Topic: Pivoting from Passion to Business.

Couldn’t make it to Vampr’s Accelerator Session with Grit Sounds back on October 3rd? No problem, we have some key takeaways and the chat transcribed for you so you can re-live the conversation and get all the sage that he dished out! 🍽

Key Takeaways:

The Conversation.

Vampr: Daniel, you ready?

Daniel Franzén: Shoot!

Vampr: Thanks so much for joining us, I know it’s the evening where you are, first let’s build a little backstory for the community. Can you tell us a bit about yourself, where you’re from and how you got started in music? Who inspired you, your favorite genre, band(s,) performers, etc?

Daniel Franzén: Well, I started out actually at the age of 9 playing the flute (traverse or silver flute) and did that for a couple years until I discovered drums. Been in a lot of bands throughout the years spanning from jazz to death metal. Did some orchestral stuff as well. 

My biggest influences growing up was my teacher, Glenn, at the youth center Lars Ulrich, Mike Portnoy and bands like Sepultura, Queensrÿche, Cradle of Filth but also listened to Britney Spears, The Cranberries and a lot of classical masters. So quite wide ranges genre wise you could say. 

Since then I’ve continued being in both live bands and recording bands working with kids, both as a schoolteacher and private. Worked in a couple studios before starting my own business in 2017.

Vampr: That’s an incredible journey, what initially drew you to the industry and made you want to have a career in it?

Daniel Franzén: I started out with mixing and producing stuff for my own enjoyment and that led to friends hearing it and asking me to help them out. Word gets around I guess and I just went with the flow. Once I started on the production and mixing side I realized that’s what I want to do music wise.

Vampr:What kind of music did you start out working? I read in your bio you were a drummer in a band at one point?

Daniel Franzén:Yeah, I did start out as a drummer, still beating them from time to time but am more focused on the prod side now. I’m a metal head at heart and also a big movie geek so I started writing score-sih music with rock influences. I think my background as a metal drummer shines through in many productions.

Vampr:Now that you say that, I can definitely hear it in your music.

Daniel Franzén:I like the dark and dramatic I guess 🙂

Vampr: (we live for the dramatic! Music is about feeling at the end of day anyway.)

As far as figuring out you wanted to work on the production side you figured that out when you went to University or just kind of felt it was the right path for you after a while?

Daniel Franzén: Well educationally I went a long way. First I got a teaching Bachelor at University of Stockholm and then I studied photography, followed by a music production education at another one of the Swedish Universities (Linneus University.)

No Matter what I’ve done in life I’ve always felt the pull toward music and being creative.

Vampr:Whoa!! So you’re just an all around artist, that’s next level because that means all aspects of your life can sort of just bleed into one another to make better art.

Daniel Franzén: Yes, inspiration can be found in all aspects of life, right. You have to experience stuff, go through hardships and happiness. It’s all a well for creativity.

Vampr: So now let’s jump into how you pivoted from musician to business? You have your own studio where you’re the lead engineer, correct?

Daniel Franzén: I have my own studio named Grit Sounds where I’m the only engineer. I sometimes work in other peoples places, I may spot in for the artist. For it’s been a long time project to go from hobbyist to professional. It does take time to build a network and discography, but you just have to be resilient. 

Vampr: As far as being a business owner. It can be tricky right? Because you’re helping people see their vision in the music right? How do you manage artists in that sense?

Daniel Franzén: It’s tricky sometimes. I’m providing a service so artists need to feel I have their best interest at heart and that we share the vision for the project. 

It’s all about the artist and their music. My job is to make their vision come alive and in that there’s no room for ego. I strive to be a person who’s easy to work with and a good company to be around. Communication is key and even though it’s the most not humble ting to say I think I’m pretty humble 😉

To answer the question though, not really. It’s about dealing with a potential problem or issue before it comes one and for that you need to be observant and open-minded, and humble 😉

Vampr: So being a good people reader is also a good trait to have in your aspect of the industry. Got it! Nah, that’s really interesting tho, being able to see the potential problems and outcomes before they come such. Very visionary of you.

Daniel Franzén: I don’t know what that 🙃 But it’s important to make sure people that you’re collaborating with trust you and feel comfortable around you.

Vampr:Now when it comes to gaining clients do you do much marketing or are most of your clients repeat or word of mouth?

