Artist Development: Investing In Your Craft

I really felt the need to speak about investments. Investments are things we believe will give us a large return in the end; things we believe we can more than double our money with if we make the right choices. Don’t worry, this post is not to clutter your minds with numbers and concepts, but to give my opinion on very important investment musicians should consider.

When advancing in life, there are always investments involved—if you would like to have a good paying job, it is wise to invest in college. If you want to increase your stream of revenue, you could invest in stocks; if you would like to become a great musician, you also have to make an investment—you must invest in YOURSELF!

The investment that I am talking about is artist development. Artist development is the stepping-stone for creating a successful musician/ group. Artist development includes image consulting, song writing, interviewing skills, song selection, and vocal coaching, just to name a few. In order to be a marketable and attractive artist to a major record label, they would like to see what you have invested in yourself before they decide to dish out any money or time. Record labels want to see that you have a fan base; you should create YouTube videos and compete in talent shows and open mic competitions.

Most people would like to skip the artist development stage, but artist development is the foundation to a house of potential wealth and fame. Without a strong foundation, the house would crumble. Aside from having a vision for what you would like to accomplish with your music career, record companies would like to know if you would actually be an asset or a liability to them—in other words, would you bring value to the label or just be dead weight.

I told you I wouldn’t muddle your brains with financial concepts or numbers, but I do want you to remember: In order to be a successful musician, you must invest in artist development so you can be an asset instead of a liability.

What do you think?

Atlanta Frank Ocean Concert Review: Tuning In to Channel Orange

Sorry for the delay, but as I promised, I am writing to give you the review for the July 22, Frank Ocean concert in Atlanta, GA.

8:21 pm       Center Stage    Atlanta, GA

The line is wrapped around the building with people from all walks of life waiting to see Frank Ocean—there were “hipsters”, the funky and flashy, the live and laid back, and those hoping to hear more about the latest "coming out" news surrounding the Channel Orange crooner. Upon entering Atlanta’s, Center Stage, there was a DJ playing the hottest tracks on the radio and people dancing (you know there’s always one person dancing like their life depends on it J). As me and my college roommate sat waiting for the concert to begin, we started going through our predetermined playlist we hoped he would perform. Before we knew it, the lights dimmed.

9:30 pm

Every emotion that evokes excitement could be felt in the small, intimate venue. Frank came on stage and opened with Prince’s, “When You Were Mine” followed by his most famous song, “Novacane,” “Thinking About You,” and others. The overly excited and engaging crowd was great, Frank Ocean was genius, and the live band was the cherry on top. I believe Frank Ocean is one of the most talented songwriters of today’s time and apparently the hundreds of people that were at the concert thought so too.

My favorite songs performed were “Novacane,” “Super RichKids,” “Sweet Life,” and undoubtedly, “Pyramids.” I think it is safe to say that everyone was hoping he would do “Pink Matter” (hey…he was in Atlanta, home of 3 Stacks. It would’ve been perfect! But I digress). The show was nothing short of brilliant and spectacular. He closed the show with an awkwardly placed cover of a song he wrote for Beyonce, “I Miss U.”

11:40 pm

My throat is sore from screaming, but I don't care. The crowd piles into the lobby and I walk away happily unsatisfied, but all in all I really enjoyed the show and the atmosphere. Even though he didn’t do my favorite songs, “Sierra Leone” and “Pink Matter”, this is a concert I will never forget!

Emmanuel Jal: Songs of Freedom

My first few blog posts were about concerts and musicians I enjoy. This post, like my last, is about the contributions and inspiration music adds to the world outside of typical beats and vocals.

Emmatnuel Jal is a musician, activist, and a child of war. Emmanuel Jal had the opportunity to speak at a TED event and inspired the audience by telling his painful story of being a child of war to a man of purpose and how music helped him through painful times in his life.

