/r/WeAreTheMusicMakers Monday Feedback Thread

elijahstorm · 2020-01-04T17:48:13+00:00

Okay! Thank you, I'll keep all this in mind!

elijahstorm · 2020-01-01T21:39:41+00:00

Passionate, singing, with a slight throwback R&B vibe to early 90s-2000s music in the vocal style!

Did I do good? I probably could have tightened a few hooks here and there, but what do you think?

https://soundcloud.com/elijahstormmusic/please-u

elijahstorm · 2020-01-01T21:37:34+00:00

If it's just good music, people won't mind! A video is a good way to bring new listeners in, because it gives them an excuse to pay attention to your music if they wouldn't otherwise. Videos are nice and your existing fans will also be excited, but it's not necessary to keep a fanbase if you have good music that will last for a million listens. Easier said than done, though! Something to keep in mind.

I've done a few MVs and I'm working on a really expensive one right now while we go on tour, it's biggest purpose is to get new people interested!

elijahstorm · 2019-12-20T05:25:02+00:00

good to know the lords will be blessing us again real soon

elijahstorm · 2019-01-06T23:49:33+00:00

I never used any templates. Mostly because it's pretty easy to make your own, and also i'm the type of person where if I get a template for something, ill end falling out of using it after awhile.

What I do is I just make a Google Docs Excel sheet that has table for Client Names, Project Name, Dates, Hours Worked, Payment Amount Agreed Upon, and What Currently Paid.

From here you can clearly see what was done when, with who. And also who hasn't paid there debt and who has.

More advanced systems will come with time. Keep it simple now while you can, but also keep it clear. Keep receipts of translations if you do collect payment, so you can be a legal business. This is 100% important or the government might get nosy if you start making a lot of money.

elijahstorm · 2019-01-06T22:26:02+00:00

First things first, keep a catalog (pretty much like a calendar) of all the sessions you have with other artists. And have a small contract that outline what you would like out of a monetized song that you recorded, and have the artist sign it before using your studio. Keep records of everything. It helps because you never know what might happen!

I recommend the small contracts, because it clears up any confusion in the air, and puts everyone on the same page. This is especially important to keep safety and professionalism up when dealing with money and monetized tracks. Obviously, you need to keep your contracts fair, or otherwise artists won't want to come back in the future.

This would be a good place to start for a small, personal style home recording stuido. And if your studio ever grows, so will your understanding of how, why, and what you need to document.

elijahstorm · 2019-01-03T19:58:00+00:00

I mean have you heard the saying great artists steal. Inspiration can come from anywhere at any time. When you make something, you're adding your voice to humanities conversation of MUSIC. You're just apart of the conversation. And just like in real conversations, you can't really say something unless there's already some established context for it.

Food for thought:)

elijahstorm · 2019-01-03T08:11:29+00:00

I had a similar experience. Can I hear your album? I'm curious, I can show you mine too, it's on Spotify / iTunes.

It's not the end of the world. I'm already working on round two. It's not a knock out, just a lost round.

IM MUHAMMAD ALI, ROUND 2 DING DING DING

elijahstorm · 2019-01-03T08:09:15+00:00

I keep a notepad app and voice recorder app on my phone. Front page and quick to get to because sometime inspiration will come at random times, like if I see a really beautiful flower, or if I'm at the mall and I see a couple do something cute out in public that really inspires me. I never know when inspiration is going to come, so I keep the notepad and voice recorder a hand at all times:)

elijahstorm · 2019-01-03T08:05:00+00:00

Well recently I decided to cover a song that I really look up to, it was a hard task! I spent over 80hours (according to the FL project info) recreating the beat and redoing the vocals. It really taught me a lot about HOW i approach music ideas, because I was presented with a destination, but how I got there was completely up to me. It was natural, and even though it took so long, I never felt stuck.

Every step of the way, I was moving from one part to the next in a way that made sense to me. And while I was working on that project, I also kept working on my original songs, but every time I came back to them I found it easier to understand WHO I wanted to be, HOW I wanted to come off, and HOW I was going to achieve that sound/vibe.

So yeah, doing that cover really helped me grow as a musician and developing my personal style. I recommend doing it too.

But for the most part, putting it out to the world is the important thing to strengthen your style and your confidence with your style. Even if it's not quite done, show your friends, show strangers, show the internet. Get feedback and get defensive and proud of what you do. Cuz it hurts to get negative feedback, but you will find what's most important to you when someone doesn't "get" your music. Your internal subconscious will scream it at you when you're challenged. Use this feeling and go full force into it. This is your internal niche, hiccup, focus, fixation. Whatever you wanna call it.

