Beauty of the Darkness is an album that sat on my drive for over four months as I waited on something that in the end did not happen. I have to assume that the album itself was not ready. Life is like a box of frogs or somesuch. I went on and did "Melting Machine" … Continue reading Beauty of the Darkness
Author: Benedict Roff-Marsh
Asking for a Mentor
I have been approached several times in the last few months by musicians asking me to be a Mentor for their music & career. I should be flattered. I am not because in every case the approach has been insulting. Before anyone says "why don't you write a positive How To articleinstead of being all … Continue reading Asking for a Mentor
Best Albums – you probably don’t know
Every few months there is some sort of list of Best Albums. We have become obsessed with the idea of The Best as being this thing that if we get it, we are set. Here I am going to present some albums that will never likely be on any of these lists despite being very … Continue reading Best Albums – you probably don’t know
Why if you are trying to Mix It Yourself, you are probably doing it wrong
The definition of a broken mix is: A mix that does not help people to get into the Scene & Story of your Song Day after day I see people deciding to mix their own songs & albums. Commonly the reasons given are around price and the "importance" of the project. I understand, I do. … Continue reading Why if you are trying to Mix It Yourself, you are probably doing it wrong
Criticism is your Friend – the role of criticism in teaching
The Overture from Pigdom Come I gave some well-structured and well-intended professional advice recently in a place where people claim they are reaching for success in their music. The person had done some decent work but they had also done two things that while kinda ok today, would damage their chances of success down the … Continue reading Criticism is your Friend – the role of criticism in teaching
Marketing Indie Music – how to avoid failing before you even start
This question is pretty typical in group after group: I want to share my music with the world, and believe it to be capable of breaking many barriers...But I lack the ability to find the right avenues in which to get it out there... The answers I give are commonly something like: What are you … Continue reading Marketing Indie Music – how to avoid failing before you even start
Red Roofs & Wishes
Red Roofs & Wishes is deliberately meant to sit outside of the usual expectations of how a modern record should sound. Spending my days making other people's records sound as expected can leave me wanting to reach outside of the usual. I know this will probably have many people assume that I simply got it … Continue reading Red Roofs & Wishes
Basic Ideas in Making It in Music
People send me messages, asking for the secret to success in music. I give answers based around the four pillars below. "Does anyone wanna collaborate on a song as well as I’m looking for a producer or record label that’s looking for new artists" "I'm trying to be a rapper....any advice?" There are answers but … Continue reading Basic Ideas in Making It in Music
Audio Restoration – Getting Recordings to Work
omelet In groups on Facebook & places like Upwork, it is really common to see people who have made recordings that have not turned out as expected and hope to somehow transition from a problematic recording to something "perfect". Sometimes this is very doable, sometimes not. It all depends on the raw recording. Now before … Continue reading Audio Restoration – Getting Recordings to Work
Putting Flow into your piece – the missing Pro-Tip
All over the internet, there are people offering one essential (click-bait) Pro Tip after another. If you just do this (often silly) thing, your music will suddenly become Pro. Interestingly one of the things often not mentioned in this flow of material is the concept of Flow. If a thing flows, it feels organic, real, … Continue reading Putting Flow into your piece – the missing Pro-Tip