Riot Grrrl and the true spirit of rock n’ roll
Great rock music is a combination of explosive energy and an explosive message, which makes the Riot Grrrl movement one of music’s more potent pills. Read the post.
Chris Huff
The hard part: Discovering your artistic voice
All work, when properly evaluated and processed, is a learning experience and just another step in the life-long journey of discovering and deepening your own artistic voice. Read the post.
How The Beatles changed music and the world (or at least got credit for it)
We all know The Beatles were a massively influential band who contributed to changes in music and culture in countless ways. Here are four concrete examples of how The Beatles changed music and the world. Read the post.
Women in rock — three luminaries who made their mark
Among the great writers, performers, and trailblazers in rock music, women who have advanced the cause hold a special place. We look at three women in rock whose music still resonates as they continue to influence modern music artists. Read the post.
Writing lyrics with depth
If you are interested in writing lyrics with depth, you need a deep artistic well to draw from. All output requires input, and as a lyricist, I recommend you begin with words. Read the post.
Berry, Domino & Little Richard: Three rock ‘n roll pioneers
The music these three rock ‘n roll pioneers created changed music — and helped shape the culture of the US and the world. Read More.
Broadcasting live gigs – platforms for music broadcasts reviewed
Platforms for broadcasting live gigs include Facebook Live, Periscope, YouTube, YouNow, ConcertWindow, StageIt, and Gigee. They are not all created equal. Read More.
Three guitarists you may have overlooked (and why you should check them out)
There’s nothing wrong with big, noisy rock, but here’s a perspective from three guitarists who use their instruments to create a vibe rather than flex their muscular musical chops every chance they get. Read More.
Why Bob Dylan is important to songwriters
Love him or hate him, there’s a lot about Dylan’s career arc that is important and inspirational for songwriters, from his transforming song form to the fact that he’s kept writing almost non-stop for six decades. Read More.
Handling difficult people in the music business (and anywhere)
When you encounter difficult people – in the music business and elsewhere – it usually has everything to do with THEM and nothing to do with YOU. But sometimes, you still need to deal with the situation. Read More.
The song worlds of three musical greats
We highlight Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits, and Robyn Hitchcock, three artists who created their own song worlds in the framework of their music over the course of multiple albums and years. Read More.
Three approaches to recording and performing cover songs
Playing cover songs can boost your visibility, warm up a crowd, or be a way to earn a living. Whatever the end goal, there is more than one way to approach playing someone else’s well-known – or little known – song. Read More.
Take risks with your music
Successful risk-taking always involves rethinking the possible. The four-minute mile was impossible until Roger Bannister broke it; now it’s commonplace. Take risks, learn from your mistakes, and you’ll have a much higher chance of succeeding. Read More.
Creative strategies to keep your songwriting flowing
Sometimes you may need a prompt or a process to keep the creative juices flowing and get your critical mind out of the way. Here are three strategies to get your songwriting on track. Read More.
Things I learned being a fan of David Bowie
David Bowie had a genius that set him apart, but his musical and artistic career provides a bounty of lessons we can all learn from and apply to our creation of art and music – and to our everyday lives. Read More.