How to expand your music library

Photo Credit: Amber Zbitnoff

By: Edgar Vega
How to expand your music library

If you want to open up and listen to some new music that you aint used to but you just don't know where to start then use some of these tips.

Go off of what you like.

If you mainly listen to hip hop and you want to expand then something you can do is start by your favorite song. Hip Hop is always sampling something so if you like something from the beat you can start looking around for something similar to that. This definitely helped me when I was only stuck listening to Hip Hop.

What you've heard.

Although as of now you might be stuck thinking “I don't like anything out of Hip Hop” your wrong! I used to really really like the song “Super freak” by Rick James and I didnt know it wasn't Hip Hop. Sometimes you'll realise that a lot of the catchy songs you like that are always being played at the store arent Hip Hop so that can really be a way to start you out.

Just cannonball into it.

Sometimes you just need a jump into the unknown waters to test things out. It won't hurt to just explore if you don't like something then you don't but you'll never really know if you keep telling yourself you wish to expand but stay in the same little circle of repeated melodies and drum loops .

Thanks for reading :) Sincerely, Edgar Vega

How To Feel Comfortable Sharing Music

Photo Credit: Amber Zbitnoff

By: Edgar Vega
Tips on how to feel comfortable with you art

Me myself I have never really felt comfortable sharing any of my music with anyone because I used to have a mindset that told me I sucked at making music and it would bring my confidence down. A Lot of artist struggle when it comes to sharing there music and its fine, everyone's been there and it's just a process and something you have to grow out of it you wanna grow as an artist. These are a couple tips that personally helped me when I first started making music and I hope they can help you to step out of your comfort zone.  

Know that your art is unique.
I know this will sound corny but it's true and this was one of the main things that helped me out. No one is going to have YOUR sound because its your sound and artist get there own sound from picking up things as they grow up and no one has lived the same childhood as someone else. Your sound is unique and it is something new the world hasn't heard and yes maybe you could be taking inspiration but no one starts a new sound without inspiration from other art forms. A unique sound is something everyone has and you should share it with the world because it'll always be something new, never  the same.

You always gotta start at the bottom of the hill.
Don't be hard so yourself because you aren't a Kendrick lamar or J.Cole writer it all takes time and growth. Music is a constant trial and error sort of thing so the only way to get better at your writing and music is to go through a lot of bad lyrics. Trust me I been there I used to think beans and cheese used to rhyme and now I try and keep those in there seperate lane.

Get feedback
If the first two weren't enough for you than just ask for feedback. Have someone listen to what you got and ask them what you could improve or what would sound better and all sorts of questions like that. This is a perfect way of sharing music and also growing out of that shy stage where you don't wanna share your music. Feedback from your friends will definitely be helpful so I think this is a great idea if you're indecisive about some of your work.  

That is all I have and I hope it can help you out but always remember, To follow your own unique sound and to never be shy of sharing something because you never know how far you can get by sharing some of your work. Love yall :)

Sincerely, Edgar Vega A.K.A “PRIMOE”

5 Ways To Improve Your Self Confidence As A Musician

Jawzilla in the element

Written by Mirabai Jyothi Kukathas

They say write what you know, but here I am doing quite the opposite. One of the biggest reasons I don’t write music or perform that often is that I lack the self confidence. When I sit down to write I hear a voice telling me not to bother. Every performance I’ve been a part of has been preceded by intense stage fright. So why am I, a person with very little self esteem, especially in regards to music, giving you tips on becoming more confident? Well, because my boss told me to. No, I’m just kidding; it’s because I’ve been working to become more confident and know first hand what’s helpful and what's complete nonsense. Now, you might be thinking, but Mirabai, unlike you, I am not a nervous wreck, to which I say, good for you but everyone gets nervous, especially preforming artists. I think it's really important to keep the following things in mind, so without further ado… HOW NOT TO BE A NERVOUS WRECK, written by a nervous wreck because primary sources are important.

1. Be kind to yourself. Usually people save the most important piece of advice until the end of the list, but I’m going to put it first on the off chance you get bored and stop reading to go watch a cat video or make some toast or something. Recently, I was asked how I'd  want a friend to react if I was experiencing anxiety before a performance, or even just in every day life. I said that I'd appreciate kindness and honesty. I realized a lot of people would say the same, but I was not treating myself with those qualities and often neither do others. . It’s easy to treat your loved ones with kindness or to crave kindness from them, but most people are far less willing to be easily excited, forgiving, or appreciative when it comes to themselves. So, be kind to yourself because you are pretty damn awesome.

2. Practice. This one’s pretty short, sweet, and obvious but it works: if you practice something you feel self conscious about, you will improve. If you improve, you will become less self conscious abut it. This is especially true in regards to music. You’ve probably noticed that you feel more at ease performing a song  you’ve practiced a million times or that writing a song is a less daunting task if you’ve done it before. Practice makes perfect.

3. Learn that it’s okay to be only or less than okay. Okay, I lied: Practice doesn't make perfect. There is no such thing as perfect, yet most humans expect themselves to somehow achieve this delusional aspect. A lot of self consciousness derives from the idea that you should be flawless at whatever you’re doing. We have these crazy expectations of ourselves, and when they aren’t met we get upset. I recently wrote a song which for some reason I decided had to be fantastic. When I felt that it wasn’t, I got really down on myself. The song was, in all honesty, pretty bad, but looking back on it with kindness (see no.1) I’ve decided that’s perfectly okay.

4. Surround yourself with supportive people. I understand that this isn’t always an option, but when it is, it’s insanely helpful. I assume that at at least one point in your life you have been around people who have put you down; who have made you feel less than. It really sucks. That’s why having a community of people who lift you up and vocalize the best parts of you is really amazing. It makes you want to make music and share it with your community. For me, Totem Star is that community. That's why the power of collaboration is so strong. You and your collaborators can teach each other and build yourselves up. I know it can sometimes feel like other people are able to create musical magic out of thin air, but they aren't and you'll see that through working together. So go write something with your friends. 

5. Celebrate the little victories. You wrote a song? It wasn’t very good? I have no idea what that must feel like, but congratulations! You wrote a song, that’s impressive, I’m proud of you, and you should be proud of yourself! You can always push yourself to make it better or you can write a new song that resonates with you more or perform something that showcases your talents and views more coherently, but always be proud of what you’ve accomplished. Big victories always begin with the little ones.

Here are a couple links if you want to read more on the subject. 

How Much Does Confidence Affect Musical Ability? by Anthony Cerullo from Sonicbids

Becoming a Confident Performer by Gerald Klickstein from Musicians Way