Tag: Music Journalism

Categories
News

Why I Write About Music

Thank you for joining us for another installment in our our ongoing Journalism Tips series. We started this column as a way to help aspiring writers get their start in music, but over the couple months we have been evolving into a place writers come to have their questions about life in the business answered. Today we are running a special editorial by our very own James Shotwell about the reason behind his work in music writing. If you have any questions about developing as a writer/blogger in music, please do not hesitate email james@haulix.com and share your thoughts. We can also be found on Twitter and Facebook.

What makes us fall in love with a song? In all my years on this planet the closest I have ever come to answering that question is a half-assed understanding that everyone connects with music in their own way. What makes my heart soar may bore others to death. Likewise, the hits people cannot get enough of often make me feel like I’ve lost touch with what is ‘trendy’ at the moment. The best you can hope to do is find something that works for you and support that project or group or album or single in whatever way you can. As I am a writer, it’s through the written word that I profess my love and make my admiration known, which is why this post first came to life.

The past week has taken me hallways across the country and back again. My family reside in the midwest, but I have been a resident of Boston – aka the world’s greatest city – for nearly five years. I take vacations every year, but the majority of my ‘free time’ is spent visiting loved ones over a thousand miles away from my tiny, one bedroom apartment. As a result, I have had a lot of time to dig into new music and the records people have been telling me to check out. I don’t have any hard data on the amount of music that has passed through my headphones over the last seven days, but I can think of at least half a dozen albums and a handful of major promotional singles. Most of it was good, some of it was bad, but only one album kept me coming back for more and more: I Can See Mountains.

Full disclosure: I am helping I Can See Mountains press their latest EP, Gone Beachy, to vinyl. You may think that makes me bias, and I guess in a way it probably does, but the only reason I even spoke to the band in the first place about working together was because I had the opportunity to hear Gone Beachy early and immediately felt a strong type of connection to the material that has been unmatched by every other release of 2014. I had no intentions of putting it out at first. In fact, I thought they would probably say no, but when you are so moved by something that you find yourself scrolling to that record or single every time you go to listen to music then I believe it is the responsibility of every music to promote, support, and otherwise nourish that talent as much as they are able. I believe it’s impossible for anyone to truly explain the connection they have with any one release. It may be due in part to the music or lyrics, maybe even the combination of the two, but there is also something else. Something more, if you will. This intangible, impossible to describe force that makes you feel as if the universe has brought this work of art to life solely to reach you in your time of need. You might not even have known you were looking for an answer or a friend, but then the music begins and the feels come flowing out. It happens to everyone, and anyone who tells you otherwise is probably just a little embarrassed by whatever material has grabbed their heart strings. If that applies to you, it’s okay. There is no such thing as a guilty pleasure. There is only the shame you feel because of how society tells you to feel about a certain type of music.

“I swear / you caught me staring / the lighting was awful / but the moment was perfect for me”

When it came to I Can See Mountains and their Gone Beachy EP, my initial connection with the record was forged when the first few notes of “My Aquatic” poured through my speakers at the tail end of May. It’s a dizzying rush of melodic guitar work that is both hypnotic and catchy. More importantly, the evolution between the band’s 2013 full-length and now was obvious from the get go, and as the song played out I began to fall in love with their unique take on Buffalo, NY influenced indie rock all over again. My heart was happy, but I would not say I was moved. It was more intrigue than anything, and it worked well enough to keep me listening as the first track transitioned into the second.

”I looked up at the sun above the trees / bright lights, big city are over me / I’m beat up but not defeated / I’m half raised like a lower case ’t’”

“Bald” begins with a few unassuming chords that feel pulled from a Sunday morning church service and quickly transition into driving and pulsating drum-filled verse that opens with a vision of a night that seems like it will never end. Everyone is taking everything out on our protagonist, who seems firmly transfixed on the challenges of growing up, who speaks and feels far older than his age would lead you to believe. He ponders if he’s truly his own person, or if he’ll simply fall into line like his elders did, but eventually realizes that he’s already started down his own path and only needs to stay focused in order to become the person he always wanted to be.

Listening to this song takes me back to every night over the last decade I have spent questioning my own life and career choices. Living in a city far away from the small town where I grew up, trips home often make me feel like some things never change, which makes me question whether or not we can actually change our own lives. Are we truly capable to create our own destiny, or has fate predetermined the course I will follow, thus negating any reason for me to try and be something different than what I have always been? That’s a tough question for anyone, and I think it’s something we all find ourselves asking at one point or another in our lives. If you’re smart, you eventually decide that regardless of what is actually true you are better off fighting to be who you want to be than settling for anything less. Unfortunately, not everyone is able to see things in that light. “Bald” focuses mainly on those who do, but as with any kind of art there is plenty of room to read between the lines.

”I wanna hold you close / for the record I’m an asshole”

This is where the feels train really begins to pull into the metaphorical station. “She’s My Bobby Orr, Pt. 2” was a song I was immediately curious about as I knew it to be a musical sequel to one of my favorite I Can See Mountains’ songs. To my surprise, it not only entertained, but legitimately moved me to tears on a first play through. It’s not the kind of track you would initially classify as a ‘unique love song,’ but as it plays out it becomes clear that is exactly what the guys in ICSM had in mind when they penned the lyrics at the beginning of the year. There is an urgency to each line, as if you’re listening to one hopeless romantic asking another to close their eyes and jump into one of those crazy things we call a relationship. It’s not just a crush, it’s a full blown romance from day one, and our protagonist is focused solely on conveying his emotion to the one who has caught his eye. He doesn’t want a date or a one night stand. He wants a wife and a family, but only if she wants that too. He wants her to be as happy as her very existence makes him and if that doesn’t melt your heart you may need to double check that their is still a muscle beating in your chest.

