Rapper and hip hop recording artist Bag of Tricks Cat just returned from a European tour with Mega Ran, so I was excited to get the opportunity to talk to him about the tour and hit single Dream Girl, which he recorded with Mega Ran and Brandon Michael. I love how the three mixed Bag of Tricks Cat and Mega Ran’s hip hop with Brandon Michael’s singing. I wondered how the three musicians came together for this unique project. Bag of Tricks Cat explained: “It was a great record to make. Brandon is a really talented singer, and I’m a fan of Mega, so for me to record a song with him…it’s awesome! I originally had Willy Northpole on it; he was signed to Ludacris. We recorded a version of the song together, but he wasn’t able to do the video, so I brought Mega in. We all got together in the studio, on my 22nd birthday, and we laid it down. It’s a record about finding that special person.” The video for Dream Girl is so much fun, so I asked him about it. Bag of Tricks Cat smiled when he told me that the making of the video was fun too, but a lot of hard work: “We had to green screen a portion of it for the animated parts. We had sets made for the dream sequence and the warehouse scene. Everyone had a great time. We had a lot of bloopers that you didn’t get to see in the final video.” El-JayBeats produced the song and directed the video. Bag of Tricks Cat talked about how El-JayBeats is a perfectionist: “He made storyboards and ensured everything ran on time. It took 48 hours, two days straight, to film everything. We...

I’ve noticed that a lot of people often feel very frustrated with acting. It is frustrating, I have to agree, but there are things you can try that will hopefully ease the tension and at least make the circumstances more pleasant. I’ve outlined some alternative ways to practice your art and become a better actor. Produce Your Own Films Look at acting or voice-over art as an outlet or venture, because that is what it is. Try honing your craft by making home movies or videos on a webcam. At least this way, you can produce films that highlight your talent and enjoy creating them. When your films are good enough, submit them to film festivals or lesser known venues. Instead of shooting in the big cities, try smaller cities. A lot of times, there isn’t as much red tape and they are more willing to work with you. Remember, smaller venues will be easier to work with than larger ones. You’d be surprised at how many movies are made in small areas. I am currently working on an audio book for filmmakers on a budget, and I’m already halfway through it. Participate in Community or Student Films Work as a production assistant for unknown filmmakers and directors. You never know when they’ll need additional actors. This could be your chance to get into movies. Be an extra; you may be seen in the final cut. Here are some other reasons these projects could be your big break: Someone is going to get a shot at fame and leave the production. Someone will have a falling out with the director for whatever reason and leave the production. Someone will decide that acting isn’t for them and leave to pursue something else, which gives you,...

Early in my Long Island, NY childhood I knew I wanted music to be at the center of my life.  I started piano lessons at age 7 and studied pop and classical music.  My earliest memories include going to live concerts, playing showcases, as well as listening to great music from many different eras. One of the main influences in my dedication to a life of music, however, is my father Pete Antell. I often helped out in his home studio, and I sometimes accompanied him on tour with artists such as The Doobie Brothers and Fleetwood Mac. It was one day when I was standing backstage at a Fleetwood Mac concert (next to Christine McVie’s piano) that I knew with absolute certainty music what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. In college, I was involved not only music but also theater and dance. I took part in everything from stage production to choreography.  The invaluable discipline that I gained back then is a big part of why I constantly push myself to write, record and perform now.  Upon college graduation, I moved to Colorado after landing a singing job at a mountain lodge.  I performed several seasons there and with a few other groups throughout Denver/Boulder. When I started to dabble in songwriting, I moved back East to a friend’s farm in Connecticut, and I really put music front and center.  With a great practice space in a huge barn with hardwood floors and natural acoustics, I spent countless hours writing and recording demos on my old 4-track player.  Eventually, I moved to NYC to fully pursue my singer-songwriter career, working as a legal secretary by day and playing clubs and hitting the recording studio at night. After playing...

I love Danish blues Jake Green Band. They have an amazing blues sound. Their new single Still Hung Up on You is terrific. I interviewed Jake Green last weekend, while he was celebrating his nephew’s seventh birthday at his sister’s summer home. We tried to record the interview outside in the park-like setting, but the internet reception would not cooperate, so we moved indoors. When you watch the video, you’ll notice the change in venue. Of course, the very first question I asked Jake was to tell me more about Still Hung Up on You. Jake told me: “Still Hung Up on You is your basic breakup song. My Dad used to say that if you really love somebody, it never really goes away. That’s pretty much what the song is about. It’s about you still being hung up on the person, even though the relationship didn’t work and you still have feelings, even if they’re still not that strong any longer.” I also adore the Jake Green Band single Broken Love from the Live at Malmo Festival album. The song is so heartfelt. I wondered who the song was about, but Jake would not say: “The song is not about anybody specific. I prefer to write more general, so people can better relate. That’s also why I don’t name names in my songs. The song is about the process of falling in love and getting hurt by love. Actually, the new version of this song on my upcoming album is a little different from the one recorded in 2011. The last verse has a little twist that says you should still put yourself out there and risk getting hurt, and you should still seek out love.” The Jake Green Band has such a...

