Bridge The Atlantic

LA-based songwriting teacher, record producer and A&R consultant Loren Israel joins us on the show this week. Loren specializes in finding and developing new talent. As the Director of A&R at Capitol Records, Loren worked with Jimmy Eat World, Coldplay and Less Than Jake. As an A&R Consultant, he has worked with Plain White T’s, and Neon Trees. In this episode, Loren talks with us about the differences between indie and major labels, and the importance of building relationships in the music business.Highlights:- Loren is honest, passionate and hard working- Loren shares his concerns that many artists are less passionate about the hard work of the business than they should be- We talk about Loren’s passion for developing new artists, including his work with Jimmy Eat World- Loren talks about how there needs to be a demand for an artist in order to gain investment and/or sign a record deal- We hear about the importance of tipping points in a band’s career if you want to sign a deal or gain investment- We all agree that artists can’t do everything themselves - there needs to be a team in place- The biggest mistake artists make when approaching labels is that they forget that major labels are all about the hits- Loren shares his insight into the different types of labels - it all comes down to doing your research and finding the right fit for you- We all agree the music business doesn’t need to be as mysterious as it is- We talk about the importance of clicking with someone you’re going to be working with long-termAdvice:- When approaching a label, do your research - find out what the label specialises in, and whether it’s a good fit for you- Maximise on your own strengths and find a partnership that benefits both you and the label/partner- Start meeting people and contacting people - either in person or online- Choose the people you’re going to be working with carefully - not just because they’re great at what they do, but because you share the same values and foundational beliefs- Build relationships, work hard and work smartRecommendations:- Nathaniel Rateliff (Music)Guest Links:- Website: lorenisrael.com- Twitter: @lorenisraelSponsors:- Chris Keaton @ Chris Keaton Presents- Christine Infanger @ Thirty Roses---For more episodes, visit http://bridge-the-atlantic.comFollow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/bridge_atlanticSubscribe on iTunes: http://bridge-the-atlantic.com/itunesSupport us on Patreon: http://patreon.com/bridgetheatlantic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we’re welcoming music business and social media coach Madalyn Sklar to the show. Madalyn has been running GoGirls Music - a unique organization that focuses on advancing the careers of independent female musicians - for over 20 years, and hosts the popular #ggchat on Twitter every Thursday. She has been named one of 10 Powerful Women in Music by Curve magazine and one of the 15 People You Should Know In the Biz by Indie-Music.com.Most recently Madalyn launched the Twitter Smarter podcast which features interviews from some of the top social media experts on how to use Twitter to its fullest potential. In this interview she shares some great tips on how artists can use Twitter, why you should be getting involved in Twitter chats, and the importance of listening vs broadcasting on social media.Highlights:- We hear how Madalyn could be a cult leader because of GoGirls Music- Madalyn tells us she started GoGirls Music because she was tired of being ignored in guitar shops because she was female- We talk about how Madalyn has used the internet to build a strong community of musicians- We discuss how women are often still mistreated in the music industry- Madalyn talks about how many musicians leave the industry when they become a parents- We hear about Madalyn’s #TwitterSmarter podcast and she shares some of the advice she’s received on the show- Madalyn is an early adopter to technology and isn’t afraid to fail- Madalyn runs the #ggchat every Thursday @ 3pm EST & 9pm EST- We hear how rewarding building a community can be- People assume Madalyn is all about chick music, but they’re wrong!- We hear about a time that Madalyn saw Incubus perform at a parking lot- Madalyn questions the purpose of the questions in our 20 Questions round (and we do, too)- We hear how #ggchat caught Amanda Palmer’s attentionAdvice:- Just get on Twitter and use it!- Participate in Twitter chats and learn from what others are doing- Artists should use Twitter because it’s a great place to meet people who can help your music career- Tag people you’re talking about in your tweets- Be consistent with your posting- No-one will take you seriously if you haven’t posted in weeks- Don’t just push your content - listen to conversations and communicateRecommendations:- Artifact (Documentary)- Twenty Feet from Stardom (Documentary)Guest Links:- Website: http://madalynsklar.com- Podcast: http://www.madalynsklar.com/twittersmarter-podcast/- Twitter: @madalynsklar- Instagram: @madalynsklarSponsors:- Chris Keaton @ Chris Keaton Presents (http://chriskeaton.com)- Christine Infanger @ Thirty Roses (http://thirtyroses.com)More:For more episodes, visit http://bridge-the-atlantic.comFollow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/bridge_atlanticSubscribe