When I first heard “She’s My Bobby Orr, Pt. 2” I was not reminded of a single relationship I had actually experienced. Instead, I was taken back to all those random moments on subway trains and crowded streets when your eyes fall on someone who makes every bone in your body tingle with excitement. There is a sexual element, sure, but this – again – is something more. You don’t know how you ever lived before this person crossed your path and you’re immediately fighting the knowledge that in a few brief moments you’ll pass one another and move on with existence (or run to your laptop and post a ‘missed connection’ on Craigslist, which later goes viral because you sound more like a crazy person than someone capable of feeling true emotion).

…But what if you didn’t? What if you saw that person and dropped whatever else you were doing to express just how amazing you think they are even though it’s a feeling you cannot explain. You would probably trip over yourself a bit, foolishly downplaying your own good qualities because something inside tells you to cut yourself down so you don’t sound like a crazy person, which is exactly how the verses play out on “She’s My Bobby Orr Pt. 2.“ They take a chance on honesty and go for broke. I don’t know if the girl the song was written for was won over with the final product, but I sure as hell was, and the same goes for every person I’ve shared the song with to date. If you haven’t heard it yet, do so below:

By the time I realized my iTunes had played “She’s My Bobby Orr Pt. 2” for the sixth consecutive time I knew I had to do something to make more people aware of the recordings found on Gone Beachy. I knew I Can See Mountains had previously worked with Panic Records, which is a company a bit larger than my own label, so I assumed the most we could ever hope to do is collaborate with the guys in ICSM on a feature or two for UTG. That would have been enough in my book because it would have given me the opportunity to express the impact the music had on my life from the very first spin. Something told me I could do more, however, so I wrote the guys on a whim and asked if they would be interested in working with my label (Antique Records) on Gone Beachy. To my surprise, they said yes, and within a week I was placing an order to United Record Pressing for 300 7” vinyl.

I know not everyone who hears Gone Beachy will feel the same way about it that I do. In fact, I anticipated at least a few people will flat out say it sucks, but that’s part of the give and take that comes with being a passionate music fan. This is one of, if not the most subjective of any art form, and the fact anyone can write a song that connects with more than a handful of people is as an absolute miracle. The fact some have the ability to do more than just connect, even moving people to feel certain ways or making certain changes in their life, is something I am in awe of on a daily basis. Every person is different and every relationship is too, but for whatever random twist of evolutionary fate we have learned that we can relate to one another through metaphor and rhyme. That’s astounding.

There will never be a record label for every person who loves music, and the chances that you will ever be in a position to financially support your favorite artist to a significant degree are slim to none, but believe me when I say that those facts in no way downplay the power your voice has to help artists and groups alike. I created UTG for the sole purpose of using my voice to reach artists, and at that point in my life I barely had friends, let alone an audience. It did not take long for people to recognize my passion for music once I began sharing it, and over time that recognition allowed me to do more to help the artists I love. The same can happen to you, even if you have no interest in ever working in the music business full time. If you love something, be it music, art, film, photography, books, podcasts, or anything in between then you should share that love with the world. You never know who will connect with or the lives that you will help change. There are probably a thousand people who feel the same way you do or are going through similar situations, but you never know until you put yourself out there. Once you do that, your audience will begin to find you, and if you’re lucky they too will take it upon themselves to promote your efforts to the those they know and love. Additional connections will be made, networking opportunities will present themselves, and before you know it you will be well on your way to bettering you ability to help the artists you love. Who knows, you might even make a career for yourself in the process, but always remember that if you’re writing about others with personal gain in mind the likelihood you will succeed pretty much bottoms out.

James Shotwell runs the Haulix blog and serves as the founder of Under The Gun Review. He can be found on Twitter talking about entertainment and offering reasons why Boston is greatest city in the continental United States. It’s also one of the most expensive, which is why he willing to move if someone knows of another place he may love. Seriously. His lease is almost up. Do people keep reading this? I guess we shouldn’t let people write their own anymore.

Categories
News

The Gender Gap In Heavy Metal Journalists

Hello and welcome to the beginning of a brand new work week. There is a major holiday stateside this week, but that is in no way slowing our efforts to bring you every bit of information you need in order to conquer the modern music industry. For today’s post, we are running a guest blog from seasoned metal writer Lauren Wise about the gender gap in today’s hard rock journalism scene. If you have any questions about developing as a writer/blogger in music, please do not hesitate email james@haulix.com and share your thoughts. We can also be found on Twitter and Facebook.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a musician, a vocalist, a fan or a journalist; if you’re a chick in metal I can guarantee at some point in time you’ve heard the question: “why are you here?”

Women’s role in heavy metal music is rooted deeply in mystery, lust and temptation; the one thing that could overcome a male’s self-control. Immediately this has made us women either sexually objectified or looked down upon as not able to understand heavy metal music. The misogyny that runs wild in the scene since Black Sabbath days will never disappear. 

But even though women have to work twice as hard to be accepted on some levels, things have come a long way since the 1960s. As stated in one of my favorite books, “Running With The Devil: Power, Gender, and Madness in Heavy Metal Music” by Robert Walser, “Heavy metal revolves around identification with power, intensity of experience, freedom and community.” 

Women and men slam through the same mosh pits and can belt the same guttural screams from stage. Women who thrive on heavy metal often dash the normal idea of femininity; you’re more likely to see her in an Exodus t-shirt at a show rather than in a bikini on Instagram. She might go to the mall on occasion; but it will only be to refill her corpse paint supply at Sephora. And she can usually drink more whiskey than you and is totally fine that her hair is dreaded out after headbanging. 

However, there’s always going to be an undercurrent of male chauvinism, along with guys who feel that there’s no reason to have women on tour unless they are there to have sex. 

Well, when I’m there, it’s for a job. I’m a journalist and heavy metal columnist. Some of the musicians I interview and review may be cute, yeah; but I’ve never once been tempted to have any type of interaction with them on that level. Serious women journalists know that if you ever once put yourself in that position, you will never be treated with any respect. 

