Setting up a small home studio is not hard to do, but you need to budget and spend a nice amount of money to make it happen. Even though it doesn’t seem like it at first, when you have your won home studio set up, you will save money in the long run. You will not have to spend money on recording time, or studio hours charged by external studios. You can take as long as you want in your own studio, and you can also charge others once your skill set is up to par. I am going to list a few items that are necessary in starting a home studio.

First off you need a good, solid computer. Your computer should be able to perform all of the tasks of processing effects, samples, running programs etc. Your computer is usually the main piece in your home studio set up. For me my computer is very vital because I use all virtual instruments to build my tracks. For those bands who play live instruments, computers are used more on a recording and tracking basis, but still just as important non the less.

Next, you need to get a good audio interface (sound card). I personally use the Motu Audio Express 6×6 hybrid fire wire interface. It is east to set up, it has good sound, and it doesn’t break the bank by any stretch of the imagination. Your sound quality ay home still had to be very good as if you were in a external studio so dong short change yourself on your interface. Compare and research a few and then decide what fits your needs and budget.

Other components of setting up a home studio are of course a good microphone ,studio monitors and headphones . I personally suggest condenser mics, they are solid and they are good for recording live instruments as well as vocals. You can find plenty of them for nice prices at most pro-audio stores these days. Monitor speakers and a pair of good headphones are definitely a must for a home studio. You want to select a pair of “flat” monitors so you can hear exactly what your music sounds like as you mix it. Monitors these days come in various price ranges for all budgets. I personally like the KRK brand of monitors, but again this is a personal choice so I advise listening to a few different brands of monitors before making a decision.

Recording software of course is a component of the home studio in order for you to lat vocals down, or to record live instruments. There are quite a few multi track recording software that are available these days to help bands and artists accomplish this goal. Make sure you read up on all the products out, even try some of the free demo software as well that most of the bands offer to get a feel before you purchase. There are other miscellaneous items you need such as midi cables, mic cables, surge protectors, cables for guitars or other instruments, synths etc. All these accessories are a part of your home studio. Also be prepared to sound proof the area you choose to use as your studio. Treating the room is almost as important as gathering the equipment to be totally honest. If the room is not sonically correct, you will still not have a good sound no matter the equipment. In all make, sure to budget, plan and prepare for all the necessary items for you home studio if you want to be taken serious as a musician. From there you are on your way!

KayoticMusic
http://soundcloud.com/kayoticmusic

Review by Kanaan Minks

When It Began

Although West was born in Atlanta in 1977, he spent most of his childhood in Chicago with his mother. Although West did well in school and studied at Chicago State University where his mother chaired the English Department, West left his college studies to focus on a career in the music industry. West began producing in 1996 and steadily increased his prestige by working with artists like Foxy Brown and eventually Jay-Z. His subsequent work with Jay-Z made West one of the hottest and most sought-after producers in the business.

Crash before Fame

A near-deadly car crash influenced West to write his first single titled “Through the Wire.” His debut album, The College Dropout, garnered considerable critical fame and eventually received triple-platinum status. Like the first, the second album, Late Registration, also achieved critical honors. Continued offerings garnered still more success, acclaim, and international fame. Awards and his subsequent super stardom have made Kanye West one of the best known musical artists of the past decade. West’s musical achievements have been fueled by immense talent. West plays multiple instruments, writes, raps, sings, and produces. He has mastered each of these roles, making him a major force in today’s music industry.

Beyond the Music

Having garnered his fame as a musical genius, West turned his mind and talent to other ventures. With forays into the fashion world, West designed his own clothing line and even saw his own shoe released by Louis Vuitton. From his DW Kanye West fashion line to his forays into acting, West has revealed that he is a man of many talents. In addition to his various career steps, West also maintains philanthropic work. In 2003, West started a foundation to keep African American and Latino students in school. Moreover, West has participated in multiple benefit concerts and fundraisers for various causes like Hurricane Katrina relief and World Water Day.