I first started playing music around the age of 6, when I picked up the harmonica and played along with my favorite records. I never would have imagined the way it would all play out. Now, a few weeks away from releasing our new EP Faces of Love with The Jon Collins Band, it’s fun to look back at different events that have led to this point. After playing the harmonica for about ten years, I started playing in studios with different musicians. During my college days in North Carolina, I got my first taste of what it felt like to tour as a front man and as a singer. It’s safe to say that I’ve been hooked to the feeling, as I’ve been doing this type of stuff ever since. When I came to Los Angeles, I continued making music and had some stints as an actor in both theatre and on television programs such as Will and Grace and Scrubs. Great experiences though they were, my main focus was music. It was here in LA that I began working with George Daly, the former VP of Columbia Records who signed The Cars and now works as CEO for About Records. With George, I co-wrote several songs that have gone on to be used by other artists and in film and television. In 2012, I formed the Jon Collins Band with some friends in San Francisco’s Hyde Street Studios, the same studio that had produced records by artists like The Grateful Dead and Green Day. Not a bad place to get started. Our first album Hero was released in 2013 and it spawned the singles Ashley and Let Love Live. Both of those singles received airplay, and the former reached #60 on the...

We selected Celeste Buckingham as our ReverbNation contest winner because we absolutely love her hit single and video for Run Run Run. Of course, I had to know the inside scoop about the song. Did you know Celeste Buckingham wrote the song when she was 16? Celeste told me: “I decided to get up at 2 am in the morning. I couldn’t sleep. I sat in my room with my out of tune guitar and wrote this song. The next morning, I played it for my younger sister, who’s also a singer-songwriter and my biggest critic. She said that she liked it, so I took it to the studio and recorded it. I honestly did not believe in that record very much, and it blew up in my face overnight. It gave me the opportunity to be played on the radio in Europe; I toured with that song; and it was endorsed by different companies. This song was a magical accident.” This month, Celeste Buckingham released her new single Unpredictable, so I just had to know more about that song too: “I’ve been in the studio for the last six months with my producer Earl Cohen in New York. I’ve been working on a new album and this is the first song of that new material. It reminds some people of Run Run Run, which is great. I would love it if people could find themselves in that song. We’re faced with a lot of unpredictable situations, good and bad. I feel that if I can help people find themselves in a song, then I’ve achieved what I wanted to do as a songwriter.” Unpredictable was recently released online and through PopCrush. The song will be played exclusively on Radio Disney for two weeks...

I was already a big fan of rocker, comedian and actor Bill Zucker, before I noticed his entry to our ReverbNation contest. When I clicked the link to his song submission, I fell in love with his single Stranded. I love the song and the live video kills! Of course, the first question I asked Bill Zucker was for him to give me the back story behind this song. Turns out, Bill Zucker told me the song has quite a history: “This is an older song of mine that keeps on coming back to haunt me, because no matter what I do new, people come back and say ‘There’s something about that song, I just love it.’ The original studio version was recorded before I formed the Bill Zucker Band. I played all the instruments. Each member of the Bill Zucker Band is someone I’ve had my eye on for years. After I formed the band, I took off my guitar tracks and replaced them with parts by the two guitar players in my band.” Who’s in the Bill Zucker Band? Bill Zucker sings lead vocals and plays acoustic and electric guitars, piano, synthesizer, drums and harmonica. Sean Harrison is also lead vocal and plays percussion, some guitar and keyboards. Tony Marvici plays guitar; Joe Boyle also plays guitar. Donald Main sings and plays piano and synthesizers. Lenny Roberto is on drums and percussion. Steve Earnheart plays bass guitar. Dee Micaud and Kelley Leigh sing backing vocals. Terry Sanger plays sax and sings vocals. Wow, what a lineup! Bill Zucker is dying to play live and tour with his band: “They would kick ass on tour! It’s tough. The music business is in such a bad state right now. Record companies are folding and...

