Your Heaven® Chief Marketing Officer Rebecca Lister

by Nico DeLong | Nov 19, 2018 | audio how to, Blog, Meet Our Team

Your Heaven® Audio’s Chief Marketing Officer Rebecca Lister

By: Kia Davis

November 19th, 2018

21st Century Marketing Expertise

Rebecca Lister began her career as a B2B marketing specialist for a network security start-up at the peak of the dot.com bubble in 2000. After three years in this space, she was hired as a product and marketing manager by biotech start-up, American Biophysics, which was the Inc. 100’s No. 1 fastest growing company in the US in 2004.

Her favorite music venue is Brighton Music Hall in Boston.

Rebecca Lister

Sourced from Rebecca Lister

Rebecca spent five years abroad building and managing scholarship programs in developing countries including Mongolia, Myanmar, Vietnam, and South Korea.

In step with an increasingly globalized business arena, Rebecca took a position in Asia as a project manager, focusing on international education.

She spent five years abroad building and managing scholarship programs in developing countries including Mongolia, Myanmar, Vietnam, and South Korea.

Rebecca Lister plays both cello and guitar

The Your Heaven® Audio Team accepting an award from the Rhode Island Business Plan Competition

Rebcca’s first musical obsession was with Van Halen, when she got her first album in 1984.

Check out our Your Heaven Audio CloseUp System on the Products page.

In 2016, she returned home to join music technology start-up, Your Heaven Audio, as the Chief Marketing Officer. She currently resides in Providence, RI.

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Your Heaven® Audio goes to NERFA!

by Kia Davis | Nov 8, 2018 | audio how to, Blog, Music News

Your Heaven® Audio goes to NERFA!

By:

Kia Davis

11/08/2018

WHEN YOU WANT ENHANCEMENT: SOUND REINFORCEMENT FOR HOUSE SHOWS & SMALL VENUES

There is something wonderfully intimate about a house show, but sometimes you need something to help the musician reach the audience. Come join the experts to discuss various aspects of house concert and small venue sound reinforcement. During the discussion we will be looking at a series of physical sound systems and examine setup complexity, microphone types, and room size vs amplifier need.

You can visit our booth November 9th- November 11th, 11am-2pm at Crowne Plaza Stamford (Stamford, CT)

2701 Summer Street, Stamford, Connecticut 06905

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Bluegrass Spotlight: Miners Creek Band

by Devanney Haruta | May 30, 2018 | audio how to, Blog

Bluegrass Spotlight: Miners Creek Band

By: Devanney Haruta

MAY 30th, 2018

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

Not your ordinary bluegrass band

Miners Creek is not your ordinary bluegrass band. Performing in Rockport, ME, band members Resa Randolph, Whitney Randolph, Emily Randolph-Epstein, and Emma Theobalds come from a variety of musical backgrounds – classical, jazz, Latin, and even opera – elements of which add a distinctive flavor to their classic bluegrass sound. Listening to their songs, however, you’ll hear that their music is not fusion nor is it radically new and unfamiliar: it is unmistakably bluegrass.

What is it, then, that makes bluegrass bluegrass? “Having a good story to tell and making your audience feel something because of that story,” says Emma. Emily adds: “Not just any story, but a story about something everyday. It’s about the little guy living his life, and maybe a story of this one extraordinary day, or this one extraordinary love. It’s very relatable.”

Four bluegrass musicians seated in a row

Humor is an essential ingredient to Miners Creek.
Pictured: Whitney Randolph, Resa Randolph, Emma Theobalds, and Emily Randolph-Epstein

Photo by Marti Stone

The instruments, too, are key. Whether they’re singing a classic such as “Red Rocking Chair” or an original such as “Cold, Cold Ground,” “you add the driving beat of the banjo, you add a really good strong bluegrass-style guitar, and that’s bluegrass,” says Resa. “You can’t mistake it for anything else.”

