The Inner Rings of Saturn

Well, it finally came to me! I don't know if it's "perfect", but I think it definitely describes my sound:

SATURN – A little 80s Prince and a bit of 90s Depeche Mode come together with a whole lot of naughty for some dark new wave pop jams.

What do you think?

Music Blog Challenge - Week Two: What's My Pitch?

Sat, 23 Oct 2010 01:45:00 GMT

These are my top five picks. What do you think? Like one of em or should I go back to the drawing board? The pitch should, in a nutshell, descibe my "sound".

1. Prince meets Depeche Mode in a gay club.

2. Alternative Urban Pop

3. If Madonna had a lovechild with Prince and David Gahan, it would be me.

4. Dark and sexy retro 80s/90s Urban Pop

5. A recipe for Alternative Urban Pop - Lightly fold Prince with Depeche Mode, add a couple of dashes of Bowie and sprinkle around the edges with gay hip hop, pop in your CD player and out your speakers comes Saturn!

I don't know. Nothing clicks yet, but I think they all pretty much describe my overall sound.

Music Blog Challenge - Week One, Goal Five: PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Sat, 23 Oct 2010 00:56:37 GMT

Originally, my fifth goal was going to be Promotion, but I’ve decided I needed to make sure I don’t forget my own personal development. So, that’s my fifth and final Section:

1. Work out 3 – 4 times a week starting now. This has always been a struggle, but even more so once I started traveling. I have to quit with the excuses though. I want to bulk up a bit, improve my endurance and also working out is great for energy and clarity.

2. Start regular lessons of some kind by March 1, 2011 – I’ve never been trained in music or singing. It’s just something that came naturally to me. To that end, I’m not really one for practicing either. I’ve always wanted to be so much more proficient musically than I am, but life and work always get in the way because I never make it a priority. So, now I’m making it a priority! Since keys are what I feel most comfortable on, I should probably start there.

Whew! That concludes Week One of the Nine Week Challenge. I SERIOUSLY have my work cut out for me, but I know it will all be worth it.

Music Blog Challenge - Week One, Goal Four: PERFORMANCE

Fri, 22 Oct 2010 19:32:30 GMT

When I had my CD Release show for “Deviant” back in January 2005, I was shocked by how much money I made. After the club’s cut of the tickets sold, splitting the remainder of the door with friend and co-headliner Tim Kaye, and adding in CD sales and T-shirt sales and subtracting the money I had to pay the 3 players in my band, I still cleared about $300 and some change. With better marketing , a bigger audience, more merch, more cds available and less expenses, there is no reason I wouldn’t be able to clear $500 at a show. It’s pretty aggressive but my goal is to do that 6 times next year, or maybe just 3 times and really pack the place.

ONE YEAR PERFORMANCE GOAL: TO MAKE $3,000 PROFIT FROM PEFORMANCES BY OCTOBER 31, 2011.

I plan to reach this goal by focusing on the following:

1. I just have to get out there, performing whenever and wherever I can. And since I travel for my job, this will give me the opportunity to also perform in different cities across the US if I plan properly. I will start booking a minimum of 1 performance a month by January 4, 2011.

2. I will get performance tracks from the studio for all of the songs on my latest cd by January 4, 2011.

3. I will send press kits to 20 Pride markets by February 2, 2011.

4. I will book my CD Launch party and CD release shows (San Francisco and Baltimore) by December 31, 2010.

5. I will find back up dancers and a choreographer for the CD release shows and other shows throughout the year by January 20, 2011.

6. I will plan, conceptualize and book 3 “event” shows for next by March 1, 2011. (The CD Release show is one such “event”.)

7. I will come up with some goodies (merch) to sell at shows. I made more money from my “Deviant” T-shirt than I did from cd sales at shows. I will come up with something by February 28, 2011.

Music Blog Challenge - Week One, Goal Three: MUSIC

Fri, 22 Oct 2010 18:53:12 GMT

The foundation of a music career is the music itself, so that’s my next goal, MUSIC. I never stop writing and with the hundreds of songs I’ve written thus far, I don’t know which is the one that will break me out, so I just want to keep recording as much as possible. That was the whole reason behind the Junkyard. It’s been a few months since the last release, but I have just released a new album so I’m gonna cut myself some slack!

