Making a Scene Presents

Making a Scene Presents - The Last Great Land Grab: How Web3 Will Decide Who Owns the Next Music Economy

The music industry is going through one of the biggest power shifts in its history, and most artists don’t even realize it yet. The shift isn’t happening in the headlines. It’s happening underneath everything, in the code, in the way money moves, in the way fans connect, and in the way ownership works online. This isn’t a slow drift like the move from CDs to downloads. It’s a full-on takeover. It’s a land grab...

Making a Scene Presents - AI Audience Targeting: Finding Your True Fans
How Indie Artists Use AI to Locate Real Listeners Before Spending a Dime on Ads

If you’re an indie artist trying to grow your fanbase, you already know the truth that no one likes to say out loud. Posting nonstop on social media doesn’t automatically bring fans. Boosting random posts doesn’t work. Throwing a few dollars at an ad without a plan is basically donating your money to the algorithm gods.

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Making a Scene Presents - Intelligent Room Simulation: AI That Maps Your Studio’s Sonic DNA

When you’re working in a home studio that doubles as a bedroom, office, storage space, and part-time cat playground, it can feel like the whole room is fighting your mix. The low end swells in one corner, the highs disappear in another, and your mixes fall apart the second you play them anywhere else. For years, this was the single biggest problem for indie artists and engineers working outside fancy studios. You could have golden ears, killer monitors, and world-class plug...

Making a Scene Presents - Fan Tokens and Social Currencies: The Rise of the Artist Coins

There’s a quiet revolution happening in the music world, and you can feel it in the air if you’re paying attention. It’s not coming from the major labels or the streaming giants. It’s coming from the artists — especially the independent ones who are finally done waiting for permission. After years of dealing with algorithms that hide your posts, payouts that feel like pocket change, and companies that treat your fanbase like their property, musicians have started to build some...

Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Henri Herbert

Originally from the UK and now based in Nashville, TN, Henri Herbert has earned a reputation as one of the most electrifying blues and boogie-woogie pianists working today. A permanent resident of the United States, his Green Card was granted specifically for his exceptional ability as a blues pianist—formal recognition of a talent that has taken him across stages throughout the U.S. and Europe.

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Making a Scene Presents Gerry Casey's Interview with AK and the Red Kites

AK & The Red Kites is a modern rock band with a retro-infused edge—big riffs, cinematic soundscapes, and a raw energy rooted in classic influences but driven by a bold, contemporary vision. At the center of this new creative chapter is frontman and guitarist Andrew Knightley, rising from the ashes of his previous blues-rock powerhouse, Trident Waters.

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Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Joel Dupuis

Based in London, Ontario, The Joel Dupuis Band is a powerhouse three-piece delivering high-energy, no-nonsense, straight-ahead rocking blues. Winners of London Blues Band of the Year 2024 and Guitar Player of the Year 2024, they’re known for explosive performances, soulful original songs, and bold, modern spins on classic favorites.

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Making a Scene Presents - Predictive Mixing: How AI Anticipates Problems Before You Hear Them

A Deep-Dive Guide for Indie Artists Who Want a Cleaner, Faster, Smarter Mix

If you’ve been mixing your own music for a while, you already know how chaotic the process can feel. You dial in the vocals until they finally sit right, but then the guitars suddenly jump out too bright. You smooth the guitars, and somehow the kick drum disappears. So you push the kick, and the bass turns to mud. Then you fix the bass, and your vo...

The Importance of Building a Music Industry Middle Class
Why 1,000 True Fans, Smart Business Strategy, and New Tech Can Build a Real Career for Indie Artists

Most people look at the music industry and imagine two extremes. On one side, there are the massive superstars with private jets, giant stadiums, and million-dollar deals. On the other side, there are the struggling artists who play small gigs and try to scrape by. For decades, this has been the story the industry tells. But that story is broken. The truth is that the future of music depends on...

AUTOMATING YOUR MUSIC RELEASE CAMPAIGN WITH AI
How AI Plans, Writes, Designs, and Schedules Every Step of a Music Release

Releasing music used to feel like running a marathon blindfolded. You’d drop a song and hope someone noticed. You’d scramble to write captions. You’d rush to make promo graphics. You’d forget to email your fans. You’d promise yourself you wouldn’t make the same mistakes next time, and then next time would roll around and everything would feel just as messy. The truth is most indie artists never struggled because they lacked talen...

