Message from before the grave

Robert Smith (of the band The Cure) was responsible for a big piece of my childhood.  I'd always read that he lied his ass off during interviews, constantly claiming that the band was about to break up so no one ever believed what he said.  Although it seemed like a terrific response to the inanity of celebrity, I didn't bother ever encountering him in anything beyond music.  Then by chance I see a remarkably sweet, gentle, and honest interview with someone that's had a huge impact on who I am.

It was a really amazing thing to see something of the root of someone else that built some of me.

Ghost in the Shell soundtrack by Kenji Kawai - live

With some of the news surrounding a live action version of what many consider some of the best to come form Japanese anime, a few more things from the original film are showing up.  I caught this bit from the music accompanying the film.  I don't know if you have to be a fan of the original, but I was amazed by the tremendous live performance.  Just awe-inspiring.

Rules for talking about your music

   Whenever I used to work with bands with their music, these were my rules.  I mostly just did promotions work so I'd do this work for them, but it was something I ran into over and over:

1. Listening - Make your music as easy to hear as possible.  At minimum, make a lower quality version available free for download.
2. Genre - No artist likes being relegated to this but I promise you fall into a genre.  You get like 3 words to spend here, choose them wisely.  You are not folk-newwave-hybrid-salsa-jack-o'-lantern-metal.  Totally ok to list influences.  If you sound like the Dandy Warhols, say right up front you sound like a synth version of Dandy Warhols.  If you're all over the place, that's cross-genre or experimental.
   
3. Shows - If you are playing somewhere, make it as easy as possible for someone to find out where and when that is.
4. Fan engagement - setup an email list but only send something out for events and try hard to only send something out every 2 months. Plan ahead because otherwise you'll end up in spam folders.
5. Website - put the critical information right up front ... put your music and where your next concert is right on the front page.  I would regularly spend 10 minutes on some big name artist's page trying to navigate their stupid interface to find locations.  The "shows" page was frequently broken.  Where you want your fans to buy tickets also helps.
6. Reviews - If you find a review about your music or shows, post it on your site.  Again, I know you feel like you're being defined or setting expectations but a 3rd party is so hugely necessary when you you're into music your friends don't like.
   

Another song I want to highlight

Occasionally, I'll find one of my beloved songs from years ago has been added to Youtube by the record company and I'm blown away by the fact that it has really low views/likes.  This is one of those songs (genre is electronic that starts out downtempo/chill and slowly eases into a breaks track).

Enjoy the Silence cover

An excellent breaks cover of the classic Depeche Mode track from Hybrid.  Love it.

Skyrim OST @ work

Unlike a lot of Ambient / Classical Music I listen to -- I found the Skyrim game soundtrack remarkably work-friendly.  It's active but not distracting and, after like the first few minutes, has no words.

D&B Set

An excellent hip-hop / rap influenced drum and bass set from Pendulum.  I usually don't fall in for this sort of mashup, but this one is so sharp, its something I can't pass up.

Pendulum has gone sort of a different direction since this material (more rock), but this is some of their best work.

Making fun of Dubstep

Although I really like many entries to the genre, I definitely acknowledge its faux-hardcore edge:

• Dubstep Kitty (initial bit is a little repetative so you might skip ahead 10 seconds)
  
• What Dubstep sounds like to your parents (link died, sorry)