Tag Archives: music interviews

Songwriting: The Motorcycle Boy Roadmap

Posted on September 15, 2011 by Dan Harr
In Francis Ford Coppala’s film “Rumblefish”, Mickey Roarke’s character, Motorcycle Boy, says – “A leader has to have someplace to go”. The songwriter is the leader in his/her song. My initial way of listening to lyrics has to do with how it feels when I hear / read them without thinking about it – is it clear, does it make sense? Do I understand on some level – emotional, intellectual, physical…
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Songwriting: The Mechanics

Posted on September 8, 2011 by Dan Harr
When I was in high school back in Michigan they started students on what they considered practical courses that would teach them skills that would translate directly to getting a job in the real world. It is the idea behind trade schools – teach me something more practical than theoretical. I see that attitude more frequently in the questions I have been getting from people I teach or advise through…
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Is It Worth the Investment?

Posted on September 7, 2011 by Dan Harr
Today’s the day of the month that I usually do my monthly paperwork where I record all my income and expenses from the previous month. My business expenses are very different from the business expenses of my clients’. Below is just a snapshot of what a recording artist’s expenses include for just one album project. But there is one item on this list that, once the money is invested into it, it typically carries over into all future projects and other areas
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Red Meat Does Clash With Red Carpet, Just So You Know

Posted on September 1, 2011 by Dan Harr
“You can’t wait until that morning [of the awards show] to decide what you’re going to wear. You should put it on. Get in front of a camera. Tape it. Look at it back. See what it looks like on camera. Have some photographs taken. In other words, don’t just put it on because those images will be there forever!” Robert Deaton, co-owner, Deaton Flanigen Productions – CMA Industry InSite, June 2010…
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Songwriting: Tips from Michael Lloyd

Posted on September 1, 2011 by Dan Harr
As I have mentioned previously in this column, one of the great things about being a teacher is how much you learn. This past week I had the opportunity to interview producer/writer/music supervisor Michael Lloyd for a songwriting class. Keeping up with his cumulative credits has become sort of a running joke with us when I introduce him. The internet data bases where I get bio information are…
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Songwriting: Just The Facts, Ma’am

Posted on August 28, 2011 by Dan Harr
One of the points about writing lyrics I have made in these articles and in my book is to give the listener enough detail to get the idea of what you are trying to say. Many times songs feel overly generalized in an attempt to be too universal. They leave the listener wondering what is going on or worse, not caring about what is going on. But the other side of the coin is being too detailed in…
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Songwriting – It’s All About The Title

Posted on August 24, 2011 by Dan Harr
Most non-professional songwriters do not understand the importance of the song’s title. It is a gradual learning process to appreciate just how necessary an effective title is. I remember when I first started dealing with industry types; I was always a little surprised and even somewhat irritated when they would ask, “What’s the title?” At that time I didn’t understand what that could possibly…
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Picture Perfect

Posted on August 24, 2011 by Dan Harr
Recently I was in NY to speak to several performers including musicians, songwriters, and others on the importance of image in advancing their careers. In this session I covered a variety of ways to improve their image, including determining the right look that says what they want it to say, making their written and online marketing materials stand out, presenting themselves in the media, and…
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Jesse McReynolds Salutes Jerry Garcia

Posted on August 21, 2011 by ChuckDauphin
When people talk about historic family names, Williams, Carter, and Cash are three that seem to come up. Another last name that has quite a bit of history behind it is that of McReynolds. While best known through Bluegrass legends Jim & Jesse, the name goes back a little further, as Jesse explains. “My grandfather, Charlie, was a part of the Bristol Session,” he tells MusicNewsNashville. One tune actually came out on the project. We’re down to the fifth generation now. My grandchildren have played some. They’re doing some…
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Autumn Letendre – As Real As It Gets!

