Songwriter Profile with the Amazing Peter RaffoulPeter Raffoul’s destiny was almost inevitable, but he took his time deciding to pursue music professionally. With father Jody Raffoul and older brother Billy both well-established musicians, Raffoul loved the idea of performing but wanted to be certain it was what he wanted before jumping in. Growing up around great songwriters, with evidence of success watching his dad and brother in the business, Raffoul says he feels very fortunate to have had a great roadmap and solid support.

First dabbling with drums at age 11, Raffoul’s parents split when he was a teenager and he inherited a garden shed (originally an art studio), where he first began playing the keyboard. Creating licks and melody lines, he admits, “I never knew less than I did then. I was just playing little chords and had no idea what I wanted anything to sound like.”

Writing his music at night also started as a teen. “I think it's harder to ignore whatever it is that you're going through at night. I got into this rhythm where it feels better to go on spurts of inspiration.” Starting with basic piano lessons to learn some chords, he added guitar over the last five years (which he plays upside down as a leftie, insisting on playing a right-handed guitar like older brother Billy).

In retrospect, Raffoul recognizes that he had always been paying attention and was intrigued in the evolution of songs and artists. Taking time to study songwriting structure, Raffoul remains mindful of the creative process, sharing that when you hear a great song that you wish you had written, it often comes down to a simple concept or just two chords. “They sang it just like it was, and it's heart,” he says. “Self-expression in a very simple way usually wins the day.”

While he starts with the melody and chord structure, his writing process is constantly changing. “There’s peaks and valleys when things feel like they're being forced, but I've gotten a lot out of just doing it as I feel it,” admits Raffoul. He recommends recording ideas as memos on your phone. Starting with a small melody or lick, Raffoul sings nonsense sounds over chords to see what lands.

“When I’m humming a melody long enough, or wake up the next day and still remember it, that's cool. I don’t get precious about things. If you latch on to every single thing, you'll beat it into the ground and feel less enthusiastic because you put too much value on something too soon.” Great music happens for Raffoul when he finds himself hearing a song as a listener, not a critic or musician, being captivated by the feeling throughout, rather than pulled into the song’s process or structure.

Starting out playing three 40-minute sets of covers a night before adding in originals, Raffoul says that his momentum to date has come down to the very blue-collar ‘you get out of what you put into it’ attitude handed down from his dad. “

Every day, week, and month, rent's due on this stuff,” he says. “You have to be doing the work. If you don't love it at face value, don't still feel like you're enjoying it when playing, you have to get back to that. That's the only real center of it. Everything else is borrowed, not guaranteed.” Even if you get signed to a label, Raffoul says not to expect to be taken care of, or buy into false confidence: “It all comes from you.”

Surprised at the catharsis and intrigue that his more intimate, emotional songs have garnered (“Don’t Hold On” and “For You”), Raffoul says, “I get to be myself at such a raw level and get to share, unfiltered. The worst thing that can happen is people won't listen, but the best is you can make somebody feel like you're with them when you play.”

2022’s Songs From House In Blue has a follow-up in the works, slated for release later this year. Catch Peter Raffoul at his CMW show, June 4 at Rivoli. Tickets at ticketweb.ca.

Contact Valle Music Management, andrew@vallemusicmgmt.com; 

Experience Peter Raffoul at peterraffoul.comThe post Songwriter Profile with the Amazing Peter Raffoul first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Getting It Done: Last Week in D.I.Y. & Indie MusicThis week, our tips and advice for independent, do-it-yourselfers covered how to book bigger and better gigs, crucial Spotify stats, and more.....
The post Getting It Done: Last Week in D.I.Y. & Indie Music appeared first on Hypebot.

REWIND: The new music industry’s last week in reviewIt was a busy week by any definition, and the music industry was no exception. Live Nation filed a class action lawsuit, Ticketmaster was hacked, and more.
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Signing Story with the Amazing Logan LynnDate Signed: August 18, 2021

Label: Kill Rock Stars

Type of Music: Indie punk

Legal: Kill Rock Stars LLC

Publicity: Sarah Avrin of Charm School Media - sarah.avrin@charmschoolmedia.com

Web: loganlynnmusic.com 

A&R: Slim Moon

Why on earth would Logan Lynn, a newcomer who developed a strong buzz in artist-friendly Portland — home to the Decemberists, Chromatics and loads more bands — relocate to Boise, where Built to Spill is the only group to have achieved at least some national recognition? The answer may surprise you, because it wasn’t just for a paycheck.

