I love it when a plan comes together. Define a definite purpose or goal. Make a plan. Work the plan. Get what you want. A perfect example of this is to be found and admired in the artist named Jessica Frech. Recently, Jessica released her first single, “Reality”  from her first full album that was officially released on March 20^th.

I first met Jessica when she was 16 years old.  She was cutting songs in a studio for her first EP “Grapefruit”.  I can honestly say that even then she seemed to possess a certain idea of where she was going, what she wanted, and there was a sense that the gears were grinding in her head working on ideas of how to get her there.

She’s 20 now and she’s building on the building blocks she set up then, and has been applying good old fashion hard work and street smarts to develop her voice, songwriting and seemingly endless modern music biz savvy.

Since, her first EP, she has self defined her path to success, first grabbing the attention of over 8.5 million YouTube viewers (as of writing this article), with her hilarious and smart ass tribute to the people of Walmart. She then compounded that success and notoriety with other viral music videos, for songs such as, “Justin Bieber Take a Bow” and “My Pet Hobo”.

These bold moves captured the attention of Hyundai advertising executives who made her a national television spokesperson for the brand during last year’s holiday sales season. All of this led to her collecting an inexhaustible number of social network contacts, which she smartly tapped in promoting her Kickstarter.com project which was tremendously successful and has provided her the finance to record her upcoming album, her publicity and live tour. I say Awesome.

Currently, she is continuing to record and has been collecting a savvy artist promotion team that includes her devoted fan and father, John Frech.

Along with this team she recently blazed her way into New York City, where Jessica and/or her videos were featured on many various television outlets, including Fox News, MSNBC, Jimmy Fallon and Buzzfeed.  She also scored interviews with several music publications, including Billboard Magazine.  Of course I may be biased but I think this whirlwind would really be kicked into high gear if she’d come to talk to us here at Songstreet.

But, behind all these business moves, I see one thing that is even more important, and that is her dedication to perfecting her craft as a songwriter and performer.  You’ll find her brand of writing as fresh and fun.  Commercial… yes, but full of honesty, youthful fun, wit and of course beautifully proportioned amounts of sarcasm.

The new album is not a complete departure from her web persona, but definitely more concentrated and definitely with a brain forward lyric approach. I personally like where she’s going with her songwriting. It’s honest and believable. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.

So, if you’re looking for a modern music model from which to take notes, I’d be watching closely, the delightful and talented Jessica Frech.

ENJOY !

Sometimes, people I know are amazed and actually perplexed by my ability to talk all day long about songwriting, music business and recording.  But, I have to say in my defense that as much as I love to talk about it,  I love nothing more than to hear others talk about their experiences in the music business.

Last week I attended the AES Recording Workshop in Nashville.  It was a great two day event.  One of the most enjoyable parts to me, beyond learning all the ins and outs of audio cable impedance, was the keynote address by Keb Mo’ AKA Kevin Moore.  After listening to him for about an hour, all I could think was – ” this guy is Just Cool ! ”

He spoke casually with the audience.  He told us stories of his journey as artist and songwriter and how the changes in business and technology have shaped his career path.

However, he added that one thing has always remained the same, and he quoted the great Quincy Jones for his point when he said, “what you need for success in the music business is three things: a great song, a great song and a great song”.   I may have misquoted a bit, but that’s how the words hit me, as I listened on the edge of my seat  to Keb Mo’.

I  just want to say I couldn’t agree more. There is not, and never will be a more powerful way to shape the success of a songwriter, artist, producer, engineer or publisher than being part of delivering a great song to the world.

No. Nothing in my mind can change that fact.  Not piracy, not archaic music execs, not technology, not changing business models, not even a clueless audience.  Nope. A great song will always thrive in the world,  and great songwriters, artists and music entrepreneurs with it.

So, all this brings me to the question, “What makes a great song?”  Well..If I had to give my humble answer, I think it’s simply any song that one might  hear where the message of the song reveals to them the truth of who they are, where they’ve been, or what they hope to be.  Furthermore I believe a great song pulls up in our hearts and minds a moment of unmistakable, undeniable self realization or self truth.