The Sharp Dressed Man

Successful, talented, and fashionable, it isn’t surprising that West has received considerable attention from the ladies. West was involved in a long-term relationship with designer Alexis Phifer on and off since 2002. The couple became engaged in 2006, but ended their relationship in 2008. Today, West is involved with reality television star Kim Kardashian. The couple began dating in April and recent publicity has surrounded Kardashian’s influence on West’s songwriting and West’s influence on Kardashian’s fashion style.

The Kanye Influence

In the prime of his life and career, West is poised to be an inspiration to other artists. His album 808s & Heartbreaks has already dramatically influenced the world of Hip Hop music with its personal style and the artist’s revelations about love and loneliness. Artists like Jay-Z have asserted this influence in interviews by stating their own ideas about the future and evolution of Hip Hop. West has cemented his status in the music industry, but his own future still looks promising as his talent continues to grow in many new and exciting directions.

Wrapping Up West

Grammies, critical acclaim, fan adoration—West has garnered much in his career. Yet, his life is not without tragedy either. West lost his mother to cosmetic surgery complications in 2007. She had left her own position at Chicago State University to manage West’s career and the two were extremely close. West often sings in her honor at various concerts and events. While it’s clear that West is a man of many talents and leads an incredibly full life, he is also someone to keep watching to see where his remarkable life will go next.

Author Bio:

Guest post contributed by Ashley Coxx for iMesh.com – click here to download songs for free. Ashley is a freelance writer and a budding music historian. She enjoys writing articles which appear on various music blogs.

Photo by: g-6sou on Flickr

You may watch this cool video made for the first single Holdin’ Me off the EP:

Darin Bennet says the following about his style: “My sound has been compared to a wide variety of artists including Tom Waits, Nick Cave, and Bruce Springsteen, as well pioneers such as Son House, Robert Johnson, Otis Redding, and Sam Cooke.”

And the following regarding the new video: “I’m a singer/songwriter based in Los Angeles who usually plays guitar. However, this video features, slide banjo, guns and a high speed car chase through a mile of the Mojave Desert.”

You may find additional information and purchase links for the EP and preview Darin’s solo works at the ‘Darin Bennet and the Requiem’ official website.

Photo by Stacey Winget ©2012

Review by Kanaan Minks

More news and announcements could be found on there facebook page.

Article by Robin Rob Minks

The Whip Hand (4:49)
Aegis (5:11)
Dyslexicon (4:22)
Empty Vessels Make The Loudest Sound (6:43)
The Malkin Jewel (4:44)
Lapochka (4:16)
In Absentia (7:26)
Imago (3:58)
Molochwalker (3:33)
Trinkets Pale of Moon (4:25)
Vedamalady (3:54)
Noctourniquet (5:39)
Zed And Two Naughts (5:36)

It’s a kind of a new sound, but still chaotic, weird and excellent!

Independent artists and how they find their platform

Firstly the music is send to the sound engineer to attain finery. Here the songs are examined and fine tuned, some spice is added to the background music if required and then the entire album is send for mass production. This is a common reason why the independent artist needs to license his production in order to wade off piracy, which is too common in the music world. Most artists fall prey to fraudulent activities of cheaters who after assuring a lump sum pay on the former’s creation leave them unpaid.

Independent music productions are widespread, rendering an opportunity for the independent artist. The entire community of independent artists is benefitted with the high end technology used to produce music in the best possible way. Today’s way of music creation differs from the traditional ways used in the past. Such advanced technology helps beautify the background music.

There are many independent artists like you who are aspiring to become a celebrity in the music industry. Music licensing companies are helping them find a platform to attain success. These licensing companies protect your music from piracy. In most cases the compositions made by the independent artist are copyrighted to make way for better use in forthcoming days. The licensing companies ensure that your music is not misused for any reason. They even make way for your music launch.

