Bridge The Atlantic

In this episode of B-SIDES we're talking about crowdfunding;  how to decide how much to ask for, what you should offer your backers as rewards for their support, and how to ask for help.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Joining us this week from Germany is Friedemann Findeisen - an award winning songwriter and producer, and founder of Holistic Songwriting, the most complete collection of commercial songwriting techniques on the web.Highlights:On songwriting techniques and music theory: “It doesn’t help you to have a toolbox if you don’t know how to use the tools” - Friedemann FindeisenFriedemann shares that almost every songwriting rule has a counter argument, so you can really do anything in songwriting“There are no rules in songwriting - it depends on the effect you want to achieve” - Friedemann FindeisenWe talk about using classical music theory as an analytical tool rather than a creative toolFriedemann shares some common mistakes he sees songwriters making in their careersWe hear what holistic songwriting means to Friedemann, and how taking the holistic approach can benefit songwritersGuest Links:Website: holistic-songwriting.comYouTube: Holistic SongwritingTwitter: @holisticsongsFacebook: /holistics

In this week's B-SIDES episode, we're looking at what you need to know when applying to festivals. We've got some tips from two festival organisers in here too; Darryl Hurs of Indie Week, and Nathan Fleet of the Hamilton Film Festival. Enjoy! Highlights:We talk about the main benefits of performing at festivals and showcasesWe talk about the benefits of attending festivals and conferences as an attendee, as well as a performerWe discuss how you can actually get in front of the festival organisers and get accepted onto the lineupDarryl Hurs of Indie Week talks about the festival application processWe talk about applying for the most relevant and suitable festivals vs applying for every festival you can findNathan Fleet shares what his team at the Hamilton Film Festival look for when sorting through festival applicationsSponsors:Social Surge  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Inspired by our interview with Tim Schmoyer, this week's B-SIDES episode is all about community, and why you should build a community around your music. Enjoy, and let us know what you think over on our YouTube channel! Highlights:We talk about different types of online communities and the ones we use regularly“The strongest communities revolve not around interests, but common beliefs” - Tim SchmoyerWe talk about how musicians can create stronger relationships with their audience by building communities around their musicWe talk about Marcio's Facebook group and how it's helped him and other fans connect with one another"Your personality is almost as, if not more, important than your music - because people are more likely to support you if they feel some kind of connection with you and share the same interests and values." - Ross Barber-SmithWe discuss ways you can start building a community around what you do"Keep in touch with your audience and make them feel appreciated!" - Marcio NovelliSponsors

This week's B-SIDES episode is all about session musicians: how you can find sessions, what you should expect when going into the studio, and also what NOT to do in a session. Enjoy! Highlights:We talk about the importance of networking when it comes to becoming a session musicianBuild connections with record studios, as they may recommend you if artists are looking for session musiciansWe talk about creating a showcase or portfolio of your work online so people know you are available for session work“Make sure you advertise the fact that you are available for hire!”We talk about what artists need to do when hiring a session musician to make sure they are prepared for the studio“In the studio, be clear and direct about what you need”We share some experiences of sessions that have gone horribly wrongSponsors:Social Surge  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Joining us this week out of Brooklyn, New York is session drummer and YouTuber Kristina Schiano! Kristina has become well known on YouTube for her wide array of covers of popular songs on the drums.Over the past few years, she’s amassed over 400,000 subscribers and over 28 million views on YouTube, with no sign of slowing down! We’re excited to get to know Kristina and hear the advice she would offer to her fellow musicians, so let’s jump right in!Highlights:Kristina tells us why she started posting drum covers on YouTube“My fans are the people who keep me going as I know they are learning from my videos” - Kristina SchianoWe talk about how covers can introduce you to a new audienceKristina tells us about the opportunities that have come her way via posting videos on YouTube“Just covering other people’s songs has power!” - Kristina SchianoWe hear the advice Kristina would offer to other creators on YouTubeKristina shares her advice on getting started in session work, and how YouTube plays a roleKristina tells

In this week's B-SIDES episode, we're looking at the importance of building a team and collaborating with the right people. We also talk with producer/engineer Nick Blagona about artists a successful experience with a producer, but then ended up working with someone else when they signed to a label. Enjoy! Highlights:"Often, DIY is taken too literally in the music industry, but your career should be a balance of doing some things yourself, and delegating others" - Marcio NovelliWe talk about what you should be looking for in a potential team member or collaborator"Relationships are so important - especially if you’re going to be working with this person long-term. There should be a mutual respect and understanding" - Ross Barber-SmithWe talk with Nick Blagona about collaborating with different people, and what can happen when people have different agendas"Just because someone has worked with certain people, it doesn’t mean they’re the right fit for YOU!" - Marcio Novelli"If you find p

