February 2023 - Blackwater Collective

Monday Review Ft. Jonsjooel, Peder, and half of a rainbow

Jonsjooel

The Finnish artist and composer Jonsjooel, brings to us a song of experimental brilliance. With a diverse background in music, his sound is an experimental blend of various influences. Jonsjooel draws on his roots as a jazz drummer, as he defies categorization, and creates a unique sound.

This experimental track is a true gem. It’s ethereal vocals, coupled with a mesmerizing melody, create a transcendent listening experience that will leave the listener feeling weightless and yearning for more. A true masterpiece of experimental music.

Some call it music, but others might call it noise. Just like how we listen to the world. There is so much to listen too. All we need to do is listen carefully.

Words don’t exist outside humankind, as far as we know. Realizing this could help us discover ways to comprehend sound and our connection to other things. What better place to become more aware of this connection than in nature?

Peder

Peder, an artist from Copenhagen, Denmark has worked in numerous fields such photography, radio, and more recently as an actor.

“Blue Eyed Heart” is a sultry sonic delight.

The smooth crooning vocals, accompanied by a seductive piano melody, create a mood that’s both alluring and irresistible. A perfect tune to set the mood for a romantic evening.

half of a rainbow

half of a rainbow is the vintage art-rock project of the German artist, Johannes Harder, who blends retro pop melodies with his love for experimentation and the lo-fi sound.

Growing up in the creative hub of Berlin, half of a rainbow is a nostalgic expression of revolutionary vibrations.

This track takes you back in time to the swinging sixties. With its radical beat, retro guitar riffs, and vintage production, it’s the perfect homage to the era of flower power and free love.

Indeed, a delightful throwback that captures the essence of a time that’s now dead and gone.

How to Promote Your Music as an Independent Artist in 2023

As an independent musician, or any sort of artist, promoting your art is crucial in building your fan base and growing your career.

Here are ways you can effectively market your music:

Define your brand: Your brand is what sets you apart from other musicians. Define your unique sound, style, and message that you want to convey through your music. This will help you create a cohesive image that will attract fans. Consistency is key.

Build a strong online presence: In today’s digital age, having a strong online presence is essential. Create a website and social media accounts that showcase your art. Use these platforms to share your music, engage with fans, and promote upcoming shows and releases.

Collaborate with other artists and influencers: Collaborating with other musicians or influencers can help you reach new audiences. Consider partnering with other musicians for a song or a show, or working with influencers to promote your music to their followers. Don’t be afraid to reach out to your fellow artists. They’re just like you and me.

Play live shows: Playing live shows is a great way to connect with fans and build your audience. Reach out to local venues and book shows in your area. Consider performing at festivals and other events that attract your target audience. Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box here. In the early days, Dave Chappell would post up in a park, unannounced, and preform for whoever was there. Word would spread, and before long, a large crowd would amass.

Utilize music streaming platforms: Platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp, and Soundcloud can help you reach a wider audience. Make sure to optimize your profiles on these platforms and promote your music through playlists, collaborations, and social media.

Offer merchandise: Offering merchandise such as t-shirts, stickers, or even physical copies of your music can help you earn additional income and promote your brand.

Create deep music: The foundation of any successful music career is having quality music that stems from a deep place (the heart). Focus on creating the most beautiful thing you’re capable of conjuring up. Honestly, damn everything else. The studio is where one masters their art and stumbles upon transcendental beauty.

Utilize social media: Social media can be a powerful tool for promoting and marketing your music. Post your music, share updates on your progress, and engage with your fans on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok. Utilize relevant hashtags and collaborate with other musicians and influencers in your genre. Push the boundaries, and don’t be scared to take a risk. What’d you have to lose?

Submit your music to blogs, playlists, and forum boards: Reach out to music blogs and playlist curators that are relevant to your genre and submit your music for review. Getting featured on a popular blog or playlist can help increase your exposure and drive new listeners to your music. Forum boards like Reddit are also great places to drop your music. Just be sure to not spam these boards or else you’ll be banned.