I’d now like to parallel my idea of a great song with another quote from the great Quincy Jones.  Quincy was talking about human laughter when he said, “I’ve always thought that a big laugh is a really loud noise from the soul, saying, ‘Ain’t that the truth.’”

So, what do think makes a great Song ?  I’d love to hear your opinions.

PS – If you want to hear some great music from Keb Mo, check out his SoundCloud page.

On this show we talk to Sean O’Bryan Smith, Jazz musician, composer, producer and entrepreneur.  He talks with us about his career, life in music and how his working hard is paying off and how he is using the internet and other technologies to bring his brand of music and production to larger and larger audiences.

We also hear some awesome music from his latest projects and album releases.  If you want some inspiration on how to approach getting your music out there and want to hear some great music, you won’t miss out on this way cool podcast.

There is one line in the “Godfather” movie that I feel is completely erroneous. It’s the line when the mob guy says, “It’s not personal, it’s business!”  I believe whole-heartedly that if you are engage in a business you love, it’s all personal.  This thought now  brings me to this seemingly unrelated point regarding modern web communications (i.e.  Facebook, Twitter, texting,etc).

I understand that the modern world society is an ever changing system that has rapidly evolving rules of engagement between people and peoples.  I also understand  that the music business is changing along with that world society and that technology is driving that change more rapidly every day. Some for the good, some for bad.

I think  new communication technologies are wonderful. These technologies enable me to reach out to you and others like you about the thing that matters most to me.  Music !

Technology helps me stay in touch more readily with the folks I care about.  It makes it easy to post this article, text my comments to friends, take the awful photo attached to this article, and  place a post on Facebook simultaneously. Yep, it’s all really awesome.

Before I go any further, I  want you all to know that the following things I have to say may come off with a bit of ire on my part, but as many of you know, this site is geared to be a positive and helpful environment.  It is always my sincerest wish that the things I say here will help people get where they want to go in business and in life.  So, with that said, here comes my objections and observations on modern communications, as well as my obviously sage advice and personal plea to all of you.

Communication on the Web

The first subject that needs discussion is on how people should never lean on modern web communications to communicate complex ideas, discuss business solutions or to establish professional or business relationships.

Yes, it’s okay to introduce yourself on Facebook or Linked In, but if you ever intend to build real lasting relationships, you will want to call or make the effort to actually meet people “in person”.  I know this is scary for most of you these days, but trust me, it still has great value to others and it works.

Let me say that recently,  many people are actually surprised when I used my telephone to contact them. One poor soul to whom I left a message on their phone, actually Facebook messaged me a reply with complex details of a project for I which I had no previous knowledge, and furthermore this was a person that didn’t really know me and they wanted my assistance. They didn’t even have it in them to simply return a call.  How seriously should I take them?

Am I the only one that sees a problem with this situation? Is there anyone else that feels that this might be a bit unprofessional?  I use this anecdotal evidence, but I have many personal stories like this one.  So, please don’t think you can use texting to a new contact as a meaningful way to communicate your business ideas, passions or ask for assistance and for God’s sake don’t expect that real people should respect that approach.

NOW TAKE THE PLEDGE !

Say it with me… I now pledge that anytime I find myself communicating on the web about business or getting involved with others business, I will immediately delete my message, and pick up a phone to call them, and if I don’t have their number, I will correct my message to ask where and when we might meet in person or when would be a good time to call to really discuss the matter.  I will do this because I actually do care about what they have to say and what they want to accomplish, and I of course am always interested to see how their plans might fit with mine.  (now stop reading out loud.)

I’m not saying I’ve perfected this habit, but I am definitely more conscious of this more than ever.  I certainly don’t want to perpetrate onto others as they seem to do to me regularly.  I also don’t ever want to say, “but everybody’s doing it.”  As my mother used to say ” You are not everybody !”  Good advice especially now.

