SoundClick blogs by patrick patch carr (Patch)

I'm Back -- My Other Life

patrick patch carr (Patch) — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 11:53:55 EST

Adjusting to a new position at work has taken a while (about a month to be exact) -- but I'm back. I have a load of music awaiting mixing and I am backlogged with three or four hook requests. To everyone who has purchased leases in the last few weeks, thanks so very much. I will be back on the daily grind for a while.

Last Night's Video Shoot

patrick patch carr (Patch) — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 05:53:31 EST

It's before 6am right now and last night I was at the bar shooting a video for Suburban District. I didn't get out of there until midnight but it was worth it. It will probably be out in a couple of weeks.

What Holds You Back?

patrick patch carr (Patch) — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 06:02:16 EST

What is the one thing that holds you back from taking your music career to the next level?

Stage Fright

patrick patch carr (Patch) — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 06:10:39 EST

The most common thing that holds artists back from success is the fear of what people think. Fear of failure. Stage fright. Nerves: they can be crippling and hard to control. When you are in front of people, your adrenal glands kick in to action, your heart rate elevates, you sweat, and your vocal chords tighten up. Some people lean on drugs, like Xanax, to numb these feelings, but that route is dangerous. Others, including many orchestral performers, rely on beta-blockers to neu...

Stop The Violence

patrick patch carr (Patch) — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 12:18:35 EST

Stop the violence. Seriously. Stop it. Rapper Shot In Broad Daylight

Quick Tip To Improve Your Raps

patrick patch carr (Patch) — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 13:02:48 EST

Instead of reading your verses and hooks from the page, try memorizing them. Rap them to the beat enough times before you record (especially if you are paying for studio time) that you know them by heart. When you memorize the lyrics you can focus 100% on delivery and flow, and be in your zone. It's also a workout for your brain and will improve your skills and memory all around. www.patrickpatchcarr.com

Rappers: Learn To Sing!

patrick patch carr (Patch) — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 13:12:44 EST

I'm going to do something against the status quo here and openly suggest that every rapper learn to sing. At least learn to carry a tune in key and make a good natural sounding tone come out. In the music market today, it will definitely give you an edge, even if you aren't singing in every song, The ability to switch it up and carry some notes will set you apart and improve your song writing dynamics. I can hear some of you now "that's p***y" or "I'm a G m*f*er" and that's fine, go ahead, ...

A&R Questions - Know Your Goals

patrick patch carr (Patch) — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 12:57:09 EST

The first time I sat down with an A&R for a publishing firm, the first question was "what are your goals as an artist or writer?". My unpreparedness showed through. I didn't have an exact answer. You need clarity in goals. How can you catch something if you don't even know what you're chasing? I learned this lesson the hard way. Write down exactly what you want to achieve in music. Write it down today. www.patrickpatchcarr.com

Freestyling

patrick patch carr (Patch) — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 12:25:28 EST

Do y'all still freestyle much? I just saw a video of Canibus in a battle rap from a few days ago and he was reading off of a piece of paper and STILL struggling. It was sad as hell. Got me thinking though. I barely ever hear anyone freestyling anymore. What happened?\ www.patrickpatchcarr.com

Starting A Label

patrick patch carr (Patch) — Sat, 09 Jun 2012 11:12:24 EST

A goal of mine is to start a label and a publishing company within the next two years. I'm searching for talent in all corners of the internet as well as locally. At the very least I would like to find a new exciting label that I can invest in. There are so many talented people out there who just need help on the organziational, business and marketing side of things. -Patch www.patrickpatchcarr.com

The Best Piano Player Alive

patrick patch carr (Patch) — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 23:07:08 EST

Jarrod Radnich. Hedwig's Theme Piano Solo Agreed?

New Keyboard

patrick patch carr (Patch) — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 11:16:18 EST

I had been wanting some keys to noodle on in my living room when I didn't feel like going in the studio. So, I just met a dude in the Whole Foods parking lot, in the suburban hell hole called Short Pump, to buy a Casio keyboard. For $50 I got a keyboard, (albeit a crappy one) an adapter, a music stand, a keyboard stand and a sustain pedal. Not a bad deal at all. Now I will be playing ALL the time. www.patrickpatchcarr.com

Mixing For Hip Hop Drums And Loudness

patrick patch carr (Patch) — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 11:22:40 EST

Getting your drums to hit proper and have your master be as loud as other producers is actually a simple concept. The key is to mix levels with your drums and bass front and center. In the mix, all of the instrumentation will actually sound too quiet but this is OK. Use a limiter (optimizer/ maximizer) to slam the mix and bring everything up around the level of the drums. Obviously, you need to know other basics to get to the point where you can do this and make it sound good, but this is ...

I Review Songs (And Don't Expect Anything In Return)

patrick patch carr (Patch) — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 12:30:26 EST

From a recent reviewee: "Thank you Patch for being a competent, intelligent, honest, and knowledgeable human being." Watch My Video For Submission Details It'll be my pleasure to help.