“It’s about the little guy living his life, and maybe a story of this one extraordinary day, or this one extraordinary love.”

Whitney reflects that from the beginning, bluegrass was an evolving genre: “In terms of traditional bluegrass, it’s hard to say what that is exactly. The people you think of as founding fathers of bluegrass like the Scruggs, Bill Monroe – they all kept evolving and playing in different genres. If you look at Bill Monroe, he’s the only musician who’s in three different musical halls of fame: rock, country, and bluegrass. That’s kind of interesting.”

Bluegrass musicians rehearse in a home recording studio

Resa and Emma in the studio, recording their recent album

Photo by Miners Creek Band

Check out our Your Heaven Audio CloseUp System on the Products page.

As long as Miners Creek is around, the evolution of bluegrass will never be static. They run a bluegrass camp in Bucksport, ME, play at local farmers markets and coffeeshops, and are even sketching out plans for a house concert tour in Ireland for the summer of 2019. To those curious about dipping their toes into the world of bluegrass, they offer this advice:

“I came from classical guitar,” says Resa. “The first few times I put that pick in my hand, I dropped it. It was so hard to do! It sounds silly, but don’t give up. Go to a festival, immerse yourself in the music. You can’t play bluegrass music if you don’t have it in your ear.”

Three people photographed from behind, looking at an outdoor event tent

Going to a festival is a great way to get introduced to the bluegrass scene

Photo by Aranxa Esteve (via Unsplash)

“Keep an open mind,” adds Emma. “Especially for me with a very strict singing background, there were a lot of times where I was like, ‘I’m not doing that. I refuse.’ You have to trust that you may feel uncomfortable at first, but at the end of the day, once you relax into it, it’s wonderful. It’s a wonderful experience to be able to branch out and do something new.”

“You can’t play bluegrass music if you don’t have it in your ear.”

And the best thing about playing bluegrass? It’s clear from their catchy enthusiasm and endless humor, and Emma confirms on behalf of the band: “I think this is something we can all agree on: if we’re not having fun, then it’s not worth doing it. That keeps me keep coming back, every day!”

Keep an ear out for Miners Creek’s newest EP, “All Stove Up,” coming out on June 23^rd.

Get that bluegrass sound in your ear and attend FreshGrass this year – on us!

5 Trending Self-Promotion Techniques for Musicians

by Katie Murray | Apr 11, 2018 | audio how to, Blog

5 Trending Self-Promotion Techniques For Musicians

By: Katie Murray

APRIL 11th, 2018

AUDIO HOW-TO

Putting yourself out there

In the competitive music industry, it’s important for new artists to stay current with their promotional tools in order to stand out amongst increasing competition.

Promoting music isn’t what it used to be, and most artists are already well aware of how important their online, and social media presences are for their careers. Everyone has an Instagram, so how can yours stand out from the rest? With such a wide range of true talent these days, self promo is the key for up-and-coming artists to increase their followings.

Image via The Creative Issue

1. Expand Your Content on YouTube
I daresay all new artists are aware of YouTube and the ways that the video sharing website can help promote their music, or simply share their talent with the internet through cover songs. YouTube is a great tool for posting your footage, but it’s necessary to think outside the box. Try creating multiple channels, and sharing your behind the scenes footage through video diaries. These can include what goes on backstage when gigging, or the process of recording music for instance. This is a way to connect with your audience and tell the story of who you are. Your channels might include one “official” channel, one for video diaries, and one for cover songs. The more exposure you or your band get, the better. Check out James TW’s tour diary below for some creative inspiration.

