Do you recognize the names Haitus Kayote or Alice Smith? Like me, these emerging independent artists write, produce, arrange, mix and master their albums independently from major commercial record labels, a do-it-yourself recording and publishing process. Indie artists have DIY DNA The process is rewarding yet arduous and requires substantial investments of time, resources and finances. This month, I’ll blueprint the indie artist’s album making process with key point takeaways and suggested online platforms specifically for the DIY community.
As an example, I’ll share the two-year process of creating my new album, Cheers to Life, which will be released on February 2, 2016. Cheers to Life was a 100% collaborative process between me, three music producers, and two audio engineers, spanning four countries, countless Skype calls, and hundreds of emails. Check out my process.
Phase 1 – Preparation
Technology used
MacBook Pro http://www.apple.com/macbook-pro
Google http://www.mail.google.com
Skype http://www.skype.com
In 2014, I reached out to my first Cheers to Life (CTL) collaborator, Charles Lamont. Charles is a talented drummer and producer. We met in the U.S. in 2010 and toured together in Ethiopia. We also toured together with Grammy-award winner Melanie Fiona. One year later, I toured South Korea and Charles began touring with Grammy-award winners India.Arie. Though we were oceans apart, I knew Charles was the missing link for CTL. Using Gmail, I emailed Charles about CTL. My email included three elements: budget, projected timeline, and concept. Charles and I had one initial Skype meeting and production began one week later.
Key points: C.P.V.
Collaboration is key. Preparation is imperative. Value relationships.
Collaboration should be gratifying; however, preparation is critical. Think of collaboration like building a home. Selecting collaborators is like picking your team. Preparing budgets, organizing timelines and refining concepts are similar to leveling the site, putting up the wooden forms and pouring the foundation. Lay the groundwork then finish strong. Maintain genuine connections. Collaborations are more dynamic when everyone feels invested. Don’t just call folks when you need something from them.
Phase 2 – Production
Technology used
Logic Pro X http://www.apple.com/ae/logic-pro (UAE)
Dropbox http://www.dropbox.com
In 2010, I invested in myself and purchased a MacBook Pro with money I had saved. I asked friends for recording equipment recommendations. Music director Gil Smith and bassist Lavonta Green recommended Logic Pro X digital audio workstation, M-Audio interface, AKG Perception condenser mic, Sennheiser headphones, and Stedman Pro Screen pop filter. I was good to go.
In 2014, these tools were used to record Cheers to Life. I also needed more production perspectives so I expanded the team and recruited two music producer friends. Berlin-based nooBeats and Paris-based WaxMantic completed the team. I recorded vocals while they produced music. We used one platform to share large CTL files. Dropbox, one of the most comprehensive platforms available that allow users to share files electronically, was the solution. Dropbooox *drops mic * CTL music flowed through Dropbox like ice cubes melting on an Abu Dhabi sidewalk. Fast!
Key points: I.A.E.
Invest in yourself. Ask for advice. Expand and engage.
Invest in tools that come highly recommended from respected and trusted professionals. Re-evaluate your team if you feel stuck. Expand if necessary. Think outside the box and find solutions. Complacency is the enemy.
Phase 3 – Mixing and Mastering
Technology used
Wetransfer http://www.wetransfer.com
Mixing and mastering CTL was a collaborative process too. My good friend and singer Melisa Le Rue connected me with audio engineer, Vicente Espi of Songololo Music. After communicating by email, we confirmed our timeline and budget. The plan: Vicente would mix and his colleague Pablo San Martin would master the complete project. Feeling excited, I carefully relinquished all CTL files to professional strangers. Fortunately, Vicente and Pablo brought new life to each song. To share files, we utilized Dropbox and Wetransfer, a free service to send big or small files from A to B.
Key Points: Q.T.
Quality trumps mediocrity. Trust the process.
Don’t settle for so-so. As rapper T.I. says, “I don’t want no mediocre”. Find the best resources within your budget. Trust your gut. Let the professionals do their job.
Be warned: A collaborative, do-it-yourself process is not flawless. However, I urge you to invest in yourself, use the aforementioned online tools, and enjoy the success of your next collaboration. Remarkably, team CTL grew more resilient and resourceful. Now, we can’t wait for February 2nd. If you’d like to share your recent collaboration success story or collaborate with me, find me @jaefranklin. In the meantime, I urge you to continue supporting independent artists. Without your support, our contribution may not be heard.
