Tag: pop

Interview With Myself (And Then You)

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I did this many years ago, and here is a very recent (2023) version.

The template for this comes from here:

33 Questions For An Interview With Yourself

Feel free to pick this up and do it yourself. Link back to this post, so I can see it.

1. What Do You Do for a Living?

Well, the fact that you ended up here means you already know at least part of the answer. I’m a music producer, composer and sound engineer, mainly. I work for myself, so I make my own music, and I work for others whose music I either write and produce or edit.

I also have a “day job” that feeds me reliably and pays the bills, because I could no longer make a living from music alone. That used to be different, but unfortunately, that’s the way it is today. But I really like my second job. I work with great people, and I can do my work in a relatively free and creative way. I am a marketing manager and board member in the textile industry. There is no good reason to complain.

2. Who Do You Love?

Okay, then I’ll be completely honest. You asked for it.

I love my friends, some of whom I’ve had for a very long time, and my partner and our dogs. To put it succinctly to the point.

Of course, the issue is more complicated.

I have a big and fucked up family history that could be described as broken. In this respect, love is not dripping from every crack. I love certain people in this family in a certain way, but that’s more through blood ties and shared history than through actual actions in life. No one in my family covered themselves in glory.

And I’m not good at forgiveness, one of my many flaws.

3. Do You Have Enough Money?

Yes and no. The question is: what for? Money doesn’t make you happy, but not having money can make you unhappy.

I have more than enough to survive and spend some money on things that are fun and only money can buy. The best things don’t cost anything.

But I don’t have enough to finance certain things that I would like to do. On the other hand, I don’t want to get any investors on board either. Been there, done that. Didn’t work out so well.

But it doesn’t matter. I’m fine, and my energy for certain activities, which I have in mind, is not as great as it was 10 years ago.

4. Are You Healthy?

I think I’m a medical miracle. My father died when he was 48. At the moment I’m 50 years old and miraculously never really seriously ill, quite fit, and with a lifestyle that hasn’t necessarily always been very healthy.

I gave up smoking years ago and now only drink very moderately. I exercise regularly, make sure I get enough sleep and eat very well.

I have no physical health problem. I am very thankful for that. But I’ve struggled with depression my whole life. This varies widely, from years of nothing to sudden, complete darkness.

It cannot be controlled without medication. It is what it is, I can’t change anything about it. Being open about it — like right now — always helps.

5. Do You Think You Are a Good Person?

A good old friend once said, “You are who you make yourself out to be”. In every human being is the potential to be everything, good, bad and everything in between. The question is: What is good and what is evil? By what standards?

I think if we look at the general norms of society, I’m probably a pretty okay guy.

“I am not a ‘wise man,’ nor … shall I ever be. And so, require not from me that I should be equal to the best, but that I should be better than the wicked. It is enough for me if every day I reduce the number of my vices and blame my mistakes.”

Roman Stoic, Seneca

6. How Old Are You?

50, right now. It’s 2023. I don’t care about age, it means nothing.

My eyesight is the same as it was 35 years ago, but my hearing is worse. After changing my diet and a few other things in my life, I no longer have joint pain and feel great.

I’m still as forgetful as I was in first grade, and I still have exactly the same difficulty concentrating because I’m still easily distracted. The only difference to young Ingo is that today I don’t get spanked for it anymore.

7. Who’s Your Best Friend?

I don’t have one single best friend; I wouldn’t like such a ranking of people in my life. I have a handful of very close friends who are like brothers to me, all of whom are very different and mostly don’t know each other. But they all have one thing in common: They suit me extraordinarily well and are all a little or even more crazy.

8. What’s Your Childhood Dream?

I wanted to be a rock star. I missed that a little bit.

9. How Often Do You Laugh?

I don’t know how many times a day or week, but I laugh quite a bit.

I don’t take myself and life too seriously. Everything begins and ends at some point, and then it probably starts all over again. And we can only do our best, fail and succeed.

Laughter is always a tried and tested means for me to deal with this life and its turmoil. When all else fails, humor works.

10. What Makes You Smile?

I take things that I cannot change with a smile.

