Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Another Revolution Audio plug...

This is why I love Revolution Audio: besides the great gear, affordable items on consignment and their great knowledge, they have an honest desire to educate music creators and give them the tools to see their songs come alive. I encourage everybody to sign up for Revolution Audio's newsletter.

The last newsletter made me want to attend a freebie class that's being held tomorrow night:
  • June 27th 7-8pm
    The Rebel Leader's favourite: Vocal effects and Techniques
Besides that, there was a link to starting your own indie record label. Maybe that's the way to go... The writer of the article, Ty Cohen, may be a little suspect, but I do like the notion and I know that other local songwriters have gone that route...

Finally, the "studio" at Revolution Audio is now available for fairly decent rates with technical assistance. Maybe if my FACTOR application goes through, I'll head on over to Revolution Audio for the demo...

Ci vedimes...

Monday, June 25, 2007

Garage Band Idol on CANOE.ca

There's been a series that I've been reading in the Sunday Sun here in Toronto in the ENTtertainment Showcase section. I've been a bit hesitant to point it out, but it's a feature on page E5 of the Sunday Sun (and I think it's the whole Sun family of newspapers - see CANOE for all those) called Garage Band Idol. As the by-line states:
  • Want Darryl Sterdan to review your homemade, original song? E-mail us an online link where he can hear it. If he chooses yours, he'll tell readers if it sucks or not. Send the link to CDcritic@wpgsun.com
Here's a recent example from this past Sunday's paper of a review:
  • When you're 38, you're too old to take up certain activities. Ballet dancing for one. Skateboarding for another. And, most certainly, rock 'n' roll.
    But that, confesses Pat Brooks, is when he got a guitar and began singing somewhere besides his car. Now, five short years later, he has progressed to the point where he can barely play, barely sing, barely write a song and barely keep time.
    At least, that's going by Limestone Ridge, one tune on the MySpace page of his one-man band Sugar Packet Solution.
    There are other cuts, but we didn't listen -- frankly, life's too short.
    Darryl's Verdict: "Too old to rock 'n' roll, too young to die." (0.5 out of 5)

Youch! Admittedly, this is the worst review of them all, but I've been reading them every Sunday and nobody has gotten more than 1.5 out of 5.

So, of course, I sent Mr. Sterdan my own email requesting to be skewered... Hey, as they say: "Any media is good media!". So, we'll see if I get the media...

Friday, June 22, 2007

A Plug for the Toronto Public Library!

I love taking my daughter to the library... and I've used the Toronto Public Library (TPL) before to take out books related to setting up a home recording studio and digital audio workstation. But I just wanted to place a plug for never having to leave the house to discover books related to songwriting...

I've been enjoying How To Write Songs On Guitar by Rikky Rooksby as an eBook in the TPL's NetLibrary. I will definitely be picking a copy of this book up as it seems to stress the creativity of the songwriting over the rules and the "hit radio" sound. That's my zone...

Ci vedimes...

Sunday, June 10, 2007

CBC Songwriters' Circle with Bruce Guthro

I've missed this series and just noticed it last night (didn't get to watch it though as I had family plans). It's a show about songwriting and it airs Saturdays at 7 p.m. on CBC. Now that hockey's over, I guess it will run for a few weeks. I will keep an eye out for it in the future, but there's very little info about it on CBC's Program Guide other than the following:

  • A rare and intimate view of some of Canada's best songwriters in performance and conversation with host Bruce Guthro.
There's doesn't appear to be an episode guide, but I'll see if I can find out who's on tap for next week's whow and let you know...

Ci vedimes...

Thursday, June 07, 2007

Christine Tier

It's funny... I've been working away (sort of) at this dream of mine for a few months (seriously anyway)... I was reading a trade paper from my day job and came across an article on a colleague of mine (Christine Tier) whom I've never met. She has written some excellent tunes and put out her own CD featuring those tunes! I'd encourage anyone reading to check her out on her website and follow the links from there to purchase her CD.

It just makes me realize that this is doable for me as well and that I have to work harder at fulfilling it. Thanks to an unknown colleague making it happen for her...

Tuesday, June 05, 2007

Revolution Audio Article/SingShot Song

Just looking at my various newsletters, and there's a nice link in my May Revolution Audio newsletter regarding How to Buy a Computer for Recording. I like my technology...

I also signed up for an on-line account (I needed a pop screen/filter for my mic and decided to give Revolution Audio's on-line store a shot)... Very nice set-up and I downloaded a free e-book with my account: How to Set Up a Home Studio.

BTW, I'm blushing a bit 'cos Daphny from Belgium left me a nice message for my recording of Lover's Cross by Jim Croce... and she said: "Great singing. A soft and relaxing voice! 5* ."

Ci vedimes...

Monday, June 04, 2007

SingShot

It has nothing to do with songwriting, but a lot to do with songs... it's an online karaoke extravaganza and I got a kick out of my wife, my wife's best friend and my daughter singing tunes on the site... it's called SingShot and I wish that I had thought of it first! A bunch of songs that many people like (not all are my taste certainly) - and none of those songs are mine!

Check it out... if you join and start recording on SingShot please let me know by replying to this post or emailing me and I'll be sure to check it out...

Ci vedimes...
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