For details and to order online visit:
http://www.bigmeteor.com/muse
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LEARN HOW TO PLAY GUITAR - QUICKLY AND EASILY!
You Can Play Guitar author and publisher Scott Morris now offers
7 Free email guitar lessons that include easy to learn guitar
tablature, a sound file and free guitar lesson videos of his easy
to learn Billboard top rated guitar method that includes learning
guitar scales and theory used by professional songwriters. The
Free Guitar Lesson Videos - teach samples of learning the names
of the notes, sharps and flats, easy to play guitar chords and
more great information for beginner to professional level
guitarist.
Click here to find out how you can improve your
guitar playing today!
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THE SUCCESSFUL SONGWRITER MOTIVATION & MEDITATION AUDIO
Inspired by the songwriter's journey, and through understanding
the principles talked about in "THE SECRET", this audio program
is specifically created for the songwriter based on those
findings. Through Power of Thought and Understanding the Law of
Attraction, you will have the tools, knowledge & ability to
create the thoughts, experiences, and circumstances to be a
phenomenally Successful Songwriter. Included is a guided
meditation that is as passionate as it is empowering!
Muse's Muse Visitors - Enter Promo Code: 42567 for Discount.
http://www.songwritermeditation.com/
Limited Introductory Offer of $12.95 for Digital Download
Discounts for CD, and CD/Digital Download Combo shown on ordering
page.
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LYRICIST VERSION 3: THE SONGWRITER'S BEST FRIEND
Lyricist is the first-of-its-kind word processor designed
specifically for musicians, songwriters, and poets. The software
includes a Rhyming Dictionary, Thesaurus, Album Categorization,
Chord Charting, Chord Generator, Song Arrangement, and On-Line
Copyright Link.
The new version 3 release adds support for "Piano Style" chord
symbols, Nashville Number System, and Transposition features -
all in one easy-to-use package - and all for only $44.95! (That's
$5.00 off to all Muse's News readers who purchase from the review
link at www.musesmuse.com/vss-review.html!)
This tool will revolutionize the way you write and organize your
writing. Be the best songwriter you can be and purchase Lyricist
today! http://www.musesmuse.com/vss-review.html
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INDIE-MUSIC.COM - WHERE SERIOUS MUSICIANS SURF
One of the most respected and imitated indie music sites on the
web, Indie-Music.com has been serving the Independent Music
Community since 1996 with streaming audio, monthly CD Reviews,
huge industry search directory, success-building resources,
classifieds, and much-needed recognition. The site offers a
wealth of information to artists trying to survive & thrive in
today's competitive music industry.
http://www.indie-music.com/
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ADVERTISING RATES: For Classifieds: US$50 Max. 8 lines, where
a line = 65 characters including spaces and punctuation. All
contracts must be prepaid. Write to: editor@musesmuse.com
For Newsletter Sponsorship rates and other advertising
opportunities, please see http://www.musesmuse.com/media.html .
Back to Menu
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C o n t a c t I n f o & C r e d i t s :
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Jodi Krangle ............................................. EDITOR
Kathryn Obenshain ...........................GRACIOUS PROOFREADER
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The Muse's News is a free monthly newsletter for and about
songwriters. Subscribers are welcome to recirculate or reprint
The Muse's News for nonprofit use as long as the appropriate
credit is given and the ENTIRE text of the newsletter is
included (including credits and information at the end of each
issue). Others should contact me at editor@musesmuse.com.
All articles copyrighted by their authors.
Back issues and other information (how to subscribe and
unsubscribe, etc.) will be available at:
http://www.musesmuse.com/musenews.html
The Muse's News is part of The Muse's Muse, a web resource for
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For further information, send your e-mail to:
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adinfo@musesmuse.com - How to place a classified ad, pass
on market information or sponsor
The Muse's News.
editor@musesmuse.com - To submit articles,reviews,ideas,etc.
SNAILMAIL: Please contact me first at editor@musesmuse.com
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Back issues of the newsletter can be read at the National
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