Self Promotion on the Web

Another thing I’d like to discuss is self-promotion on the web.  First of all, I think we can gain a lot from communicating, with as many people as possible, about whatever our craft might be, but please, don’t forget to contribute back to others who are doing the same.

If you honestly like what others are doing, then make the real effort to show you earnestly care .  You can go to their shows, help them work through specific problems, introduce them to others you know, who might be able to help them, or simply be that vote of confidence they need today.  I guarantee, if you do these things, it will do more good for you than any SEO (Search Engine Optimization) software package.  If you do want to spam people, spam them with inspiration, encouragement and a flurry of “Your Awesome”. That certainly is our goal here at Songstreet. I hope it’s yours.

Warning: If you do any of the things described above with even a hint of insincerity, people will immediately know it and will write you off.  So, please don’t be insincere.

Those Young Whipper-Snappers !

While, I’m ranting, let me quickly clarify that I don’t think these problems are restricted to our younger (less experienced) people.  This problem of unprofessional, immature, and sketchy practices extends to all ages. I can say I’ve had twenty somethings and fifty somethings break every possible rule of good form and manners with me, in regards to personal and business relations. I experience more and more of this behavior just about every week and is the reason for this particular article.

NOW…MY REALLY SAGE ADVICE

I know it feels good to hide behind the anonymity of the web.  I also I know the experience of being fully engaged in my own life and with the people around me is a much more rewarding experience.

Yes, many times working in the music business, we will get rejected, and especially on the web.  It seems to me that we believe that the blow of rejection is a little bit softer out on the interweb.  Mainly because our critics and rejectors are mostly faceless. We really don’t know them, and we don’t have to really look them in the face. Somehow in our silly human minds this makes us bolder to face rejection a million times a day from behind our computer screen and we make a great effort it seems to not really know anyone.

I might sound a bit old fashioned, but on the contrary, I want to encourage everyone  to use the heck out of modern technology to reach out with your specific brand, message or personality.  The beauty of communication technology today (see Jessica Frech article) is that it is easier than ever to find an audience that will connect with you artistically or in business.

However, once we find those people,  I want to encourage everyone (including myself)  to temper the knee jerk reaction to stay completely digital.  I assure you this reaction will eventually make anyone disappear into the sea of personality-free Faceboxes (Good name-I know. The dot com is already taken. I checked.)

I embrace the idea that we can still have meaningful business and/or personal relations that are unflinchingly real in these modern times.  I believe it won’t kill me or you.  So, I say bring it !  What is there to lose.   I  say, ” bring on the face to face!  Mr. and Mrs. Record Producer / Manager / Publisher / Engineer/ Songwriter/ Co-writer / Promoter / Studio Owner / A&R person / Fan Boy …”.   I promise the more you go there…out in the real world to make real relationships,  the faster and farther you will progress toward ultimately becoming the person you always wanted to be.

Trust me, the best thing you can do for your career, in whatever field that might be, is to get “Personal”.  Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone, return a phone call, or  dare I say – write a letter.  How about try inviting your Facebook Friends personally -  I mean one by one – to come to your next event or go the extra mile and travel across country to meet with some of these people face to face.

Some may argue with me that they get more done by constantly staying engaged in the act of texting and twitting from their God Box.  But I disagree.  My personal life experience has taught me that without any real engagement or investment in the other folks around me, I would be wasting time and will ultimately fail to accomplish any real progress in my life, my work or my business.

So. I hope to hear from you soon with all the awesome and fascinating details. I don’t mind, if you text me, message me on Facebook or email me.  From there I’ll be happy to say hello and share pictures with you, but if you want to say something really important, need to discuss critical information, or want to build a real and lasting business relationship, then the best thing you can do is “Call Me” and in the immortal words of the Jackson Five…”I’ll Be There”.   Thanks for your attention, caring and your time spent while I do a rare rant.

Call Me!

PS.  Okay, so you don’t have my number and if I put it here I would be spam called until the day I die. So message me on Facebook or email me, and I promise I will respond.