Image via Food Advisor

“People who use Instagram to follow artists and bands spend twice as much on music each year, as compared to the general population and music fans who use other social media apps.”
—Paolo de Valle (cuepoint)

2. Clean Up Your Instagram, and Start Interacting!
Most artists have an Instagram account, but there are ones who utilize the app’s potential, and ones who just use it to share pictures and announce gigs. According to a Nielsen music study done by cuepoint.com, “People who use Instagram to follow artists and bands spend twice as much on music each year, as compared to the general population and music fans who use other social media apps.” So, we know it’s an important promotional tool, but how do you separate from the rest? It’s great to inform your followers on what your playing schedule looks like, and when you’ll be posting new music, but being too repetitive gets boring after awhile. You want to keep your content varied, and interesting. Try not to post too often or too little, either one may result in some unfollows. Remember to keep it interesting! Make your posts more personal, and welcome your followers into your life beyond your gigs. You also want to try to interact with users as much as possible. Try sending a direct message thanking new followers, and linking them to your new music. You could try using Instagram’s live video feature, or simply respond to user’s comments on your pictures. It also helps to push followers to comment by saying in your caption things like, “Tag a friend down below who loves acoustic guitar!”

“AWAL enables independent artists and labels to get onto iTunes and its ilk.”
—Simon Trask (Sound on Sound)

Check out our Your Heaven Audio CloseUp System on the Products page.

3. Distribute Your Music Online, and Utilize Top Streaming Services
This is an important one for sharing your music with the world, and there are so many different streaming services today, it may get confusing. Spotify accounts for 36% of music streaming services worldwide, so it’s a good place to start. If you’re signed to a record label, your music is probably already on Spotify. If not, you can find instructions on the Spotify website for how to get your music on Spotify without a label or an aggregator. If this is the case you can use companies like AWAL. Simon Trask from Sound on Sound magazine writes, “One highly evolved organisation whose very name calls the need for record labels into question is AWAL, or Artists Without A Label. Like CD Baby, AWAL enables independent artists and labels to get onto iTunes and its ilk.”

“Stickers, pins, and patches are also a great promotional tool – the low price you can sell them at makes them much more impulse-buy friendly.”
—Carlyn Hill (Threadless)

4. Merch It Up
Who doesn’t love stuff? Make a logo, or find a designer who can make one for you, and use a website like CustomInk to make all sorts of fun merch. Of course it’s profitable to sell T-shirts, but it’s great to give away low cost freebies like stickers to get your name, and logo out there. You can also use your merch for giveaways. For example, create a contest via social media stating that those who follow your Instagram, and subscribe to your YouTube channel may have the opportunity to win a sweatshirt with your logo printed on it. Not only are you increasing your online following, but you’re getting that extra exposure from the person wearing your sweatshirt around! “Stickers, pins, and patches are also a great promotional tool – the low price you can sell them at makes them much more impulse-buy friendly,” Carlyn Hill from Threadless tells us.

5. Reach Out to Bloggers
Email blasts to your followers are great for sharing updates on your music and your schedule, but try reaching out to bloggers, too. Here at Your Heaven Audio, we’re always excited to hear and support new artists! We’re more than happy to check out and review your EP, and we’re probably not the only ones. Plenty of other music blogs will likely want to hear your best work and spread the word. So next time you’re about to send out some emails, write up a quick message with a link to your music, and send it over to your favorite guitar blogs asking for a review. A good review is a fantastic way to get discovered, and increase your following.

Finding an Instrument as Unique as the Artist

by Katie Murray | Mar 9, 2018 | audio how to, Blog

Finding an Instrument as Unique as the Artist

By: Katie Murray

MARCH 9th, 2018

AUDIO HOW-TO

Three High-End Mandolin Makers to Discover

The classic image of a mandolin in action, fingers flying across the frets

Photo by Kate Brady

The mandolin is a vital part of many musical genres, from folk to classical. Recently, it’s become popular among modern performers who are just as fun as the instrument they play.

The lute, a common feature of many classical portraits

Image via William Goldstein

Having derived from the old-fashioned lute, the mandolin is a very old instrument. As enthusiasts know its eight strings are quite small in comparison to the guitar, and they create a beautiful higher pitched sound which set them apart from other stringed instruments. The acoustic loudness of the mandolin also make it a better live performance tool then say, the ukulele. Whether you play for leisure, or for work, innovative manufacturing processes involving CNC machines allow boutique luthiers to offer each musician an original mandolin which musically, and visually encompasses who he or she is as an artist. Having an instrument which chimes exactly how you want it to and looks as stunning as you dream it should offers the absolute best of both worlds.