Being an aspirant it brings you a feel of exhilaration sooner you think of the entire mass getting glued to your music and praising you for such lovely and enthralling performance; your route to stardom is not far. Music is loved by all and some people go on to the extent of identifying their thoughts with musical notes. Music composers are required to create impactful background music in order to attain a far reaching effect. The independent artist needs to work hard and find out what the audience wants from him, so that he creates music that will be appreciated by the greater mass.

Proper marketing of your composition is the most significant aspect that can bring about a change in your budding career. Contacting the right music licensing company helps you find your identity in the industry. They assure you to protect your music from piracy, which is most common these days. After all you would want your background music to be claimed as creation of another person. The licensing company acts as a pillar of support for budding artists.

I’d like to say hi to all readers!

My name is Ilya and my company purchased this blog recently. We’re going to continue developing and popularizing this website, publishing album reviews and news about bands and musicians. I’d like to express my deep respect to the previous owner of MuzikaBlog.com, he’s created a very good online resource about modern music. My musical preferences are quite similar so I hope I’ll be able to keep on blogging in a right manner.

Feel free to contact us by e-mail: contact@muzikablog.com

Good luck and stay in touch!

Fanfarlo are a prime example of a band that got it right but arrived just too late. Their sincere and mathematical indie pop gained a real following as the band began to emerge, but their debut was received with luke warm reactions from much of the music world and many critics.

The band launched their first album Reservoir after a huge number of aspirational bands, and indeed well established artists, had thrown their efforts into creating the melodic and orchestral sound Fanfarlo were pursuing in 2009. It did not work well for them. They were quickly written off as a mimic act, attempting to be the likes of Arcade Fire and the National. While it is true Fanfarlo’s music does seem to draw much “inspiration” from these famous groups, I wouldn’t go so far as to declare this five piece a spin off. I will admit that although some of the tracks have too much of a feel of deja vu to them, like “The Walls are Coming Down” which sounds scarily like Santa Fe native Zach Condon’s efforts in Beirut, others hold a unique charm to them, like Talking Backwards, with powerful and crooning vocals soaring over immaculate layers of piano chords, separate guitar melodies and percussion.

Indeed that is for me the reason the band is so attractive: the songs are meticulously thought through. Each instrument is so carefully layered into the chamber pop blend it is strikingly perfect. However the engineering of the album means Fanfarlo fans loose out when one attempts to interact with the tracks. They do not grow on you as you listen more and more, and nor can you extract any true emotion from them. As the band emerged in the late 2000s on the alternative folk scene more heartfelt acts like Laura Marling seemed to be what the UK public had an appetite for.
That having been said Simon Balthazar, the lead singer, does his best to bring some animation to Reservoir but his crooning still feels rather flat. However the effect is surprisingly not all that bad! The album has a subdued and pensive atmosphere and in fact its seriousness almost plays to its advantage in ensuring the singing chorus of mandolins, brass and violins do not sound sickeningly twee. The result is a lush and mature sound, which I feel plays to the bands advantage in creating something new in a saturated genre of music.

Fanfarlo initially released a series of singles, not featured on their debut, like the catchy track, You are One. They then went on to compile Reservoir in 2009. While I have talked about Fanfarlo’s sound as being a pleasant one, listening to an entire album of their work is rather monotonous. While they prove they can reproduce their style on a variety of melodies, it all gets a little repetitive as the tempo hardly varies and neither does the range of instruments or style of vocals. However I would thoroughly recommend purchasing the album. The individual tracks will provide some excellent listening which will prove a nice surprise on your shuffle once in a while. However I would thoroughly recommend purchasing the album. The individual tracks will provide some excellent listening which will prove a nice surprise on your shuffle once in a while.

