Middle Class Musician

Old Spice // Muscle Music with Terry Crews Now this is how you...

Tue, 28 Aug 2012 15:51:13 -0700

Old Spice // Muscle Music with Terry Crews

Now this is how you market a product to guys!

Marvin Gaye /// Behind the Legend I was in the mood for a music...

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 22:00:13 -0700

Marvin Gaye /// Behind the Legend

I was in the mood for a music documentary last night and ended up watching this watched this little gem. (Note the sarcasm.)

Although I didn’t like the quality of the film (Netflix?) nor flow of the film itself, I felt it appropriately displayed Gaye as the troubled musician he was. Gaye experienced a mess of lovers & divorces, not to mention serious financial trouble, and even hard drug addiction. Yet through all of that, he somehow managed to turn trouble into legendary music. Impressive!

I couldn’t find the trailer to the film, so instead here’s nine minutes (?!?) of ‘remixed’ scenes from the film.

(P.S. /// Just watch the damn thing on Netflix already.)

"I’m very Darwinist about this. You do your own thing & you see if you survive. I..."

Thu, 17 May 2012 18:01:46 -0700

“I’m very Darwinist about this.
You do your own thing & you see if you survive.
I wouldn’t have it any other way.
If you start second guessing & you’re trying to find people that are like you, or change it to make certain people like you, you’re finished.
And you’re finished as a comedian more than any other thing in the world.
It’s not my job to worry about what people think of me.
That’s a politicians job.
I don’t care what people think of me.
I care that I’ve done a good job.
And I care that I’ve told the truth.
That’s all I care about.”

- Ricky Gervais - hosting the 2011 Golden Globes.

the first song i EVER knew the lyrics to was ‘On the...

Thu, 17 May 2012 11:52:20 -0700

the first song i EVER knew the lyrics to was ‘On the Radio’.

you’ll always be in my heart donna, especially when i sing with my mom.

billboard:

Donna Summer, Queen of Disco, Dead at 63

In a statement released Thursday afternoon, the singer’s family said they are “at peace celebrating her extraordinary life and her continued legacy.” No other details have been released, and there are conflicting reports on what kind of cancer she had.

Read the full story and see photos from Donna’s life.

inspiring video, very ‘zimmerman-esque’. aside from...

Tue, 15 May 2012 21:02:16 -0700

inspiring video, very ‘zimmerman-esque’.

aside from being a 3-in-1 deal (record, book, & tour), the amazing reason this story is going to be sustained is the community of artists & musicians that are aligned with this project.

it’s not just an artist asking for money. it’s a movement that’s asking for money. (does occupy wall street ring any bells?)

WE ARE THE MEDIA

- MCM

revoltfactory:

Amanda Palmer: The new RECORD, ART BOOK, and TOUR

Amanda Palmer’s Kickstarter is up to $683,225 which was before her upcoming Brooklyn show quickly sold out. One person spent $10,000 which gets them dinner with Amanda who will also paint them naked

(via Kickstarter)

kickstarter: Our own Kendel Ratley weighed in with American...

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 21:02:40 -0700

kickstarter:

Our own Kendel Ratley weighed in with American Songwriter about what it takes to “make it.” This might be our favorite part:

Next, how do I get people in the industry to hear it, so I can get a record deal or have it placed in a commercial?

Differentiate yourself. What makes you, you? You don’t have to be gimmicky or create a fake backstory. Just be yourself and share your passion, inspiration, and excitement. After all, that’s what inspires the best song you ever wrote, so don’t be afraid to reveal more.
Read the rest here.

Best quote from the interview:

(Fans will want to buy your music, even if you put it up for free), but you’ll have to give them a compelling reason to.

Remember: ADD VALUE! No one wants a crappy hand written CD. Make a logo, design some album art, include lyrics & liner notes. You’ve just made a package and added VALUE to your work. Plus, I bet it’s also beautiful.

COUNSELLING BLOG: 25 Simple Steps to Becoming Successful

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 18:00:06 -0700

COUNSELLING BLOG: 25 Simple Steps to Becoming Successful:

onlinecounsellingcollege:

1.    Let go of the past. Act and apply in the present and shape up the future

2.    Utilize your failures as a guide towards success

3.    Do not try. Just do it.

4.    Make a list of your dreams. No matter how hard they might be to achieve, just sit down and write all your dreams down.

5.    Make a list of your goals and think how you can achieve them

6.    Use negative feedback and criticism to your advantage and better yourself

7.    If you want to be successful in someone else’s game (if you have a boss), play by their rules or create your own game.

