The Unstarving Musician

11/07/2025

🎙️ In this new episode – Steve Pasieka (Skulk the Hulking) shares how he evolved from live performance art and noise rock to creating a multimedia project that seamlessly blends music, AI-generated visuals, and story telling.

🎧 Listen to our conversation wherever you get your podcasts.

🔗 https://www.unstarvingmusician.com/skulk-the-hulking/

09/07/2025

🎶 "Artificial intelligence is limited by human biology, because even if a computer can create a billion songs with the click of a button, it still takes a human being three minutes to listen to a song" –The ajjancy

🎧 Hear our conversation wherever you get your podcasts.

🔗 https://www.unstarvingmusician.com/george-ajjan-legal-mashups/

09/07/2025

🎶 You must be technically solid enough that your ex*****on becomes largely automatic before you can truly listen. But most musicians think technical mastery is the goal when it’s just the entryway to real musicianship. The irony? Technical preparation, which should free us to listen, becomes a constraint. We can be so concerned with executing what we practice that we don’t always respond to what is actually happening.

🔗 Read more: https://robonzo.kit.com/posts/liner-notes-the-art-of-listening-while-playing-part-1

08/07/2025

🎶 Musicians must be technically solid enough that their ex*****on becomes largely automatic before they can truly listen. But most musicians think technical mastery is the goal when it’s just the entryway to real musicianship.

🔗 https://ckarchive.com/b/wvu2hghkoxd6zb9r552rqtnvgw###h8h4e3

03/07/2025

Musicians often focus 90% on ex*****on and just 10% on listening. We typically focus on technical obsession at the sacrifice of musical awareness. If you're not actively listening, correctly played parts can actually sound stiff, whereas playing parts correctly and actively listening makes you and your bandmates sound fluid and professional.

👓 Read more: https://ckarchive.com/b/o8ukhqh68gevdap2ww025aq2mvrrrhohqo0

02/07/2025

Many independent artists focus on creating one great music video. They're missing the bigger picture.
Successful video marketing treats content as an ecosystem:
→ Main video as centerpiece
→ Behind-the-scenes footage
→ Acoustic versions
→ Lyric videos
→ Fan interactions
This transforms overwhelming content demands into manageable documentation of your artistic journey.
Stop thinking isolated projects. Start building connected experiences.
🔗Read more: https://www.unstarvingmusician.com/music-video-marketing/

Music Video Marketing: Why Visual Content is Your Most Powerful Marketing Currency Reading time: 6 minutes In episode of The Unstarving Musician (Episode 321), music video promotion expert Andy Gesner shared insights from his 25 years of helping independent artists leverage visual content to build t...

30/06/2025

The economics of music video production have fundamentally changed. Independent artists no longer need massive budgets to create career-defining visual content.

Memorable videos succeed because of strong concepts and authentic storytelling, not expensive production values.

Your biggest asset as an indie artist is focus—not budget.

🔗 Read the full breakdown:
https://www.unstarvingmusician.com/music-video-marketing/

27/06/2025

🎙️ EPISODE DROP 🎙️
Legal Mashups & Studio Management with The ajjancy! 🎵

Ever wondered how to legally distribute mashup covers without getting sued? Or how to maximize your studio time and budget? George Ajjan (the ajjancy) breaks down both in this episode.

🔍 What you'll learn:

• YouTube's Content ID as "safe harbor" for mashup covers
• Studio preparation strategies that save money and stress
• Long-term creative scheduling
• How to scout and work with session musicians
• Navigating copyright complexities without expensive lawyers

George's systematic approach to these indie artist pain points offers practical solutions you can implement right away - from legal frameworks to studio efficiency to sustainable career management.

Perfect for artists ready to level up their business game while staying creative.

🎧 Listen wherever podcasts are found.
🔗 https://www.unstarvingmusician.com/george-ajjan-ajjancy/

🎙️

24/06/2025

🎵 "Listening should be at least half of what your brain is doing." —Kid Andersen, Blues Guitarist & Record Producer

In this week's Liner Notes Insider:
"The Art of Listening While Playing (Part 1)"

Musicians often focus 90% on ex*****on and only 10% on listening. But playing your part correctly isn't enough if you're not actively listening to the band around you.

Kid Andersen's 50% rule: dedicate half your mental bandwidth to hearing what's happening musically, not just nailing your own part.

Also in this week's edition of Liner Notes Insider:
• The technical mastery paradox
• Practical listening strategies for rehearsal and performance
• How to use your ears as a safety net when things go wrong
• Solo practice techniques that build ensemble listening skills

Challenge: Next time you play with others, try the 50% rule with just one song. Notice how it transforms not just your playing, but the entire musical conversation.

👓 Read more in Liner Notes:
https://ckarchive.com/b/o8ukhqh68gevdap2ww025aq2mvrrrhohqo0

Part 2 drops next week with advanced applications—leading through listening and reading the room like a pro.

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18/06/2025

There was a time when getting your music video on MTV was the holy grail? Those days are gone, and the opportunity is bigger than ever. Today's independent artists have the same tools as major labels to create compelling visual content and reach global audiences. The gatekeepers didn't disappear—they democratized. 🎵✨

Read more ➡️ https://www.unstarvingmusician.com/music-video-marketing/

13/06/2025

🎙️ Episode 328 | Christian DeWild – Balancing Music, Books, and Painting While Building an Authentic Artistic Career 🎨📚🎵

In this fascinating conversation, I sit down with Folsom, California-based artist Christian DeWild, who perfectly embodies what it means to be a multi-disciplinary creative. Christian seamlessly balances music, literature, and visual art while working as an electrical contractor by day.

Fresh off releasing his first single of 2025, "By Your Side" (recorded on his analog Tascam system), Christian shares his unique approach to creative obsession and the philosophical urgency that drives his art. As the author of two published books including "Dead Flowers: Let's Get Married On Halloween," he offers raw insights into the challenges of self-publishing and what he's thinking about future books.

What struck me most about Christian is his honest reflection on doing creative work within the finite nature of life - and how that awareness fuels his passion for whatever project currently has his attention.

Juggling multiple creative pursuits or looking to expand beyond just music?

This conversation offers valuable wisdom about maintaining authenticity across different artistic mediums.

🎧 Listen wherever podcasts are found.
🔗 https://www.unstarvingmusician.com/christian-dewild/

03/06/2025

Staying healthy on the road, much less in everyday life, is so important for sustained creativity. It starts with a desire and happens a day at a time. Don't let all or nothing stop you from doing something for your well being today.

https://robonzo.kit.com/posts/liner-notes-staying-strong-on-the-road-part-2-workouts-recovery-strategies

I'm a musician and host of The Unstarving Musician podcast. Liner Notes is my biweekly newsletter that shares some of the best insights garnered from the many conversations featured on the Unstarving Musician. Topics covered include, songwriting, touring, sync licensing, recording, house concerts, m...