I established a rule for myself a long time ago: It’s of the upmost importance to keep myself (somewhat) collected, professional and, for lack of a better word, indifferent when dealing with the musicians in person. Sure, when I was 18, interviewing local bands comprised mostly of my friends, we would hash out music philosophy over a bottle of Jack Daniels. But times changed quickly when I realized that if I wanted to be taken seriously as a woman in the heavy metal business, I had to make it clear that my intentions were always purely professional. 

When I was 12-years-old listening to Pantera and Metallica in my bedroom, I would’ve never believed it if someone told me I’d eventually interview Phil Anselmo and speak with Lars Ulrich one day. As a child I competed in classical piano competitions, reveling in compositions by Bach, Beethoven, Debussy and Vivaldi. These composers that led me to heavy metal, are the very same composers that helped spawn the genre’s best guitarists. I graduated from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism, and for a decade I’ve built my career and I’ve been blessed to interview other influential figures, including Alice Cooper, Tom Araya, Buzz Osborne, Zakk Wylde, Al Jourgensen, Corey Taylor, Dani Filth, and James “Munky” Shaffer. 

I’ve also spoken to many women on the issue of gender in heavy metal. It’s a never-ending fight for females, from Joan Jett to Wendy O, Otep to Angela Gossow, Maria Brink and the Butcher Babies’ Carla Harvey and Heidi Shepherd. The latter two and I have had extensive conversations about their struggle as attractive female metal musicians. In short, it’s a no-win situation: you’re going to get shit for something, whether you’re not attractive enough, too attractive, wear too little clothing, wear too much clothing. If you’re a fantastic musician, fans tend to pick you apart even more closely than your male counterparts. Sometimes, the same goes for womens’ roles elsewhere in the genre. 

The majority of professionals I work with in heavy metal are woman, and damn good at what they do. Women take a lot of risks putting their opinion and knowledge out into the world of heavy metal, and I’ve personally been discriminated against for it: I’m too young, I’m a woman, I don’t like enough black metal. Hell, I’ve even had people say that because I’m a Christian I can’t fully appreciate the depth of different metal genres. 

While we can say that the gender gap continues to close, I can’t help but wonder… why is it that a majority of established women heavy metal journalists are still treated differently than males? Is the stigma of “girls are backstage only for one reason” really that hard to shake?  

After being backstage enough for show reviews and interviews, it’s easy to spot the groupies; mostly because they portray themselves that way. Plus, word spreads quickly between dudes. They gossip more than women; I swear.  But even though I can throw on my Chucks, torn jeans and Led Zep t-shirt, hold some conversations with a member of the band about work, and show zero sexual interest—I’m still be seen as competition for these girls. 

In 2013, a certain bad-ass third generation musician toured through Phoenix. As a heavy metal writer it appealed to me because this particular artist was known for bringing a healthy dose of metal into his repertoire. One of my favorite PR companies was handling the tour, and when I went to will call my press pass read “all access.” That wasn’t really common for my press passes, but who was I to question the logic? 

My photographer for the show was a girlfriend of mine whose full-time job was in managing production crews and VIP events for a major concert production company. A few songs into the show, we headed to watch from side stage and get a feel for the environment. Surprisingly, we were the only people back there. In a flash, a big burly guy approached us, demanding to know who we were. I showed him our passes and explained that I was reviewing the show. Skeptically, he questioned if we had made or stolen the passes. Finally he gave up, and returned a few minutes later with the musician’s road manager and guitar tech, who proceeded to try and feed us booze and joints in abundance. Finally we slipped away from the conversation that had turned from light-hearted banter to coaxing and creepy. We literally snuck out of backstage in order to enjoy the show. 

Half the time I go to shows I am greeted with skepticism that I’m on the “press list.” One time, a security guard didn’t even look at the list. I reiterated that I was reviewing the show, and finally he sighed, looked at the list and was surprised to see my name. When I asked him why he was so defiant, he said that there have been girls in the past that say that and are just trying to get into the show. Okay; well that doesn’t mean that you can’t continue to do your job. 

There have even been times where a musician didn’t want to be interviewed in person by a female journalist. I can only assume that this is because they themselves don’t want to cause any issue for a girlfriend or wife, and it’s just a personal rule. This type of situation is rare, but still astounds me. Nothing can be more frustrating for a writer then trying to build a career on talent and knowledge, with the double whammy of having to prove oneself as a woman. I believe in my craft, but there are times I have to force certain thoughts out of my head: Am I here because I’m talented, or because there’s an inkling in a guy’s mind that he might get laid? 

For example: I have a male friend; a very talented writer; who began writing professionally about a year ago. In that time span, he has hung out with more of the musicians he’s interviewed far more often than I have. They invite him on the bus for a beer and a shot, accepting him immediately as one of the guys. He’s never seen as a threat. But when I get an invite to meet an artist for drinks or lunch, I’m left wondering if my acceptance is going to be read into as a flirtation. 

In the end, my goal has always been to show society the positive intelligence of the heavy metal genre.  All I can do is help increase the credibility and visibility of female heavy metal journalists; and one day, it truly won’t matter if you’re a musician, a vocalist, a fan or a journalist. As long as you’re a chick passionate about metal and loving the music, there won’t be any questions about why you’re there. 

Categories
News

Journalism Tips #21: ‘Making The Most Of Your New Music Coverage’

Thank you for joining us for another installment in our our ongoing Journalism Tips series. We started this column as a way to help aspiring writers get their start in music, but over the couple months we have been evolving into a place writers come to have their questions about life in the business answered. Today we are continuing that effort with a response to a question posed by multiple readers in regard to how writers can make the most of their upcoming album coverage. If you have any questions about developing as a writer/blogger in music, please do not hesitate email james@haulix.com and share your thoughts. We can also be found on Twitter and Facebook.