Our first Indie Spotlight features singer/songwriter Cindy Rainne, where we talk about her new album "Unmasked" and how to run a successful crowdfunding campaign as an independent artist. Guest Links:Website: cindyrainne.comTwitter: @cindyrainneInstagram: @cindyrainneFacebook: /cindyrainneSponsors:Social Surge  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this week's B-SIDES episode, we're talking about growing an audience online, and some of the habits you can get into that will help you to do this. Past guest Damian Keyes also joins us to talk about consistency, and the questions he gets asked most by musicians. Hope you find this one useful - enjoy! Highlights:"Remember that overnight successes are never overnight - they’re often working for years before they get the type of success they’re experiencing" - Ross Barber-SmithWhen growing an audience, it’s not just about the numbers - it’s about the quality and relevanceWe talk about ways you can get your music in front of new people, both offline and online"Once you’ve caught the attention of people, you need to keep providing them with a steady flow of content to keep them interested and engaged" - Ross Barber-SmithWe talk about ways you can keep your followers engaged onlineDamian Keyes shares the questions he's asked most often by musiciansWe hear all about the importance of being consist

Joining us this week out of Ontario is Nick Cino. Nick was the Evening Announcer and host of the Indie Show at radio station Y108 in Hamilton, Ontario from 2010-2018. Nick is also a singer, songwriter and musician, currently fronting Fool’s Union.Nick has spent the last 20 years performing in various bands including Neoprene, The Misssissippi Kings, City and The Sea, and The Coverboards, playing in venues across Canada, United States and Europe. In this interview we hear the advice he’d offer to musicians and other creative professionals.Highlights:Nick shares the biggest thing he’s learned from touringNick Cino on touring: “You have to get people on board before you show up in their town”We talk about the importance of being active on social media as a musicianNick talks about what radio programmers look for when adding music to a radio playlist“A lot of the decisions on radio programming are based on the presentation that the artist puts forth” - Nick CinoWe talk about the importance of getting feedbac

Joining us this week out of California is Darrin Pfeiffer! Darrin is best known as the drummer of Platinum selling pop punk band Goldfinger, but as well as being a musician he is also an accomplished label owner and radio host.Darrin is the owner of High 4 Recordings & High 4 Management, and presents the Dangerous Darrin show on Idobi Radio where he interviews musicians and athletes. In this interview, we hear the advice Darrin would offer to musicians who are seeking management or label support, and more!Highlights:Darrin Pfeiffer on artist management: “I know what bugs musicians and the things I wish I didn’t do!”When approaching a manager or label you have to ask yourself “do you have the songs?”“Managers and agents are going to put a lot of work in for free, so they want to make sure the time they invest is going to be rewarded down the line” - Darrin Pfeiffer“You HAVE to have a presence online” - Darrin Pfeiffer“You have to be nice and over the top appreciative when contacting labels, and be diligent

In this week's B-SIDES episode, we're looking at touring, and whether with the opportunities that social media brings, if you need to tour to build an audience and have a successful career. This episode was inspired by an answer Nick Blagona gave to a question about the common traits he sees in successful artists - we'd love to know what YOU think!Highlights:Nick Blagona shares his thoughts on why artists need to be touringNick shares some examples of why touring is beneficial for artists“If you can find an area in the world where you’re popular on the internet, go there and do a gig in that city” - Nick BlagonaWe believe that with social media, you can still be a successful artist without going on the roadThere’s still a lot of money in touring, but it’s not the be all and end all, as you can find your audience onlineWe talk about other ways that artists can make money without touringWe talk about how it used to have to tour in order to find your audience, whereas now you can find them without touring“T

Joining us this week out of Toronto is mastering engineer João Carvalho. João began his mastering career in the mid-1990’s while producing records for many of Canada’s groundbreaking artists of the time, and opened his own studio, João Carvalho Mastering in 2003.In 2011, to further his passion for the ultimate in audio production, João partnered with three colleagues and opened the doors to Revolution Recording. To date, Joao has worked on over 2000 records, with clients including The Smashing Pumpkins, Alt J, Fun, and Protest the Hero. In this interview, we hear more about the mastering process, and the advice João would offer to musicians.Highlights:Joao tells us about his experience of being nominated for a GRAMMYJoao breaks down the role of a mastering engineer for usWe hear how most mastering engineers start out recording and mixing before moving into masteringJoao explains to us what a mastering engineer does, and why it’s important to have your mixes mastered“Loud is good! I’m not afraid of loud as lon

In this week's B-SIDES episode, we're talking about what to do when you're sick - when you've got commitments or deadlines that you really can’t push back or cancel, or a show to play. What should you do? We explore that further in this week's episode. Enjoy!Highlights:We talk about how to decide what to do when you’re sick but have projects or performances to doWe discuss how when you’re sick it can be useful to do light work, rather than taking the day completely offWhen you don’t practice self care, you end up getting sick!” - Marcio NovelliWe talk about how to decide whether you should cancel a show when sick, or if you should go ahead with itBe upfront with people you’re working with when you’re not feeling well - it just ensures that everyone knows there are reasons for delaysWe talk about how it’s important to make progress if you can, but your health always has to come firstSponsors:Christine Infanger @ Thirty Roses  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out informati

