Here are some things I’ve found that might be of interest to y’all:

- Measure for Measure blog
As a subscriber to the NY Times, I noticed this blog and got hooked right away. The posts from Roseann Cash are heartbreaking.
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. They are created by artists who draw on some combination of craft, skill and inspiration. In the coming weeks, the contributors to this blog — all accomplished songwriters — will pull back the curtain on the creative process as they write about their work on a songs in the making.
- Digital Cafe Tour
I found this to be an interesting new development in the ever expanding frontier of web-exposure. For those of you lookng to produce a high quality video, this may be of interest. Check it out.
- Rode University
This site apealed to me because I own a studio, but as I looked over the site I thought that this might be a great resource for an atist that doesn’t know a lot about the recording process. The tutorials are very “Recording 101″, but they’re good for the person that is going into the studio for the first time. You can get an idea of how to mic your instruments, what types of mics they might use and where they might be placed. Of course Rode is trying to sell their mics, but hey, it’s still a cheap and informative course. Check it out.

I just recently had the opportunity to use my pitch correction software for the very first time. I was always of the mindset that the singer should sing the part right. Hey, don’t ask me if I have the software to correct your voice before you even try to sing - just sing in tune! I really never even thought about the software until I got a call from a client that said the background vocals on a track he recorded with me were slightly out of tune in a few places and they couldn’t get back to the studio and needed the mix now. I started to sweat because I didn’t know how to use the software, but as it turned out it was easy, too easy. Read more

Episode 16
5.8.08 - This is going to be a laid back show with some more mellow, singer-songwriter types; songs where it’s more about the words and the story and how you’re pulled into the performance. We’re featuring Melissa Faith Cartoun, Mimi Burns Band, Doug Egdell, Lesley Young and Tony Ormond.

I’ve also been doing some thinking about the nature of this podcast… I’m starting to think that this is more of a boutique podcast – not just a stream of music nor a vehicle for my personality. I thought about this as I was looking for the artists to include on this podcast – I really want to include the artists out there that are offering a quality recording, well written songs and what I would call a vision – The vision thing is my assumptive insight into what I hear and what I see – If it looks like the person who sent this CD to Unsigned Underground is working as an artists, I want to do all I can to further that.

 

 Unsigned Underground Episode 16 [43:12m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Here are some things I’ve found that might be of interest to y’all:

• The John Lennon Songwriting Contest is up and running for another year. $30 to submit a song - Have some confidence in your songs and see where it can take you… you never know
• This is something I picked up from Sonic Bids about Creative Common Licensing. Read more
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I was just re-reading an article by Ariel Hyatt (Ariel Publicity) entitled “How To Sell 1,000 Singles A Week on iTunes” and as I was reading it I said to myself - It takes a lot of work to make a million dollars. And I think I also mumbled something about there not being any such thing as a Free Lunch, but… Read more

Episode 15
3.10.2008 ~
This episode of Unsigned Underground is my interview with performing songwriter Alyse Black. Alyse has a wonderful new CD out “Too Much and Too Lovely” and I spoke to her about her writing process, moving to Austin from Seattle, her upcoming first tour, her songs on the CD and keeping her hair on fire. Alyse has a beautiful voice akin to the Norah Jones / Madeleine Peyroux school of vocal delivery and her music is on the edge of pop and jazz. So check out our conversation as well as a few tracks from her CD on Unsigned Underground.

 

 Unsigned Underground Episode 15 [47:15m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Title: One Below The All Time Low
Artist: Watts
Release date: 2007
Available from: iTunes, CDBaby, Watts - MySpace
Artist website: Watts - MySpace
Quote: This CD is definitely worth every penny – buy it, download it, listen to it and then go see Watts live. If I had a star rating system I’d give these boys a gold one. Cheers!

When I got the new WATTS CD in the mail for inclusion on Unsigned Underground, I was immediately drawn to the cover. It made me think of an old album cover from the ‘70’s. I loved the “Rock-n-Roll Poses” that the musicians were taking. I loved the simplicity. I had a pile of CDs to look through… I opened this one first. Read more

Promoting Your Music
the digital way

Having just released a CD of my own, I have come face to face with the task of “getting it out there.” Finding a wider audience than what can be found in my immediate area is especially hard for me because I do not tour and I do only a few gigs per year due to other obligations. I also don’t want to spend a lot of cash on promotion. So how do I go about getting my music into the hands and ears of more people? Enter the Internet. Read more

Episode 14
1.21.2008 ~ This episode of Unsigned is turning out to be a rock-n-roll extravaganza harvested from the more rockin’ CD s in the pile.We’ll be hearing from three bands from the Eastcoast: Watts, Tom Crowley and Sean Lee, then heading out to Chicago for the Javelinas. Please visit the artists’ sites and support them by purchasing their music and spreading the word!

Welcome to a new year and a new look to Unsigned Underground. I’ve redesigned the website and turned it into a Podcasting blog to make it easier to hear past episodes and to read past articles I’ve sent out in the newsletter. Enjoy and please tell your friends you heard it on Unsigned Underground!

~ Darryl

 

 Unsigned Underground Episode 14 [39:24m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download