New music is at the core of every writer’s efforts. Whether it’s reviewing, discovering, promoting, or generally updating readers, nearly every single thing we music writers post about in our day to day lives revolves around the idea of exposing more people to new music. Many sites, however, fail to properly explore every avenue for content creation when approaching coverage for a new release. There is far more that can be done than your typical review and interview column. So, with that in mind, we put together this handy dandy guide to maximizing your coverage of the next big release:

Album Announcement/News:

This is where it all begins. If you want to have the biggest return for your efforts you need to make it a point to follow the promotional campaign of new releases from the moment they begin. Response and clicks may be slow at first, but as you continue to cover the album you and your site will be a reputation amongst the fans of that particular artist and your overall following will grow. In order to become a site people frequent they need to believe you will always be on top of their favorite artist’s next move.

Album Review:

This is your basic ‘bread and butter’ coverage. If you want to talk about music you are probably already writing album and/or single reviews. Don’t stop. People may tell you professional criticism is dead, but it is not. With the amount of music available at an all time high it is more important than ever that the world have tastemakers people are able to connect and relate to. You and your site should be the lighthouse on the shore of an endless sea of content, each drop representing one artist hoping for mentions and coverage in the press.

Interview (email or phone):

Along with album reviews, this is the most common type of coverage to be created around new releases. Interviews are great because they allow you to connect with new readers by first forging a connection with a musician who is working as hard as possible to make creating art their career. These efforts forge relationships and networking opportunities that would otherwise be impossible to create.

Exclusive Premieres:

This is the holy grail of coverage, and it’s not hard to understand why. Partnering with an artist to premiere unreleased content from their album is guaranteed to bring a wealth of new visitors to your site. Artists will promote your content on all their networks, and in many cases their PR team will also send out a press release. Young writers and sites my have a hard time locking in big premieres, but with consistent posting and hard work it’s possible to position yourself to be among the first consider for an artist’s next big reveal.

Track-By-Track:

This could fall under exclusives, but it’s one piece of content that is often overlooked, especially with young/up and coming artists. Track-by-track features transform your website into the ultimate artist to fan digital engagement this side of streaming video. Lyrics are incredibly important when it comes to forging a connection with listeners, and as host to the secrets behind the songs your site is viewed as being close with talent. Artists trust you enough to host the true motivations behind songs that potentially change countless lives. It’s a big honor, regardless of the size of the talent’s fan base.

Listicle:

I call this the ‘Buzzfeed Approach.’ Create a list that correlates to the artist’s new release. It does not have to be deep or complex, but it’s never a bad thing to challenge yourself. Not everyone is a fan of the listicle, but in terms of generating more clicks for your site it’s easily created content that is easy to digest. I don’t know if anyone has cracked the code behind why people like sharing listicles, but it’s digital trend that shows no signs of slowing anytime soon.

Custom Editorial:

This is my favorite of the bunch. If you’re going to write about the music your passionate about it only makes sense to share the reasons you care so much with your readers. You can choose a single track or an entire record, either way the goal of these articles should be to share a piece of yourself with readers by leveraging the popularity of an upcoming release. Fans of that artist seeking others to be excited with will find your content and feel a connection with you and the work you do. In some cases, that alone can be enough to make them a reader for life.

Album Previews:

Last, but certainly not least, those fortunate enough to hear an album in advance of its release can craft content to excite fans for the record’s eventual street date. Some sites frame this content as ‘first impressions,’ but be careful to not cross the line and write a full blown review. There is a difference, and if your ‘advanced preview’ reads more like a ‘super early review’ you could risk upsetting industry contacts. 

Categories
News

Blogger Spotlight: Kari Hana (15 Minute Media)

Hello again, everyone! Welcome to another edition of the Haulix Blogger Spotlight. When it comes to running this column on a regular basis there is no denying that we sometimes slack. Topics or interviews come up that we cannot resist and, as a result, someone’s else gets bumped. We are hoping to make up for the delays this week by running a series of interviews we have been attempting to complete for weeks, and I think when you see the final results you will understand why we were so determined to highlight the people at the center of each column. If you have any questions regarding the content of this blog, or if you would like to learn more information about the services offered by Haulix, please email james@haulix.com and share your thoughts. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

Fifteen Minute Media is a site unlike any other we have featured on the blog. Created and run by Kari Hana, the site and its contributing staff understand that music is much more than just sound, that it goes deeper than what goes in our ears. To listen to music is to engage with art on an incredibly deep and personal level, with experiences varying from person to person, and its in understand that fact that Fifteen Minute Media have begun to carve their own niche audience in the digital realm. Their coverage may not highlight a specific genre, but they still offer insight on a variety of high quality talent – both known and unknown – from around the globe. They keep an open mind when it comes to new music and ask that readers do as well.

I have never had the great fortune of meeting Kari Hana in person, but based on the interview you are about to read I think it goes without saying that we would be the best of friends should our paths ever happen to cross. She is a focused and driven individual who will do whatever it takes to make a name for herself in music, but never forgets that her site exists to help others just as much as herself. Fifteen Minute Media is a place where dreamers are welcomed with open arms by people with similar passions who are ready and willing to aide that person – be it an aspiring professional or musician on the rise – with reach their goals. It’s a community of people actively working to curate the future of this industry, and if you ask me they are already doing a damn fine job.

If you would like to learn more about Kari and her efforts, please make it a point to visit and bookmark Fifteen Minute Media. Additional questions and comments can be left at the end of this post.

