I was just thinking back to the time when I was being held hostage by someone else’s taste in radio stations. I was in their car and still 15 minutes or so away from our destination, so I quietly accepted the music which I would never hear in my own car.
We covered all of the conversation we were going to and fell into silence except for this pop satellite radio station which started playing a song with lyrics that quickly grabbed my attention. The song talked about living the day as if it were your last. The lyrics were thought provoking and actually really good.
For a few minutes I looked at my life through the perspective offered by the song. What would I do if I knew this was my last day of life? Recognizing that, at least to me, the song was less about living your last day of life and more about living without fear and doing what you truly desire to do “now” instead of someday, I quickly noted how things would be different living in this new perspective.
I would really go after that beautiful woman I long for but never speak to. I would tell my friends like Kev, Duke, Scott, Rick and Mike how deeply important their friendship has been to me and how I hate that my selfishness has so often gotten in the way of my honest expression of love towards them. I would finish the album that has taken me 15 years to do because I would not care about how it is received.
I would be expressing God’s gift and that would be all that mattered. I would live by my foundational beliefs all of the time, not just when it feels or sounds best to do so. I would live a life instead of spending so much time conceptualizing a life.
That song did what I believe all great songs do; touch the listener deeply. That was a few years ago and since then some things have changed and some things are still changing. However, the recall of that moment brings to mind a great reminder for this moment: Live Now!
Today I will produce my music, express my love, do something I fear to do and do them all with excellence. Having done them, should this be my last day, my last actions will have been excellent and, if I’m still here tomorrow my foundation will be made from the excellence of my past.
From here, I build an excellent life! Man, I love a well written song!
Just my thoughts.
-REL
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We are grinding here at SCR Entertainment, so while we diligently push through the workload, please be patient; you’ll love the new website!
A website we are developing which is essentially the whole catalog of SCR Entertainment is now in the works. The first 12 SCR releases dating back to 1993 plus all of the new works will all be available. At launch we will have over 150 tracks with more coming!
While the site is being completed, we are going to be adding a few albums on a new page on BanginBeatsByREL.com which is being worked on at this time. Currently, we intend to launch the SCR Vault site with the release of my first solo album “Spoken”, currently planned for December.
Here is a breakdown of the 5 most recent beats added to the site:
- Mo Fo U - Other Flavor
- Jazzy Funk - East Coast
- In The Hole - Club Flavor
- West Coast Funk - West Coast
- Symphony Funk - West Coast
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It’s very easy to grasp onto ideas and information and allow them to dictate what we do without fully understanding their inherent value, or lack thereof. Like getting information from a well respected source, only to discover that there was a bit of misinformation wrapped up in what you received. While the information itself was good, a portion of it was leading you in a direction which ultimately amounted to wasted time.
Well, while at times this is unavoidable, the best remedy is often wrapped up in this simple statement; “Do your own research.” Being a student of the industry you choose will take you beyond one book, one seminar and one answer to one question. What do you know about the industry you’re in? How current is your knowledge? If the last book you read about the music business was published in 2001, you may have some foundational knowledge, but as of this writing, you are eight years removed from the detailed facts of today.
We know change constantly takes place, but we don’t always know what the changes are or how we are being affected by them until after an error has been brought to our attention, and usually at our own expense. Knowledge applied is the best way to make a great next step. So in all of your getting, get knowledge.
To that end, I offer you some resources which can help you do just that. I love this website: www.MixBooks.com. On this site you will find a large selection of books on a wide variety of music related topics. These topics include:
Recording
Sound advice on recording methods and techniques from the pros. If you’re new to recording or an experienced pro, there are books and instructional DVDs in this category for everyone.
Music Production
A large selection of books on “how to” record, design and produce your music. These books cover everything from using computers and music and producing using large digital consoles. Many books have accompanying instructional DVD videos.
Music Business
Learn the techniques, tricks and tips to be successful in the music business. Books include topics on music business, production, promotion, sound tracks, jingles, finances and much more.
MIDI / Sequencing
Practical applications of MIDI gear: keyboards, sound modules, effect processors, recorders, mixers, triggers and controllers. These books will help you produce more powerful and impressive recordings through a deeper understanding of MIDI and sequencing.
Directories & Buyer’s Guides
Complete and comprehensive directories and guides to the music industry. Includes side by side comparison of products, artists, labels and much more.
DJ / Remix
If you’re just getting started in the DJ field or are bringing pieces of your studio to a live DJ environment, check out these books and DVDs.
DVD / CD Tutorial
Here you’ll find stand alone video tutorials or books that have bonus DVDs and / or CD-ROMs that will assist you in the learning process. Most DVDs include some type of video tutorial, bonus materials, software or plug-in.
Another great resource is www.Taxi.com. Taxi helps independent artists, songwriters and composers get record, publishing and film / TV deals. It is worth the time to take a look. The very best chance you will have for success will come by way of the effective application of knowledge. Get some and make moves.
Wisdom from the Grind: Be a student of your industry!
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