ONE YEAR MUSIC GOAL: TO RETURN TO REGULAR JUNKYARD RELEASES, LAUNCH PLASTIC/BOX OFFICIALLY AND RECORD NEXT ALBUM

I plan to reach this goal by focusing on the following:

1. The technical shit – my studio equipment has not worked right in months. Which means I haven’t been recording music. This is a problem. I even went a brought a new firebox and now it works but the playback is so low that I can’t hear anything. As much as I travel for work, the precious moments I have at home I absolutely must be able to record. So my first and most immediate goal is to fix the issue at hand. I’ll probably have to hire someone to look at it or get some new gear or a new program. I will have this issue fixed by November 7th, 2010.

2. The artwork for Plastic/Box has BEEN done, but the designers didn’t leave enough room on the back for the barcode. They have been unresponsive, so I have to find a volunteer or hire someone to simply move the text on the back of the cd to allow room for the barcode. Color me irritated. Ok, I will have this done by November 7, 2011.

3. I will release the next Junkyard single prior to December 31, 2010 and release one every 4 to 6 weeks thereafter.

4. I will add sound banks and migrate to another platform other than Project 5 by April 30, 2011.

5. I will begin recording my next album by May 5, 2011.

6. I will have a CD Launch Party for PLASTIC/BOX prior to February 28, 2011.

7. I will release a limited Junkard Vol. 1 Compilation prior to October 31, 2011.

Music Blog Challenge - Week One, Goal Two: FANS

Thu, 21 Oct 2010 07:30:00 GMT

Well, when I moved to California last year, I did something either really stupid or really smart. While I had built my email newsletter subscription list to over 350 people, I hadn’t really done anything with my music in 2 to 3 years if I’m honest. No promoting, hardly any performing and therefore hardly any newsletter updates. So, when I moved I considered it time to make a fresh start. So, when I built my new site with bandzoogle, I sent out an email to everyone asking them to respond and let me know if they would like to continue to be on my mailing list because I was switching platforms. While I could have easily transported all the names, I wanted to get a true estimation of how many casual “fans” I really had. I knew the number would be significantly less, but I wasn’t prepared to walk away with only 32. Yep. 6 years, 3 cds, 1500 MySpace Friends … and 32 “fans”.

GOAL: GROW MAILING LIST TO 200 SUBSCRIPTIONS BY OCTOBER 31, 2011

I plan to reach this goal by focusing on the following:

1. Performances - The thing that will help me add people to my mailing list the most is by performing more, which is also on my goal list for SALES. I can have street team members getting email addresses while I perform or even swap older CDs for email addresses. The goal is to maximize the potential to capture new fans at shows. Specific goals for performance can be found in Goal One: Sales.

2. Increased traffic to website – Having a strong call to action and a website that inspires action is one of the components of the nine week program, so I’m sure to discuss this then. Search Engine Optimization is definitely a challenge when your name is “Saturn”.

3. Talking to people, making connections – I don’t use my own word of mouth nearly enough. I don’t know why I hesitate to tell people I meet that I make music. Classic fear of rejection I guess. But I’m in sales. I need to put my skills to use for myself! I already have the cards. All I have to do is talk about what I do, describe my music, let them hear it and ask for an email address for my mailing list. I will add 2 new people to my list per week doing this starting immediately!

4. I will continue to think of other “out of the box” methods of increasing subscriptions and come up with a detailed plan by November 30, 2011. So any ideas or input is much appreciated!

My successes today:
1. Writing this blog
2. Making a plan for work tomorrow.
3. Having another productive and exhausting 13 hour day at work.

Music Blog Challenge - Week One, Goal One: SALES

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 06:25:00 GMT

In piecing together these goals, it became very clear how synergistic everything is. Accomplishing one goal will enable me to accomplish many others at the same time. I’m thinking the key is to break it down by tasks that I can accomplish one at a time and have dates set aside for each task. So, that being said, my first goal is SALES:

ONE YEAR SALES GOAL: TO SELL 500 CDS AND/OR DOWNLOADS BY OCTOBER 31, 2011.

This goal is obviously not about the money. If I sold just 500 “single” downloads, that’s not even $500. At best, if I sold $500 cds for the max, that’s still only $5000 and I spend more than that on a single project. What this sales goal is is a tangible measuring stick of how I’m increasing my brand, my fan base and my audience which are critical components of meeting my BHAG. I plan to reach the goal by focusing on the following:

1. Driving online sales through I-Tunes, my website, other digital media via CDBaby . Thus far I-Tunes has been my biggest sales outlet, so getting my new album on I-Tunes as soon as possible is going to be ciritical. Also, website optimization, driving more people to my site and having a clear call to action, which are part of other goals, will also help drive sales.