Jal grew up in Africa, in the region of Darfur, Sudan—during a time of violence and war. At a very young age he witnessed rape, killings, separation from family, and even contemplated eating a friend. Jal became a child soldier and was trained to “kill as many Muslims…and Arabs, as possible.” After realizing that it wasn’t the religion he hated but the organized regime that was using religion against his people, he decided to forgive the people he once considered enemies. In his poem “Forced to Sin,” he recounts going through a journey with 400 people and being one of 16 to survive.

His heartfelt story helped me develop a deeper understanding for him and the others that withstood the horrid conditions of a war-torn Africa. Despite all Emmanuel went through, he still finds time to help others in need. He believes that education is what will help others in Africa escape mental slavery and restore the land he calls home. His campaign Lose to Win, is an effort to help build a school in Sudan. Like the people in his village in Africa that eats once a day, he chose to eat one meal as well. He only eats dinner and donates his breakfast and lunch to a charity he founded. The day he eats breakfast is the day he has raised enough money to build the school.

I agree that music can be therapeutic and the only therapy that helps Jal deal with his past is music. In the words of Emmanuel Jal, “Music is the only thing that has the power to ever your cell system, your mind, your heart, influence your soul and your spirit, and can even influence the way you live without even you knowing.”

I agree one hundred percent. What are your thoughts?

The National Music Publishers' Association's Importance to the Music Industry...and School?

The National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) is a trade organization catered to music publishers in the United States. The goal of the NMPA is to serve as a supporter for the legal rights of publishers and songwriters. With over 2500 members, the NMPA is the largest music publishing trade association in the United States. The NMPA’s mission is to continue to create a creative platform for music publishers and songwriters by protecting the copyrights of musician’s creative works.

The NMPA is one of many associations involved in advocacy programs that fight to educate and protect the creative property of musicians along with fostering the importance of music in everyday life.  One of the groups that the NMPA uses to influence the music industry is the Give the Gift of Music program. The Give the Gift of Music program is comprised of musicians, trade organizations, record labels, and retailers who believe that when all else fails, music makes great gifts.

Under the Give the Gift of Music program initiative, there are several programs geared toward educating and uplifting individuals who are in need. The most popular initiative under the Give the Gift of Music program is vh1’s Save the Music Foundation. The Save the Music Foundation is a foundation aimed at recognizing and restoring the importance of music education in public elementary and middle schools.

Implementing the importance of music in school curriculum is beneficial to the academics and development of elementary and middle school children. It gives children an outlet to express themselves and it has a positive effect on their learning skills. The introduction of music at an early age could very well produce the next music icon, music publisher, producer, or songwriter.

  

I was fortunate to have a music program in my school and I would like to credit my love and passion for music and academic success to the early introduction of playing in the elementary school band. I think it is very important to give back to the community and trade associations, such as NMPA's, affiliation with the Gift of Music program is something that should continuously be implemented throughout the music industry. I am already a Facebook fan of Save the Music and I plan to do more to support this program and network with like-minded people. I encourage you to like the page if you are an advocate of having instrumental music programs in public schools.

Frank Ocean Introduces "Pyramids" and North American tour

Frank Ocean, born Christopher Francis Breaux, in New Orleans, Louisiana, is a very talented 24-year-old singer, songwriter, and rapper. If his name does not sound familiar, maybe some of the people he has worked with ring a bell. He has written music for John Legend, Justin Bieber, Beyoncé (“I Miss You”, on her 4 album), and he is featured on Jay-Z and Kanye West’s, “No Church in the Wild.”

In 2011, Frank Ocean, released his stellar debut mix tape, Nostalgia, Ultra.  From the mix tape, Ocean released “Novacane”—the hit single laced with sex and drugs, and “Swim Good”—a song about heartbreak and finally getting over a love lost.

Aside from the mix tapes, the mastermind behind Nostalgia, Ultra, has announced the title of his new debut album and American tour, slated to start July. Channel Orange is scheduled for release on July 17, and has already gained attention from its single, “Pyramids.”