H: Thank you talking with us today. I’ve been following your work for a while and am excited to learn more about your efforts.
K: Thanks you. 
H: Every person who aspires to work in the industry has no doubt spent their entire lives in love with music. When you think of your earliest experiences with music, what memories come to mind?
K: I remember my father blasting AC/DC in the car and my feet dangling in the front seat because I was too short to reach the ground. I would just throw my head around because I thought it was the coolest music I’d ever heard. Then I’d come home where my cousins (who I grew up with) would blast Spice Girls and we’d roller skate through the house dancing to it. My mom would blast Thunder Rolls by Garth Brooks when she cleaned. I grew up with so many different genres of music. It really made me learn to love and appreciate it all. 
H: I want to talk a lot about the ‘now,’ but before we get there I do have one or two more general music questions to ask. First, who was the first artist(s) you saw in concert? Bonus points if you include a story about the experience.
K: Jingle Ball with P.Diddy, Missy Elliot, Ja Rule, and a bunch of others I can’t actually remember. We were at the end of the aisle and Missy Elliot came to sing to us. I was 14 at the time and ridiculously short (I’m 5’2 now) and Missy was shorter than I was. I asked my Aunt who had taken me if Missy was 14 too. 
H: Second (and far more importantly), can you recall the first time you seriously considered the idea of pursuing a career in the music industry? 
K: Interestingly enough, it wasn’t at a young age. I mean, I’d always dreamed of being a rock star but I can’t sing and never learned to play an instrument so I knew that dream was far off. I went to a music festival called Spirit West Coast a few years back and sold merch for a few bands there. Which I then fell in love with doing that. I spent more time at the merch tables than out watching the bands. I fell in love with the people. The way every one was just so nice. We all had a common interest, music. There was nothing dividing us. That’s when I started dreaming of going on tour with bands and selling their merch. I ended up helping out at This Great Escape’s merch tent and met this drummer named Johnny Mitchell. We talked a lot about photography. So during one three day summer festival, I found all kinds of love for this industry. Then in fall of that year I met a girl who did press and she invited me to work with her. From there, I fell in love with everything. I don’t think I could have turned back at that point. I was in this industry for good. 
H: You’re known now as the founder of Fifteen Minute Media, but before the site launched you were just another aspiring professional trying to find their place in this crazy business. From what I have read, it seems you actually wrote for another blog prior to stepping out on your own. What can you tell us about that experience?
K: It was amazing. I’ll forever be grateful. It taught me so much. It’s where I met most of the bands who I’d consider my friends now. Within about three months, I took this little blog and turned it into a website. I didn’t know what I was doing. I was winging it. Probably doing everything the wrong way but people fell in love with it. I fell in love with it. If I was given instructions on how to do things the “right” way, I wouldn’t go back and change it. Messing up, doing things wrong, that shaped Fifteen Minute Media. I’ll never change who Fifteen Minute Media is. Fifteen Minute Media in a way gave me life. 
H: Do you recall what initially attracted you to the world of music writing? There are a hundred ways one can try to make it in this business, so what was it about this particular path that continues to appeal to you?
K: Honestly, I was writing books on vampires and demons before this. Haha. That’s a little embarrassing but true. I’ve got notebooks upon notebooks just filled with a couple books I’ve been working on. I never before expected I’d be doing this. Like I said, the girl who ran that first blog I worked for got me interested. I met her at a show. In fact, it was the Vultures Unite tour. Versaemerge and Anarbor. We had a mutual friend. She told me what she does, my friend threw the fact that I was a writer in. She invited me to write for her and there is was. It’s silly but probably one of the best things that ever happened to me. 
H: I love the name of your site. A lot of young writers pigeonhole themselves with site names referencing certain genres or styles, but Fifteen Minute Media is generic enough (in a good way) to be about anything at all. You could even expand into film and television down the line. What is the story behind the site’s name?
K: Thank you. When Vestra Vera Press (the first blog I was a part of) ended, I was a wreck. Honestly, I thought that was it for me. Which really, it didn’t end right away, I was just kindly let go. The team I had built called me and told me to come in for a meeting (we were using my church as an office) and I was very confused. Guys, I don’t work with VVP anymore. It’s kind of dead. But I went in anyway. They said they’d hardly known the girl who ran it and knew that I’d do great things. They convinced me to start over. The band The Maine did too. I don’t know if John and Garrett will ever remember the conversation we had but if it weren’t for them, I can almost guarantee I would no longer be in this industry. Anyway, back to the name. Vestra Vera Press meant Your True Press in Latin. I really liked the meaning of that. However I never liked the name. Bands would stumble over it in interviews. I’d often call it strange things. It just didn’t work. I needed something that just rolled off the tongue but I also needed something that meant something. “KarPress” because at one point I was going to do it with my friend Karena and that was part of our name. We even considered “Awesome Press.” Nothing was clicking. Then finally I was going through quotes that I’d always really enjoyed (I had a folder filled with them on my laptop). “In the future, every one will be famous for fifteen minutes.” Andy Warhol. It just sort of.. fit. It worked and it really meant something. That’s what I was trying to go for. I also really enjoyed that I could shorten it up to FM Media. Made me think of FM radio, you know? 
H: I noticed you built your site using Squarespace, which is one of many popular start-ups aiming to corner the ‘build your own website’ market. As far as I know, you’re the first writer to be featured on the blog who has used this platform for their site. How has your experience been thus far with Squarespace, and how do you think it compares to platforms like Tumblr or WordPress?
K: We never actually used WordPress. I love Tumblr. I’d say I’m quite addicted to it. Haha. I used that first for FM but realized that labels and publicists never really took me seriously. FM Media is something I want to be my career. So we moved up toWix.com. Which is a website more geared towards photographers so the templates and things never really worked for me. Randomly saw an ad for Squarespace and thought it was perfect for us. I really love it. The customer service is great. The templates are literally just templates. I’m able to change things however I want. Move them around. Colors. All of that. I can do that. It’s the coding I can’t do. So I was really pleased with how you can design your website on Squarespace. 