Making a Scene Presents - How to Use Web3 and the Decentralized Music Industry to Build a Sync Licensing Business

If you’ve been in music for a while, you already know the truth — streaming doesn’t pay the bills. The pennies per play model has pushed more and more indie musicians to look for other ways to earn. One of the most powerful options out there is sync licensing — getting your music placed in movies, TV shows, commercials, games, and digital content. But here’s where things get interesting: the rise of blockchain and Web3 technology now makes...

Making a Scene Presents an Interview with John Christopher Morgan

John Christopher Morgan is a songwriter, guitarist, and storyteller whose music digs deep into the roots of American sound—where blues, soul, and folk rock collide with raw honesty. With a voice rich in grit and warmth, and guitar work shaped by years of stage experience, Morgan delivers songs that feel lived-in, heartfelt, and unfiltered. Every lyric carries the weight of real stories, real struggles, and real triumphs.

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Making a Scene Presents Gerry Casey's Interview with Scott McDonald

Scott McDonald is a singer, guitarist, and songwriter from the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania whose career has been built on crafting memorable, melody-driven rock and pop songs. His music blends the punch of guitar-powered rock with the warmth of acoustic storytelling, creating a sound anchored in strong hooks, rich harmonies, and emotional authenticity. Whether he’s plugged in or stripped down, Scott’s songwriting always puts melody first while still carrying the energy and attitude of classic rock ’n’ roll.

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Making a Scene Presents a Deep Dive into Cubase 15
Early Days — Where Cubase Began

Picture this: it’s the late 1980s. Computers are clunky, floppy disks are king, and the idea of recording full songs on a computer feels like science fiction. Most musicians are still running tape decks and analog gear, but a few forward-thinkers are experimenting with something new — MIDI sequencing. That’s when a company called Steinberg Media Technologies, based in Hamburg, Germany, releases a piece of software that quietly changes everything. They call it Cubase.

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Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Steven C Anderson

Steven C Anderson is a genre-bending pianist and composer whose music sits at the crossroads of classic rock inspiration, sweeping cinematic soundscapes, and intimate solo-piano artistry. With more than 2,000 original works and millions of streams worldwide, Steven has built a career defined by both prolific creativity and emotional honesty. His music moves effortlessly from raw, exposed piano pieces to richly orchestrated arrangements, always anchored in melody, mood, and storytelling.

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Making a Scene Presents - EQ Demystified: How to Really Use Equalization in Recording, Mixing, and Mastering

Let’s be honest — EQ is one of the most misunderstood and misused tools in audio production. Every engineer, from beginners to veterans, has at some point reached for an EQ knob when they probably should’ve just moved a microphone, changed a preamp, or adjusted their room.

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Making a Scene Presents - Real-Time AI Feedback: The Virtual Producer in Your Headphones

Imagine you’re in the middle of a take. The mic is hot, the groove feels right, but suddenly you hear a calm voice in your headphones: “Your vocals are clipping. Step back from the mic just a bit.” You adjust your distance, redo the phrase, and this time—perfect. No ruined take, no distorted peak, no need to scrub through the waveform later. That’s the future of recording with real-time AI feedback—where your computer doesn’t just capture sound, it coaches you.<...

Making a Scene Presents - The Economics of Tokenized Music Rights
How Fractional Ownership and Revenue-Sharing NFTs Are Changing Royalties

In the old days, owning a song meant something simple. The artist wrote it, recorded it, and maybe a record label handled the rest. Money came in through radio, CD sales, or streaming. But most fans never owned any piece of the music they loved, and artists often gave up a big share of their income just to get heard.

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Making a Scene Presents - ChatGPT as Your Personal Music Marketing Assistant
How to Build Your Own “AI Intern” for Emails, Social Captions, and Campaigns

Imagine having your own marketing assistant — someone who knows your artist story, understands your fans, and can help you plan your next release, write your social posts, or even draft your newsletters. Now imagine that assistant never sleeps, never complains, and learns your voice over time. That’s exactly what ChatGPT can be for indie musicians.

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Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Jason Cale

Jason Cale is a powerhouse guitarist, vocalist, and composer whose fearless creativity has birthed a sound that’s as unique as it is electrifying. Leading the charge with The Jason Cale Band, he’s crafted a genre-bending style they call Swampfunk—a fiery mix of soulful blues-rock, gritty New Orleans funk, and adventurous jazz fusion. It’s music that oozes authenticity, groove, and grit—equal parts Louisiana bayou, late-’60s psychedelia, and Southern soul, all stirred together in a modern, high-octane gumbo.