Lynn, a self-described “Queer indie punk,” noted the cost of living is cheaper in Boise and that competition for time slots in a city oversaturated with aspiring artists isn’t as fierce.

“I wanted to get away from the loudness and the wildness,” said Lynn, a 40-something artist who already has 10 studio records to his name. “I [may have] overcorrected, but… the music scene here is really hungry [for new talent], and there’s a strong youth culture too.”

Lynn added that his affection for Treefort Music Fest, Idaho’s hippest annual music festival, also caught his fancy. As it so happens, KRS has a ubiquitous presence at the five-day event every year.

Of all the factors that went into Lynn’s decision-making when looking for a new label, finding one with a long track record of supporting gay artists was of the utmost importance.

After the multifaceted Lynn directed and released a 2018 movie called Nothing’s Ever Wrong, he became a target of homophobic harassment. Even though it was only a short film, Lynn and co-star Jay Mohr appearing nude in Nothing’s Ever Wrong, spurred him to fight even harder for gay rights.

Lynn doesn’t know of any label that champions gay artists more than KRS. He’s not sure when he’ll release his first release for the label and the follow-up to 2022’s New Money. In fact, it’s not his top priority, as he continues to get settled in to a new city and record label.

“The people who founded [KRS] are queer, but to become an explicitly gay label… and to have a team that believes in me and actually tries to help [its roster of musicians] is radical. Joining Kill Rock Stars absolutely changed my life.” The post Signing Story with the Amazing Logan Lynn first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Close Up with the Northern Illinois School of Musicniu.edu/music

Sense of Community and Stylistic Diversity: In his introductory letter to students on the home page of Northern Illinois School of Music, Director Andrew Glendening captures the spirit and mission of the multi-faceted educational experience and its many programs. He writes, “NIU is a vibrant music scene where you can expand your skills, explore your creativity and pursue your dreams in a supportive environment with unprecedented access to an outstanding faculty.”

One of those faculty members, Kerri-Ann Chandler, is a Trinidad and Tobago-born musician and instructor who came to NIU after eight years teaching at the University of Trinidad and Tobago. She says, “What makes our School of Music special is its unique sense of community and its stylistic diversity and array of world music courses and ensembles, which allow students to learn music from many countries and cultures and to learn the history and play ethnic instruments from around the world.” 

Programs and Ensembles: NIU School of Music undergrads can study performance, jazz studies, steelpan, music education and composition. Graduate students can earn a master’s degree in performance or pursue an individualized Master of Music degree in composition, recording arts, conducting, world music or other emphases.

NIU also offers many opportunities to perform and grow on stage with their award-winning instrumental and vocal ensembles, which include choirs, orchestra, opera, theater, wind ensembles, marching band, jazz ensembles, steel bands, new music ensemble, percussion ensemble, Javanese and Balinese gamelans, tabla, Chinese and Middle Eastern ensembles and various chamber music ensembles.

Recording Arts and Media Technologies: This area of study is designed for the modern engineer and musician, and combines audio video and computer technologies. Students will gain knowledge and experience in such disciplines as studio and location recording techniques, audio post-production for video, acoustics and studio design and webcasting, robotic camera operation using Internet2 technology, live sound and event logistics and lighting and rigging for the performing arts.

Elective courses include recording techniques, applied mixing, audio editing, air training for audio engineers and sound design. NIU recently became one of three Avid Learning Partners in the state of Illinois. Music Admissions Coordinator Austyn Menk says, “Students participating in the recording arts get to run live sound for our many ensembles, giving them highly valuable and applicable experience.”   