on iTunes: http://bridge-the-atlantic.com/itunesSupport us on Patreon: http://patreon.com/bridgetheatlantic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we’re pleased to welcome Canadian guitarist, producer and YouTuber Cole Rolland to the show. Over the past few years, Cole has amassed over 100k subscribers and 20 million views of his covers and original tracks on YouTube, and has built a strong connection with his fanbase on Twitter and Facebook. Through his YouTube channel, Cole has collaborated with numerous other musicians, and has been offered endorsements and production gear from EMG Pickups, Dunlop, Fractal Audio and more. Cole shares his tips for achieving success on YouTube and Patreon, as well as the importance of collaboration.Highlights:- Cole tells us a little about his process for creating his covers on YouTube- We hear how Cole’s band fell apart and how he managed to find the positive from that- We talk about how valuable making connections can be, and the opportunities that can arise out of things that don’t work out- Cole tells us how he got started on YouTube and the advice he has for musicians looking to build a following- Cole shares a story about how he shared some YouTube advice with a seller on eBay- We talk about what can happen simply from asking for what you want- We talk about how everyone in the music industry is more connected than anyone probably realises- “You won’t get any answers if you don’t ask the questions” - Cole Rolland, 2015- We talk about how covers and collaborations can really help to build an audience- Cole shares that collaborating with other people has been the best decision he’s ever made- We hear some tips about what has (and hasn’t) worked for Cole on Patreon- We talk about how it’s important to break down that wall, and show people you’re human- Cole tells us how he’s able to generate money via his covers on YouTube (via Fullscreen.net)- To artists who resist collaboration or supporting other artists: DON’T.- It goes so much farther to support and share other people’s music than it does to complain about their success- A song you can’t get out of your head (and wish you could) = a suicidal melodyRecommendations:- Eric Calderone (Music)- Lindsay Sterling (Music)- Zedd (Music)- Adventure Club (Music)- Cash Cash (Music)Guest Links:- YouTube: /CRCanada- Twitter: @ColeRolland- Instagram: @ColeRolland- Facebook: /CRCanadaSponsors:- Chris Keaton @ Chris Keaton Presents- Christine Infanger @ Thirty Roses---For more episodes, visit http://bridge-the-atlantic.comFollow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/bridge_atlanticSubscribe on iTunes: http://bridge-the-atlantic.com/itunesSupport us on Patreon: http://patreon.com/bridgetheatlantic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we are thrilled to welcome Melora Hardin to the show. Melora is an award-winning actor and musician. Her acting credits include films such as 17 Again, 27 Dresses and You (which she also directed and produced), and starring roles in TV shows including NBC’s The Office, Monk, Transparent and Outlaw. In 2008, Melora made her Broadway debut, starring as Roxie Hart in the revival of Chicago, and also performed in Les Miserables at the Hollywood Bowl. We chat with Melora about the upcoming season of Transparent, the advice she would offer to aspiring actors, and her upcoming projects.Highlights:- Melora is always looking for the next opportunity to be creative- We talk about how branding yourself on social media is as simple as being yourself- Melora tells us how she got started in the entertainment industry, and shares her earliest memories of working in film/TV- We hear that Melora’s parents are both actors and they were worried about her dealing with rejection of the industry as a child- Melora shares that she feels being creative is far more important than money or fame- We talk about how many kids simply want to be famous now, and how it’s such an empty word- Ross has never been more terrified and enamoured by a character as much as Melora’s character Jan in The Office- Ross shares a story about how he introduces his friends to The Office - and it involves The Dinner Party episode- Melora tells us about her experience of working on The Office, and more specifically working with Steve Carrell- We learn that a SAG Award is much heavier than an Emmy!- We hear about the first time Melora had realised how much of a hit The Office was- Melora and Marcio talk about how Transparent is breaking ground, and how it couldn’t be living at any other time than now- Melora shares how well deserved Jill Soloway’s Emmy for Best Director was- We hear that Transparent is the most inclusive working environment than Melora has ever worked in- “Transparent is a transformational show because it says we accept and embrace the differences of human nature” - Melora Hardin, 2015- Melora tells us about the play she starred in called Appropriate, and how theatre compares to film/TV- You have to be able to manouevre through the business part of your career as much as the creative part- Melora thinks Michael Bolton and Kenny G would make a perfect couple, and are hot in a “weird” way- We hear about Melora’s upcoming movie called “Golden Vanity” - coming soon!