Daniel Franzén: Haven’t really done that much marketing. Maybe I should. Did some Facebook ads and stuff but it really didn’t do that much. I get 90% of my work from word of mouth. Also I do find artists on here, Vampr is a really good place to start…and stay.

Vampr: Interesting, that’s another reason to just be humble and in a case like yours it seems your work does just speak for itself. That’s been a running theme in the last few of these is the artists we’ve spoken with just are naturally humble, giving, people who aren’t trying to step on others to make it to the top.

Daniel Franzén: Ya, it’s really important. It’s a small world as well so you want to be known to be a sympathetic person for sure.

Vampr: I wanted to ask a little more about your business. Can you tell us some of the hurdles you faced along the way, like when you were building your client base how hard was it?

Daniel Franzén: For me the biggest hurdle was the networking side of it, which is a big part. Being somewhat shy and an introvert I needed to work out strategies for this. The format of these kinds of apps that we’re on right now, is great for people like me 😊 I think too try and see opportunities in every situation and act on it. It’s a big strength and also how you are around people, it’s all about relationships.

The competition for sure [was a hurdle] Nowadays, making music and having a complete studio in your bedroom is made possible for just about anyone, which is great and awesome. It does, however, make the competition harder, I believe. At least in some ways. 

Oh, I sounded old there but I believe this is how it is and there are a lot of good things coming with it too.

Vampr:OH, FOR SURE! The level of music being made from people’s closets these days is next level – it definitely feels like we’re living in an entrepreneurial time.

Daniel Franzén: Absolutely and there’s so much to choose from which makes what we talked about earlier so much more important. The music you create or are a part of creating must come from a genuine place of emotion and be inspired not to drown in the noise of everything else.

Vampr: All that being said – if you have any other pearls of wisdom you’d like to share we’d love to hear them, but I’m about out of questions and we’re almost hitting that hour mark we can open the floor back up if anyone else has questions. 

Also please plug your website and any new music you’re on or have recently released 👏

Daniel Franzén: My website is gritsounds.se and on the there I have links to my playlist at Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube. And a list on Soundcloud for some metal stuff.

I’ve been working for quite some time with an artist named STRNGS that is awesome. Another one named Jimmy Hazelwood. Check both out! 

Vampr: Do you want to tell the people some of the services you offer as well? Just so they can reference it here?

Daniel Franzén: Yeah! Well I do mixing which is my main thing. I can also help with production. I’m not a songwriter though. Or I can’t find the time for it really. 

Vampr: Good mixers are hard to find!! So EVERYONE should hit you up for it, it’s a highly taken for granted skill. I think that’s a great spot to leave it! You’re a legend Daniel! Thank you so much for taking the time today ✨✨✨

Daniel Franzén: @Vampr Thank you and to all of you guys who joined us ✨✨ big ups.

Want to hear more from the Vampr community?
Join the Vampr community and download Vampr today! >> https://www.vampr.me/

Killer tracks released by emerging musicians.

We want to pay homage to our incredible community. We have so many artists releasing insane music and living their best musical lives – we want to spotlight as many as possible!

If you’re in the mood for some ear food, go listen, follow, and like your fellow Vampr community members. 🙌

1. Amber Jay – Vampr Pro User

Amber Jay’s delicate emotive vocals and innovative production toys between alternative and bedroom pop, weaving amongst dark unearthly concepts and heartfelt lyrics. Her debut EP Never Too Far from a Dark Thought blends genres from the likes of electronica to alt-pop sounds to create her own atmospheric cinematic musical universe.

Her first single from the EP Pencilled Brims gained support from Huw Stephens at ​BBC introducing Radio 1,​ numerous plays on ​BBC Introducing ​Merseyside, and Spotify, who added it to their Fresh Finds Pop editorial playlist. Tastemakers such as Earmilk named her debut EP ‘golden’ ​and music that will ​‘bounce around in your brain for days.’

Listen to The House below:

2. Navarre – Vampr Pro User

Navarre is an independent rapper, songwriter, saxophonist, and recording artist from Longview, TX. His latest album The Lavender Theory was released in April 2022.
 Navarre is determined to claim his stake in the music industry and has begun building up his fan base with over 1,000 followers on Spotify.

