Blog
What is the Hook in a Song: Exploring the Essential Elements that Keep Us Singing
Having a song stuck in your head can be one of the best and worst things in the world. And it never seems to be the whole song either! It’s always that one line that you find yourself coming back to over and over. It can drive you crazy (or others crazy, depending on how […]
Best Condenser Mics for Your Home Studio
To the uninitiated, setting up your home recording studio can be a pretty intimidating undertaking. Soundproofing the walls, getting a broad selection of instruments, and having the right DAW and monitors is already a laundry list of to-dos. When you factor in the need for quality mics as well, that list can seem insurmountable. I’ve […]
The Microphone Buyer’s Guide for Musicians
Getting a set of mics can be the first step to performing your music live or getting your next single recorded and released. Now, while that sounds great on paper, if you’ve ever looked into actually purchasing a microphone, you’ll know things get complicated fast. The world of microphones is a big one. You have […]
Using Music Theory to Enhance Your Songwriting
“Music theory” is a term that gets thrown around a lot nowadays, particularly by musicians and producers who want to put on airs. The term itself can feel intimidating to those who’ve never studied it, like a subject you need a 4-year degree in to really understand. However, music theory isn’t quite the gatekept academic […]
What Is An Outro?
The ending of a song can be the most memorable part. It’s the chance for a final word, an epic climax, or a beautiful, quiet goodbye. It’s the chance to make a lasting impression. But writing an outro is easier said than done. As many musicians (me included) will attest, you can go into a […]
What is Music Production—A Beginner’s Guide
Turning a song you’ve written into a professional, studio-made demo is a lot more complicated than you might think. You’ve got your chord progression, your lyrics, and maybe some extra ideas for additional instrumentation bouncing around in your head. However, that’s just the beginning when it comes to producing music. Even if you’re already trying […]
Best Songwriting Courses of 2023
You may have had your lightning-in-a-bottle moments. You were able to get your lyrics down exactly as you want them, or you were able to play the perfect guitar riff. However, replicating that can be tough. That’s where songwriting courses come in. One thing I love about being a songwriter is that there’s always more […]
Best Music Distribution Services in 2023
Music distribution: the process of getting your song off the page and into a buyable format. Simple enough, right? While music distribution might seem easy enough on paper, in practice it can involve a litany of hoops to jump through. As someone who’s gone through personally distributing my songs, it proved more complex than I […]
7 Best Songwriting Contests of 2023
Why Songwriting Contests? Sure, now (more than ever) there’s plenty of different platforms to release your music through. SoundCloud, Bandcamp, and even getting your music on Spotify and Apple Music can be done in a few simple steps. However, outside of one-in-a-million stroke of luck scenario, the chances of getting recognized and put on playlists […]
What is a Refrain in Music?
You’ve got an idea of what refrain in music is, but it’s still a bit fuzzy. If you’re new to songwriting, you’ll quickly find out the whole process can be downright puzzling. There are countless different methods to making catchy originals, each with its own confusing roadmap. Even with conventional song structures, there’s a litany […]