If someone teases me or threatens me, I answer that with a weary smile.

I can be very sarcastic and then smile.

I smile warmly at people when I like them.

Good music with good sound makes me smile. All over the face.

11. Who’s Your Most Dangerous Enemy?

I have only one enemy, and that is myself. Anyone else who might consider themselves my enemy has no idea how dangerous the one I really have is.

12. Where Do You Live?

In a house with a garden and a pond in a small tranquil settlement in a small village near the highest mountains in Europe.

I can’t stand the heat; I love the coolness and the high quality of life here.

13. Do You Think You’re Strong?

I can be incredibly strong, and very weak. But in general, I’m pretty strong.

14. What Was the Most Important Thing You’ve Done So Far?

I honestly don’t know. Not even when I think about it for a long time.

Maybe I didn’t do anything important.

15. What Was the Most Stupid Thing You’ve Done So Far?

I shouldn’t have had certain relationships. Some big mistakes. I was young and looking for questionable things.

16. Do You Love Yourself?

Let me put it this way: Love, even for yourself, is hard to accept if you don’t feel worthy. At this point I have a deep-seated problem. But I am working on it.

17. What Do You Fear the Most?

I no longer fear much and the little that triggers something in me, not particularly badly either. Whatever life or the universe throws at me, I don’t give a fuck.

18. What Is Your Favorite Word?

Fuck.

19. When Was the Last Time You Cried?

I cry regularly. It’s good and important. I don’t cry for every shit, but there are things that really touch me and then I just cry.

20. What Is the Best Thing That Could Happen to You Right Now?

That I would be completely financially independent and finally only have time for the things I really want to do. And if it’s nothing.

21. What Is the Worst Thing That Could Happen to You Right Now?

Illness that would make me very dependent on others. That would be nothing for me.

22. Picture Yourself In 5 Years from Now

I have no fucking clue. Honestly.

23. Do You Regret Anything?

I regret a huge truck full of things. A whole convoy.

24. What’s The First Thing You Do in the Morning?

Pee, get on the scale, shower, brush my teeth, then my daily life begins. I never eat breakfast; I only have coffee.

25. What Are You Thinking Just Before Going to Bed?

This is totally variable and always something different. It depends on what happened or what lies ahead.

26. What Was the Highest Point You’ve Ever Been To?

Something around 3,000 meters.

27. If There’s One Thing in Your Life You Want to Change Right Now, What Is It?

I’m on a diet that’s going really well, but I’d like to get where I want to be faster.

28. What Are You Proud Of?

I am very proud of some of my musical works.

29. Sum Up Your Life in One Sentence

A wild, adventurous, fun and painful ride. For everyone involved.

30. Name The Thing That Annoys You the Most

I hate it when people whistle or smack their lips in public.

I don’t like unannounced visits or phone calls at all.

Overly affected friendliness gets on my nerves. I know … some people are just like that and they mean well, but I don’t like anything over the top.

31. What Is Your No 1 Question to God?

Why are you such a sadistic fuck?

32. Do You Have Secrets?

Of course. Like everyone else.

33. What Makes You Laugh?

My own clumsiness. I laugh best at myself, not at all at the misfortunes of others. I find it very indelicate to laugh at others.

34. Are You Happy?

I am content but not happy. I find life, this form of existence, too difficult and limited to be happy. I benevolently envy people who feel that kind of happiness, but I lack that ability. My partner is such a person, she has this lightness that I lack. Fortunately.

Again, feel free to pick this up and do it yourself. Link back to this post, so I can see it.

Spotify vs. Apple Music — Distribution — How to Pursue a Musical Career — From an Artist’s Perspective

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In this article, I’ll look at the two biggest music streaming providers, we’ll look at a good distribution service, and we’ll look at if and how you can or should pursue a music career.

The two big boys in the music streaming business

As an artist, it is important to choose the right streaming platform to showcase and distribute your music. There are many options available, but two of the most popular are Spotify and Apple Music. While both platforms have their pros and cons, it is important to weigh the options and consider which one is the best fit for your needs as an artist.