2. I’m going to release a music video. I will get national airplay on LOGO as well as various other websites and bar/club video compilations. This will increase awareness which will also ultimately drive people to point of sale websites and help increase sales. My goal is to get my music video for “Oblivion” on LOGO no later than February 14, 2011.

3. Performances – the number 1 way to sell cds is to do it at a show when people can make an emotional connection to the performance and the music. I have not performed my music since 2007. So, I just have to get out there, performing whenever and wherever I can. And since I travel for my job, this will give me the opportunity to also perform in different cities across the US if I plan properly. I will start booking a minimum of 1 performance a month by January 4, 2011. I will get performance tracks from the studio for all of the songs on my latest cd by January 4, 2011. I will send press kits to 20 Pride markets by February 2, 2011. I will book my CD Listening party and CD release shows (San Francisco and Baltimore) by December 31, 2010. I will find back up dancers and a choreographer for the CD release shows and other shows throughout the year by January 20, 2011.

4. Music Blogs – Ariel stresses the importance of tastemakers. I don’t really follow blogs, so the first step here is to identify ten music blogs that I both like and that would be a good fit for the the type of music I produce. I can then reach out to them to help increase awareness. I will research and identify 10 music blog sites by December 5, 2010.

5. Media – determining my pitch, my niche and my audience will help with this and they are part of other goals. Reviews, appearance and interviews also help build awareness and draw traffic to point of sale websites. Well, good reviews anyway. So, we’ll see! First, I have to address the artwork issue I’ve had and get my latest CD pressed so I can send it to reviewers . I will do that by November 7, 2010. I will submit my CD to 20 reviewers by December 31, 2010. I will also look for opportunities to do more interviews in local and regional media outlets. I will develop a plan and list of outlets by March 1, 2011.

Wow. I have my work cut out for me. That’s just 1 goal of 5. I'll post #2 tomorrow.

My successes today:

1. Writing this blog
2. Beginning Chapter 2 of Ariel Hyatt’s book
3. A very productive and exhausting 12 hours of work!

And So the Journey Begins...

Tue, 19 Oct 2010 07:03:42 GMT

October 11 began the 3rd Wave of Ariel Hyatt’s Music Success in Nine Weeks Blogging Challenge. She’s written a book that, if followed for nine weeks, will open up the doors of social media success when it comes to promoting your music online and reaching your goals. I’ve tried many things before, but nothing as structured as this. So, I’m going to be blogging every step of the way, all my successes and failures, as a written documentation of this journey. Oh, and did I mention there are some prizes involved? Of course, that’s not why I’m doing this. Which kind of brings me to the crux of Chapter One in Ariel’s book – what do I want?

Chapter One is all about the power of setting goals. I’m no stranger to this concept. I’ve achieved a lot of the success in my life because I learned to set goals; however, success in music has eluded me. I think part of the reason is that I’ve yet to reconcile my fantastical dream of being a pop star with the harsh reality that it will probably never happen and I should make some goals that are actually achievable. Part of me, the one that isn’t working 65+ hours a week and has a full life outside of music, still wants to believe that anything is possible. The other part of me; however, still questions why I pursue this.

I’ve given this a lot of thought over the past week as I’ve started this challenge and I’ve come to the determination that I need to have a BHAG – a Big Hairy Audacious Goal – and that even if I don’t achieve that BHAG, the journey along the way will propel me to levels of success I’ve never had. So, in the end, it’s ok that I want to be a pop star and sell millions of records. Would I be happy just finding my niche, an audience that connects with the music I make and will support it the way that I’ve always supported all the artists that I love? The answer is … ABSOFUCKINGLUTELY! Really, at the core, that’s all any artist wants, for people to love what they’re doing .

So, I’m going to break my Goals down into three distinct categories:

BHAG - My 5 year goal – to be an international pop recording artist touring the world to sold out arenas and selling millions of records.
My 3 year goal - to be successful enough selling, promoting and playing music that I could support myself full time doing nothing else if I chose.
My 1 year goal – now this is where Ariel’s book is really helping me to dive in. Understanding that goals are malleable but at the same time need to be concrete, I’ve taken her advice and broken my 1 year goals into five sections:
1. Sales
2. Fans
3. Music
4. Performance
5. Promotion
I could have chosen 10 sections, but as Ariel wisely points out, trying to do too much at once will often lead to nothing getting done effectively. I’ve proved that time and time again. These 5 areas I can have a direct impact on by myself. They aren’t contigent upon anyone for me to see them through, which was another criteria in Ariel’s book.
So, what I plan to do for week one is blog each day about 1 section and clearly write out not only what my one year goal is, but my detailed plan to accomplish it, with deadlines.