“Pyramids,” has the sound and feeling of an ‘80s R&B song and slowly advances to a bass-laden modern day track. Frank is able to lyrically capture audiences with his artistic wordplay and metaphorical stories. The 10-minute song tells the historical story of Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, and tells the story of a prostitute/ stripper named Cleopatra, who works at the strip club, the Pyramid. The first half of the song tells the story of Queen Cleopatra and her lover running to escape their fate, while the second half of the song tells of Cleopatra and her suitor going through an exodus to the future, where she is portrayed as a prostitute/ stripper and her lover as being a pimp. Musical transitions in the song mark the transitions of stories from the past to the present and showcases the musical tastes of the past into the present.

I really like this song and consider Frank Ocean a lyrical genius. I have already bought my ticket to the Channel Orange tour in Atlanta and can’t wait to go. Stay tuned next month for my review of the concert.

After listening to “Pyramids”, do you think you will tune into Channel Orange this summer?

The Atlanta Jazz Festival and Featured Artist: Robert Glasper Experiment

Aside from taking time to reflect on the meaning of Memorial Day, my Memorial Day weekend was rather eventful. I attended the 35th annual Atlanta Jazz Festival in Piedmont Park and had the pleasure of hearing featured artist, the Robert Glasper Experiment.

Noted as one of the country’s largest free music festivals, the Atlanta Jazz Festival is a three-day event spanned over the Memorial Day weekend that features established and up-and-coming jazz musicians. Musical acts that graced the stage included flutist, Dwight Andrews, Tito Puente Jr. and Orchestra, and Kathleen Bertrand.

The standout performance of the night was the Robert Glasper Experiment. With a musical sound infused with jazz, R&B, hip-hop, and rock, the Robert Glasper Experiment did not disappoint. During the four man group’s performance, they covered popular songs “Cherish the Day” by Sade’, Musiq Soulchild’s “Don’t Change”, and Floetry’s “Say Yes” before performing singles from their latest project, Black 
Radio.

Jazz pianist, Robert Glasper has worked with some of the best in the world of R&B and hip-hop. He has worked with Jay-Z, Erykah Badu, and Bilal and yasiin bey (Mos Def), as musical director. He was also featured on Kanye West’s Late Registration, Q-Tip’s The Renaissance, and in 2009, toured exclusively on Maxwell’s BLACKsummers’night tour.

With four albums under his belt, Robert Glasper released the first full-length album with his Experiment band in February. The album, entitled, Black Radio, was named and inspired by an aircraft’s black box—it holds the truth and is indestructible. The cover of Sade’s “Cherish the Day” featuring Lalah Hathaway leave listeners wanting more from the sultry-voiced songstress and tracks featuring Me’Shell Ndegeocello and Ledisi exhibits how well the Experiment meshes R&B and jazz together. If you are looking for an album to satisfy both R&B and jazz needs, Black Radio is a mélange of jazz and R&B sure to satisfy the music lover’s palate. 

Coachella and the Use of Social Media

While everyone is still buzzing about the Tupac hologram feature at this year's Coachella music festival, I am intrigued with the way they have included social media as a large part of the festival. Unfortunately, I could not attend the festival but I noticed a lot of buzz about it via social networking sites, Facebook and Twitter.

Social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and Instagram made it easy for concert promoters to promote the festival and made it easy and fun for concert attendees to chronicle their adventures.

One of the ways social media networks were used to connect fans to the festival was through Facebook. With over 30,000 attendees, Coachella used technology that allowed concertgoers the chance to automatically update their Facebook status at several checkpoints with where they were and what they were doing.  Coachella attendees were given wristbands that were implanted with radio-frequency identification or RFID.  RFID uses electromagnetic fields to transmit data from one object to another—mainly used for tracking and automatic identification.  The Coachella music festival already has a large following, but due to the launch of the wristbands, its online audience was increased tremendously.

The annual music and arts festival allowed concertgoers to create a phone app that customized their concert schedule as well as create memorabilia they could tag to sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Festival attendees also used social media sites Foursquare, GroupMe, Tumblr, You Tube and Pinterest to access information and share their experiences to friends near and far.

 Social media has allowed people a chance to go places they have never been before, see things they could never imagine, and hear things from around the world.  I can only imagine how much the live performance industry will change in the future.

What are your thoughts?