6 Sneaky Little Ways to Become a Better Musician (That Don't Involve Picking Up Your Instrument)

This is a repost from a blog called SONICBIDS. Here's the link to read the entire post, but I'll leave the goods below.

6 Sneaky Little Ways to Become a Better Musician (That Don't Involve Picking Up Your Instrument)

1. Make use of commutes, lunch breaks, and waiting in line.
2. Analyze music as you listen to it.
3. Turn concerts into learning experiences.
4. Wake up just 30 minutes earlier.
5. Watch footage of your practice sessions.
6. Download music-related smart phone apps.

5 pop artists that inspire me

Sorry guys - there are only women on this list! :)


Taylor Swift - Taylor Swift is every woman. Her songs are the every-day-girl's anthem yet she's such a glamazon! I love how it seems like you know her, but you don't. She seems really humble. Hats off to anyone who can still be cool with Kanye after he took over her moment when she won video of the year. (No hate - I like Kanye.) One of the most remarkable things about Taylor is what she wrote in the inside cover of the 1989 album where she talks about change. That really inspired me to continue to grow as a person and as a new artist.

Favorite Taylor Swift song - Today was a Fairytale

 

Jennifer Hudson - No one today has a voice like Jennifer Hudson. (Ok, maybe Aretha Franklin.) You can't even put her into a category. Her voice is so big and unfaltering. She doesn't cower down because big voices are not in. She's gone through terrible tragedy with a lot of grace. She's transformed her body and looks great. She's sounds great live! She's a bonafide actress and a bonafide artist. This girl makes you proud to be a Chicagoan.

Favorite Jennifer Hudson song - No One Gonna Love You

 

Sia - This girl's voice is off the wall and her songs tell a great story. I've only heard the 1,000 Forms of Fear album, but I'm sold. She has a song that goes from 4/4 to 3/4 time. Who does that anymore?! She even has a song where she switches back and forward between two keys that seem counter-intuitive, but work. I think the song Chandelier is a musical monster! That album is so creative with the music and storytelling. It inspires you to expand your sound.

Favorite Sia song - Chandelier



P!nk - I've always loved P!nk, but when I saw her perform Glitter in the Air, all I kept thinking is "this girl just sung the crap outta this song upside down!" That performance was MA-GI-CAL! Her voice is so gritty. She's always sounded like a polished artists that's been singing for 20+ years even when she first came out. One of the things that inspires me about P!nk is that she is this rebel, hard-shelled gal singing about fighting and partying who is also comfortable being soft and singing about pain. Through her, I see that I can be firm and assertive and still graceful and lovely.

Favorit P!nk song - Try




Whitney Houston - No one disagrees about Whitney's talent, but there are two special things that inspire me. First, you can see her change with the times, yet she always sounds like herself. That's really hard to do successfully. When she came out with "It's Not Right, but it's OK" she sounded so current, but you instantly knew it was her. Second, Whitney never shied away from her roots in the church. I read that when making the movie The Bodyguard, she insisted that they include the song Jesus Loves Me. It was a tender moment in the movie. I think of Whitney as someone who had great struggles, but knew she could rely on God. If that's not inspiring, I don't know what is.

Favorite Whitney song - Lover for Life



Others who almost made the list: D'angelo and Eryka Badhu. Both of these artists came in under the R&B umbrella, but each album pulls them further away. D'angelo is like the Godfather of funky soul and Eryka Badhu takes jazz to someplace galactical. Love them both.

Blessings

The Anthem - Planetshakers

Now that I've heard this song, I can't get it out of my head. Guess that's why it's titled "The Anthem." Enjoy!

P.S. - God is doing something awesome in Australia and Planetshakers is one of the great groups hailing from there.

Insecurity issues

I must admit I have issues as a lead worshiper.

I am an average singer. Don't have a great vibrato. Have average range. Don't always sing from my diaphram. I also don't think quick on my feet and my voice sometimes goes out when its hot in my church and the fans are on full throttle. But the average singer thing is my main issue.