First, let’s take a look at Spotify. With over 345 million monthly active users, Spotify is the largest streaming platform in the world. It offers a wide range of features for both artists and listeners, including personalized playlists, podcasts, and live audio. For artists, Spotify provides a variety of tools to help promote and monetize their music, including the ability to create artist profiles, upload music, and track streams and listeners.

One of the biggest benefits of Spotify for artists is the potential to reach a large audience. With millions of users, there is a good chance that your music will be discovered by new listeners. Additionally, Spotify offers a program called Spotify for Artists, which provides resources and insights for artists to help them grow their careers.

However, there are some downsides to consider as well. For one, the royalty rates on Spotify can be relatively low, with artists earning around $0.004 to $0.0084 per stream. This can make it difficult for independent artists to earn a significant amount of money from their music on the platform. Additionally, Spotify’s algorithm can make it difficult for new artists to get their music in front of listeners, as the platform tends to prioritize established artists.

Now let’s take a look at Apple Music. With over 60 million paid subscribers, Apple Music is the second largest streaming platform behind Spotify. Like Spotify, it offers a wide range of features for both artists and listeners, including personalized playlists, podcasts, and live radio. For artists, Apple Music provides tools to help promote and monetize their music, including the ability to upload music and track streams and listeners.

One of the biggest benefits of Apple Music for artists is the higher royalty rates. Apple Music pays artists a slightly higher rate than Spotify, with artists earning around $0.0064 to $0.0125 per stream. This can be a significant advantage for independent artists looking to earn more from their music. Additionally, Apple Music’s algorithm tends to be more favorable to new artists, making it easier for them to get their music in front of listeners.

However, there are also some downsides to consider with Apple Music. One of the main drawbacks is the smaller user base compared to Spotify. With fewer users, it can be harder for artists to reach a large audience on the platform. Additionally, Apple Music does not offer as many resources and insights for artists as Spotify’s Spotify for Artists program.

Both Spotify and Apple Music have their pros and cons for artists. It is important to consider the size of the audience, royalty rates, and available resources when deciding which platform is the best fit for your needs. While Spotify may offer a larger audience and a variety of resources, Apple Music may be a better option for artists looking to earn more from their music. Ultimately, the decision will depend on your specific goals and needs as an artist.

What about distribution?

DistroKid is a popular digital distribution service that allows artists to upload and distribute their music to a variety of streaming platforms and music stores. It is a convenient and cost-effective option for independent artists who want to get their music out to a wider audience. However, like any service, there are both pros and cons to consider when deciding whether or not to use DistroKid.

One of the main pros of DistroKid is its affordability. DistroKid charges a flat fee of $19.99 per year for unlimited music uploads and distribution to a variety of platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. This is significantly cheaper than many other digital distribution services, which often charge a percentage of sales or a per-track fee.

Another pro of DistroKid is the convenience it offers. With a simple online interface, it is easy for artists to upload and distribute their music to multiple platforms with just a few clicks. Additionally, DistroKid offers a variety of tools and resources to help artists promote and monetize their music, including customizable artist profiles, track and album pre-order options, and tools to track streams and sales.

However, there are also some cons to consider when using DistroKid. One potential downside is the lack of human curation. Unlike some other distribution services that offer playlist curation and other personalized recommendations, DistroKid relies solely on algorithms to decide which tracks to feature. This can make it harder for new artists to get their music in front of listeners.

Another potential con is the lack of support for physical releases. While DistroKid does allow artists to distribute digital music, it does not offer distribution for physical CDs or vinyl. This may be a drawback for artists who want to release physical copies of their music.

DistroKid is a convenient and cost-effective option for independent artists looking to distribute their music to a variety of streaming platforms. While there are some potential downsides to consider, its affordability and convenience make it a good choice for many artists.

With those tips at hand, do I become a successful music artist now?

