Secrets From The Scene

In our quest to advance in our music careers, the usual path often involves practicing our instruments more, penning more songs, and aiming for more gigs. However, there's a foundational skill that's often overlooked yet crucially significant: cultivating a positive mindset. Effective communication, strong leadership, and strategic goal-setting all stem from a mindset that propels you forw...

For our first local VENUE feature, I’m so happy to have Tanner Montague join the podcast for a behind-the-scenes look at one of the Twin Cities’ newest  and finest  live music venues. Green Room opened up at the start of 2023, and it’s already made a name for itself amongst local bands. With its musician-first ethos, beautiful aesthetic, balanced sound, full bar/kitchen, and convenient location, G...

Let’s be honest… It isn’t exactly hard to find a guitar player. It’s not even that hard to find an incredibly talented guitar player. But now try to find a great guitar player who can also handle musical director responsibilities, manage your in-ear monitor rig, and produce and play all the instruments on your record. That level of utility really starts to thin the herd. Meet Isaac Levy, an immens...

Think back to the last show you were at that had absolutely  great sound . It makes for such an amazing experience, right? Now think of the last show you attended or performed at where the sound was  not so good , maybe even awful. It can completely ruin the moment.  Unfortunately, dealing with bad sound is a sad reality all local musicians face at one point or another. Sometimes it simply can&#39...

If you’ve ever gone through the process of uploading and releasing your music on all the streaming services, you know how much work goes into it. Of course, the writing and recording of the music in the first place is no small task, but then trying to navigate the entire upload process with all their questions, random codes, unfamiliar acronyms, and miscellaneous option features can be quite overw...

Being an independent artist today is becoming synonymous with being a content creator. As much as many of us would like to deny that fact, it’s happening. But it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. If you approach it right, it might end up being your differentiator that connects people to your music. I think the first step to “getting in the game” is actually to step backward and figure out what you...

The “church music scene,” or “church circuit,” for lack of any better term, has always been something I’ve known a little bit about but never really understood. I’ve met so many incredible musicians that have come out of playing churches, that it’s really piqued my interest. It seems to be a launchpad for musical talent. But why? In this episode, my good friend and musical colleague, Derek Droogsm...

Chris Koza is a successful singer-songwriter based in Minneapolis and Denver. Koza discusses his solo career as well as collaborations with his band Rogue Valley and shares his experience of working with notable artists, including Brandi Carlile, Gordon Lightfoot, and Stephen Kellogg. With music regularly featured on popular shows like ABC's General Hospital, 60 Minutes, and Good Morning Ameri...

“Work for hire” gigs can be a critical part of a musician’s career. If you’re trying to make a living by playing your instrument, for many, this is where it’s at. But what does it take to break into this side of the industry? If you get hired to do a gig, how do you make sure it’s successful? In this episode, Max Greene, a seasoned musician and engineer, speaks about the fundamental aspects of pre...

If you’ve done any sort of research on how to market your music or grow your fanbase, you’ve likely heard the phrase “building your personal brand” somewhere along the way. “Branding” is a hot buzz word amongst social media influencers and online educators. But the truth is, it’s always been a key part of any successful business or organization. But knowing that it’s important, and knowing  how to...

This episode explores the art of songwriting with Leslie Rich (Leslie Rich and The Rocket Soul Choir) and Annie Enneking (Annie and the Bang Bang). These two veteran songwriters have been fronting bands and writing songs for decades. Leslie and Annie share their unique insights into the songwriting process. They discuss their personal approaches to creating music, emphasizing the importance of aut...

The episode features Nick Elstad, the lead singer and guitarist of the band Sleeping Jesus and his solo project Sweet and Lonely. Nick is the booking agent for No Name Bar in Winona, MN and shares tips on how artists can approach booking, suggesting important factors like a short but concise emails, providing the dates you want in the first email, linking music and social media platforms, and prov...

This episode is great for bands that are looking to be as DIY as possible. Christian Grey from the band 'Villain of the Story' talks about their journey from the band’s formation in Minneapolis in 2014 to their impressive success, facilitated in large part by their DIY ethic. Incorporating elements of metalcore and radio rock, the band has released several successful albums and gained over...

We've all been there. You find yourself scrolling, going deeper and deeper into someone's account or profile, and the more you scroll, the worse you feel. It happens to the best of us. It's the comparison trap . We think, "How are they doing it?" or “They’re so much further/better/more attractive/cooler than me”, or perhaps it's just the inward judgment along the lines of...

Ashley DuBose discusses her multifaceted career, sharing experiences from her journey in the music industry, highlights from her performances on NBC's 'The Voice,' and insights from her work in a cover band. Ashley and I discuss the importance of diversifying your income, both in and out of the music industry. Ashley attributes much of her success to trying new things and saying yes wh...

In this episode, I talk about four ways you can maximize your time in the studio and get the most value out of your investment. This topic will be great for new artists looking to do their first recording session, but it will also be a good reminder for everyone of how to prepare, communicate, and fully utilize your recording session. I want to help you avoid making some common mistakes like: Not...

Have you ever found yourself questioning exactly what mastering is? Or perhaps you're considering hiring a professional to master your next release? There's a lot of confusion around the "dark art" of mastering, so let me shed some light. In this episode, you'll hear all about the mastering process, why artists work with mastering engineers, what to expect when you get a song...

Lane Pederson is a man of many talents. He's the drummer in the punk band, Dillinger Four, the owner of a local drum shop, Twin Cities Drum Collective, and oh yeah, he's also a clinical psychologist and an author. This episode covers the nuances of building custom drums and the value behind investing in and personalizing your gear, balancing multiple pursuits in your career, the importance...

Download our free crowdfunding guide and use it to plan your next campaign! Ever thought about crowdfunding your music project? It's a thrilling journey, but let's face it, the idea can be nerve-wracking. Well, guess what? Maria Coyne from Maria and the Coins is here to spill the beans on her crowdfunding experience. And trust me, it's extremely insightful. Maria dives into the nitty-g...

Arthur “L.A.” Buckner is a performing musician, teaching artist, and producer from the Northside of Minneapolis. He holds a master’s degree in Percussion Performance from McNally Smith College of Music. Currently, LA is playing with his band BiG HOMiE, teaching drums, and also serves as co-host for the two-time Webby award-winning PBS music education YouTube series  ⁠Sound Field⁠ , a video project...

Hear all the ins and outs of planning your own DIY tour. Austin Davis talks with us about what planning a DIY tour looks like for his indie/alt/rock band Silver Warehouse. We cover topics such as: Setting goals/purpose for the tour Budgeting logistics Planning a route Contacting venues: What to expect, how to write compelling emails that get opened, and what to avoid. Finding local support acts Bo...

My name is Stephen and I’m a local music producer and recording engineer. I’ve been in the recording world for 15 years now. I run a studio in the Excelsior neighborhood called Helvig Productions where I help local artists make music they’re proud of. At my studio, there’s often discussions on a wide range of topics concerning the music industry. This podcast is an effort to bring those discussion...