- Melora has also been working on new music for a one-woman musical…and we’re excited to hear them!Advice:- Be patient with yourself- Stay focused- You need life experience in order to bring it to your work- Be open hearted, open minded, and kind to others and yourselfRecommendations:- Transparent (TV)- Golden Vanity (Movie)- Paula Cole (Music)- Patty Griffin (Music)Guest Links:- Website: http://melora.com- Twitter: @melorahardin- Instagram: @meloradhardinSponsors:- Chris Keaton @ Chris Keaton Presents (http://chriskeaton.com)- Christine Infanger @ Thirty Roses (http://thirtyroses.com) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we’re joined by multi award winning actor, producer and musician, Joshua Lee Young. Joshua has built a strong following on YouTube with his vlogs, and has starred in numerous short films and web series (including The Social Experiment, I’ll Meet You Back There, Royals and Invisible Rockstars). He has also starred in NCIS and Dexter, and does acting work for Investigation Discovery. His acting has won him multiple awards including best actor at the 2013 Boston International Film Festival and the 2014 London Independent Film Festival, and the new talent award at the 2014 Hong Kong Asian Film Festival.Highlights:- Joshua needs us everywhere he goes- We wonder if watching Netflix for 12 hours a day is productive…- Joshua has no idea what he’s doing (but does anyone REALLY know what they’re doing?)- We hear how YouTube has helped Joshua generate work for himself as an actor and producer- Joshua tells us how YouTube can help to showcase himself as an actor- We talk about how being consistent on YouTube can help to keep your audience interested- Joshua tells us about some of his upcoming film projects - and we can’t wait to see them!- Joshua’s life goals: playing a superhero and becoming a Power Ranger- The only thing cooler than playing a superhero is BEING a superhero- Joshua didn’t realise how many different sides there were to his personality until looking at the stories in the songs of his upcoming EP- We hear how Joshua was cast in a project without an audition- Ross has doubts over the way he pronounces “whale”- Turn on notifications so you get notified when the people you follow post something!Advice:On building an audience on YouTube & starting out as an actor:- A manager will help you build a team (of editors, publicists, branding) and help guide your team- Multi-channel networks can really build your following - but do your research first- Consistently create content - growth happens best when you stay consistent- Getting another source of income can help prevent you from making bad decisions out of desperation, especially when starting outGuest Links:- joshualeeyoung.com- @joshualeeyoung- /joshualeeyoungSponsors:- Chris Keaton @ Chris Keaton Presents (http://chriskeaton.com)- Christine Infanger @ Thirty Roses (http://thirtyroses.com)---For more episodes, visit http://bridge-the-atlantic.comFollow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/bridge_atlanticSubscribe on iTunes: http://bridge-the-atlantic.com/itunesSupport us on Patreon: http://patreon.com/bridgetheatlantic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we’re welcoming Bob Baker to the show, all the way from St Louis. Bob is an author, speaker, musician, and former music magazine editor dedicated to showing musicians of all kinds how to get exposure, connect with fans, sell more music, and increase their incomes through their artistic passions. Bob is the author of numerous books on the subject of music marketing and making a living from your art, including The Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook (featured in the movie School of Rock), The DIY Career Manifesto and his latest book, The Empowered Artist.Highlights:- As well as being an author and marketing expert, Bob is also a musician, artist and improv. comedy teacher!- We all agree that different types of creatives can learn from each other- Bob is celebrating 20 years of being on the Internet - happy anniversary!- Bob still thinks of himself as a curious musician who is exploring what is working for successful musicians and artists- The things that hold most artists back are fear, uncertainty and the worry about how people see us- There’s nothing better as an artist if your personal interests can serve others- Bob tells us about his latest book, The Empowered Artist- We feel empowered just listening to Bob talk!- We talk about how the Internet has changed things for artists, and how the focus should still be on fans- GOOD NEWS: everyone has the tools to self expression & creation. BAD NEWS: everyone has the tools to self expression & creation.