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Making a Scene Presents Gerry Casey's Interview with Markus Ullrich of Them

THEM. is the theatrical, globe-spanning metal collective led by German guitarist/composer Markus Ullrich and fronted by enigmatic vocalist Klaus König “KK” Fossor. Based in Germany but drawing from an international roster of musicians, they fuse power and thrash metal with gothic, horror-concept storytelling—delivering both epic musical compositions and immersive visual theatre.

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Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Bryan Schumann

Bryan Schumann is an award-winning composer, producer, and singer-songwriter based in Minnesota. His music weaves together elements of pop, folk, indie, rock, electronic, and classical genres, creating a sound that feels both modern and timeless. Known for his strong melodies and emotional depth, Schumann’s songs range from infectious dance tracks to introspective ballads that linger long after they end.

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Making a Scene Presents - DaVinci Resolve 20: The Ultimate Free Video Editor for Indie Musicians

If you’re an indie musician — writing songs, shooting videos, or just trying to tell your story visually — you’ve probably realized how important good video editing has become. Fans don’t just listen anymore; they watch. Whether you’re putting out a full music video, a lyric visualizer, a rehearsal clip, or a behind-the-scenes vlog, video is the main way you connect with your audience. But good editing software can be expensive, complicated, and often limited unless you pay for premium plans.

Making a Scene Presents - The Roadmap: How to Transition from Web2 to Web3

For most indie artists, Web3 can sound like another buzzword—like crypto, NFTs, or blockchain were just a few years ago. But under the hype, there’s something far more powerful going on. Web3 represents a shift from renting space on platforms like Spotify, YouTube, and Instagram to owning your creative universe. It’s the difference between being an employee and being your own boss. And for independent musicians, it might be the biggest opportunity since the invention of home recording.

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Making a Scene - The Sentient Studio: How AI Learns Your Sound Over Time

There was a time when your digital audio workstation, or DAW, was nothing more than a glorified tape machine. You hit record, moved some faders, and hoped for the best. Every time you opened a new project, it felt like starting from scratch. Your EQ curves, compressor ratios, and reverb settings had to be dialed in again and again. You might have had a few saved presets, but the system itself didn’t know you.

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Making a Scene Presents - From Likes to Income: How AI Marketing Translates Fan Engagement into Revenue

There’s a funny thing about the internet. It gives artists more visibility than ever before—yet most indie musicians still struggle to turn that attention into real money. Getting thousands of likes on Instagram or a viral TikTok video feels good, but when it comes to paying rent or funding your next album, likes don’t equal dollars. That’s where artificial intelligence is changing the game.

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Making a Scene Presents - The Indie Advantage: How AI Levels the Playing Field in the Studio
Access to Major-Label Tech, at Home

Imagine being in a major label studio in the 1990s: racks of outboard gear, professional engineers, weeks of tracking, mixing, and mastering. For most indie artists, that meant compromise: cheaper rooms, fewer takes, less time, less polish. But today, AI is giving indie musicians the power to access that kind of technology in a very different way.

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Making a Scene Presents an interview with Samuel Wilbur

Samuel Wilbur returns with a powerful new album, Ivory Tower — a record that feels nothing short of magical. Beyond its cinematic sound and lyrical depth, the album stands out for how Wilbur uses his platform to spotlight some of Minneapolis’s strongest female voices, featuring stunning performances by Meghan Kreidler, Dani Michaele, and Laura Kiernan.

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Making a Scene Presents Gerry Casey's Interview with Tola Lamont and Kurt Michael of Coastland Fair

Blending coastal soul with Americana grit, Coastland Fair is the creative union of Tola Lamont and Kurt Michael — two artists whose musical chemistry feels as timeless as the tide. Based on a shared love for organic songwriting and heartfelt storytelling, the duo crafts songs that blur the lines between folk, roots rock, and modern indie pop, wrapped in harmonies that shimmer like sunlight on open water.

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Making a Scene Presents - Mid/Side Processing in Mixing: The Secret to Width, Clarity, and Control

Have you ever listened to a pro mix and thought, “Why does this sound so wide and full, but everything still feels perfectly in place?” That’s not just good EQ or compression — chances are, the engineer used a little Mid/Side processing to get that balance between focus and space.