He has already set plans in motion for his fifth project which will feature styles from different eras of music.
 Navarre was born on April 18, 1992, in Dallas and knew about his passion for music since attending his first Southern Baptist Church sermon.

The songs from the choir and the instrumentation from the musicians were enough to kindle the flame for what is Navarre. He traveled the world with the touring group Tops in Blue in 2012 as the lead alto saxophone player and has played in the Howard Theater in Washington, DC. It’s time he took to the booth and let his feelings out through lyrics.

Listen to Wrong Bricks below:

3. Justin Santos – Vampr Pro User

Born in Long Island, New York, and moved to Tampa Florida at the age of 10. Music has always been an influence in his life no matter where it came from. Genres such as Dancehall, Hip Hop, and RnB have influenced him heavily because of the artists those genres have produced.

Andre 3000, Busta Rhymes, Jon Bellion, Common, Raphael Saadiq, Mali Music, Jah Cure, and many more artists have influenced his music. He is a producer, artist, musician, writer, and composer. “Art inspires an artist to inspire others”. He uses the tools given to him to help paint the picture for his audience to enjoy and go with him on the journey.

“I just want art to be art again…remember when art was something that you would go out of your way to enjoy (museums, galleries, concerts, and plays) well I want that same effect in my music”.

Listen to Push a Little Harder below:

4. Andre Calloway

Eazy was born André Calloway in Chicago, Illinois. At the young age of 11, he began writing rap lyrics and recording songs with his uncle and mentor, Stanley (Smoove G) Shannon. By high school, at the age of 14, Eazy formed the rap group, Deep Souljas, with friends and fellow classmates. Throughout his teenage years, he learned the craft of music production and recorded his first indie album under the moniker Shorty Cee.

Upon graduating from high school, Eazy received a KORG Triton keyboard from his father as a graduation present and began to hone his skills as a music producer. He majored in Sound Engineering while attending Columbia College and later switched his focus to Audio Production when transferring to the Illinois Institute of Art in Chicago where he became more knowledgeable in digital music production with programs such as FL Studio, Adobe Audition, Logic, and Pro Tools.

As Eazy progressed into his 20s he began to teach himself more engineering and mixing techniques. Today he is regarded by many as a highly talented songwriter/producer with his biggest accomplishment being a production placement on Kash Doll’s 2019 debut studio album Stacked producing the record “Cheap Shit.”

Listen to Daydreams below:

5. Giorgio De Palo

Giorgio is a multi-instrumentalist and self-producing musician and songwriter on a quest for diverse sounds and musical inspirations.

Born in Rome, he released his debut EP First Waves in Berlin in 2019. Living now in Lisbon alongside the nurturing sea, his music took on new tones, and his new EP A Spirit Will Rise⁠ is ready to step into the light.

Listen to Rails below:

Did you love what you heard? We did! Go and connect and say hi to these artists, they are all on Vampr and smashing it!

If you have music that’s ready for distribution or publishing, you can also submit it via Vampr! You never know, your next sync might be waiting for you around the corner. 👀

Submit your track to Vampr Publishing today >> Click here
Submit your track for Vampr Distribution today >> Click here

Topic: Finding Your Own Sound.

Couldn’t make it to Vampr’s Accelerator Session with KingDow back on September 1st? No problem, we have some key takeaways and the chat transcribed for you so you can re-live the conversation and get all the sage that he dished out! 🍽

Key Takeaways:

The Conversation.

Vampr: We’re gunna jump right in and talk about being discovered on Spotify’s Fresh Finds playlist!

KingDow: Sounds good!

Vampr: So let’s talk about which songs go to the playlist and how you got there.

KingDow: The song that got on the playlist was “Fake AF” produced by Sarey Savy with verses from Sarey, Emanuel Brown, and myself off of our KSE project. The song was released as a single in January and two weeks later I got the notification it was selected. I think it was a combination of Spotify pitch and ad marketing

Vampr: THAT’S SO DOPE! And just to let the people know what would you say your area of expertise is in music?

KingDow: I am an artist that makes genre-transcending music. I sing, rap, and co-produce my music using my bass lines. I’m also a bass player musician. I am also a dancer as well and showcase this in my music videos. And performing is another one of my strong suits, my shows have been described as holistic and mesmerizing. My shows have a lot of energy and I perform with a live band.

Vampr: In your Spotify bio it said that you started out in the Jazz scene. Can you tell us a bit about your evolution?