H: There are at least ten contributors listed on your staff page. How big is the Fifteen Minute Media team overall? Are you still looking for additional recruits?
K: The staff page is forever changing. I currently have eleven members on my team. I’m always open to new recruits. I like to give people chances. People who are new in the industry. Photographers without much experience. I got picked up at a show with no experience in this industry whatsoever. I love helping people. Warped Tour is always a big event for  my team. They have so much fun. I’ve had one photographer that has never shot a show have Warped as their first ever concert to shoot. Kevin Chu and Brie Heinrichs have been two of my favorites, to be honest. Kevin was so excited.He did amazing! He was such a great person to have on my team for the year that he was on it. He was so nervous at Warped Tour but if you look at our website, I have one of his photos from that show featured on the page. I’m so impressed with Kevin and his photography. Brie’s first Warped was this year. Over the weekend actually. She was so awkwardly nervous. You could tell from the second you saw her but she did so well. She had a very long schedule for the day but she still managed to rock it. I love helping people find their passion and love for this industry because someone did that for me. I think that’s what I did with Kevin and Brie. We’ve had up to twenty four members on the team at a time. I try to throw a few parties for them every year. I want them to know how much I appreciate them and what they are doing for Fifteen Minute Media. I’ve always said it and I’ll continue to say it, I run FM Media as a family. Fifteen Minute Media does not succeed without the every single member. They all make FM great. I’ll forever be grateful. 
H: I am going to go out on a limb and guess that you don’t make much, if any money from your efforts. With that in mind, what keeps you going?
K: Oh my. We hardly make anything and that’s the truth. My passion keeps me going. I want to make money off of FM. I want this to be my career. It’s my life’s dream. It will be that. It will be my career. I just have to keep fighting for it every single day. 
H: Following in line with that question, there is next to no advertising on your site. Do you have plans to introduce ads in the future? If not, have you considered any alternate ways of making money with your site?
K: No, there are no ads. We do plan on introducing this but again, I’m new to this. Every thing I do with FM is just a guess. I have no idea what I’m doing. I don’t know how to introduce those kinds of things. Currently, we manage and promote local bands for a small fee. We do a lot of promo shoots and things like that. That’s about as far into the money making flow we’ve gotten so far. 
H: Do you see yourself continuing to write about music for the foreseeable future, or would you rather find work in another part of the industry?
K: Fifteen Minute Media will always be my thing. I will forever write for it. However, I do want to be a tour manager or tour merchie. If any TMs or merchies are reading this they are probably shaking their head saying NO THAT’S NOT WHAT YOU WANT. It is though. I’ve done my research. I’ve spoken to TMs and merchies a lot. I talk to people all the time about it. I know how hard it is. I know how exhausting it is. It’s a dream I won’t give up on. I think I can still TM or sling merch and run a successful music magazine though.
H: Speaking in terms of growth and development, what are the biggest challenges facing Fifteen Minute Media right now?
K:  Probably our lack of funding. I live about an hour and a half from Sacramento, San Francisco, San Jose and Fresno. Which is where all the tours hit around here. Gas is expensive. Time is expensive. If I could had one wish it would be that we had the funding to make this thing bigger. My dream is print. I’d love to hold FM Magazine in my hands. It’ll be the greatest feeling. 
H: What advice would you offer to others who may be considering a career, or at least the pursuit of a career, in music writing?
K: Don’t give up. Find the right publication. The one that suits you. Vestra Vera Press didn’t work for my needs. Fifteen Minute Media does. If this is what you want, don’t let anything stop you. I never have and I never will. That’s why I’m doing what I am with FM. That’s why we’re so successful. It’s all about the passion. Hard work will get you everywhere. 
H: When it comes to receiving music for review and feature consideration, what distribution platforms do you prefer and why?
K: I often get emails with digital music for review. Which is great, but nothing beats the bands who send me an album in the mail. I love putting it in my car stereo and just driving around nowhere listening to it. I live in the Central Valley. Miles and miles of beautiful farm lands. I just love to drive around and listen to a new record. I focus better on it that way. 
H: Music piracy is as big a problem today as ever. Do you think it’s possible to eradicate music leaks altogether?
K: I don’t know. I mean, it would be awesome. These artists put so much time, energy and money out of pocket into what they’re doing. Unfortunately I don’t think a lot of teenagers (and some adults) respect that or even get what they are doing. 
H:If you could offer one piece of guidance to unsigned bands trying to gain attention for their efforts, what would it be?
K: What touring artist do you sound like? Flyer out in front of a venue after a show. Give away free music downloads. Free demos you made. You’re going to lose money but I’ve met some incredible artists that way. This guy Nick Haskin from a band The Adventurous Type was handing out free CDs after an All Time Low show. I got in my car and immediately popped it in. I fell in love with this band. You don’t understand how good they are. I still have the CD and I STILL listen to it. Send all of your information to different music publication. To college radio station. Get heard, basically, is my advice. 
H: What is your ultimate career goal? Life goal?
K: To have Fifteen Minute Media be a career I could live off of. I don’t want to work anywhere else. It would also be awesome to have this in print, but I’ll settle for online. Just make it successful, that’s my dream. 
H: A genie pops out of a bottle and tell you he will grant one wish as long as it changes the music industry for the better. What do you wish?
K: A successful career for Fifteen Minute Media staff changes the industry by spreading the word of the industry. Haha.
H: Okay. This is getting pretty long and I know you’re a busy person, so I will go ahead and stop here. Before I let you go, are there any final thoughts or comments you want to share with our readers?
K: I just want to thank you for the interview, first of all. I also want to thank the readers for supporting Fifteen Minute Media. Most of you have been here with me since I first started in the industry. You’re all very loyal. I appreciate all of you. Thank you for helping me and my team live our dream. 
Categories
News