Tell Your Story  and Sell More Art We know that fans support and buy from artists they know and like. Video interviews are a great way to let your fans see you when you are not performing and to hear you talk about your background and your art. They are also a great way to introduce yourself to new fans. Since most of us cannot get booked on The Tonight Show or David Letterman, find websites like Amused Now that provide opportunities to be interviewed and post those interviews on your own website and social media sites. Imagine how much more you could sell if right next to that Buy button, you had an interview where you shared the back story about your song or film or book. Remember when you were younger how much fun it was to learn all about your idols and what your favorite song or movie or book was really about? Artists who tell their stories have a competitive advantage over those who don’t. Artists who film a great interview have an advantage over those who film a crappy interview, because fans are more likely to watch the whole thing. Booking the interview is only the first step. So, how do you prepare for a great interview? Here are some tips I’ve learned from interviewing hundreds of artists. Set the Stage Get yourself a good webcam, so the film quality of your interview is maximized. Webcams cost less than $100, and the film quality they record are much better than if you used the default webcam in your Mac or laptop. Do not conduct interviews from your phone or tablet. The aspect ratio is not right. Before the interview, sit down in the same place you plan to record...

Street performing a.ka. busking, what’s not to love? Oh okay, sometimes you get shut down. And right, sometimes the batteries run out. Oh, and yeah, sometimes another busker will already be playing in the spot you want when you show up. But in all fairness, if your band is looking to make ends meet on the road, network, gain exposure and a diverse fan base, and stay musically tight, then busking is a great avenue to employ. You like making money right? You don’t want to come back home from tour broke, so you’ll need a way to pad your income and the money you make at your venue shows. Truth be told, Battlehooch made more money cumulatively on the streets during our 4-month U.S. summer tour last year than in bars and clubs. We came home in the black, not in the red. That was a big accomplishment for us, and it can be for your band too. It was made possible with a group commitment to busking. And, did I even mention how much damn fun these shows can be? We’ve instigated some righteous and rowdy dance parties on the streets of such cities as San Francisco, New York, Portland, Seattle and Austin during SXSW. We successfully busked in the parking lot of a Primus/Gogol Bordello before our show in downtown Denver. We started one street performance in the heart of downtown Eugene at 2:00am and helped that huge bar crowd sober up with disobedient psychedelic song. It was certifiably badass. Busking in the NYC Subway underground led to a meeting with a booking agent at one of America’s big boutique agencies. Now, that was a surreal experience. But, beware that things can get a bit ridiculous on the streets. During one street performance in...

I love rapper and hip hop recording artist G Soulja A.K.A. Da Vinci’s honesty. His songs are bold and brave and hold nothing back. Da Vinci’s music highlights how incredibly hard this music business can be. I agree with Da Vinci’s fans that his single Look At Me Now is my favorite too. When I asked him about this song, he revealed that it reflected his disappointment with his fan: “It’s one of those songs where I express a lot of aggression and anger towards my local support. Some of my fans were ‘sleeping on me,’ as we like to say. My worldwide fans weren’t showing much support.” Da Vinci collaborates with many other recording artists. I especially like the single and video he made with SyKotic Beatz, so I asked him about this project: “We made this single, because me and SyKotic Beatz went through a situation where we got played. We thought we were getting this nice record deal, and it ended up being some kind of scam. One of my other home boys, Tokyo Black, went through it with us.” Another great collaboration project is the single Did Dat, which he produced with rappers Styles and Skrapp. What does Da Vinci look for when he collaborates? “Styles and Skrapp are two artists with me on my label Loud Music Team. Mainly, what I look for is whether we can flow on the same pattern or delivery, and I look to see if we have the same kind of story line that will make a good song.” The recording label Loud Music team has been making records for about four years. Da Vinci started the label around the end of 2011. He worked alone for the first couple of months, then he...

  We selected King Terry III from the 5,000 recording artists who entered our ReverbNation contest, because we love his smooth jazz vocals behind his hip hop lyrics. “I’m definitely honored to have been selected. I know a lot of artists submitted.” When I asked King Terry III if it was him singing vocals, he admitted, “On some tracks, like All Day All Night, I am singing vocals as well.” King Terry III, you definitely should sing more often! King Terry III’s sound is quite unique and lyrical; it’s not traditional hip hop or rap. King Terry III describes his music as: “50% old school, 50% new school. I really try to mix it up and try not to forget what music used to be like.” Who does King Terry III credit as his major music influences? “Anything, all the way back to Rick James and The Isley Brothers. I love to hear a lot of their sounds in my music. That’s why I love to use a lot of samples and horns, strings and saxophones. I try to mix it up by giving people different sounds and different takes.” In addition to winning the Amused Now Featured Artist contest, King Terry III has won numerous other awards, especially for his songwriting. “I’ve won quite a few awards from local performing showcases. I’ve won songwriting contests, from the International Songwriting Competition to the John Lennon Songwriting Contest. I used to enter every songwriting contest that I could find. I’ve also sold some of these songs on iTunes and Bandcamp.” I listened to all King Terry III’s songs and I agree with his fans, my favorite is Rollin. I also really like Paid for Freestyle. King Terry III filled us in about Paid for Freestyle’s...