Why are Fanfarlo relevant now I hear you asking! Well I have been following their progress since Reservoir and I’m looking forward to seeing what will become of their latest offering released this year, called Rooms Filled With Light. Much as I hope these three years since Fanfarlo’s debut will have given the band a chance to develop their style, I am concerned. The band seems to have taken the criticism of their music to heart and appear to be jumping ship from an orchestral sound to an electric one. Indeed their new single “Replicate” confirms my worries. This is a big mistake. There is still an appetite for acoustic music, and indeed this is what the band’s fans on facebook have been begging for more of. For the group to once again enter a new genre, and again later than rival acts; instead of sticking where they are finally being accepted as a band worth listening too; is a big mistake. If the album is once again declared an imitation piece and nothing unique or special then it may well be the final nail in the coffin for this London crew.

Fanfarlo have proved that they have the potential to create very sophisticated music. Its just a shame they were too late on the London indie scene for widespread recognition, and are too unaware of their fans wishes to go on to achieve the success their talent deserves. The future of this five piece act is hanging in the balance, but I sincerely hope they stick around to show the world what they can do.

Here we are again, and I’m tackling an Australian band from Melbourne. I’m not going to lie, the only thing I know musically from Australia is Nick Cave related. For this, I apologize to all Australians. In any case, NME seem to be rather interested in them, and they’re damn hard to Google, which they say is the point. They’re called Me, and their debut EP, to be released soon, is called Naked. I reviewed an EP of theirs, Another Story High.

This EP certainly harks back to the psychedelic ear of the sixties, especially the Beatles post and during Sergeant Peppers, and it also dips in to it’s rich, baroque, Queen-esque sensibilities, and this mixes well with the heavy power-rock feel in the opening track, Naked. The band is tight and driving, and the riffs are catchy and enjoyable, and the opening number certainly catches the attention. The singer gets to show off his voice pretty early on, and the guitarist pulls his best Brian May impression out of the bag near the end of the track. They really do have the over-the-top orchestration and harmonies of the music-hall and baroque, but I salute that. At least it’s fun and enjoyable to listen to. Insert Voice Here is a quieter, but still a very much ‘for the benefit of Mister Kite’ feel. The vocal melodies are interesting and the harmonies on the voice are, again, baroque. But it’s good, and it has an almost orchestral feel that runs throughout the whole EP. Dutch Medicine slows the pace of the EP down, and the band turn towards a much more laid-back, psychedelic affair. It’s perhaps the most enjoyable tune on the whole of the EP, and it’s occasional space-age beeps and swirls create a thick and heady atmosphere in the track, which builds as the track progresses. It’s certainly the prettiest track to listen to, and it’s a welcome break from the heavy baroque, enjoyable as that is. We’re straight back in on the next track in the EP, Slow Children Run. Interestingly, the track actually, apart from the strong Queen feeling, also has a slightly Danny Elfman taste. It’s got a seaside feel, which is an enjoyable juxtaposition from the sinister lyrics. It’s very childish in that respect, and that works well with the lyrics of burying reality and truth ‘Take these pills/We’ll fly away’. On a vocal note, a very impressive show from the lead singer, reaching dizzying heights with his range. Like A Fox brings the whole ‘opera’ together. It fuses all the sounds present in the EP as a whole, and wraps it up nicely. The band drops in and out of rock and flowing spaces, and the harmonies flow very nicely. There’s even a cheeky guitar solo/break thrown in for good measure. On top of this, the chorus is damn catchy. In any case, it definitely leaves me satisfied. It was an enjoyable, if not mind bending, experience.

Me do manage to fuse the baroque Englishness of prog-rock and later similarly influenced bands such as Queen, with the psychedelic Englishness of late-era Beatles and acts such as Syd Barret-led Pink Floyd and Robyn Hitchcock, and manage to create a mini rock-opera as a result. However, this EP varies the conglomerate of sounds well enough to keep it interesting. The opener is a ear-catching rocker that draws interest, but the band allow themselves to flex their more trippy, softer muscles in Dutch Medicine, and the mix between the two styles is shown very well in Slow Children Run. This band are good at what they do, and they’re also enjoyable to listen to. I won’t heap lavish praise, as it doesn’t send shivers down my spine. But that isn’t the point, I feel like it’s a strong set of tracks, and definitely well made. Rock-opera’s, even mini ones, are rather hard to do. I view it as a successful and interesting Australian addition to a proud British tradition, and for that I give it respect.