Mid/Side, or M/S, is one of those behind-the-scenes techniques that can take your mixes from sounding flat and two-dimensional to open, clear, and three-dimensional. Once you unde...

Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Billy Branch!

Billy Branch is one of the most respected and influential harmonica players of his generation — a true ambassador of Chicago Blues. Discovered by the legendary Willie Dixon, often called the “father of modern Chicago Blues,” Branch was still in college when Dixon took him under his wing. Dixon urged him to complete his degree, which he did, earning a political science degree before joining Willie Dixon’s Chicago All-Stars.

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Making a Scene Presents - AI for Session Musicianship: Tightening, Not Replacing

There’s this fear floating around studios lately — that artificial intelligence is coming to take the jobs of session musicians, singers, producers, even mixing engineers. The truth? AI isn’t here to replace you. It’s here to help you sound tighter, cleaner, and more confident in the studio. It’s a tool, not a takeover.

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Making a Scene Presents - Neutron 5: A Deep Dive Review For Real-World Mixing

If you make music at home or in a small studio, you already know the hardest part usually isn’t the songwriting. It’s the mix. Tracks pile up. Levels fight. Vocals hide behind guitars. Drums either feel weak or way too loud. That’s where iZotope’s Neutron 5 steps in. Think of it like a modern, all-in-one mixing toolkit that combines powerful modules with smart, AI-assisted workflows. You can drop it on individual tracks, stack the modules you need in any order, and even let...

Audius Introduces Artist Coins!

Think of an Artist Coin like a digital fan-club pass. You make a coin under your artist name on Audius. Fans can buy it inside Audius. Holding your coin gets them into your inner circle: early listens, coin-only posts, private chats, special drops, and whatever else you decide to offer. It’s all built into the same Audius site where your music lives, so fans don’t have to learn a bunch of new tools. On day one, Audius already lets you gate music for coin holders and send message blasts to those hold...

Making a Scene Presents - Mix Clarity: The Truth About Masking (And How to Fix It)

by a recording engineer who’s spent way too many nights chasing clarity in crowded mixes

There’s a moment every indie artist hits when a mix sounds almost perfect… but something feels wrong. The vocals are there, the bass is there, the guitars are crunchy, the kick is thumping — yet somehow, it all sounds like a muddy soup instead of a clear, powerful record.

You might try turning things up, EQing harder, or adding compression, but nothing...

Making a Scene Presents - Know Your Fans: How AI Analytics Shows You Who to Market To (and How)

Picture this. You’ve just dropped your new single. You check your stats on Spotify, maybe glance at YouTube views, and you’re left wondering—Who’s actually listening to my stuff? Are they in your hometown? Across the country? Maybe on the other side of the world?

Most indie musicians have asked these questions at some point. The thing is, guessing who your fans are is kind of like throwing darts blindfolded. You might hit somethin...

Making a Scene - Building Your Web3 Artist Brand: How to Present Yourself as a Forward-Thinking Musician

If you’re an independent musician trying to stand out today, you’ve probably noticed that the music world is changing faster than ever. Between streaming algorithms, AI, and blockchain, it can feel like the ground keeps shifting under your feet. But here’s the thing—change isn’t the enemy. It’s the opportunity.

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Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Jimi Primetime Smith

Jimi “Primetime” Smith has lived and breathed the blues his entire life. A veteran guitarist and vocalist, he’s performed with legends like Otis Rush, Albert King, Albert Collins, and Etta James. Though his humble nature often keeps him under the radar, his recent surge of attention is making sure blues fans finally know his name.

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Making a Scene Presents Gerry Casey's Interview with Preacher Stone

Preacher Stone was born from guitarist Marty Hill’s vision of creating a world-class Southern rock band—one that carried the torch lit by legends like Lynyrd Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet, and The Allman Brothers, but with its own modern grit and swagger. Hill’s idea came to life when he teamed up with powerhouse vocalist Ronnie Riddle, whose raw, soulful delivery gave the songs their authentic Southern edge.

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Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Kaitlin Cassady

Kaitlin Cassady is an indie-folk-rock artist rooted in the vibrant Minneapolis, Minnesota music scene. Her sound blends the heartfelt storytelling of Aimee Mann and Carole King with the modern textures of Phoebe Bridgers, Norah Jones, Billie Eilish, and Kacey Musgraves—all tied together with a touch of Brian Wilson’s harmonic sophistication. The result is a rich and emotionally resonant style that explores love, grief, self-discovery, and mental health with unflinching honesty.

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