Steve Sorensen, holding one of his Sprite Two-Point style models

Photo by Hermon Joyner

“Picking up one of Sorensen’s mandolin, you are struck by the fine workmanship, but once you strike your first note, the quality of the sound really hits you.”
– Hermon Joyner

Steve Sorensen of California loves to embrace the fact that he crafts his mandolins differently than the traditional Gibson and Lloyd Loar models. He’s not interested in the cookie-cutter method of building instruments, rather he looks at it the way he looks at making wine, another trade of his. Making wine is a long process, and one that requires patience. To Steve, building mandolins is quite similar. He believes that each mandolin’s sound develops over time, and he feels that his instruments “scream beautifully.”

The custom inlay work on a Sorensen F8 mandolin

Photo by Steve Sorenson

Check out our Your Heaven Audio CloseUp System on the Products page.

Themandolinplayer.net tells us “Picking up one of Sorensen’s mandolins, you are struck by the fine workmanship, but once you strike your first note, the quality of the sound really hits you.” Sorenson also has a background in design, and this is shown through his detail-orientation and his articulate craftsmanship. Overall, Sorenson knows what serious mandolin players are looking for, and he’s making instruments which fit their ideals. For an in-depth review of one of Sorenson’s A-model mandolins called The Sprite, check out this article from JazzMando.com.

Louis Stiver shapes a piece of wood

Photo via The Mandolin Player

“Stiver’s mandolins have earned a reputation for impeccable fit and finish, easy playability, strong volume, and clear tone.”
–Hermon Joyner

The back of a Stover model

Photo via The Mandolin Player

From Pennsylvania Louis Stiver has been making mandolins by hand since 1970, and has been playing them since he was a teenager. Louis began building at a time when one-person mandolin shops were not as popular as they are today. He began by tracing the outline of a standard Gibson F-model, and from there he established his business. Themandolinplayer.net tells us “Over the years, Stiver’s mandolins have earned a reputation for impeccable fit and finish, easy playability, strong volume, and clear tone.” Louis’ methods haven’t changed much over the years, other than his basement workshop having evolved technologically. His mandolins are currently made using red spruce tops, and figured maple. It’s not the money that drives Louis, rather it’s his passion for the mandolin, and the fact that he enjoys being his own boss. As a result of choosing his own hours, Louis says he hasn’t worn a watch since mandolin building became his full-time career in 1978. Have a listen to Louis’ sweet sounding “40th Anniversary” model below.

Pava Knezevic holds one of her instruments

Photo by Tom Ellis

Pava is one in a million. She could not be replaced. There’s no one else like her.”
–Hermon Joyner

Pava Knesevic is originally from Croatia where she had studied carpentry, and woodworking. After moving to America she began working for Collings doing finishing, and sanding. Tom Ellis had discovered Pava when she was working for Collings, and Pava began working for Tom in 2003 when a position with his company opened up. After hiring Pava, Tom began producing mandolins. The more recent line of A-model mandolins are called the Pava models, which there are three versions of ranging in finish, binding, and color. Themandolinplayer.net offers the following quote from Pava: “Two years ago Tom gave me the opportunity with my line, a line with my name. I don’t believe that anybody else would do that; only Tom would do that. Just give someone who worked for him his own line of instruments. It’s because he believes in me. He said I’m doing good and we can do this. And it’s like, well, our instruments have proved themselves.” Pava is extremely dedicated, which likely contributes to her success. When asked about Pava Tom stated, “Not only is she a natural and extremely meticulous and a real problem solver, but she’s the only person that I’ve ever met who, on a regular basis, gives you an honest 60 hours of work in a 40 hour week. Pava is one in a million. She could not be replaced. There’s no one else like her.” Take a look at this listing for one of Pava’s Pro models on Reverb.

