humanity
Humanity topics include pieces on the real lives of music professionals, amateurs, inspiring students, celebrities, lifestyle influencers, and general feel good human stories in the music sphere.
My Time at Willie Nelson's Recording Studio
Yep, you read that right. I actually got a chance to record at The Red Headed Stranger's studio. It was 2003, if I'm not mistaken. I had just received my certification in audio engineering and I was ambitious. Right afterwards, I was given a brief internship at Willie's other studio (Arlyn) but I wanted, or rather, needed, to be at the original in Pedernales. After some convincing, the studio managers decided to let me record a few bands there. I put an ad out on Craigslist and instantly received inquiries. Being that I lived in the live music capital of the world (Austin), there was no shortage of potential clients.
By E. L. Soto5 years ago in Beat
Bisexual Visibility Week: The Importance of The Aces' "Under My Influence". Top Story - September 2020.
Hailing from the conservative town of Provo, Utah, The Aces are an indie-pop band with catchy hooks, impressive guitar riffs, and an irresistible summer vibe. Members Cristal (vocals, guitar), Alissa (drums), Katie (lead guitar, vocals), and McKenna (bass) are self-taught musicians that have been in a band together since they were a young age. However, it was the moment that songwriter Lorde won her first Grammy at age eighteen that inspired the young women to pursue music professionally.
By Vanessa Butera5 years ago in Beat
The Memoirs of an Audio Engineer
My parents tell me that whenever I jumped into a new activity that I fully submerged myself in it. Whether it was hockey or boy scouts or music, it became my life. My parents got divorced when I was very young; I almost don't even recognize a reality in which they were ever together, even though I do have bits and pieces of memories. Children of divorce interact with and see the world differently I believe; the narrative of "go to school, do well, go to college, do well, get a job, do well, retire at 65" doesn't really seem to resonate as well than with people who grew up in happier nuclear families. Art tends to be the only way these children can express themselves fully and so was the case for me.
By Kevin Marcoux5 years ago in Beat
How My Quest for Fame Almost Ended My Life
Hello. My name is Esteban Luis Soto and I was almost famous. Three times, in fact. Although I have songs on the internet and have finished a full-length novel (which is being considered for publication), you’ve probably never heard of me. I don’t blame you though. There’s a lot of static in this world and, these days, I’m just part of that noise. However, those who pass me by in the grocery store or idle next to me at traffic lights, don’t know that, at one point, I was a blip on the radar of society (in my mind, at least). Although I’ve experienced a lot in my life, my life was also in danger several times. This is the story of the 1st time I was almost famous and everything in this story is true to life.
By E. L. Soto5 years ago in Beat
Me?
I've almost never taken a "vacation" vacation that didn't involve my family or work. But one year, an American band I was into was playing Toronto and my favorite Canadian band was playing Chicago 2 days later. This totally interested me because I am not a lounge about vacationer, I need to be doing something and I don't mean hiking.
By Kerri Philpott5 years ago in Beat
Sweet floral dream
Hey, so of course like everyone loves music. My father was a musician, but I was into sports so did not really pick it up. I wrote poetry in high school, but that was it. I wanted to learn the intro to la bamba and then I was done. I spent time in a church where the entire pastors family made music and were super impressive! After leaving the church and trying to find my own way. I headed out to Austin, Texas not really knowing that it is heavy in putting out musicians. I didnt really explore and while I was over there my father send me a guitar from Mexico. It wasn’t the best quality, but somehow he planted a seed to spark my interest. I actually barely even touched it. I let my musician friends mess around on it. Here I discovered my first girl crush even though nothing came of it, I left back to Houston for family reasons. I was in between jobs and I spent time on this farm called the last organic outpost. I heard about this place through word of mouth. So when I was not getting my hands dirty I was rediscovering my own city after 4 years in Austin and came across an art space named TXRX labs. I met this aspiring artist and professor. She became my first muse. I wanted more, she was not gay, but I felt we had a great chemistry. That day I felt so excited about meeting her that I picked up the guitar and started whaling on it and used my poetry skills to come up with a song. I swear I had no since of tuning or rhythm and I could not sing, but I came up with two songs and recorded them. Her art was in how music helps us remember better and I was invited to come to her show. So I had them recorded on a usb and when the time came, I told her that I didnt know really what I was doing, but that I felt extremely inspired to do this. She would later that night contact me and tell me that I should continue to keep making music and I never stopped. Being a urban farmer I had planted these loofahs for the first time on my gate, but they over grew onto the neighbors fence. My father and I had managed it, but they were so happy they flourished down the fence and into a tree. I let them know that they are more than welcome to partake. Loofahs when ready to eat , are like a cucumber and squash and when left on the vine they turn into sponges. They come with this yellow vibrant flower and it created such a beautiful landscape. I went away for the weekend and cameback to half the the vine being dead. After inspecting, they were cut at the base of the vine in 3 different places. I rushed over and ask the neighbors who did this. They were renters and said the landlord did it. I never met this person and I got their numbers to call and paced back and forth thinking of what I was going to say. I was so furious that I told my muse about it and after I shedded some tears. She told me to plant some more. This inspired a song. I told my father that we were not going to take down the dead vine, that they could do it themselves and to let it serve as a reminder that every time they see it , it is the ugliness that comes out of them . It took awhile to take it down and I never did make the call. This is the story I tell when asked about the flowers on my left sleeve and I believe it is my muses’s favorite song.
By AnDrea Guerrero5 years ago in Beat
Mr. 3000, is Your Heart still...Ice Cold?
"....... & the Love Below". DAMN! Honestly, I painstakingly resent the lack of wave not had especially by black men who didn't take to The Love Below. Says so much for such a little bubble pock universe of this multiverse I dwell in.
By Wolf Runner5 years ago in Beat
Mind Compression
Mind Compression.(Manifestation of a High school drama project.) One of my dreams as a kid was to be a rockstar. This would prove to be difficult considering I was not a musician. I got my chance to prove I was an industry expert one day when I was hauled into my grade 11 Drama class by Miss Maria Kortes.She taught me Drama, FineArts several religion classes and more than a few life lessons at St. Francis Xavier. I had been skipping school to go smoke weed with my friends behind the church. Kortes had a way of finding us (she could probably smell the weed lol)and making sure we attended her classes. I was not prepared to be some type of industry expert and give a monologue on some industry or profession that I was”. The expert” in. I was cornered and ready to be a rebellious punk to get out of the assignment. She asked me what I needed and who I was? Then it occured to me I could grab my Ghetto blaster out of my locker and play a few different parts of a few different Metal songs and just sort of fake my way through it( in theatre faking it is called Improv) I would play a song by WASP then talk a little bit about it in comparison to a song from “Kill Em All by Metallica
By Metal John Kyle.5 years ago in Beat
Equilateral Inversion
Equilateral Inversion arbors connective mountains. The mountains were the softest blue and pink against the sky. The wind scratched against her face as she climbed the mountain. She stopped along the trail and checked her back pack for supplies. Ludee got some fresh pane and cheese from her backpack and sat on a mountain rock nearby. Nooby called on her cell phone.
By Sally Hollis5 years ago in Beat
Music Is Life
Music is my entire life, without it I would die. From the moment I wake up to the moment I go to bed I have music playing. There are so many songs that describe my every feeling. I grew up with my dad playing classic rock, and Alanis Morissette's "Hand in My Pocket" and "Ironic" were my favorite songs as a little girl.
By LeAnn Murch5 years ago in Beat