8.    Make a list of your values. What do you value most and build your success upon them

9.    Keep personal time separate from business time.

10. Your success depends on your failures as well as your achievements

11. If you are in doubt let someone else do it. Doubtfulness is saying I almost believe it. If you don’t fully believe it, leave it for someone else who does

12. Avoid interruptions during your productivity time. Whatever it might be, work or family or some alone time, interruptions can throw you off for whatever it is you are doing.

13. Determine your peak performance hours. Work at a point in day when you feel like you are most effective.

14. Breath deeply and let go off any stress.

15. Rest and relaxation plays as much an important part as exercise itself.

16. Do not worry. All it does is gets you ready for negative outcomes.

17. Think happy thoughts and there will be positive outcomes.

18. Do not step back from the job at hand when fear subsides in you.

19. Use your brain not only your heart.

20. Eliminate emotions by letting go off the past and thinking about the present.

21. What has happened in the past will most probably stay the same; you can’t change it. Instead focus on the present and live today instead of yesterday.

22. Don’t let the time control you. You control the time.

23. Time management is the most effective tool you can utilize and become successful.

24. Create strategies and build credibility among your peers.

25. Once again, forget the past and live it up in the present.

Source: http://www.dumblittleman.com/2008/09/25-simple-steps-to-becoming-successful.htm

RZA x WeSC - Chambers Who’s ready for the Berlin launch of...

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 12:00:05 -0700

RZA x WeSC - Chambers

Who’s ready for the Berlin launch of Chambers by RZA?

laughingsquid: Fish, An iPhone Essay on Liking & Loving on...

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 15:00:06 -0700

laughingsquid:

Fish, An iPhone Essay on Liking & Loving on the Internet by Robin Sloan

HAVE YOU LOOKED AT THE FISH TODAY?

"If they took away my paints I’d use pastels. If they took away my pastels I’d use crayons. If they..."

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 12:00:06 -0700

“If they took away my paints I’d use pastels.
If they took away my pastels I’d use crayons.
If they took away my crayons I’d use pencils.
If they stripped me naked and threw me in prison I’d spit on my finger and paint on the walls.”

- Pablo Picasso - Passion.

Hot Chip - Flutes. A first listen from their new album ‘In...

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 13:12:05 -0700

Hot Chip - Flutes.

A first listen from their new album ‘In Our Heads’.

OK. I’m not really into Hot Chip, but this is quite elegant & hypnotic. Yeah, that’s a good way to put it. Elegant & hypnotic, with a Suzanne Somers Thigh Master instruction track on the chorus.

BIG EASY EXPRESS - an official sxsw 2012 accepted film. 3 bands....

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 13:12:05 -0700

BIG EASY EXPRESS - an official sxsw 2012 accepted film.

3 bands. 6 cities. 1 train.

from sf (technically oakland) to new orleans.

director emmett malloy takes you on a magical trail ride.

(apparently he has a history of filming musicians. nice.)

soundcloud: Snoop Dogg is looking for an R&B artist to sing...

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 09:28:06 -0700

soundcloud:

Snoop Dogg is looking for an R&B artist to sing over this track. He will choose his favorite version and release it on his record label GG World Wide.

Step 1: Download this track
Step 2: Sing
Step 3: Share Your Track With Snoop Dogg via Snoop’s Drop Box On SoundCloud

Check out this Youtube announcement for the full run down from Snoop http://bit.ly/whFKgJ

i was kinda wondering when this was going to happen.

i stumbled on this photo yesterday as i was going to download a...

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 15:00:06 -0700

i stumbled on this photo yesterday as i was going to download a film.

i think peeps are really starting to see the other side.

piracy is not the enemy, obscurity is - tim o’reilly

Diego Garcia - Laura Just a little reminder to always appreciate...

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 09:00:00 -0700

Diego Garcia - Laura

Just a little reminder to always appreciate the music your parents make you listen to.

president shimon peres - be my friend for peace. so the...

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 12:00:05 -0800

president shimon peres - be my friend for peace.

so the president of israel is into dubstep.

shalom!

norah jones - happy pills. i guess the typography lyric video is...

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 10:14:35 -0800

norah jones - happy pills.

i guess the typography lyric video is the new rage.

good!

why should we settle for crappy videos that look like an eighth grader made them?

technology - dude city. two of my friends are in this band....

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 10:57:45 -0800

technology - dude city.

two of my friends are in this band. i’m proud of them for making this video.

skype - group calling. this is an interesting concept. i like...

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 21:00:00 -0800

skype - group calling.

this is an interesting concept. i like that they used an indie band.

i don’t think most bands would use group calling to play a gig, but maybe to write a song?

i wonder how much they got paid. just wondering,…

the soil & the sun - wake up, child.

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 18:04:05 -0800

oh. my. gosh.

these melodies & harmonies are good.

radiohead-ish even.

well,…a folksy radiohead.