KingDow: Definitely, I grew up playing music with my dad. I played in many reggae bands and when I got to high school I joined the jazz band sophomore year while I was doing gospel gigs at church. In college I got a scholarship to play jazz during my four years. College was when I took my jazz studies seriously.

After and during that time I made my own bands and played around town regularly. I have a funk trip Dysfunkshun I formed in high school that plays regularly. I’m also in a community jazz band that plays monthly outside of my solo work.

Vampr: Wow! What a colorful upbringing and no wonder your music is genre-transcending!  And you’re still part of your High School band?! That’s dedication and loyalty, really. 

KingDow: Yea, we just had rehearsal today actually, haha. Yes I’m grateful to them, have had a lot of fun.

Vampr: So when you’re creating music these days you’re really not trying to fit anywhere specific more everywhere, would say that is a good representation of your acts? Like you’re trying to create music that anyone and everyone can enjoy?

KingDow: I would say I’m making music that touches the soul and allows people to transcend their bodies. Hence why I call it transcending. When people hear my music I want them to feel liberated. I am forming a new sound and inspiring others to find themselves through it if that makes sense. So yea, no I am not trying to fit anywhere simply form a new lane. 

Vampr: Bro, chills. That’s some new-age therapy-type vibes and I love it. So you said you started playing music with your dad – I assume he has helped to inspire you along the way? 

KingDow: Yes, he has, he was a big inspiration because he turned me onto so many types of music. And always told me to create with no ego and from the heart. He has been a coach in that way. 

Vampr: That’s incredible, it’s such a beautiful thing to have people on your side that believe in you and lift you up. 

KingDow: Definitely he and my mom have been very pivotal. 

Vampr: As far as your sound is concerned we can only assume it will continue to evolve, do you see yourself including any new genres? Or a better question, which genres are you most inspired by at the moment?

KingDow: Good question, yes, honestly the genres that have been inspiring me right now are reggae, alternative R&B, and African music. In my new album KingDow KingDom, a lot of this can be heard. 

Vampr: Really excited about that! When finding new music to be inspired by, for example, African, how do you go about finding that?

KingDow: Honestly whatever I’m feeling in terms of listening to. For instance, my personal trainer has an African playlist we will work out to and if I’m at an event and they are playing cool music I’ll shazam it and add it to my pool of music. An African wedding I attended in July was like this. So I don’t really look per se, it’s more of when I’m living life and if the Spotify algorithm shows me a new song similar to what I listen to. 

Vampr: Right, right, right. So just being open to being inspired really?

KingDow: Exactly. I’ve never been a crate digger. It’s more of being open to the events happening around me. Literally how most of my music comes about. 

Vampr: I’d love to know a bit more about your upcoming project, what the intended release and who are you working on that with?

KingDow: So the release date is October 4th and it’s an album I co-produced with my producer Krazymak. Krazymak and I have been best friends since elementary school and in the last couple years, he has been my closest collaborator. The project is about the evolution of my sound and who I am now as an artist. I wanted to showcase my growth. It is also dedicated to my grandfather who passed away on my birthday this year.

I also have new features with artists I have gotten to know. Which includes Lake Stovall, Moia Bri, Anthony Arlene and Jeffe. Lake helped me produce one track.

Vampr: Oh man, I’m so sorry to hear about your grandfather but I bet he’s proud of you! Is this album going to be somewhat of an anthology for you and have you struggled lyrically at all? In addition, if you are blocked, what are tips and tricks to get out of that block?

KingDow: Thank you! Yes, I know he is sleeping well. It’s more of a showcase of my new sound direction. I’m going in terms of combining all aspects of my musicality and artistry into one since those used to be separate. 

One song took longer to write than the others for the project. When that happens I just take a break from the song idea and work on other things. I don’t force it. If inspiration comes I follow it otherwise I let it be. Nowadays I do all my writing in the studio after the beat is made. So I usually finish my songs during the session. Also, if you find yourself forcing a song I take that as a sign it isn’t meant to be because music is effortless you never have to think it’s all feeling, like water. Water just flows, it never has to think.

Vampr: Smart, no point in forcing something because then it’s not genuine. What is your advice for anyone who is struggling to find their sound in this landscape of music where music tools and samples are more accessible than ever?