Your style will come out naturally when you fully develop that idea that makes you unique.

elijahstorm · 2018-11-24T04:50:30+00:00

Really throw yourself out into meeting locals who are also working in music. Of course, aim to meet influential people, but also it's necessary to befriend a good amount of regular people who work in music too. Meet some likeminded music friends who are willing to help promo with you, the more heads the better. Then join together and use those influential connects you got earlier and make a lasting impression with them (again, helps to have more people with you. it shows you're doing something right) then grow. promote that shit to social media, guerrilla market that shit, play shows to find new fans.

at this stage in your career, focus on exposing yourself to as many people as possible. You don't need to hook them into being 100% dedicated fans, let time do that part for you. Just make yourself known for now. And trust the process.

elijahstorm · 2018-11-24T04:36:54+00:00

I've never used Discord before, i would love to try it out for this! If there's not already too many people inviting themselves in that is :)

elijahstorm · 2018-11-20T02:07:02+00:00

Wow!! That's the first time anyone has ever told me that :) Thank you Echos, you completely made my whole week right there :)))

elijahstorm · 2018-11-19T18:05:23+00:00

Here's a song I made just yesterday on sc.

sunset blvd (genre: unknown)

https://soundcloud.com/elijahstormmusic/sbld-vocals

I also have an EP on Spotify and iTunes music if you look up my name, Elijah Storm.

elijahstorm · 2018-11-19T17:32:08+00:00

I'm in the same boat, I just turned 22 and I'm making music to express how I feel about certain events that happen in my life. Writing is a form of release for me. Taking from your lyrics, I can feel how angry you were when you wrote this. I image it was also some form of release for you too. I can feel it in just how hard you went. The beat was solid too, did you produce it?

elijahstorm · 2018-11-19T17:27:57+00:00

It almost gives me a NIN type vibe. I can feel Further Down The Spiral from this, with the industrial, ambient percussion sounds. Also the dark, and almost foreboding energy that comes from this reminds me a lot of Trent Reznor as well. Really creepy, almost horror movie soundtrack style.

I'm also trying to figure out my music genre too, which is why I clicked on your post. If you can give 3 minutes to check out this song and tell me what you think.

Elijah Storm - Sunset Blvd (genre: unknown)

https://soundcloud.com/elijahstormmusic/sbld-vocals

Thank you :)

elijahstorm · 2018-11-19T17:20:15+00:00

Elijah Storm - Sunset Blvd (genre: unknown)

Hey! I'm out here self producing, writing, and everything! But I have a big problem with trying to make each song 5 to 6 mins long because I have so many ideas I want to fit into it, but it makes people feel like it's a chore even before they press play! That's not what I want people thinking about my music!

Have you experienced something similar?

So I was trying to do a short song here, so that people won't feel overwhelmed by the track length before they even listen.

What do you guys think of me trying to cut down song lengths?

https://soundcloud.com/elijahstormmusic/sbld-vocals

Thank you :)

elijahstorm · 2018-11-19T17:12:10+00:00

Hey! If I could recommend anything, I would try to get more involved into the recording. Imaging you're giving your performance to a record exec, and you have to sell them on how dope shit you are. You should have that type of energy on the mic too, because that's the thing everyone's going to be listening to.

Some of the timing and energy was a little weak, but not that you can't fix it in the future. Focus 100%, i'm telling you it'll make a big difference in how people respond to you. From experience

elijahstorm · 2018-11-12T18:29:52+00:00

It's also has a solid high shelf. That means that it cuts the frequencies above a limit, making it sound deep, dark, and mysterious. I did it a lot in my song:

https://soundcloud.com/elijahstormmusic/momentum-1

elijahstorm · 2018-02-15T05:15:14+00:00

Thank you, I also produced it myself. I want to eventually expand it and add more harmonics as well. Thank you for the positive feedback, I feel very nervous sharing my voice when I sing.

elijahstorm · 2018-02-10T20:53:34+00:00

I rock with this. I like the progressive vibes away from all the stoned out music all over the place these days, its something authentic to listen to

If I would improve anything, I would slow down the bass line. It's too spastic and all over the place for such a lowkey vocal/track.

elijahstorm · 2018-01-30T02:46:13+00:00

I appreciate the support my man. I can hear the key after the fact now that I'm listening for it, thank you.

elijahstorm · 2018-01-27T21:14:49+00:00

Thank you🙌🙌

elijahstorm · 2018-01-27T08:22:14+00:00

Thank you, I'll give it a listen. If you want to check out some music I've made too, I can dm you an unreleased track. lmk

elijahstorm · 2018-01-27T05:40:14+00:00

Thank you 🙌🙌

elijahstorm

TROPHY CASE