The short answer is: No, it’s not that simple.

shallow focus photography of man wearing red polo shirt
Photo by Nathan Cowley on Pexels.com

Becoming a popular music artist is a challenging and competitive process that requires a lot of hard work, talent, and dedication. There are many factors that can contribute to an artist’s success, and the path to fame and recognition is often unpredictable. Here are a few of the main challenges that artists may face on their journey to becoming popular:

  1. Competition: There are a lot of aspiring musicians out there, and it can be difficult to stand out in such a crowded field. It takes a unique sound, strong talent, and a lot of hard work to rise above the competition and get noticed by industry professionals and fans.
  2. Marketing and promotion: Even if an artist has great talent and a unique sound, it can be difficult to get their music heard without proper marketing and promotion. This requires a lot of time, energy, and often a budget to promote the artist and their music through social media, live performances, and other channels.
  3. Funding: The music industry can be expensive, and it takes money to produce, distribute, and promote music. Many aspiring artists struggle to find the funding they need to take their careers to the next level, and may have to rely on crowdfunding, grants, or other sources of financial support.
  4. Industry gatekeepers: The music industry is often controlled by a small group of industry professionals, such as record labels, managers, and agents. It can be difficult for artists to get noticed by these gatekeepers, who often have their own agendas and may not be interested in supporting new or unknown artists.
  5. Rejections and setbacks: Becoming a popular artist requires resilience and determination. Artists will likely face many rejections and setbacks along the way, and it can be tough to stay motivated and keep going when things don’t go as planned.

Overall, becoming a popular music artist is a challenging and competitive process that requires a lot of hard work, talent, and dedication. While it is not easy, the rewards of a successful music career can be well worth the effort.

Would I recommend you to walk this rocky and hard path? Neither nor. It all depends on how much you want to achieve that goal, how much you are willing to work and sacrifice for it and last but not least: how much talent you have, and by that I don’t just mean musical talent.

Are you ready for that? What’s your goal, and what are you willing to to put in?

The Ultimate Harmonic Mixing & Composing Chart

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Before you dig in…

The Ultimate Harmonic Mixing & Composing Chart is a visual aid for musicians, producers, composers and DJs to easily create music that always has harmonic chord progressions. This sheet is now widely used worldwide as a teaching and practical tool in music and DJ schools and has been downloaded hundreds of thousands of times.

The situation

As both a DJ and composer, the Circle of Fifth or the Camelot Key Wheel system — amongst others — have always been handy tools for me to write and mix music harmonically. There are just too many options in chord progressions than I could ever have in my memory (maybe you can, but I don’t).

So yes, I could always have a look at above mentioned helpers to orientate myself through the notes and chords jungle, in case needed, which is not always the case. I have the most common chords in my head. Just not always.

As a composer I’m fine with the musical key/chord system, i.e. “A minor“, but as a DJ it isn’t very likely (for me, again) to remember all the musical chords to know what to mix into what. So, Mark Davis came up with Camelot Keys (used in Mixed in Key, which I prefer, because of its accuracy) and then there are the Open Keys (Traktor). Which is basically a range of 12 keys for each gender, major and minor chords. “A minor” is 8A (Camelot Key) or 1m (Open Key).

In a nutshell: if you mix 1A into 2A (and so forth, up until 12A and then into 1A again) you’re generally fine. Your mixing transitions will always be harmonic, no key clashes. This example is the very basic part of harmonic mixing or composing. And also, a bit boring if you do that all the time. It becomes really good and interesting when you use all the options within the world of chord progressions.

What I was missing in all those years of composing and mixing was ONE chart (to rule them all) that shows me ALL key/chord systems and their equivalents, their piano keys (very useful for composing) and their harmonic keys/chords. I searched the interwebs in order to find out if someone did this, but no one did.

The solution

So, I did it myself. 8 hours work and I had what I was looking for. And since I guess this could be useful for every musician/DJ, I want to share it here with you. This is how it looks like (click to open the full resolution file):

The Ultimate Harmonic Mixing Composing Chart
Click to open large version, right-click to save

You can download the high-res PNG image above, print it out and use it for yourself, if you like. Here’s a PDF and the original EXCEL version of it, in case you want to edit/modify something for your needs (let me know when you find mistakes or when you improved it!):

PDF | EXCEL

What does it do, how do I use this?