KingDow: I would say go into it trying stuff and seeing what comes out. Just have fun and create what’s in your head and see what happens. The worst that could happen is you don’t like it. Then you move on to the next idea. 

Vampr: Would you say failure is part of success in music? Like you have to try and fail to find the sound that you’re passionate about?

KingDow: Yes, the whole business is about failure. Making as many mistakes as you can to continue to get better The most seasoned artists in this business have failed the most. They never gave up. So many hits were made off of mistakes anyway.

Vampr: I feel like this is a beautiful place to leave it. The final words being, don’t forget to fail a lot so you can succeed even more and that’s really the process of finding your sound and your passion in whatever you do. 

KingDow: Couldn’t have said it better myself, that’s exactly it. Mistakes are just lessons and bigger blessings are around the corner.

Want to hear more from the Vampr community?
Join the Vampr community and download Vampr today! >> https://www.vampr.me/

Topic: Charting globally as an independent artist.

Couldn’t make it to Vampr’s Accelerator Session with Emanuel Brown back on August 7th? No problem, we have the chat transcribed for you so you can re-live the conversation and get all the wisdom that he dished out! 🍽

Vampr: First I’d like to say thank you so much for joining us today, Emanuel! Could you give us a little background about yourself :)?

Emanuel: No Problem and thank you Vampr for having me! My name is Emanuel Brown and I’m a Hip-Hop Artist / R&B artist from Newport News, VA I currently live in the Seattle area.

Vampr: So you’re from Virginia and have lived in Seattle for a while now – what initially drew you to Seattle, was it the music scene? And how long have you been working in music?

Emanuel: So I never thought I would land in Seattle but I was in the navy which is what brought me here. I’ve been working in music professionally for over 7-8 years and creating music for over 20 years. 

Vampr: Hell ya!! So creativity is really in your bones, love that. What do you think is the most important aspect to keep in mind when moving cities especially when you’re trying to pursue your dream?

Emanuel: I think knowing why you’re moving is important and that starting over isn’t a bad thing. Also, I think you shouldn’t be afraid to go out and find ways to learn about the area and what kind of music city you’re in. 

Vampr: Absolutely! We know a thing or two about networking you probably could’ve used an asset like Vampr when you landed in Seattle – lol. How did you go about networking when you got there?

Emanuel: Absolutely Vampr could have helped with that and I’m glad I learned about you guys. So I just learned where the music venues were and would go to shows. Hip hop shows, R&B shows, etc. Sooner or later you start seeing the same people and realize who’s who.

Vampr: Right, so just making friends and not expecting things from people?

Emanuel: Exactly, I feel like going into anything with expectations can come off not genuine. 

Vampr: 100% I think people forget networking horizontally and creating your ideal community is important. So Who would you say helped inspire you to get into music and who are your biggest influences in music at the moment?

Emanuel: Exactly! I think no one inspired me directly but more of the impact of what someone’s words can do to change your mood was where I saw the value and I know I have a lot to share from my life that can help someone else. Some of my biggest influences are J. Cole, Pusha T, H.E.R. and Anderson Paak. To name a few.

Vampr: SOLID list of influences, FR, and what are some aspects of influence you look at? Like is it their storytelling, their beats, or the emotion both of those things invoke?

Emanuel: So for me, it’s all about the story first and concept, then the emotion it brings then the beat. 

Vampr: Story first! And where do you get YOUR inspiration?

Emanuel: I tell my story because I truly believe it’s easy to be me and talk about my story because I know it and it’s much harder to be someone else.

Vampr: Authenticity is key! As a lyricist what are some of your best tips for helping an upcoming songwriter?

Emanuel: Exactly! Stay true to yourself. Don’t be influenced by your favorite artist in the sense of trying to sound like them. They already made it. The world wants a YOU not a J. Cole, Halsey, etc.

Vampr: On that topic has there ever been a situation where you didn’t feel like yourself while trying to “make it?” 

Emanuel: Absolutely, in the beginning, I wanted to replicate what my favorite artists did because of how much they influenced me BUT I realized that I can’t be another them because that won’t work. I have to myself and share MY story.

Vampr: And sharing your story has had its payoffs, for example, you’ve charted 4 times in Japan and in Africa. Were you expecting to be big in those countries and what did you do, if anything, to prepare for that? Also what song(s) hit the charts there?