- Bob talks about how consumers decide what is worthy now vs other gatekeepers- Bob comes up with a Bob Dylan and Bob Marley hybrid impersonationAdvice:- Everyone has the fear, but the successful people have learned to live with it- Give yourself permission to succeed and follow your path- The world doesn’t owe you a living - just because you do what you love, it doesn’t mean the money will necessarily follow- To get started, all you need is the desire to start- If you’re not in the mood for something, if you force yourself to do it, you can find yourself in a state of flow and inspired- Find your voice and be willing to fail- Focus on fans - everything should be by your appreciation for, and the impact you have on, your fansRecommendations:- Talking Funny (TV)- Magic Lessons with Elizabeth Gilbert (Podcast)- The Curator (Podcast)- TED Radio Hour (Podcast)- Pat Flynn’s Smart Passive Income (Podcast)Guest Links:- Website: http://bob-baker.com- Twitter: @MrBuzzFactor- Instagram: @MrBuzzFactor- Facebook: /bobbakerfanpageSponsors:- Chris Keaton @ Chris Keaton Presents (http://chriskeaton.com)- Christine Infanger @ Thirty Roses (http://thirtyroses.com)---For more episodes, visit http://bridge-the-atlantic.comFollow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/bridge_atlanticSubscribe on iTunes: http://bridge-the-atlantic.com/itunesSupport us on Patreon: http://patreon.com/bridgetheatlantic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we’re joined by LA-based singer/songwriter Molly Moore. Molly has been building a name for herself on Soundcloud with her brand of intelligent pop. Her singles “Don’t Believe It” and “Natural Disaster” have been played thousands of times, and have solidified her as an artist to watch. Molly recently signed a publishing deal with Imagem, and we talk about building an audience on Soundcloud, what a publishing deal can do for an artist, and more.Highlights:- Molly is all about the music…and more recently, cleanliness!- Marcio says he would love to see Molly coming out of the womb as a songwriter. You can’t unpicture that- Molly tells us how important Soundcloud has been in establishing herself as a musician and songwriter- We hear how Molly has used Soundcloud to build a following and some techniques for doing so- We talk about the “game” of social media, and how to grow your following on different platforms- Following someone on social media is an introduction and you can grow an audience organically that way- Molly tells us how she became obsessed with sending her music out to blogs- We discuss the approach of releasing singles regularly vs waiting to release an EP/album- Molly tells us about the publishing deal she recently signed, and what a publishing deal can do for an artist- We talk about sync and licensing, and how it can be a huge part in promoting a new artist- Molly used to tell people she was French Canadian because she wanted to be- Ross gets overexcited when Molly mentions Hocus Pocus- “You had me at Hocus Pocus” - Ross Barber, 2015Advice:- As an artist, you have a lot of control over your own career - take things into your own hands and make things happen- Building a team is important, but as an artist, you need to do a lot of the groundwork yourself- No-one is going to work harder for your music than yourselfRecommendations:- James Bay- FKA Twigs- Banks- Local Natives- Brandyn Burnette- Indiana- Meg MyersGuest Links:- Website: http://mollymooreofficial.com- Soundcloud: /molly_moore- Twitter: @missmollymoore- Facebook: /mollymooremusic- Instagram: @mollymooreSponsors:- Chris Keaton @ Chris Keaton Presents (http://chriskeaton.com)- Christine Infanger @ Thirty Roses (http://thirtyroses.com)----For more episodes, visit http://bridge-the-atlantic.comFollow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/bridge_atlanticSubscribe on iTunes: http://bridge-the-atlantic.com/itunesSupport us on Patreon: http://patreon.com/bridgetheatlantic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we’re joined by actor, musician, entrepreneur and podcaster, Jordan Woods-Robinson. As an actor, Jordan has worked alongside Sir Anthony Hopkins, Colin Farrell, and Donald Sutherland, and is part of the prestigious Blue Man Group. Jordan can currently be seen on AMC’s hit series The Walking Dead. Jordan released his sophomore album “Crazy and Back” in early 2015. He is also the co-founder of SOSstudio.co, an online recording company networking musicians, vocalists, and engineers around the world.Highlights:- Jordan tells us a story involving vultures and an unfortunate possum- We hear about Jordan’s time at Tisch School of the Arts- “Acting is like religion - everyone has an idea of how to get there, it’s just whatever is true to you” - Jordan Woods-Robinson- Ross is outnumbered by vegans- Jordan shares his thoughts on education vs experience (and both are important, for different reasons)- We hear about Jordan’s audition process for The Walking Dead, and how it was all done online- Jordan tells us how The Walking Dead cast and crew are like one big family- Jordan tells us about SOSstudio and where the idea came from- We hear how SOSstudio can help musicians, songwriters and engineers connect and collaborate- Jordan believes the challenge with streaming is in making it a positive for songwriters and musicians, as it’s not going anywhere- An introvert is someone who is energised by being alone - we love this description!Advice:- Five ideas are better than one!