Flock Audio: As part of an ongoing effort to upgrade the school’s recording facilities to serve collaborations between audio engineering students and musical students, NIU has made the Flock Audio PATCH XT digitally controlled, all analog patchbay the centerpiece of its hybrid recording setup. Chandler says, “Compared to the outdated equipment installed previously, this makes signal flow in the studio more streamlined. Besides being visually appealing and fully customizable, it’s very compact, fitting on a tabletop—and because it’s digitally controlled, there are always opportunities for app updates.”

Contact NIU School of Music, 815-753-1551The post Close Up with the Northern Illinois School of Music first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

From Sony Music’s reported Queen catalog talks to Live Nation’s DoJ battle… it’s MBW’s Weekly Round-UpThe five biggest stories to hit our headlines over the past seven days…
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HYBE can’t remove NewJeans label CEO Min Hee-jin… for nowThe latest developments in the power struggle between Ador's CEO and HYBE
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How much would gigs pay if adjusted for inflation?Discover how inflation impacts musician earnings and expenses and what today's gigs would pay if they adjusted alongside the rest of the economy....
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Spotify Clips for Artists is not ready for the mainstage…Spotify is slowly rolling out Clips, a 30-second vertical video feature for artists that will remind you very much of TikTok, Reels, and Shorts.....
The post Spotify Clips for Artists is not ready for the mainstage… appeared first on Hypebot.

Kendrick Lamar vs. Drake: Analyzing the streaming success of their diss tracksDrake and Kendrick Lamar’s explosive jabs at each other through diss tracks have made headlines, and now that the dust has settled, what do the numbers say about who won?. Continue reading
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Guitar Center to Celebrate 50 Years of Taylor GuitarsGuitar Center to host event celebrating 50 Years of Taylor Guitars at La Mesa, CA store on Saturday, June 1

“An Afternoon with Andy Powers” will include discussion, demos, and Q&A highlighting classics and recent product launches with Andy Powers, Taylor CEO, President, and Chief Guitar Designer, as well as a short acoustic set by singer-songwriter and musician Hailey Knox

WHO: Guitar Center is teaming with Taylor Guitars for an exclusive event at the La Mesa, CA Guitar Center location. The event will feature discussion with Andy Powers, Taylor CEO, President, and Chief Guitar Designer, and a performance by singer-songwriter and musician Hailey Knox.

WHAT: Taylor and Guitar Center are partnering for an exclusive event at the La Mesa Guitar Center location on Saturday, June 1, 2024, to celebrate 50 Years of Taylor Guitars, telling the story of this legendary guitar manufacturer via its new 50th Anniversary Collection. The event will include discussion, demos, and Q&A highlighting classics and recent product launches with Andy Powers, as well as a short acoustic set by Hailey Knox. Since joining Taylor in 2011, Andy Powers has been responsible for many of the company's designs, including its V-Class bracing architecture, the American Dream acoustic line, and body styles including the Grand Pacific, Grand Theater and more.

Space is limited; RSVP here.

WHEN: Saturday, June 1, 2024, 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. PDT

WHERE: Guitar Center La Mesa8825 Murray DriveLa Mesa, CA 91942-3327The post Guitar Center to Celebrate 50 Years of Taylor Guitars first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Reservoir reports double-digit revenue jump in latest fiscal year, to $144.9mThe company is forecasting continued growth, though at a somewhat slower pace, in the coming year
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Sony Music Group boss Rob Stringer talks acquisitions, artificial intelligence and how music streaming services should start charging free usersSony Music wants to see an end to free music subscriptions, and 5 other things we learned from its latest investor presentation
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ROSTR launches Stack: free curated advice from Music Industry PROsROSTR, an online directory for music industry contacts, data, and jobs, has launched Stack, a free expert-curated collection of tools, resources, and recommendations for artists and music professionals. Stack launched. Continue reading
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In generative AI and music, will nice guys finish last? [MIDiA’s Tatiana Cirisano]Discover how generative AI is transforming the music industry while raising ethical questions about music licensing and copyright. As startups push boundaries, the stakes are higher than ever, challenging the. Continue reading
The post In generative AI and music, will nice guys finish last? [MIDiA’s Tatiana Cirisano] appeared first on Hypebot.