Posted on August 21, 2011 by ChuckDauphin
They say that Country Music is the musical art form that most typically represents real life. If that is true, newcomer Autumn Letendre is right where she needs to be with the release of her new album, Raise Your Flag. When asked about her songs, the Indiana native said that “They are very much real, and very much two-fold—because of the fact there is emotion, but also immense pride. That is sometimes hard to convey…
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Billboard Country Music Summit: Advice from Music Industry Leaders on Artist Imaging

Posted on August 17, 2011 by Dan Harr
A little over a year ago I attended the first-annual Billboard Country Music Summit here in Nashville, hosted by Billboard Magazine. During the event, there was much discussion about current trends and issues in the music industry such as monetization of recorded music, usage of new media, and more (my favorite title for one of the sessions was “Not Your Granddaddy’s Record Label: Will the Last…
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Help Me Like Your Song

Posted on August 15, 2011 by Dan Harr
When I hear a new song I want to like it. That may surprise some Taxi members who get my critiques. But I love a great song. I appreciate a well-crafted song – but mainly I want a song to hit me where nothing else can – to speak emotionally in an honest, personal way that I feel my life would be missing if I hadn’t heard it. That is the desire of the listener. But when the listener heads your…
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CJaye Lerose—Country All The Way!

Posted on August 14, 2011 by ChuckDauphin
Listen to her sing (or speak), and one thing is very apparent about stunning newcomer CJaye LeRose – she’s country. That is very much evident about the Texan. Country Music has always been important to her. “That’s pretty much all I listened to growing up,” she tells Music News Nashville. “That was all my mom listened to, as well. Faith Hill was the first one I owned, and my sister loved Martina McBride. I think…
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Corey Smith – Out Of The Classroom And On To The Stage!

Posted on August 14, 2011 by ChuckDauphin
In years’ past, one might have caught Corey Smith in the classroom instead of the stage. Smith was a Social Studies teacher just a few years’ back, but instead of teaching the difference between Democrats and Republicans, the Average Joe’s recording artist can be seen on stage, promoting his new CD The Broken Record. Smith told Music News Nashville that his music is a direct reflection of where he comes from—Jefferson, GA. “It’s about an hour from Atlanta on Interstate 85,” he says of his hometown, admitting some things have changed over the years. “When I grew up there, there was only one red light…
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Taking It to the Next Level

Posted on August 10, 2011 by Dan Harr
While I always enjoy working with new artists and working with a clean slate, sometimes I am hired to work with artists who already look great and already have some sense of style. This is when the details of wardrobe styling become even more important. It’s those small details found in just the right accessories and wardrobe tweaks that really make all the difference in the world. With artists…
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Introducing Lara Johnston

Posted on August 9, 2011 by ChuckDauphin
If by chance you are fortunate enough to see Rock & Roll legends the Doobie Brothers on the road this summer and fall, pay special close attention to their opening act. You’re going to see and hear a lot more about her. Lara Johnston has one of those voices that have a way of captivating you from the first time you hear it. The daughter of Doobie Brothers member Tom Johnston, Lara is making an impact on the…
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Songwriting: The Experience

Posted on August 8, 2011 by Dan Harr
“Are you experienced? Have you ever been experienced? Well, I have.” – Jimi Hendrix. One of the only good things about getting older is you learn things. Sometimes the hard way. The only good thing about learning things the hard way is those are the lessons you remember best. Actually, another good thing about learning things the hard way is those lessons are the ones you really know…
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Deborah Allen – Hear Me Now

Posted on August 4, 2011 by ChuckDauphin
It’s been a few years since we have been graced with some new music from Deborah Allen. While she emerged as a hit maker with some electronically engineered duets with Jim Reeves back in the 1980s, the singer managed to position herself as one of Nashville’s top singers with hits like “Heartache And A Half” and the classic “Baby I Lied.” She also wrote some of the top hits of the era for artists such as Janie Fricke and John Conlee…
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Catching Flies With Honey

Posted on August 3, 2011 by Dan Harr
In an age when etiquette and courtesy is dwindling while rudeness and arrogance is raging (especially on the freeways!), it’s now even more important to show respect for others, even when they may not. Doing so makes you stand out these days (which is sad – have we become that desensitized to rudeness and bad behavior?). The following media interview tips include ways to show proper…
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Songwriting: Can You Teach Songwriting?

Posted on August 1, 2011 by Dan Harr
I have been having an ongoing discussion with a friend of mine recently, and it mirrors something I have thought about many times over the past few years. It is: Can you teach someone how to write a song? This friend is the mother of two very good songwriters – successful artists. She says songwriting is an innate talent – and the process of the struggle is a self inflicted and absolutely necessary…
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