Let’s take an example for a composing or mixing situation:

The chord we’re working with at the moment is A minor (or 8A, or 1m). What shall be next? Everything in the table below — around the 8A — is possible, it will be harmonic. The closer to the 8A it is the more harmonic it’ll be.

Composing Keys

DJ Keys

Harmonic Keys
Western Music Scale
Piano Chord Keys
Camelot Key
Open Key
Scale Degree
DJ Keys up/down
D minor D + F + A 7A 12m Fourth (Sub-Dominant) -1
C major C + E + G 8B 1d Relative major

A minor

A + C + E

8A

1m

Same key (tonic)
E minor E + G + B 9A 2m Fifth (Dominant) 1
B-flat/♭ minor A# + C# + F 3A 8m Low energy boost 7
B minor B + D + F# 10A 3m High energy boost (supertonic) 2
A-flat/♭ minor G + B + D# 1A 6m Low energy drain -7
G minor G + A# + D 6A 11m High energy drain (leading tone) -2

But your decision what to do next is depending on the purpose. What kind of “feel” do you want to give your mix or composition?

Examples

Here are some possible chord progression scenarios, working with the Camelot Keys (which I prefer, at least for DJing), starting with 8A:

The “River”

That’s how I call it, it’s kind of a “secure standard”, nothing special, it’s just flowing along:

8A > 9A > 10A … 12A > 1A > 2A and so forth, until you’re at 7A and back into 8A again

Audio sample:

Music used: Ingo Vogelmann “Albert” (8A) > Tripswitch “Proximity Effect” (9A) > Mike Griego “What Lies Beyond” (10A) 

You can’t go wrong with this one, you just rock “around the clock”. Depending on the energy level of actual music/sequence used, transitions changes can be very energetic, though.

The “Little Ocean Wave”

The energy of this chord progression has the shape of an ocean wave or a sawtooth:

8A > 9A > 11A (+2 DJ keys, high energy boost) > 12A > 1a and so forth

Audio sample:

Music used: Ingo Vogelmann “Albert” (8A) > Tripswitch “Proximity Effect” (9A) > Bobby Deep “Egopunk” (11A) 

You can do this once in a while to give your mix a little energy boost, which makes it more interesting than the “River”.

The “Big Ocean Wave”

8A > 9A > 4A (+7 DJ keys, low energy boost) > 6A (+2 DJ keys, high energy boost) > 7a and so forth

Audio sample:

Music used: Ingo Vogelmann “Albert” (8A) > Tripswitch “Proximity Effect” (9A) > Michael A “Storm” (4A) > Robert Babicz “Kinect” (6A) 

Here you have a longer and progressive wave of energy rising, until it falls back to normal at 7A again, just like an ocean wave crashing and the next one building up again.

The “Wild Ocean”

It’s a bit stormy, and the waters stirred up, but everything is still harmonic and in place. This is the most “interesting” way of mixing, things shouldn’t become boring:

8A > 8B (relative major) > 9A > 4A (+7 DJ keys, low energy boost) > 4B (relative major) > 6B (+2 DJ keys, high energy boost) > 7B > 2B (+7 DJ keys, low energy boost) > 4B (+2 DJ keys, high energy boost) > 5B and so forth

Audio sample:

Music used: Third Son & Wally Lopez “Geometry” (8A) > Ingo Vogelmann “Empire On Fire” (8B) > Antrim “The Mystic Lovers” (9A) > Michael A “Storm” (4A) > Raw District Feat. Jinadu “Taking You Down” (Habischman Remix) (4B)

I could make up a hell of a lot more examples now (with even sillier names), but you most probably already get the idea. The options are really endless, and you’ll always be composing or DJing harmonic. The above scenarios are just examples. Find out what works for yourself, I’m sure you’ll have fun experimenting with chord progressions, using this nifty chart. Oh, and don’t mind the silly names … it’s just about giving things a name. 😉

It’s free! Download, share, modify, re-publish and generally do with it whatever you want. But please, don’t pretend you did this. Credit would be nice (and fair) but is no condition.