Emanuel: Yes and I’m blessed it did! I ran Facebook ads and it sort of happened on its own, I found out about it like 3 months after it happened, lol. I wasn’t expecting my music to resonate with those places but it did and I’m grateful. My songs “You,” “Tonight,” “IDK” & an intro song all hit the charts on Apple Music.

Vampr: We gotta make sure to drop these links in the chat, anyway. When we spoke you said you ran ads for a while. Can you share a little bit of your process as far as running ads and marketing? Did you do much research around cohorts or did you just use the tools provided by social media platforms? What sites were you running ads on?

Emanuel: Definitely I’ll drop them in. Thank you for allowing that. As for running ads, I would use the business side of social media platforms. Meaning business.facebook.com works for Facebook and Instagram. Google ads that work for YouTube and I just specified who I think my music sounds like and targeted that fan base. I spent about 5 dollars a day on ads for Instagram and YouTube.

I also took courses that taught me or learned from friends that know how to run ads as well, paid for the expertise, and then had them teach me their ways.

I learned from courses from Ari Herstand, self-research, Facebook has a free course as well as friends I know who are in the marketing space.

Vampr: Back to charting – it caught you off guard a bit, that’s wild and also so inspiring because your music just spoke for itself. I would imagine it would have a nice ego boost, how do you manage your emotions in a situation like that?

Emanuel: It was and it taught me to be more aware of what’s going on with my career and follow it everyday. As for the ego, I think I maintain it very well because there is always more work to do and things I want to achieve and I’m not better than any person. I just got to keep working.

Vampr: Absolutely, so you’ve got ingenuity, humility, and storytelling down.

Emanuel: lol, I try.  

Vampr: You’re doing a good job, so after you hit the charts did you have any reach out from Labels or A&R reps? 

Emanuel: Not really which is fine. I don’t know if I’m looking for that anyways. I do have some bigger industry people watching though in the cut, lol. 

Vampr: In the cut’s better than not at all, so that’s good. 

Emanuel: True true, lol.

Vampr: Pretty rad to be on the radar of some of your peers. I’d like to ask you a couple of questions about one of your EPs, specifically Red Winter – Can you tell me how that came together? Because visually it tells a story from the title of the EP to the cover art to the track names. I’d love to know a little bit about your process.

Emanuel: Absolutely and I’m grateful! So where I grew up in VA and on the east coast I’m used to hearing the term Summertime madness and people being violent in the summer. I thought to myself that I never hear people talking about other times of the year and people are crazy year round where I live so why not talk about all the loss and some stories I have seen in the winter time which birthed “Red Winter”. Which is why the cover artwork is snow with a blood stain on it. As well as why the song titles are the way they are I wanted to bring you into my world and what I’m familiar with.

Vampr: It’s truly harrowing – I’ve listened to it from start to finish a couple of times already and it hits. One thing I absolutely love about Vampr is its ability to show me what I’ve been missing in the music scene and I’m so grateful you took the time to talk today!

Emanuel: Thank you so much for having me and giving me the opportunity to share my music and who I am on this app.

Vampr: We’re hitting the hour mark so let’s leave the people with our last question: what can we expect in the future from E. Brown?

Emanuel: Thank you, recently two good friends of mine Sarey Savy, KingDow, and I released a group EP called “K.S.E.” in June of this year so we are promoting that and I have solo music coming this October as well!

Vampr: We’ll definitely be helping promote whatever we can, so everyone keep your eyes peeled! I can’t wait for what you have in store! 

Emanuel: Thank you and I love Vampr and what it represents and I’m glad my brother Sarey Savy told me about you guys! 

Join the Vampr community and download Vampr today! >> https://www.vampr.me/

If you rehearse and practice before a big show, does this guarantee the show will be perfect? Absolutely not.

As all performing musicians know, there are so many uncontrollable moments when it comes to a live show. You can’t always anticipate a drunken audience member or your band member missing an entry that they have never missed before in their life.

What are the things that you may encounter at a live show?

It’s common to experience some or several of the following when performing regularly.

And the list goes on! 📝

What can you control?

Even with that hefty list of potential problems, there are a lot of ways you can prepare adequately for a show.