ME soundcloud page

This is my second review for this awesome music blog, Hopefully you all enjoyed my first review about Metallica’s Beyond Magnetic EP! Well, in the wake of any larger releases coming our way within the rock world, until the new Van Halen album drops in I thought I’d take the time to spread the word about the all-conquering, world-enslaving, ‘any-woman-within-a-10-mile-radius-is-now-pregnant’ Black Spiders!

These guys have been on the go since 2008, landing a supporting slot with the mighty Airbourne for the latter half of that year, and proceeded to make one HELL of an impact, along with Taking Dawn as one of the best small-scale tours of that year. The mainstream media may be trying their utmost to announce that ‘rock is dead’, but anybody witnessing the birth of the Black Spiders knows very different. Building a fanbase with a slew of 3 EP’s, including songs that would later be reworked for the this full album, as well as a cover of Motorhead’s seminal ‘No Class’, these guys wear their influences proudly. Three years of touring culminated in finally putting out the new ‘Sons of the North’ album to a feverous fanbase eager to lap up any content. What we have is a stellar combination of rock n’ roll’s roots, married with a slightly punk attitude, and some brilliantly bombastic lyrics to put the icing on the already very tasty cake.

Standout tracks include opener ‘Stay Down’, which includes one of the best lyric-guitar solo breaks I’ve heard in a long time! The song takes a half second break before the end of the second chorus only for Pete ‘Spider’ Spiby to yell ‘FUCK YOU AND THIS ONE HORSE TOWN!’ at the top of his lungs, followed swiftly by a brilliantly paced guitar solo that tops this first song off nicely. Starting as they mean to go on the album never lets up, delivering arena-ready anthems one after the other. Some anthems are packed with some of the best lyrics for this sort of over-the-top rock and roll style that are just MADE for crowds. Try telling me that screaming ‘EAT THUNDER!! SHIT LIGHTNING!!’ along with thousands of other people just before ‘What Good’s a Rock Without a Roll?’ kicks in isn’t one of the most euphoric sensations known to man and I’ll show you a decent new Kings of Leon song.

Other standouts among this brilliant debut are ‘Si, El Diablo’ with its fantastic, infectiously stompy groove, and standout 3rd EP-returner ‘Just Like A Woman’. The latter should be one of the first tracks you hear by these guys if you’re gonna check ‘em out, it has everything they do brilliantly all wrapped up in a nice meaty package! A great hard rock song with a sleazy bluesy feel that compliments the lyrics nicely, coupled with a guitar line that swirls through the song bursting into brilliantly melodic passages every minute or so. If you’re cherry picking through youtube, then make this one of your first stops!The only negative I can think of is in terms of carryover from the previous EP’s, song’s like ‘Stay Down’, ‘Just Like a Woman’ and ‘St. Peter’ are from these previous EP’s, but they didn’t include what I thought was one of the best tracks on the original debut disc. ‘I’ll Be The Judge’ from the St. Peter EP is a brilliantly energetic track with a killer riff that sounds like as if Slash’s dirtiest lick had sex with Motorhead’s entire discography. This track is an awesome up-tempo stormer made for starting gigs at 100mph!

A great debut album built on the most solid of foundations with some brilliant EP’s beforehand. Rock never went away, it just went underground. With the likes of the Black Spiders, Airbourne, Taking Dawn, The Answer, Turbowolf and hundreds of others releasing out fantastic albums based on the best foundations of what went before, the world just isn’t ready for the resurrection of mainstream rock just yet…

8/10
Cheers,
S.T \m/