Music Tips

I miss writing and recording. This was something I worried might happen if things got worse.

So it's been a long while, and I've felt that uneasy feeling inside me that I wouldn't get to do it again. Hopefully things improve and I get it together. I still have however a lot to look forward too, and this will come soon. The progress has been fantastic.

I hate doing vocals. I've always hated doing vocals. I hate the writing process, lyrics and all the screaming while developing a character.

First is music. Only with instruments, it's like creating a machine. The human touch brings out it's character.

The 'person' you're supposed to be to your fans. I don't care if you're the nicest person in the world. People have to buy into your stuff and believe in you if you want to be even slightly interesting to them.

Giving reason to people to see you is a key factor in creating something that sells.

I've been slightly bothered sometimes by the negative annotations in metal given to the genres by bands talking about burning churches, suicide and other negative themes. Not so much about what is written about bashing Christianity or other things like that. It's how people act out on some of these things.

It comes with the territory though. when I read about what extent some of these people go in the scene it's just ridiculous. Hate breeds, hate. And there is a fine line between entertainment and just downright idiotic. Dave Mustaine is a Christian now, however still as heavy as ever. And even Blackie Lawless. Something must've happened in their lives that made them change. But it's not about that, it's the idea people have to their views which sometimes tears the scene apart.

Or sometimes I find it quite hilarious when listening to some death metal band's vocalist burping out some words too difficult to make out. Only to read the lyrics and be like "What the heck does this mean anyways??". Regardless, I love all of it . The fine musicianship displayed over highly technical guitar work only challenged by that of neo-classical.

It can be mind boggling. It can either make one either discouraged to the daunted or a better player to those who are willing to accept this level of ability. Those who are guitarists know what I'm talking about.

But the things so important to a musician that needs to be aware about when entering such a field. Is that -

1. There are literally THOUSANDS of bands out there. You need to stand out among the crowd.

2. When forming a band, majority of the time, it's extremely difficult to build a trust and reliablity between -ALL- members of the group. What if the drummer leaves? Then you got to spend another 6 months looking for one. Then another 6 months getting back on track. Then the guitarist gets fed up and calls it quits. Loyalty is a hard thing to come by.

3. The adoption process. That of being taken seriously as a entity that won't vanish anytime soon. Making high quality merchandise isn't cheap.

4. Promotion. Who cares enough about you to go and support your act? Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, Webpage. It has to be something consistent.

5. Investment. Most people want to get signed, but what money are you making off of shows? Probably NONE most of the time. You're spending.

This is the reality of the music business. This is the brutal truth that I have learned throughout the years. And when it's over, it's progress is back to nothing.

Nothing is more annoying than wasting people's time. Especially musicians.

But you have to believe in yourself first and foremost.