Radiohead Live Review

patrick patch carr (Patch) — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 10:25:41 EST

Radiohead kicked off their US tour dates last night at the Verizon Center in DC. Tickets were $80. A sold out crowd of 18,000 were in attendance. It was surreal, the amount of people. I hadn't been to a coliseum concert with that many fans in a long time. The band had a gigantic LCD light screen towering behind them with hanging LCD video panels over the band. The LCD lights were awesome except one time when they almost made me stroke out. The video panels would move around in ...

Music Industry Directories

patrick patch carr (Patch) — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 23:05:33 EST

How come some are like $160 and some are like $25 when they all claim to be up to date with the same information? Which to buy?

Basslines

patrick patch carr (Patch) — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 10:09:55 EST

A lot of people get stuck on basslines. I approach them as counterpoint. A melody in its own right that works with the vocal melody. I don't like to just loop a four bar bass line. Octaving your notes can help as well as learning how to walk up and down. Example here: More Than Disposable I'm thinking about offering my services as a bassline writer for other producers. I use Trillian Bass ...

Scared Sh*tless

patrick patch carr (Patch) — Thu, 31 May 2012 11:10:19 EST

Does anyone else ever feel that way? Been feeling out of sorts for the last couple days. Then, last night I saw a clip of Jason Mraz on VH1, crying and saying how he guilty he felt for still feeling depressed sometimes even though he has everything in the world. I guess we all have our good days and bad days. Much Love, Patch www.patrickpatchcarr.com

Mind State

patrick patch carr (Patch) — Tue, 29 May 2012 20:45:06 EST

Your best work is done when you are in a flow state! Flow (psychology)

Music vs. Real Job

patrick patch carr (Patch) — Mon, 28 May 2012 09:57:15 EST

A promotion was offered to me at my job this week. Sometimes its hard to balance my "real job" with my passion for music. Upon accepting the promotion it will be become even harder. Of course the promotion will provide more money to use for musical endeavors. Choices in life...

Publishing Deals

patrick patch carr (Patch) — Sun, 27 May 2012 22:40:20 EST

Did you know that besides being signed as an artist on a label you can also get a deal as a songwriter for a publishing company? A lot of these writers make more money and have more stability than most artists. Plus they don't have to deal with all the side effects of fame unless they choose to put themselves out there. The major publishers are EMI, Sony/ATV, BMG, and Universal. They have contracts with thousands of songwriters.

What Other People Think

patrick patch carr (Patch) — Sat, 26 May 2012 04:01:37 EST

Self doubt and depression are two of the most threatening diseases facing mankind. Do not, under any circumstance, let someone else tell you what you can or can't do. If not God, at least have faith in yourself. Treat yourself and others with respect and love. If you can't get out of life, then get into it. Best, Patch www.patrickpatchcarr.com

Music Publishing

patrick patch carr (Patch) — Thu, 24 May 2012 12:32:42 EST

You may or may not know that for every song released there are two contracts in play. One is for the artist and the record label and one is for the publisher and writers of the song. In today's music economy publishers reign supreme, pulling in money from every avenue the song goes down. If you are a serious artist looking to take your career to the next level, you need to educate yourself on publishing or you will get robbed.

King Louie

patrick patch carr (Patch) — Sat, 19 May 2012 12:37:58 EST

Chicago Rapper King Louie Went From Selling Mixtapes Out Of His Trunk To A Deal With Epic Records... read more at Forbes.com

Make It In Rap

patrick patch carr (Patch) — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:30:54 EST

I just purchased the domain name makeitinrap.com and I am going to develop a full on powerhouse of educational resources over the next year for rappers all over the world. Stay tuned. Best, Patch www.patrickpatchcarr.com

Free or Cheap Marketing Strategies

patrick patch carr (Patch) — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:50:23 EST

Got a question about free ways to advertise. I've read a lot of books on the subject although the ideas aren't always free when it boils down to it. Here are two good books about marketing on a shoestring budget. Grind baby, grind. Free Marketing: 101 Low and No-Cost Ways to Grow Your Business, Online and Off Bureau Of Justice Homicide Statistics Spread Love, Patch www.patrickpatchcarr.com

Rappers To Watch

patrick patch carr (Patch) — Thu, 17 May 2012 12:08:03 EST

Joey Badass is the most talent raw rapper I've heard in a hot minute and he's only like 17 or 18. Joey Badass - Survival Tactics Angel Haze is a young female emcee with conscious lyrics and pro delivery. Angel Haze - Look What You've Done

Feedback For All Rappers/Singers

patrick patch carr (Patch) — Wed, 16 May 2012 19:20:59 EST

I know how hard it can be to get good feedback and advice. I'm offering all rappers and singers my own personal feedback. Use the link below for my SendSpacePro Dropbox to send me the best song you have and I will get back to you as soon as possible with a review. Send Me Your Song

Rapper Forums

patrick patch carr (Patch) — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:41:07 EST