Journalism Tips #9 – ‘What To Do When The Internet Hates You’

Hello and welcome to the ninth installment of our Journalism Tips series. We started this column as a way to help aspiring writers get their start in music, but over the last month we have been evolving into a place writers come to have their questions about life in the business answered. Today we are continuing that effort with a response to a question posed by one reader in regards to how writers handle the hate that comes their way online.

If you have any questions about developing as a writer/blogger in music, please do not hesitate email james@haulix.com and share your thoughts. We can also be found on Twitter and Facebook.

This may come as a shock to some of the younger writers reading this, but not everyone who reads your reviews will agree with, or even be able to appreciate, what you write. It’s not talked about all that often and it’s never taken to the kind of extremes that warrant news attention, but every writer that has developed a voice worth reading online has and will most likely continue to encounters people who disagree with their opinions on everything. It gets tough and, if we’re being completely honest, can drive even the most talented writers to ask themselves why they didn’t dedicate the last several years chasing after a different career, but it’s of the utmost importance you do not let such messaging break you.

The hard truth is that there is nothing you can do to prevent people from telling you that your work sucks. You are entitled to the opinion you have on the art you critique and the anonymous voices of the internet have a right to the opinion they have about your opinion on that piece of art. They also have a right to express that opinion, and there will be some who choose to exercise that right. The best thing you can do is learn to come to terms with the fact you will never make everyone happy and try your hardest to resist letting any amount of hate detract you from sharing your thoughts with the world. That is far easier said than done, of course, but that is the kind of mindset you are going to need if you want to make it in the writing world today.

There are no guides on how to handle the internet’s disdain for your work, but we can offer a few pointers:

Don’t be afraid to read the hate. You may learn to see things in a whole new light.

There will always be people who choose to express their disagreement with your opinion by telling you to kill yourself, but that is not the case with everyone. Some people simply see or hear things you may not, and reading their explanation for disagreeing with you may help you find a new reason to appreciate a certain artistic creation. Maybe you missed the string quartet on the closing track, or perhaps you overlooked a few subtle connections in the storyline of that recent indie film others were raving about. You might have a lot of good points to make, but you certainly do not have all of them. Others have insight to offer as well, and taking the time to listen/read and consider their thoughts will not only aide you in better understanding certain things, but it will also help you further develop a relationship with your readers.

Try to resist the urge to engage the nonsense.

Remember how I said there will always be people who wish you would kill yourself or otherwise have your life take a turn for the worse because you did not enjoy something they like quite a bit? You may want to engage them and go off with your own delicately-designed string of obscenities, but it’s important to realize from the start that you cannot win a war with the internet. Those haters are looking to get a rise out of you, and feeding their desire for attention will only result in worse words being swapped between people who otherwise would never interact with one another. It’s pointless. Move on.

Remember: It’s only the internet, and there a 99.98% chance the anonymous haters of the internet will never engage you in real life.

Every writer I know has been told over the internet, in one string of obscenities or another, that they are worthless human beings with poor opinions on pop culture who should either get cancer or kill themselves because they’re too stupid to do anything else on this Earth. You know how many of them have been told that in a real life setting while standing or sitting next to another actual person? None. It doesn’t happen. The @nickelback4ever and @musicsnob2006-s of the internet are not going to leap from your laptop or smartphone and grab you by the collar. It’s just text on screen, and it can only do as much damage to your spirit as you allow it.

When the going gets tough and you just do not think you can take anymore hate, do us all a favor and put down the glowing screen you have dedicated your life to and step outside. Close your eyes, take a deep breath or three, and remind yourself there is a lot more to this life than the opinions of other people. Be yourself, and be confident in your thoughts and opinions. Don’t let anyone take away what makes you unique.

Categories
News

Blogger Spotlight: Daniel Gallegos (Dread Music Review)

Hello and welcome to a brand new week of music industry advice and insight on the official blog of Haulix. We have been preparing all month for the days ahead, and could not be more excited to finally share the content we have in store with all of you. From interview to advice, everything you love about this blog will be making an appearance in the very near future. If you have any questions regarding the content of this blog, or if you would like to learn more information about the services offered by Haulix, please email james@haulix.com and share your thoughts. We can also be found on Twitter and Facebook.

There are many types of music critics in this world. Some people love to hear themselves talk, others feel they have a mission to prove one genre is better than all the rest, and still others critique for the sake of finding the best music anywhere in the world. Genre does not matter. Age does not matter. If they have an audience, these critics want to know why. They dedicate themselves to the pursuit of the most memorable, catchy, infectious, and downright unforgettable audio offerings ever created. They are a rare breed of writer, and we are fortunate enough to have one of their brightest minds with us today.

For the better part of the last three years Daniel Gallegos has served as founder, editor, and sometimes photographer of The Dread Music Review. The goal of these efforts has not been to preach about one genre of music, or to say one group is better than the other, but to show the world all music is awesome and worth hearing. Through music reviews, live coverage, editorials, and little bit of everything in between, Daniel explores the wide reaching world of music so casual listeners can enjoy the latest greatest offerings from around the globe. His mission is one we applaud, and we are honored to have him take part in this series.

If you would like to learn more about Daniel Gallegos and the efforts of The Dread Music Review, please take time today to follow the site on Facebook. additional questions and comments can be left at the end of this post.

H: Please tell everyone your full name, job title, and the site you’re going to discuss with us today:

D:Hey James! My name is Daniel Gallegos, owner, writer, and sometimes photographer for the DreadMusicReview.com.

H: Thank you for taking the time to speak with us, Daniel. I’m excited to learn about your journey in this business. Tell me, has music always played a major role in your life?

D: My father always told us ‘Music is the voice of the universe’, He was very musically talented and ensured music was always a part of our lives growing up.

H: Who was the first artist you can remember obsessing over, and how did you initially discover them?

D: I believe it was 1985 or maybe 1986, RunDMC broke the music barrier by covering Aerosmith’s ‘Walk This Way’ which came up randomly on MTV. I ended up not only learning every single song by RunDMC, but also Aerosmith, and began to understand how diverse the world of music really was.

H: Do you remember the first concert you attended? Go on, tell us a little about that experience:

D: The first memorable concert i went to was the Rolling Stones Steel Wheels Tour, in Los Angeles at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. We had flown from Albuquerque to LA just to see the Stones play. It was a fast unplanned weekend trip my dad put together in just a few days, because he wanted me to see one of his favorite bands while they were still touring. The Stones played 3 shows in 3 nights, we were there for two of them, i believe this was back in 1989. I actually spent that Halloween on the beach with my ears still ringing from the concerts.

H: We’re mainly here to discuss your working in writing, so it’s only fair we dive into your history there as well. Can you pinpoint any formative moments or experiences you had growing up that may have steered you towards a life of music criticism?