- When auditioning, the biggest mistake many actors make is they trying to show the casting agents what they think they want to see- Go with your first impulse and embrace your naivetyRecommendations:- Mark Bittman - Food Matters (Book)- Wet Hot American Summer (TV)- Arrested Development (TV)- Breaking Bad (TV)- Mumford and Sons (Music)- Amélie (Film)Guest Links:- Website: http://jordanwoods-robinson.com / http://sosstudio.co- Twitter: @jwoodsrobinson- Instagram: @jwoodsrobinson- Facebook: /jordanwoodsrobinsonSponsors:- Chris Keaton @ Chris Keaton Presents (http://chriskeaton.com)- Christine Infanger @ Thirty Roses (http://thirtyroses.com) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we’re joined by London born, San Francisco based brother & sister duo The Luck. Since relocating to the US, Max and Esmay have released 2 EPs, and have performed at The Troubadour, the Viper Room, and also for Warner Bros. Pictures. They are experienced buskers and recorded some intimate live video sessions with grammy-award winning engineer David Bianco at Dave's Room. In this episode, we talk about their move from the UK to the US, advice on obtaining a Visa for working abroad, and the benefits of busking.Highlights:- The Luck love making music and are all about giving it to people- We talk about their move from London to California- Max and Esmay tell us how artists can apply for Visas when wanting to work abroad- It can be helpful to have contracts with venues in place when applying for a Visa- We talk about being British in America- California is HOT! Especially compared to London.- We learn that Max has a bit of a sarcastic streak!- Max and Esmay give us some busking tips and tell us about the gear they use- We talk about the benefits of busking - you’re rehearsing and building a fanbase all at once!- It’s important to get liability insurance when busking- We talk about busking permits and how it varies from place to place - check before busking, just to be safe- We’re not going to get Donald Trump (or Hersheys) as a sponsor…- Max started following Miley Cyrus on Twitter and her feed is a lot trippier than he expected- After 25 minutes, Esmay doesn’t know who we are… and everything descends into chaosAdvice:- If you’re convinced by your music and fully into it, it’s more likely that people watching will be- You can’t expect anyone to believe in you unless you believe in yourself- You have to put as much into performing as you would if you were playing on a professional sports team- Regardless of the size of the audience, you have to deliver to the best of your ability- If you want to work abroad, make sure you can work legally and that you have enough money to last for a while- Always be networking - get to know as many people as you canRecommendations:- James Bay (Music)- Hippocampus (Music)- Escondido (Music)- The Who (Music)- Pearl Jam (Music)- Pink Floyd (Music)Artist Links:- Website: theluckmusic.com- Twitter: @theluckmusic- Facebook: /theluckmusicSponsors:- Chris Keaton @ Chris Keaton Presents- Christine Infanger @ Thirty RosesMore:- For more episodes, visit http://bridge-the-atlantic.com- Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/bridge_atlantic- Subscribe on iTunes: http://bridge-the-atlantic.com/itunes- Support us on Patreon: http://patreon.com/bridgetheatlantic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we're bringing you our first ever Halloween special! If you saw our holiday special last year, you'll know that things got a little crazy and in this episode... well, you can judge for yourself! We welcome back past guests singer/songwriter Andrew DeLeon, singer/songwriter Janet Devlin, singer/songwriter and Finger Eleven guitarist James Black, and singer/songwriter Charlotte Eriksson aka The Glass Child to the show. Enjoy, and have a Happy Halloween!Highlights:- Andrew doesn’t wear costumes, he wears concepts- James once dressed up as one of the guys from ZZ Top forHalloween, even though he didn’t know who they were- Janet once went trick or treating as Zorro… complete with horse- We learn that Halloween isn’t really much of a big deal in Sweden- Ross shares a Halloween story about dressing up as an unknown video game character- Marcio shares that his sister dressed him up as a girl one year… and it explains a lot- We challenge James to write a Halloween song- Charlotte sees holidays as a great excuse to run a promotion or do something special- James likes to dress up on stage for Halloween, and run costume contests when Finger Eleven play at Halloween- Janet talks about doing Halloween shows on StageIt, and running online costume contests- Andrew says he wouldn’t release a Halloween EP or album- We have to educate James on who Ghostface is- We learn what “snap apple” is- Marcio shares a story about a terrifying doll he had as a child- Janet shares her strategy for surviving the zombie apocalypse- Charlotte tells us about a Swedish tradition about burning witches- We wonder… does anyone actually like candy corn?- Ross and Janet bond over Sabrina the Teenage Witch- Janet called her mom when Melissa Joan Hart followed her on Twitter because she was so excited- Ross comes under attack from James and Marcio- The more James thinks about Stephen King, the more he dislikes him- We have a spoiler alert, 30 years in the making, thanks to Andrew!Recommendations:- Troll 2 (Movie)- The Simpsons - Treehouse of Horror episodes (TV)- The Shining (Movie)- Halloween (Movie)Links:- theglasschildofficial.com / @justaglasschild- jamesblack.ca / @yojimbo_black- andrewdeleon.com / @andrewleodeleon- janetdevlin.com / @janetjealousySponsors:- Chris Keaton @ Chris Keaton Presents (http://chriskeaton.com)- Christine Infanger @ Thirty Roses (http://thirtyroses.com) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.