Pava Knezevic hard at work in her workshop

Photo by Tom Ellis

The passion for the mandolin is one which is shared across a wide spectrum of musicians. For this reason, it has become easier for enthusiasts to acquire mandolins that fit their specific needs, and preferences. If you’re one of these talented people, and in search of a new high-end mandolin, the manufacturers mentioned above may be a great place to start your search.

Keys to Buying an Acoustic Guitar

by Katie Murray | Jan 19, 2018 | audio how to, Blog

Keys to Buying an Acoustic Guitar

By: Katie Murray

JANUARY 19th, 2018

AUDIO HOW-TO

Where to start and what to keep in mind when guitar shopping

Buying the right acoustic guitar is an important investment that can make or break how you utilize your playing potential. Keep these tips in mind during your search for the perfect instrument.

1) Make a budget, and try to stay within it.

Start off by making a comfortable budget for yourself. If you’re working with one that is relatively low, make sure to do plenty of research on the instrument you have your eye on to ensure that it meets up with your ideal quality. GuitarPlayer.com mentions that, if this is the case, you need to pay more attention to small details such as how well the woods were conditioned.

“Having a sense of what you’re looking for will be very helpful in the narrowing down process of selecting the right guitar for your tastes and needs.”
—Reyes Gonzales of Guitar Salon

2) Be aware of the sound that you’re looking for.

Guitars are manufactured in a variety of different materials, shapes, and sizes. These are all important factors that affect the sound of the instrument. If you’re inspired by a certain artist’s sound, try doing some research on their instrument. Guitar Salon mentions some specific tone options to keep in mind, such as “bright versus dark” and “clear versus full.”

“It pays to have a second set of ears there to give you that uncut, personal opinion that a salesperson may not offer.”
—MusicRadar.com

3) Bring a friend along.

Consider bringing along a trusted friend who may be musically inclined. It never hurts to have a second opinion, especially with important investments. MusicRadar.com mentions that, by doing this, you can have your friend play the instrument before you purchase it, so that you can hear what it sounds like from an audience perspective.

Have an old guitar you can trade in?

Photo by William Baeck

“Most dealers will offer to match a lower price you’ve found elsewhere.”
—MusicRadar.com

Check out our Your Heaven Audio CloseUp System on the Products page.

4) Look to lower your price any way you can.

Keep in mind that you can always trade in your old guitar for a discount on the new one. MusicRadar.com also notes that some dealers will match a lower price from a different dealer or add accessories to your purchase in order to match the difference.

“If it feels awkward in your mitts it’s going to affect your playing.”
—Art Thompson of GuitarPlayer.com

5) Make sure the guitar feels comfortable.

When buying your guitar, you want to make sure that the instrument is in good condition and the strings are not too far from the fretboard. GuitarWorld suggests that you try playing single notes and chords at different spots on the neck to check for fret buzz. They also recommend looking for light strings and a low action if you’re a beginner.

“Read reviews, try out as many guitars as possible, and ultimately let your ears and hands determine what to take home.”
—Art Thompson of GuitarPlayer.com

6) Trust your musician’s intuition!

You are the artist behind the instrument, so trust what feels right!

If you’re looking for somewhere to start, some of our favorite guitar blogs have great recommendations, such as the ones below.

Daisy Rock Guitars’ “Sophomore Butterfly”

Price: $279

Cordoba’s “GK Studio”

Price: $975

Greg Brandt’s Standard Concert Model, reviewed here

Price: $7,000

Martin Guitar’s D-28 Authentic 1937, reviewed here

Price: $8,599

For more options for buying the perfect guitar on a budget check out the GuitarPlayer.com article here. If you’re looking to learn more about higher end guitar options, scroll through GuitarAficionados Reviews for plenty of reliable insight.