The more you practice alone as well as with your band members, the more comfortable you will be. Not just with playing the music but understanding the way the other members play. Just like a sports team, you need to practice together before the big game. You need to know the ins and outs of their moves and nuances to know how you might compliment them. Also, to pre-emptively understand where they may make mistakes and how to manage this when put on the spot.

Practice isn’t necessarily just picking up your instrument and playing, nor is it just rehearsing. It’s a combination of playing and listening. You may not have enough time to practice multiple times before a rehearsal, but even just listening to the song over and over again on Spotify or Apple Music and really listening counts as effective practice! 🤯

Beyond the practice

Once you practice a song enough times, it should become muscle memory. This is the stage you want to get to with every song. Ultimately, if you have memorized the music you won’t need notes or sheet music. This eliminates some of the potential problems of dim lights affecting your sight reading abilities. It will also allow for fewer mistakes. Even when you are nervous and overthinking, your muscle memory will kick in and save the day!

In addition, any rowdy audience members that might distract you from where you are on a piece of sheet music will also be easier to manage. It also looks more professional when you don’t have your head buried in a piece of sheet music. Often, the reason we use sheet music isn’t that we need it and don’t know the music. It comes down to the confidence we have in ourselves to recall that music at that moment without a safety net.

Practice at home by yourself without the music and then test it out in rehearsal with your band. Take steps to ingrain the music in your body – no one takes a test without studying first!

Practice perfection, so you can explore imperfection

Have you ever wondered why music teachers always ask you to practice your scales, long tones, and intervals repetitiously? These exercises are the key to musical freedom! Once you understand the fundamentals of your instrument and song structure, you can create freely. But you can only do this if your scales and technical exercises are second nature. This is where improvisation comes in. And, being comfortable enough to improvise can save you when you are center stage and have lost all notion of where you are in the song.

As long as you understand the chordal structure of a song and can identify what those chords sound like, you can figure out where you are in the form. By being perfectly aware of the structures in which you can explore – you can build, change and experiment as much as you want. You must first reach this level of perfection to dive into the improvisational world of imperfection.

Hire a sound engineer

Every band has a different sound. All venues have different layouts and setups. Most sound desks have different capabilities. How do you ensure that the sound you have built as a band stays consistent with all of these variables?

If you can afford it, hire a sound engineer who regularly mixes the live sound for your shows. If you can’t afford it for every show, then pick and choose the important ones and budget for a higher-end sound engineer. This can be the difference between a band sounding excellent or horrible in any given room.

Practice contingency plans

Sometimes support acts go over time and we have to cut our sets short. Or alternatively, sometimes the headline plays a killer show and the audience is begging for one more song.

You can prepare for both of these moments. Don’t be that band that didn’t take the time to prepare an extra encore song. There’s nothing more disappointing than a band ending a set because they didn’t prep an encore when the crowd is chanting for more. It’s a golden opportunity missed!

Do some audience research beforehand. Find out which songs are your audience’s favorites. Agree with your band that if you had to cut any songs, which ones they would be and why. Conversely, prepare not one but two encore songs just in case!

Learn from experience

No matter how long you practice in your room or how many rehearsals you book in with your band, the best way to learn is by doing. Play lots of gigs and debrief later with your band, venue staff, and the audience and ask them what could be improved in terms of the performance and sound. Ask lots of questions and take notes for next time! You can only get better every time you perform.

Want to know more about live performances? Read our latest Live performance checklist to make sure you have all promotional bases covered!

Looking for tips on how to make the best album cover art? We’ve got you. In this guide, we’ll show you how to create eye-catching artwork for your album.

Why is album cover art important?

Album art is one of many crucial elements in cementing legendary albums in the music industry.

They define how we look at a particular album and are key to first impressions and music discovery. The most notable album artworks have earned their rightful place in music history. The Beatles’ Abbey Road album cover made St John’s Wood in London a timeless tourist attraction.

Similarly, Beyonce’s tantalizing photography concept in her Renaissance album art was able to merge Vogue and music successfully.

That’s why to make your album memorable, you need to make an outstanding album cover art.

The relationship between album art design and music

Today’s music is mainly experienced online. The most popular platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music put album art covers at the front and center of the design interface. Design is one of the key elements of the online user experience leading to high demand for visual artists. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there were 254,000 graphic design positions in the United States in 2020. These all played a critical role in various industries, including music.