When I was a teenager, I used to geek out on this website called emceebattles.com. Lately, I had been thinking about starting my own forum just for rappers, because I didn't know of a good one anywhere. But then I found out emceebattles still exists under a different name! So all you rappers check it out -- Netcees.com -- for help with honing your skills and competing against other more(or less) talented rappers! Much Love, Patch www.patrickpatchcarr.com

Working With Video In Cubase

patrick patch carr (Patch) — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:21:26 EST

Hey, all you aspiring film composers, I just found this very easy step by step tutorial on importing, editing, and exporting the audio from a video in Cubase 6. Working With Video In Cubase 6

Money Tips

patrick patch carr (Patch) — Mon, 14 May 2012 12:30:47 EST

A lot of ambitious young rap artists are not doing so well in the cash flow department and it is preventing them from taking the necessary steps to invest in self and become successful. Understand, you will have to spend a significant amount of money before you will ever get recognition in the form of song sales, sponsorships or a record deal. You will need to spend money on: Studio Time (or a respectable home studio) Production Video Production Promotion Graphic Design Web Design...

Video Shoot

patrick patch carr (Patch) — Mon, 14 May 2012 01:46:44 EST

Suburban District is shooting a video on June 29 for a song featuring myself on the hook. Suburban District Patrick Patch Carr

Music Collaboration via Internet

patrick patch carr (Patch) — Sun, 13 May 2012 04:03:40 EST

The internet opens up a whole world of possibilities for music artist collaborations. In the past two weeks I've collaborated with an awesome Russian, a super talented kid in Guadaloupe (Caribbean), and a group in my hometown, all without ever even meeting any of them in person! Here's how. Learn the basic of mixing down audio track-outs if you don't know already. Then it's best to pay a small fee (like $8/month) to use a site like sendspace.com without any time or space limits so you ca...

A&R Contact and Submission

patrick patch carr (Patch) — Sat, 12 May 2012 02:52:25 EST

If you are looking for A&R directories or submission methods as an artist, songwriter, or producer, there are numerous websites you can choose from with varying costs and services. My favorite so far is blazetrak.com because for about the same cost as a music conference admission, you can choose and submit to several A&R, managers, producers, etc.. and they are guaranteed to reply with a video response critquing your submission. For a more convent...

New Hook

patrick patch carr (Patch) — Fri, 11 May 2012 13:15:09 EST

I just did a hook for Suburban District, a quality rap group here in RVA. It will be out in the coming weeks. They do really good videos though, check out a couple of them. Suburban District - When Girls Kiss Girls Suburban District - No Louis V

Writing Hooks

patrick patch carr (Patch) — Thu, 10 May 2012 00:23:31 EST

I've been recording hooks "pro-am" (professional amateur) since 2007. I was signed for a few years as an artist and writer before I ever got in to production. So here's a few tips for beginners from my experience in writing hooks. It starts with either a concept or a melody. A concept is just a word, for instance, something like "blizzard" or "interference". Take the idea of one word and then begin brainstorming. I am a nerd so when I am struggling for ideas I love to read comic book...

New Hit Production

patrick patch carr (Patch) — Wed, 09 May 2012 15:05:21 EST

The best yet, on my music page. Alternative Hip-Hop and Pop Production :: Industry Quality Hooks

Stuff Producers Should Have

patrick patch carr (Patch) — Tue, 08 May 2012 18:12:11 EST

Good Drums: The Producer's Choice Good Synthesizers: Omnisphere Good Bass: Trillian

HowTo Get Song/Lyrics Ideas

patrick patch carr (Patch) — Tue, 08 May 2012 13:59:40 EST

Although I'm sure some people would call it cheating, when I hit a wall I often use this website. Ideas I don't think of it as cheating, but I think of myself more as a craftsmen than an artist. I also just read a lot of old poetry to spark my imagination.

Mailing List

patrick patch carr (Patch) — Sat, 05 May 2012 13:07:49 EST

If you stop by my music page, and enjoy the music, then you should definitely join the mailing list. I'll be sending special offers, free stuff, and updates. Plus, I enjoy talking to and helping you, the artist!

How To Build Home Studio For Recording Vocals

patrick patch carr (Patch) — Thu, 03 May 2012 00:50:48 EST

So you want to know how to record rap vocals? Or R&B vocals? In this article, I will give you direction so you can start to learn how to record yourself over instrumentals and be taken seriously. I will show you what equipment you need and what you need to know so you can start using it properly. First things first, clean up your computer. I’m not going to tell you to buy a new one but get serious. If it's a little slow, Google search ways to tune it up or think about upgrading. ...

How to Sell Beats On Soundclick For Beginners

patrick patch carr (Patch) — Tue, 01 May 2012 18:43:00 EST

So you want to sell beats online like Vybe, Johnny Juliano, Jrum, and Sinima? Here's where to start. I've seen a lot of posts on forums everywhere asking "How do I get more plays on soundclick?" or "Should I lower my beat prices?" I launched my Soundclick page ten days ago and I am already #38 in R&B and climbing. Here are a few very basic pointers to get traffic. 1. Anytime you post comments in a forum or blog like this one, have your website in your signature. Postings like this ...