I’m also going to take it one step further and blog my successes each day. According to Ariel, this can have a powerful impact on what I’ll be able to achieve. All the little successes will lead to the big success that I’ve been searching for.

My success today:
1. Taking the first step in writing this blog … And so the journey begins …

Quick Trip Home

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 06:44:33 GMT

It has been an EXHAUSTING 3 months. Plastic/Box was released digitally, the music video is being edited and I've been too busy with work to do all the promotional things that accompany releasing a project. I'm taking a short break and spending some time with family in Baltimore to recuperate and prepare to hit the ground running on 8 cylinders. Starting October 11 I'm taking part of a Nine Week Music Blog Challenge to help take my music career to the next level. I hope you'll join in on the fun! In the meantime, enjoy listening to PLASTIC/BOX. Better yet, download it and get a signed copy of the CD Free when it's released. So far the response has been awesome. I'm so excited about the next few months and all the great things that lie ahead.

When I was 3, I said, "mama, I wanna sing!"
Then she found me in my granny's high heels and rings.
She said, "keep singing, boy, but don't U fool with girly things
because this world is mean and one day they'll make U
wanna fly fly fly fly fly so far away!"

-SATURN, "BOX"

How a Music Video Comes Together in Less than 4 Days

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 05:15:00 GMT

Last weekend went something like this:

Wednesday evening - was surfing the net looking for places in San Francisco to perform and to host a CD release party when I randomly and serendipitously came across Neil Lahiri - a film director who was looking to shoot a music video over the weekend. We talked, I sent him some songs, he liked and came up with a genius concept, but it had to be over the weekend ... he was booked for weeks after that. Oh, and one more catch ... he lived in L.A. It's now Thursday AM, about 1 in the morning.

Thursday - frantically trying to make this work. Looking for a model to play a featured lead role in the shoot, sending texts and emails and posting on different websites. Trying to work out the logistics of rentng a car, hotels or staying with a friend, etc. Late Thursday night, a model responds positively, I head over to his place in SF to meet in person. He's cool, his boyfriend is cool and offers to drive us down! I don't have to rent a car! This is all working out.

Friday - shopping for the wardrobe. I'm broke now. I mean really really broke. (So, go pre-order the CD! ) We're set to leave at 5:30 am.

Saturday - drive down to LA with Armando and Dan. Meet up with the crew and get make - up done and we start shooting. 13 hours later we wrap. Exhausted, but we shot in some amazing locations.   I'm on pins and needles to see how it all came out. It's now being edited and color corrected.

Sunday night - we arrive home. I quickly meet a friend to say our goodbyes(he's moving cross country) and at midnight I pack for my business trip that I have to be up for in 3 hours.

That's how a music video comes together in four days.  What an awesome experience. AND I met some incredible new people and hopefully made some new friends along the way too.    Why can't every week be an adventure like that?

But I Thought you were gonna ask for money ...

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 00:17:16 GMT

I was walking to the train station from work in San Francisco yesterday and there was a guy leaned against a brick wall, whom I thought was just chillin’. Out of the clear blue, he popped up as I was walking by and tried to give me a cd. I declined, just out of instinct as if he were a homeless person asking for money, and I heard him cry out as I passed him by, “You never know, you might hear something you like.” And I thought to myself, “doubtful.” Then I wondered, is that the same reaction people have when I approach them randomly with my music? It made me ponder just how am I approaching people with my music in an attempt to find a loyal audience? Clearly there has to be a better way accosting strangers on the street, but there also has to be a better way than going to the same group of people again and again and hoping for a different response. That is surely the definition of insanity. Well, we all go a little mad sometimes! Seriously, though, I’m going to think on this a bit, and come up with some new ideas for Plastic/Box. If you have any thoughts, I’m all ears!

Dream With Me ...

Sun, 06 Jun 2010 20:51:43 GMT

It's been 2 months since I released "Remind U", so it was past time for another new Junkyard release! This one is called "Dreamworld", it's another Way Way Back Track as I wrote it when I was 15. I had originally planned it to be a part of a 20 song opus called "Dark Ages", but of course, that project is ... well, in the dark ages. But I still liked this song and about 4 others from the project enough to produce someday, and for this song, that day is today. I hope you enjoy! It's FREE to download until the next Junkyard release. Saturn.