by Ken Newman
There is an overwhelming flood of music being released every day now. Thousands of songs hit streaming platforms constantly, and even strong records can vanish under that weight. You can spend years writing and recording an album, only to discover that the release window lasts about two weeks before the internet moves on.
That realization hit me while I was standing in my storage area, looking at shelves sagging beneath boxes of vinyl.
Two released albums. A lot of records. Not nearly enough buyers.
Like many musicians, I had taken the album approach. I had even taken the vinyl step. I co-produced Blanket the Homeless, a project I remain deeply proud of, which helped support the San Francisco charity I founded by the same name. After that, I released my solo album, What Am I Afraid Of?
Both albums meant a great deal to me. Both required significant time, money, faith, and energy. People connected with certain songs. We sold some copies. And then, like so much independent music now, they disappeared almost as quickly as they arrived.
Continue reading
The photo above is me outside the Koninklijk Theatre where Tori Amos played Amsterdam in September 2017. I was lucky enough to get last minute tickets the very day before I was scheduled to fly home after my European tour. Needless to say, it was all very auspicious and I recently started to think about how many songs I can play of hers, and how by playing them they’ve become a part of me. She also has a special approach to doing covers. I have also interpreted many songs by other artists in the meantime and I’m also keen to try my hand at a few that intimidate me! Here is some background and a few tips for nailing that cover song.