Artist Access Grant
Artist Access Grant
Three Song Demo.
Tara Makinen: executive director of Itasca Orchestra and Strings, musician; Moira Villiard: visual artist, cultural programming coordinator at American Indian Community Housing Organization; Amber Burns: choreographer, dancer, actor, middle school art teacher; Margaret Holmes: visual artist, poet, and former Children’s Theatre employee; Tammy Mattonen: visual artists, co-founder of Crescendo Youth Orchestra; Kayla Aubid: Native American craft artist, writer, employee at MacRostie Art Center; Ariana Daniel: mixed media artist, arts instructor; Kathy Neff: musician, Director, Fine Arts Academy at the University of Minnesota Duluth; Ron Piercy: jeweler, gallery owner; Emily Swanson: arts administrator at Oldenburg Arts and Cultural Community; Christina Nohre: writer and arts advocate.
Tara Makinen: executive director of Itasca Orchestra and Strings, musician; Amber Burns: choreographer, dancer, actor, middle school art teacher; Kayla Aubid: Native American craft artist, writer, employee at MacRostie Art Center; Kathy Neff: musician, director, Fine Arts Academy at the University of Minnesota Duluth; Ron Piercy: jeweler, gallery owner.
ACHF Arts Access ACHF Arts Education ACHF Cultural Heritage
Record a three-song demo of original compositions including vocals, piano, guitar, bass and drums. Distribute the three-song demo to radio stations, record companies, producers, club owners, streaming and digital platforms. Network through NSAI (Nashville Songwriters Association International) online song feedback sessions using the three-song demo for submission. Establish a presence on streaming platforms to be able to use the platform tools to promote my music for a follow-up release (single, EP or LP). Preview the finished recording in different settings including high fidelity, car, studio monitor, home stereo. Get feedback from listeners and sources the three-song demo is distributed to including WTIP radio, KTWH radio, local musicians, club owners and the online song feedback sessions through Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI). Radio feedback would be obtained through live radio performance during fundraisers when folks call in to talk, give comments and pledge. The radio stations would play my demo and I would be in studio to perform and chat about the demo, recording process and my music. Measurable outcomes for new club owners and venues will be if they hire me to come and play a show. Recording a three-song demo will give me a way to demonstrate my "market visibility" and if my music has appeal and is working for a particular audience. Measurable outcome will be if people I give the demo to listen to tell me they like it and would like to hear more of my music in the future on a full CD release project.
I recorded at Michael Monroe's studio for four days as I had planned to. I worked with Michael to collaborate on sounds and harmonies for the three songs. He recorded my vocal, keys and added additional instruments and effects. Radio play: WTIP North Shore Community Radio, KTWH Two Harbors Community Radio I distributed fifty demos to patrons, audience members of all ages, radio stations and venues with excellent response resulting in my demo being featured in regular rotation local musician radio play, five live radio shows performing and talking about my music, consistent positive feedback from venues resulting in ongoing performances at venues (50 during this grant time), submission to one online singer-songwriter on-line forum with positive feedback and good critique. This was a valuable experience for me to learn the recording process and work directly with Michael as a producer.