One reason for this is how accessible digital media training has become. With the rise of remote learning, it’s no longer necessary to take an on-campus degree to enter the industry. Online digital media programs at top institutions are NASAD accredited, while also being 100% coursework. This gives digital artists much more flexibility to create their own portfolio of work as they train.

Musicians seek the expertise of these trained digital media artists to align their design needs with their artistic vision. Highly skilled visual communicators can take full advantage of the growing opportunities in the digital landscape. Digital media professionals can keep up with the ever-evolving creative industry and take advantage of flexibility in design.

There is room for these professionals to forge a new path in design with abundant opportunities to merge a passion for art and music. New technological developments and fresh aesthetic sensibilities have changed the way we consume music. There is now a need for creative thinking and digital visual strategy in the music industry — and album art is a great way of showcasing that.

How to make album cover art

How to create an eye-catching album cover art

Now that we better understand why creating eye-catching artwork for your album is so important, let’s have a look at some top tips to make your album memorable.

Stick to your identity

You can narrow your design options by focusing on your identity as an artist or band. Whether you’re a rock band, a country singer, or a pop artist, your identity should shine through your album art. It should capture the attention of your intended audience.

You can likewise take notes from the digital presence you’ve already established and maintained. Figuring out your identity and the key elements of your music can help you find the proper subject for your album art, whether you choose photography, typography, or abstract art as your primary medium.

Use design concepts 

Because music often feels intangible, it’s helpful to harness the power of visual elements to evoke specific responses. You can look into color strategies such as color psychology and color schemes to create dynamic visuals. For instance, monochromatic schemes can tap a certain mood or signal the listener that the artist wants the music to speak for itself.

Using design concepts in your album cover art, such as minimalism, grunge, or retro art, will also give listeners an idea of the music on the album.

Maximize your medium

Your album artwork will heavily rely on the medium you use. Whether you decide on a photo, illustration, or graphic, the medium will determine the strength of the emotional connection you will have with your audience.

For example, the famous cover album of Nirvana’s Nevermind, which features a baby swimming after a dollar, has sparked timeless nostalgia and continues to be iconic 25 years after its release. Some albums have also utilized digital alterations of paintings to convey a particular message.

Collaboration and creativity are vital to creating unique and timeless cover art. The visual component of how we enjoy music is increasingly recognized as an integral part of our online listening experience.

After designing a one-of-a-kind artwork, it’s also important to share it on the right channels. Vampr is a great place to get feedback on your album artwork. Connect with other musicians, producers, designers, and more and ask what they think. Are they getting the messaging you were trying to convey? You might even offer a perk for anyone sharing valuable feedback with you.

Remember, artwork just like music is subjective. Feedback is helpful, but you are the one that the artwork needs to resonate with long term. Create something you are proud of and release it into the world!

Ideas to create a memorable album artwork

Your album artwork should capture the attention of your audience and give them an idea of the music on the album. But if you’re an emerging artist, you may not have much budget to make your album cover art.

That’s not a problem. We’ll show you how to create album artwork on a budget.

Making an album cover on a budget

First, you need great photos.

Here some of the best places to look for royalty free images (some are free):

Then, you need a tool for editing images and making them your own. Some of the best ones are (some are free):

Album cover art specifications

Another important thing to keep in mind when creating your album cover is the size and specifications of your artwork.

Major streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music require that album arts meet certain criteria in terms of size, shape of the image, format, quality, and so on.

For example, Spotify has the following cover art requirements:

  • Format: TIFF, PNG, or JPG using lossless encoding
  • Highest resolution available
  • Minimum 640px wide and tall
  • 1:1 aspect ratio
  • Encoded with an sRGB color space, 24bits per pixel, with color profiles applied directly
  • They don’t allow upscaling images and they don’t support embedded color profiles and orientation metadata.

Creating the best album cover art

All in all, album art is a key element of an album as they are key to the audience’s first impressions and music discovery.

To make a memorable album artwork, you should stick to your identity, use the right design and choose the appropriate medium.

The good news is that you can create album cover art on a budget. There are plenty if free tools to look for royalty free images and edit images that allow you to create beautiful designs without spending much.

Want to release your music? Make sure you have all bases covered with our Music release checklist for emerging musicians.

By Queenie Kirk, edited by Leesa Snider and German Rodrigo