Week 134: Our friends electric

Hi Guys!

I must say that summer is on the doorstep and what better way of enjoying than getting out the electric guitar and start playing with the effects pedals. This week I go electric and will start playing solos for the first time. It also means getting new gear and taking advice from Ramon at Tanne Instrumentos.

It's great to be able to sit back and focus on the instrument and textures that can be created with the electric. I'm really looking forward to experiment with fusion songs with an Indian ambience. I'll have a go with Another brick in a wall (Pink Floyd) and light my fire (The Doors). I'm sure these two songs are gonna get me back into my playing. 

Here's an experimental fusion sound from a guitar riff I played at my last gig in Istanbul with Bollywood dancer Ayşegül Ucar. 

I'm looking for a Bellydancer to help me develop rhythm for this track. 

Well it's time to get organised and disciplined for some regular practice. I attended a vocal workout session hosted by Tamar Sinclair. It was an eye-opener and got me loosened up to use the voice. Always learning! 

PLJ

Zack aka RedEyeZack

Week 133: Music for Good!

Hi Music Lovers!

I've made a song - 'hold me' available where 50% of sales go to the charity Heifer International.

I'm a little bit hesitant to bring the charity element into the music . I've been to gigs that were supposedly to raise money for charities. Do these bands earn from these gigs? Do they do it for free, for the exposure? or do they genuinely look to support the cause?

I'd decided to stay away from the issue until I could figure out the numbers. If I couldn't, it probably means that there was no transparency, and more likely a way of just making money. The second question is that if the bands are playing for free, what about the organisers?

I'm quite skeptical but I guess they need to recoup some money for costs of putting on the concert. Who knows how it works? Is there a transparent model that is acceptable to all parties? If you do know, please conact me or send me a link to redeyezack@gmail.com

My solution to this problem is to find a personal charity that I'm involved with, possibly a charity in my mother's home village outside of Bangalore, India. I look forward to visiting India in winter and look for a worthy cause. I will publish the info in a campaign and invite people to come to India to see how the funds are spent. 

Let 's see... in the meantime, I've decided on a charity called Heifer International. 'Ending world hunger and poverty is a large feat,' but they say, 'it's not unrealistic. It will take each of us doing our part.'  It's an issue which I still don't fully understand since Live Aid in 1985, maybe I've been living in a void since then, but I wake up to wonder why hunger is still with us. I'm still investigating. Here is their page if you'd like to Get Involved.

PLJ

Zack aka RedEyeZack

Week 132: To gig a lot or not to gig a lot? - That is the question!

Hi Music Lovers,

Despite the 1st gig being sold out and a great success, I forgot to collect email addresses. It also makes me think of the work and preparation that proceeds a gig. If I really had to think about it, I'd want to gig only once a month!

Why? Because it does take up a permanent part of your brain. We have other obligations and work, like paying the rent or the dayjob deadline that puts us under pressure. At the same time. I ask myself, did I practice enough?, was I prepared?, Am I going to get everything done before the gig?, will I have to drop things? I'd much rather be chilling out near the seaside and writing songs:)

This kind of thing leaves us mentally exhausted and really wanting to focus on the music and performance only. But in these early DIY days, no such luck! That's why I'm going to limit the number of gigs over the summer, so I can work and save up... to have a few months free to focus on a strategy for making the most of the performances, less as gigs and more as special events. 

This includes having professional photos taken and High Quality video, streaming live, flyer design, recording live, good lighting, something more theatrical... etc

Follow developments this summer... maybe festivals or traveling. Keep in touch & let me know if you plan to come to Barcelona.

PLJ
Zack aka RedEyeZack

Week 131:Building A Mailing List. NEW VIDEO. Free Download. House-Parties.

Hi Guys

I'd like to thank you for showing interest and despite the rain, coming to my 1st official gig at Pipiolo bar! It was wonderful to have a full house in such an intimate atmosphere. I hope that those that couldn't make it will get to the next gig.

I have a local mailing list which I'm building to inform music lovers of gigs, local venues, local bands I'm collaborating with. Please sign up on www.redeyezack.com. Or JOIN OUR MAILING LIST
Our monthly Newsletter also has the latest news of Gigs, videos, new songs, competitions, free downloads.

I'd very much like your support & look forward to performing new songs for you.

I'm looking to do Non-Traditional gigs & Houseparties. Drop me a line if you know any unconventional venues or you'd like to help me organise a gig for your friends. Email me at: redeyezack@gmail.com

My first free gig was at Teteria Salterio. At the end of the gig I collected a dozen email addresses. It's important to build a local following as the internet attempts to make us all global right from day one. I still need time to develop the craft of songwriting and performing live in front of a local audience. That's why I've chosen to play at small locations, house parties. 

By playing these, I'll be able to get real feedback on the songs and interact with the audience. Afterwards it may be possible to organise a gig in bigger venues, but they usually want you to rent the venue & bring people. 

As an artist starting out, this is too much to expect. I'd rather play a free gig in a place where the venue have their regular clients and bring people so I can expose my music to them, rather than paying to rent a venue and wondering if I'm not going to be able to bring enough people (thereby losing money).

One way to build a fanbase is to offer a free exclusive download in return for an email address. I've just added this to my homepage (see link above). 

This summer I'll be keeping you in touch with my travels, as I look for festivals and start recording my 1st EP.

Let me know if you have plans to visit Barcelona! :)

PLJ

Zack aka RedEyeZack