Create engaging visual content [YouTube]: It’s important to create engaging visual content to complement your music. This can include music videos, lyric videos, behind-the-scenes footage, and live performances. Visual content can help your music stand out and attract new fans. YouTube is the place to do this. Make it your second home. A place for people to discover your sorcery, and then follow you into the darkness.

Conclusion

There is no guaranteed formula to succeed as an artist, but by focusing on creating quality art, playing live shows, engaging with your fans, and utilizing various online strategies, you will reach a wider audience and grow as an artist.

Promoting and marketing your art is an ongoing process that requires consistent effort and experimentation. Keep trying new strategies and adapting to the evolving technological landscape in order to maximize your chance at success. And remember, it’s only those who give up, who fail to succeed. So in a way, if you never quit, well then you’ve already made it. It’s just a matter of time.

Lo-Fi Rhinestones Ft. Billy TwangMan, Oinker Doinkers, bellhoss, Ames Harding, Color Tv, and The Poppy Seeds [YouTube]

Billy TwangMan

Alternative folk artist, Billy TwangMan, draws from a deep well of introspective meanderings. “My Dear Darling” is a gritty lo-fi track that immediately draws the listener into its moody, atmospheric world.

The distorted soundscape creates a sense of easy tension that is maintained throughout the track, while the sparse percussion and haunting vocals complement the otherworldly feel.

Despite its minimalistic approach, the song conveys a sense of raw emotion that is utterly captivating. The track’s experimental nature and unconventional structure add to its overall sense of cryptic beauty.

Oinker Doinkers

“Black Mold” is a freak folk diamond in the rough of psychedelia from the underworld of the Oinker Doinkers. An ensemble known as the happiest, and perhaps the grittiest band on earth.

The laidback and relaxed track is a damn slow burner about the downward spiral of a life gone awry. A self-deprecating tune about poverty and the will to survive. An absolute dandy.

bellhoss

“This song is 7 words that spoke the truth to the people I love the most.”

The winsome track is about family. The emotionally charged anthem speaks to a deeper placed filled with emotion and heartfelt sentiment.

bellhoss sits in a lucid purgatory between underground folk and bedroom lo-fi post-punk, writing sad songs for people who keep secrets.

The project specializes in puppy birthday parties (alongside run-of-the-mill sad dog birthday clowns) and government acronyms. An instant classic.

Ames Harding

“Peacock” celebrates male flamboyance, contrasting flirting to the mating ritual of tropical birds.

The song is a sultry and seductive indie rock track that oozes with sensuality and swagger. From the very first note, the listener is drawn in by the smooth, groovy guitar riffs and the sultry, smooth vocals that weave in and out of the soundscape.

The track’s lyrics are unabashedly provocative, filled with innuendos and suggestive imagery that paint a vivid vision of the passion and desire at the heart of the song.

The well-crafted instrumentation of the track creates an irresistible sense of cool that perfectly captures the mood of the track.

Color Tv

Experimental freak folk project, Color Tv, has been self releasing music since 1993.

The track is a mind-bending trip through a hazy, dreamlike world of psychedelic wonder. The track’s unconventional instrumentation and swirling, disorienting melodies create a sense of dislocation and surrealism that is both fascinating, and unsettling.

The haunting, ethereal vocals penetrate the mix like a distant, otherworldly presence, while the hypnotic percussion and trippy, droning guitar lines provide a constant undercurrent of tension. The song’s overall structure is loose and improvisational, allowing for ample room for exploration and experimentation.

Despite its unconventional approach, “Planchette” is a captivating and hypnotic piece of music that grows deeper as one listens. It’s a perfect example of how the boundaries of genre can be pushed and blurred to create a truly unique and otherworldly sonic experience.

The Poppy Seeds

The Poppy Seeds are a psychedelic shoe-gaze outfit from the San Gabriel Valley area of Los Angeles.

“You are a Drug” is a relaxed underground dream rock track with atmospheric instrumentation and drearily seductive vocals.

The track is reminiscent of a time now dead and gone.

Nonchalant licks over psychedelic dream pop music with female vocals is what sums up this sound. Like a wet nightmare. Now, sharpen your senses, and tune into the hypnotic abyss of The Poppy Seeds.