How To Write About Experiences That Are Human And Interesting

Songwriting is arguably one of the most compelling art forms. It is humanity looking back at itself – giving us the ability to reflect in profound ways. A song about heartbreak has the power to bring a person to their knees by ways of evoking memories that are universal. One of our most important missions as songwriters is to present universal experiences to listeners in human and accessible ways.

Making human experiences come off as interesting in music demands a delicate balance. By simply saying “I’m in love and am very happy in this moment,” you may be missing out on an opportunity for greater creative license. However, that same idea presented as “Since I found you, I don’t feel like eating spiders anymore,” rings cryptic and obscure past the point of comprehension.

KrissyHow To Write About Experiences That Are Human And Interesting
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5 Examples of Marketing Genius You Can Steal For Your Next Release

Have you ever seen something so clever that you instantly started Googling the brand? How about an ad that caught your attention when you least expected it and caused you to do a double take? Maybe you’ve been at a concert where you weren’t really there to see the opening band but they put on such a compelling performance that you find yourself following them online after.

These are all examples of marketing at its finest. When marketing is done really well, you don’t think you’re being sold to, or at least, you don’t really mind because you’re interested. That’s the key. Selling isn’t a bad thing. Marketing isn’t a dirty word. Most of us are just doing it wrong, or experiencing other people doing it wrong.

But, successful musicians are those that know how to market. It’s a key piece of the job. After all, it doesn’t really matter how talented you are if no one knows you exist. So, to inspire your creativity we’ve collected 5 examples of marketing genius that you can steal for your next release. Enjoy!

Krissy5 Examples of Marketing Genius You Can Steal For Your Next Release
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How To Overcome Nerves On Stage

With venues opening their doors again in many parts of the world, you might find yourself feeling strangely nervous to perform in front of other people for the first time in years. Or, you could be new to live music and overwhelmed with dread at the thought of getting up on stage. Nerves can be a serious problem for performing musicians and stage fright has the power to thwart your performances even if you’ve practiced more than you think you need to. But nervousness doesn’t have to cause problems for your music career if you prepare in the right ways. Gradual exposure to live performance situations can help you overcome your fears and thrive on stage.

KrissyHow To Overcome Nerves On Stage
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Why You Should Start Your Next Musical Project With A Vision

Maybe you just finished an album and are making plans to write the next one. Or, you may have put out a couple of singles and are itching to create something more substantial, like an EP or full-length album. It’s not realistic to start planning exactly how each of your songs will sound like before they’re written, but coming into your next project with a clear musical vision is something that can be helpful and inspiring.

KrissyWhy You Should Start Your Next Musical Project With A Vision
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5 Changes You Can Make For A More Successful Music Career 

Ever felt like no matter what you do, your music career isn’t taking off like you want it to?

Done everything from marketing to content creation and still not seeing serious results?

It can feel discouraging, I know. But trust me when I say, we’ve all been there. There is no breakthrough without the trials, experiments, and work that comes before it. Just know, you are not alone in feeling this way. And believe it or not, there are solutions.

An important thing to remember is: what works for me may not work for you and vice versa. Read on with an open mind and go with your gut. Does one of these feel more doable to you? Does it feel more aligned? Be ready to put in the work, and aim to find the path that makes the work feel worth it, exciting, and engaging.

That’s the key. And it’s also where we start.

Krissy5 Changes You Can Make For A More Successful Music Career 
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3 Strategies To Try When Faced With A Musical Dead-End

You’re working on a song idea that you love and then, wham. A brick wall comes from out of nowhere and you have no idea how to move forward. It’s an amazing thing when a great song reveals itself to you all at once, fully formed, but this isn’t how it usually works. Most of the time, songwriters create songs piece-by-piece over multiple writing sessions. In other words, dead-ends are inevitable, so it’s best to get comfortable with them. The next time you don’t know how to develop a musical idea, try one of these strategies:

Krissy3 Strategies To Try When Faced With A Musical Dead-End
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Why Nimbleness In Music Is More Important Now Than Ever

If you’re the type of artist that can’t approach music with flexibility and finesse, you’re going to have a rough go of it in today’s music industry. In the spring of 2020, countless in-person music events were canceled, ranging from some of the world’s largest music festivals down to the weekly open mic night at your local coffee shop.

KrissyWhy Nimbleness In Music Is More Important Now Than Ever
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How To Separate Trends From What’s Enduring About Your Music

In music and all art in general, there’s the stuff that thrives in the moment, and then there are the songs that stand the test of time. What was fashionable in music back in the early 2000’s isn’t in favor today, obviously. But while it’s easy to separate what’s trendy from what lasts in music after 20 years, it’s a lot trickier to know while you’re creating. When we listen to contemporary music, we’re exposed to fads that inform everything from lyrical content to production decisions. There’s nothing wrong with listening to trendy music, but letting what’s popular and influential now crowd out your creative intuition and authenticity in songwriting is a big problem. 

KrissyHow To Separate Trends From What’s Enduring About Your Music
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