D: I have always had a love for music, I have found that while most my friends growing up stuck with listening to one genre, or style of music, i always wanted to hear, and experience more. I was the kid always flipping through the stations, looking for the songs that felt right, and sounded perfect.

H: Where did you get your first taste of writing professionally?

D: in 2008, I was photographing events for the now defunct ArizonaReview, taking photos for Nubia Calvillo’s articles. We actually sat down after one event, looking over my images and discussing how we wanted to place them in a way that told their own story along with hers. I sat down and wrote out what i saw, and how it made me feel. from that point on, writing about shows just became an obsession.

H: Onto the site. Would you please tell us the origin story behind Dread Music Review? You are, after all, known by many as ‘Mr. Dread.’

D: I spent a very long time wrestling with the decision to make my own site. Running a website is hard work, and takes a degree of dedication that is incredibly amazing to maintain. I had spent months looking for companies i would like to write for, but i couldn’t seem to find anything that seemed to resonate with the non-biased form i had grown to love in the ArizonaReview. I discussed making my own site with some writers, photographers, PR agencies and labels and decided to push forward with the idea of launching a site, with the goal of not just sticking with one genre of music, and to be open to all forms of musical expression. While brainstorming ideas, one of my phone ringtones went off, it was a sound-clip from “The Princess Bride”, so i looked at that movie for inspiration, and went forward with the Dread Music Review name.

H: We should address the nickname. When did you first begin using the pseudonym Mr. Dread?

D: That credit goes to my daughter, Bonnie, after discussing the name I had chosen for the site, she began calling me “Mr. Dread” and it just stuck, so i integrated it into the DMR.

H: What were your initial goals when DMR launched, and how have they changed or evolved in the years since?

D: The goal of the DMR has always been the same: we want to share with the the world all music. The goal isn’t to preach about one genre of music, or to say one group is better than the other, its to show the world all music is awesome and worth hearing.

H: How would you describe the content offered by DMR to people who have never visited the site?

D: I would have to tell them that we are lovers of all forms of music, and share all that we can, and if they check out our site, they will more than likely find something that will be interesting to them.

H: The competition in the field of digital music journalism has ballooned in recent years. What do you feel sets DMR apart from the rest of the sites vying for clicks?

D: I do my best to find local writers and photographers for events. I have found that if you invest in local people to go to shows and events and to take photos and write reviews, they bring their own cities/colleges and areas with them to the site.

H: Looking at the site now, I notice that you have pretty much no advertising whatsoever. Have you attempted to monetize that site at all? If not, do you have plans to do so in the future?

D: I have wrangled with the idea of selling advertisements, and even using resources like Google ads, or other pay per click ad banner companies. But, so many sites already have all the same advertisements and banners and “click here"s and pop-ups. I have found that ads distract from the content. I want DMR readers to read about music, and events and check out artists, not wrestle with ads. As much as i would love to see the DMR make money via ads, i would rather have a clutter and ad free environment for our readers. In the future, i would like to be able to offer concert and event tickets, and even work in advertisements for our DreadMerchStore, but at the moment it just seems like a bad idea.

H: Besides traffic and continued access to press materials, how do you measure the success of your efforts with DMR?

D: I went to a show in Phoenix, Az, a local band was on stage, and they actually told the crowd about the awesome interview their drummer had given to the DreadMusicReview. The pride in the knowing that band recognized the DMR onstage and was excited about being featured in it has been the standard of how i measure the DMR’s success. we dont do it to be "successful”, we do it to help the artists get out there and become just a little bit more well known.

H: What advice would you offer to up and coming writers who are currently considering a career in music joualism/criticism?

D: Keep at it. Set some goals and don’t stop until you reach them, then make some more and keep that train rolling. Always follow up, even if it is days or weeks later, keep communication going; Your career and that of the artists you feature are dependent on how well you communicate with those in your industry.

H: When it comes to receiving music for review/feature consideration, which distribution platforms do you prefer and why?

D: I have found Haulix to be an absolute godsend! I get an email from a band or PR agency with a Haulix link to content from the band and everything i need is right there at my disposal. I sometimes get links to soundcloud, or other music sharing sites or even just youtube, but being able to have everything bundled up and readily available saves so much time.

H: Beyond continuing to develop DMR, what career goals have you set for yourself?

D: I plan on expanding the Dread family, i have recently started a new project, the DreadMovieReview, still in its infancy and beta stage, along with a band merch site to offer products to artists to sell to their fans at wholesale prices.

H: Is there any area of the music industry you have yet to dabble in that interests you? On the flip side, are you active in any areas we may not have discussed in this interview?

D: Eventually, i would like to move into the PR aspect of the music industry, there are so many awesome PR agents out there that have taught me so much, and some that go above and beyond, like Tom George from Fixit, or Mike from Earshot, they are always there for whatever us writers need. I would love to learn as much as i can from their side of the industry.

H: If you could change one thing about the music business, what would it be?

D: I would like to see less festivals and more intimate events. But there is such a demand for festivals, it would be along time coming to see that kind of change.

H: There are a number of young artists reading this who hope to one day be featured on sites such as yours. What advice would you offer them on advancing their careers in the modern music landscape?

D: Get yourself out there, submit your music and bios to every site you find, and network as much as you can, the friend you meet today could be the person hyping your record to all his friends tomorrow! Also, invest in a good PR agency. They will help you reach as many potential fans as you can.

H: Looking ahead to the rest of 2014, are there any major changes or evolutions coming to DMR? Tell us what lies on the horizon.

D: I am planning on bringing live concert streams to the DMR in June, hopefully streaming EDM festivals as well. My goal is to have the DMR be the place to go to for up to date information on new and current artists.

H: Okay, I think that covers everything. Before I let you go, do you have any final thoughts or observations you would like to share with our readers? The floor is yours:

D: The best thing i can say is always move forward. Plan ahead and you will come out ahead.

Exit mobile version