It is extremely easy to be intimidated as a lead worshiper when you can't blow. I wish I could rip and run across the scale, but that isn't my strong suit. I love singers who run effortlessly, but that's often the measure we hold everyone by. At least in black church culture. Why is that?

As I've grown in my Christian journey, one of the things I'm more cognizant of is not being wooed by rhymes, runs, and physical attractiveness of something or even an edifice. This goes for a sermon, as well as the music. We (including myself) have got to move past some of the superficial stuff and get to the heart of worship. Don't get me wrong, it's hard to go in when things are pitchy, but it shouldn't be easy to go in just because of someone's ability to sound like Beyonce. (No shade... I love Halo! :)

I may not be able to do the Jason Nelson warm up challenge, but dang it, do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do ain't never hurt nobody. That, I can do all day, every day.

Blessings

P.S. Go on Instagram and check out Jason Nelson's warm up challenges. Some of these people are dope and some are just flat out funny.

Travis Greene - Living Water (starring Kel Mitchell)

Review of Tasha Cobb's One Place Live

I don't do a lot of reviews because it's rare that I purchase a full album. However, as a huge fan of Tasha Cobb's first album, I went ahead and purchased the sophomore project. Here's what I think of One Place Live:

1. Immediately- thumbs wayyy up!
2. Jesus Did It - eh
3. Fill Me Up - thumbs up
4. Overflow - thumbs up
5. Jesus Saves - eh
6. One Place - thumbs wayyyy up!
7. I love This Place - thumbs wayyy up!
8. This is Freedom - thumbs up
9. Sense It - thumbs wayyy up!
10. Sense It Reprise - thumbs wayyy up! This is battling for my favorite song on the album. "I am not the same, I've been changed in Your glory." Such simple and beautiful lyrics that anyone can sing.
11. Put a Praise on It - eh Shocked that I didn't like this song more. I like the concept of the song, but it's just Ok for me. I also can't differentiate between Tasha and Kierra. That's kinda strange too.
12. Christmas Praise - thumbs up
13. I'll Do It Again - thumbs wayyy up! This song reminds me of an old school Kirk Franklin and the Family type of song. I love hearing the individual voices even though they're all singing together.
14. Solid Rock - thumbs wayyy up! Love Jamie Grace's voice.
15. You Still Love Me - thumbs up
16. I Will Run - thumbs up This song has a rock vibe and Tasha pulls it off well

Bottom Line - I don't dislike any of the songs and I love 4 of them. Buy this album.

Blessings!

Review of self-titled albumTiff Joy

This is the last of the Tiff Joy takeover installation. The album dropped today so check out my review and then go cop it.

1. YOU are - thumbs up
2. Almighty God - thumbs up
3. The Promise -thumbs wayyy up! Love the words, the chorus sticks with you, and the music is perfect.
4. Oh How We Love YOU -thumbs wayyy up! I love this upbeat song. I think musicians will love it too.
5. All that YOU do - thumbs wayyy up! This song is beautiful and the music is reminiscent of a Stevie Wonder tune.
6. Holy -thumbs wayyy up! Another beautifully composed song.
7. Healer -thumbs wayyy up! Another beautifully composed song, yet again.
8. Hallelujah -thumbs wayyy up! Another beautifully composed song.
9. Altar Call - thumbs up
10. I'm All YOURS - thumbs wayyy up! You guessed it. Another beautifully composed song. It's crazy there are this many!
11. Amazing - thumbs wayyy up! But you already knew this one goes hard. She did rearrange it a little to keep it fresh. And whoever the drummer is snapped at the end, like frfr!
12. Hope - eh - I'm not crazy about this song, but after 10 great songs, there's not much else I can ask for.

Bottom Line - This album is a praise and worshiper's delight! Tiff Joy has a great tap on the sound of worship. You can hit play and worship through the entire album. It's kinda impossible to buy an album with so many good songs these days, but that's exactly what this is. Buy this project. Like now.

I'm gonna go ahead and project a nom for new artist of the year for the next Stellar Awards. You gotta speak those things that are not as though they are!

Leggo Chicago!

Blessings