Rejection would be motivation, its the Red Tape that kills me I've been doing alot of studying and writing, and more studying and more writing. It is apparent that so many artists these days are in need of songs or lyrics. I happen to have a surplus of them, and I am constantly writing. I have quite an extensive catalog of unreleased songs. More than I could ever release or perform on my own. Some of which I feel are very good but don't fit my personal "Style", so they never will see the light of day. This led me to thinking about selling songs to other artists. I've been trying to find a way to get started in this process. It seems as though most places will not even take submissions period. If I was getting rejected because my songs were not good enough, that would be something I could use for motivation to write better, however It is a little frustrating that I can't even get my work pitched at all. I have tried contacting various publishing companies, and most will not even listen, or view your song. I am looking for any advice on this process that can help me get started on my journey to selling songs, or lyrics to artists who want to spend less time on the writing process. Anyone have any advice to getting my foot in the door?
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What are your Goals for the end of the year into 2015?2014 has been all about carving myself a little spot in the world. I was able to go from 50 fans to about 2500. I also released my first studio album, had my first gig followed by a few more gigs, I played live on the radio, and I had my music showcased and reviewed by top industry professionals. It makes me excited to take all of this momentum and turn it into something much bigger in 2015. I received a couple offers to tour nationally for 2015, and I am super excited about it. I am very hopeful that at least one of these opportunities pans out and that I am able to take my music out on the road. I also got to connect with a great charity, Lucy's Love Bus, and there are plans for me to play at their events to help spread a message of hope and raise awareness for children with cancer. ALSOOOOOOOOOOO!! My Second Album should be dropping in 2015! All in all, I know its going to be a great year! Sincerely Seth P.S. If you haven't yet, check out the latest Tune in Tuesday Post: Hope you guys are going to be looking out and enjoying Tune in Tuesdays as much as I am! I am going to try to keep bringing content every Tuesday. This week Instagram got it first! Last week the Seth Balestrieri facebook page got it first! It'll be like a little game of wheres Waldo if you want to be able to get the first listen or comment in...not that its a race or anything! Regardless, the whole purpose is so we can all engage in the music together! So I hope you guys will be tuning in, leaving comments, and sharing with your friends. Here is what I posted yesterday: So stay TUNED! More to come for sure every Tuesday. And requests aren't out of question....at least most of them!
Sincerely Seth If you haven't seen it yet my 91.5 WUML Radio Show live performance of "Our Song" is up!This is one of the most meaningful songs I've written, drawing on pain from the Boston marathon, different class shootings, and other tragedies. I feel like its the kind of song that can really follow the idea that "music heals". I thank everyone who has listened and shared this song on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Within two days, I couldn't help my excitement to see that 47 people had shared the song with their friends. All of your support allows this song to live out its intention of spreading the idea of peace and good feelings in hard times. I'm not sure a song has the power to prevent future tragedy in the world, but it won't stop me from trying.
I also want to thank everyone who submitted ideas, and concepts, or support to the "Our Song" project. Your initiative and interest is what gave me the fuel to make this song as powerful as I believe it to be. One more thing! I performed 8 songs in all on 91.5 WUML last week. I will be starting what I like to call "Tune in Tuesday". Every Tuesday I will be posting another video starting next week. I am going to begin with more from the WUML performance! Thanks again! - Seth Balestrieri  This Year has brought many first time experiences for me. However, playing on the radio is definitely one of the coolest experiences. I hope you got to tune in to my half hour set and interview lest night on 91.5 WUML,
This was my set list: Stars Not Scars I Light to my Haven Wishing Heart Trust in Me Tell Me its Me Hit Me Baby One More Time (Britney Spears Cover) Our Song Loved getting all the feedback and comments after the show. Got a lot of support for "Our Song" and because of that I am on a mission to get the song fully produced and sent out to you guys ASAP. Jimmy Keeley was an amazing sound guy. He set everything up real nice, and even offered to record some video as a kicker. Meeting all the DJs on Left of The Dial for the interview was fun, and I'd love to be put in that setting again. The questions were surprising, ranging from pancakes to Quentin Tarantino to ninjas and pirates and musical influences. If you guys were able to listen, Would love to hear your favorite moments or songs from last night! Thoughts? Hope to get some video soon! I would love to get another opportunity like this. If you know anyone in radio, tell them about Seth Balestrieri! :-) The Daily and Nightly Grind Pays OffMy music career has only moved forward in the past years. With my fan base and accomplishments both growing simultaneously, I've been looking for that way to "breakout" to the next level, to showcase my music on an even larger scale. Thats why I was so happy to be chosen out of thousands of submissions for the Break Out Artist 2014 Music Competition. Besides the prestigious judges that have been involved in previous years of the competition, such as Adele, and Rob Thomas, the title of the management group really resonated with me. I knew this could be my chance to prove the time and money I've put into my passion of music could actually pay off, and I could take that next step. The live showcase of the competition was in early September in Worcester on a Monday night and 21 plus. Most have my shows had been on weekends, and I notice I have a fan base that is all ages as well. So I was worried that I may not get enough of a crowd to the event. However, to my surprise almost 30 of my fans made the 45 minute drive on a Monday night rushing out of work to come support me. That is the most amazing feeling to see people who genuinely care about me and my passion come out to support. The positive feelings didn't stop there. In meeting the other acts I got a feel for everyone's passions, commitment, and struggles. I also had a good time jamming out in the parking lot with one of the acts, "YellowYuth" and was able to make some good friendships all around with the other acts. It didn't stop there. I had been greeted with the most respect, and comfort from the Breakout Artist community upon meeting Matthew Janis and the returning champions from last year "All About A Bubble". I was surprised to find that they were all just such cool regular people that I probably would have been friends with in high school, but had also been able to carry themselves to such a professional standard in the music industry. The acts all performed great sets, and all brought something unique to the table. When I performed I was a little nervous at first, because of my lack of equipment comparatively to other acts. Literally it was just me, my acoustic guitar, and the venue's microphone. Other Acts had full band set ups that really filled the room. However, I knew that this was still my shot, so I went for it, and gave it my all. I got some great feedback from my long time fans, some brand new fans, and the other acts, as well as a really nice one on one consultation with Matt. It was really eye opening the positive remarks he had mentioned to me, and rewarding that he even showed me areas that I could work on. That advice is hard to come by these days as an artist. After the whole experience at the show, I was already a winner in the sense that I gained more insight to the industry,and I had been able to reach out and network with more fans and other great musicians in a way I wasn't able to before. Yesterday, I was even more grateful of the whole experience when I was announced as a finalist in the competition. Here is the Email I received:  I can't wait to January. I keep imagining myself with a national tour, and the wonders that it would do for my music. Then I would really be able to take my musical goals to the next level. Regardless of what happens, I have only gained more confidence and drive to pursue my passion. Thank You to all who have supported me over the years in this journey, and to Breakout Artist Management for the opportunity.