Joining us this week from Hamilton, Ontario is musician, filmmaker and educator, Nathan Fleet. Nathan runs the Hamilton Film Festival and the entertainment production company, Blue Pick Media. As the director of the Hamilton Film Festival, Nathan is helping to grow, enhance and connect the filmmaking community in Hamilton and abroad.As a professional musician, he has helped almost one million musicians with his music lessons on YouTube. In this interview, we hear more about Nathan's experience in the creative industries and the advice he would offer to his fellow creatives.Highlights:We hear how Nathan got started in the creative industries and what led him to the Hamilton Film FestivalWe learn that Star Wars played a huge part in getting Nathan into film and music“In the film industry one job leads to another, and to another” - Nathan FleetNathan shares how he ended up running the Hamilton Film Festival - and it started by getting his foot in the door as a ticket collector!We hear how the Hamilton

Joining us this week is Juno nominated producer and engineer Nick Blagona out of Ontario. Nick’s credits include Cat Stevens,The Police, Deep Purple, Alexisonfire, Foo Fighters, Green Day and our very own Marcio Novelli.Nick has been integral to the history of music recording in Canada and internationally, and he has created recordings that played pivotal on the world stage for almost 45 years. In this interview, we hear about the mistakes Nick has seen musicians make over the years, how artists should prepare for a studio session, and more. Enjoy!Highlights:We learn that as well as being an awesome producer/engineer, Nick is a terrible golfer, loves music from the 1930s and writes screenplaysNick shares some of the biggest mistakes he’s seen musicians make in the studio“Sometimes mistakes end up being a hit record!” - Nick Blagona“In the recording studio, you should be allowed to make mistakes” - Nick BlagonaNick tells us what artists should be looking for when choosing a producerNick shares some mistak

Joining us this week out of Ohio is founder of Video Creators, Tim Schmoyer. Tim has published thousands of videos, racked up millions of views, and is even certified by YouTube in “Audience Growth.”With Video Creators, Tim helps YouTube creators effectively spread their message to reach people online – and we’re excited to hear the advice he’d offer for musicians and other creatives.Highlights:Tim shares how you should be thinking about why you do something rather than simply what you do“If money is your goal, it’ll ruin your life” – Tim SchmoyerTim shares some of the misconceptions that creators have around building an audience online“The people who make art make it look so easy” – Tim SchmoyerOn YouTube success: “It’s not just about working hard – it’s about learning new things” – Tim SchmoyerTim shares some tips for creators on keeping their motivation levels up“Make sure your goals are aligned with your mission” – Tim SchmoyerGuest Links:Website: http://videocreators.comYouTube:  /videocre

In this week's B-SIDES episode, we're talking about the importance of self care in the music industry. We're all told that we need to be hustling 24/7 in order to succeed in this business, but that often leads to burnout. We discuss times that we've felt burnt out ourselves, the dangers of overworking, and ways to look after ourselves to make sure we can continue being productive and healthy in the music industry.Highlights:- Marcio shares times when he’s felt burnt out due to lack of self care, especially when it comes to recording music- We talk about finding a balance between working hard and taking care of ourselves- Marcio shares a story about when he went into the studio when he was already burnt out, and the time it’s taken to get back to well enough to record again- We talk about the dangers of overworking, and the importance of setting boundaries- Ross shares how he’s started to create boundaries and be stricter with himself over working hours to avoid burnout- We talk about how we’re told we need to

Joining us this week out of Toronto is Darryl Hurs, owner and programme director of Indie Week. Indie Week is an annual music festival held over four days/nights, featuring local & international acts performing in the heart of Toronto, Canada.Indie Week’s showcases are judged by members of the music industry, and the top scoring act receives a paid trip to headline Indie Week UK. In this interview, we talk about how you can apply for music festivals, the benefits of attending music industry conferences, and SonicBids.Highlights:Darryl tells us about the benefits of music conferences and conventions, and what artists should do before attendingDarryl shares how he thinks many music festivals/conferences should actually be described as conventions“It’s what happens off the stage and behind the scenes that makes what happens on the stage successful” - Darryl HursWe hear about the submission process for artists who are interested in showcasing at Indie WeekDarryl talks about why festivals use SonicBids for sub

Happy Valentine's Day! In what's becoming a yearly tradition, we're back with a new Valentine's special for you.In this episode, we play "Two Truths and a Lie" with Nashville based singer/songwriter Kris Allen, and singer/songwriter Jena Irene Asciutto out of Detroit.Enjoy!Sponsors:Christine Infanger @ Thirty Roses  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.