-Seth Sway The Stars is a working title for my second Album release.There was a big learning curve in releasing my first album "Bucket List". Up until that time I had never had anyone else involved with working on my music, I had never been in a studio, and I have never had a release like that. I am proud of my work on my first album, but I still feel like I was only scratching the surface of my musical identity, and my melodic insignia. Since the release I have only been more dedicated to finding the perfect harmony between the lyrics, notes, phrases, instrumentation, and presentation of my artistic vision to help take another step forward in music. This will be apparent in my second album, "Sway The Stars". My Next Album, "Sway The Stars" is going to use my past experiences and inspirations and meet my future aspirations and expectations.
I want the album to center around the message of being in control and responsible for our own fates. When the stars don't line up, you change their patterns. You use your imagination, or cause them to dance with music, or connect the dots a different way. In some way every song on the album is meant to encourage individuals to take their life into their own hands and be their own individual. I can't wait to be able to bring this project to life. There are a lot of ways to write a song, and every artist kind of has their own routine for it.
Curious to hear how my fellow writers and/or artists go about their own writing process. Post in the comments! For myself I tend to focus on flow first. I often create a chord progression before any lyrics or melody that fits the mood I'm in. Then I try to sing to it and see what comes out. Rather than be nit picky at every moment, I usually impulsively grab the first line or notes that feels right and run with it. My style is very similar to a writer that uses stream of consciousness. Its also a great way to vent, and clear up those ideas that we tend to over think. You'd be surprised what comes to be when you just let your brain and heart simultaneously leak out over a few pretty chords. I feel this really helps my music to be honest and sincere. The only disadvantage is often the words that come out this way become incoherent and indirect. So next comes editing (A Lot of Editing). I like to think of it as disciplining the creative mind. You let it all go unchained and unfiltered, and then you just edit! How Do You Write? 
Have you heard it before? "Image is everything". Its not my favorite line, but I get it. With social media being at an all time high, image seems to be even more important to people in today's society. I just don't think it should be the forefront in how we judge music.
I get that musicians are labeled as "entertainers", so its nice to have something pretty to look at and something pleasant to hear at the same time. but if you could only have one and we really had to decide on what matters most in music...What would be more important to you? Image or Sound? Should we focus more on our outfit or our tone? our thumbnail images or the perfect melody? How pretty our band mates are or how well we play together? Our music-video or our MUSIC? To me the answer is obvious...but the reality...I'm not so sure. Maybe its all a case the video really did kill the radio star. Thoughts? 
I want to preface by saying, I believe ALL music is expression, and music is art. I know Music is subjective, and All styles of Music "have their place"When I was younger I used to listen to music on the radio, and be able to pick out each instrument. And I used to love hearing how everything was working in perfect harmony. I'm finding it harder and harder to do that these days with all the synthesized computerized manufacturized kind of sounds I hear on the radio. Jason Mraz even said it in his song "Quiet" on his latest album release. The lyrics went: "Everytime I hear music, They've added more stuff to it, things are always moving to a futuristic place". So I know I'm not entirely alone in this feeling. I'm sure other artists probably share a similar opinion on the matter. My greatest inspiration has always come from stripped down, unplugged, raw music. It wasn't even always "musically" perfect, but it was human. I think that is what it all comes down to.... That human element in music. The kind that is honest, sincere, and we can connect with. Now don't get me wrong, I entirely respect electronic music as an art-form. I even have a synthesizer blended in my song "Call The Sun". And there are plenty of songs that blend the computerized and human elements very well and creatively. And I may even decide to use these kind of sounds again in certain songs in the future. I guess I just am worried that music will someday be taken over by ROBOTS!!!!! That with constantly moving forward in this direction, that we might lose the human element all together someday. That there will be no blend, just robots. Can you imagine a world where our musical superstars and idols are Optimus Prime, C3P0, or Wall-E??? Maybe we are going to need to have a musical showdown against the Robot Bill and Ted? I think the real thing we need to do is....Put every musician in an acoustically sound room....no effects....no chords....no computers...and get to the heart of the music and that human connection. I think the true measure of musical talent should be when we strip all the effects away. What Do You Think? Can you imagine a world where our musical superstars are |
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