Listen To Vanessa Mood’s Stunning Single, ‘Work Things Out’

VANESSA MOOD (Vanessa Moodley) is a South African born singer, international award-winning songwriter, producer and entrepreneur. A newcomer to Canada, her music is soulful, passionate and often tells stories of intimacy that leaves one feeling less alone in this world.

Her sincere and heartfelt new song, ‘Work Things Out,’ is about forgiveness—for ourselves and those we love. Faced with a challenging situation, this one felt unique, as previously in other relationships that had reached this point, Vanessa was willing to walk away. But with this one, that was not an option.

Her life kicking off at the tail end of apartheid, Vanessa had no idea that a career in music was something that was available to someone of her skin colour or gender. It was only after completing a degree in music, which started as an escape from the pain of her father’s death, that she realized that she needed music. She hoped for more than her early learnings of jazz and began by exploring her love for pop music.

Have a listen to the stunning ‘Work Things Out’ below…

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Liv East Releases Genre-Hopping Single, ‘So Badly’

Released on EMK through Kartel Music Group, LIV EAST’s latest single ‘So Badly’, is a kaleidoscopic concoction of dance, alt pop, R&B and neo soul, which captures the vibrancy and diversity of her East London roots.

‘So Badly’ is Liv’s second solo release, and the first of many works with South London producer Lokes LDN. The track also features some of London’s best jazz musicians – Benedict Quinn on guitar and Callum Connell (Secret Night Gang) on Saxophone.

“So Badly was born out of a time when I knew I had met someone of importance but the timing just wasn’t right”, explains Liv, “I had to remind myself of the mantra ‘nothing real can truly be threatened’ and step back with grace. I felt parallels with many other situations in my life. We had just come out of a pandemic where we were all forced to surrender to redirection and hold our hands up to the universe. No matter how badly we want something, it won’t always (or rarely ever) pan out the way we want it to. So Badly, for me, is about the art of surrender but still keeping faith”.

For singer songwriter Liv East, allowing life to follow its natural flow is vital. It’s about bending and swerving with the punches and trusting the path that you’re on, confident that in the end, everything turns out exactly as it was supposed to.

Liv’s musical career started off in 2019, working alongside Hackney’s grassroots label Root 73 (also home to the Silhouettes project) with a collaborative hip -hop / neo-soul EP. Then later on that year came the soulful dance track ‘You’re My’ on Defected’s well known disco label Glitterbox – a balmy, summer day anthem that’s just soared past an impressive four million streams. Fast forward to the present day, where it continues to receive support from house music Dons such as Moodymann & Jayda G.

And then there’s ‘I Miss Having Someone To Talk To’ (2020), another dollop of buoyant grooves that’s elevated by Liv’s distinctly fluid delivery. Produced with Folamour and released on his FHUO label, the track currently sits at over seven million streams.

Since life has started to open back up again post pandemic, Liv released her first solo track ‘Kitchen’ which landed heavy support from BBC introducing. Followed by another epic dance collaboration ‘I Need You’ with hugely successful producer duo KOLIDESCOPES via Defected’s latest imprint, The Remedy Project.

Have a listen to Liv’s ‘So Badly’ below…

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Charles On TV Releases Soul-Searching Single, ‘Quarter Century.’

New York City’s artist CHARLES ON TV gets vulnerable in his groovy, indie-pop/disco single ‘Quarter Century.’ Filled with colourful, impressionistic and soulful instrumentation, the single documents the rising artist’s internal dialogue as a quarter life crisis washes over him in waves.

On the inspiration behind the single, Charles On TV explains, “I’m sure many people can relate to the idea that sometimes, we wish we could go back and do it all over again. For me, I think about how I should have come out earlier, chose my friends more wisely, and maybe even approached my music career differently. I have been stuck in an unhealthy cycle of comparing myself to others; Instead of being encouraged by my achievements, I’ve been feeling discouraged by what I haven’t achieved. This song is the devil and angel on your shoulder, one telling you to give up and one telling you to never stop believing in your dreams.”

The single is accompanied by a stunning official video shot in Los Angeles and directed by Dylan Siegel, where Charles On TV traverse across vast landscapes, alone and on a mission to deepen his understanding of what his future has in store. These remarkable, desolate nature shots almost feel symbolic of a monk’s retreat, as he dances his way through an infinite universe searching for existential answers.

Charles On TV’s fans pour in from all over the city for his one-of-a-kind live performances, taking the stage at iconic NYC venues including the Bowery Electric, Union Pool (where he performed his debut headlining show), and Knitting Factory. An incredibly intuitive, introspective artist, Charles On TV has created a streamline of tunes with the natural ability to cross oceans and decades, and is sure to make a lasting mark on the world of music for years to come. Check out the video for ‘Quarter Century’ below…

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Song of the Day: Daydreaming – Dexter Moore

With so much uncertainty in the world today, American artist/keyboardist DEXTER MOORE’s latest single, ‘Daydreaming’ brings along hope and aspirations. The immediately uplifting smooth jazz instrumental invites us to let loose of all the woes and just enjoy life while we can!

“‘Daydreaming exemplifies how music can bring out the best in people – the ideas…the passion…the inspirations to always show your best light. Hopefully, I did my best to inspire my listeners with this jazzy, melodic and groovy track…Enjoy!” – Dexter Moore.

Born in Philadelphia, Dexter Moore grew up in a musical household – his father is an organist and his late mother was a pianist. With two brothers, who are both drummers, and his sister a singer, it came to no surprise that Dexter Moore started performing from the age of 11.

Like many promising musicians, Dexter Moore’s initial exposure was at his local church. Through his connections with fellow musicians, Dexter was introduced to Gabriel Hardeman at a jam session – his meeting with the acclaimed gospel singer/musician would significantly change his career…

To date, Dexter Moore has toured in Europe as well as throughout the USA and has been privileged to play behind some of the industry heavy-weights in both Gospel and secular music; including Yolanda Adams, BeBe Winans, CeCe Winans, Vicki Winans, Hezekiah Walker, Norman Hutchins, Edwin Hawkins, Tramaine Hawkins, Zahmu, Jill Scott, Mary J. Blige, Miles Jaye and Teddy Pendergrass.

With over 30 years’ experience performing with other artists as a sideman and accompanist, Dexter Moore now wants to share his keyboard talents to the world as an artist.

‘Daydreaming’ is out now across various music platforms.

Connect with Dexter Moore via:

FB: https://www.facebook.com/dextermoorejazz/
T: https://twitter.com/RightSideLLC
IG: https://www.instagram.com/dextermoorejazz/?hl=en

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How Musicians Can Monetize their Creative Work

Image via Pixabay

Given that it’s difficult for musicians to monetize their art even at the best of times, it’s necessary for performers to find creative and safe ways to earn a living. Today, New Lease Music offers a few ideas for hard-working musicians looking for new ways to earn.

Live Streaming Concerts

Even if you can’t play venues, you can still live stream performances using digital technology. For fans at home, the option to attend a live concert, even virtually, can be a fun way to escape stress and find relief in music. Don’t set your ticket fees too high, though; people are less likely to shell out for a virtual concert than for an in-person one. Try to find that sweet spot where enough people will want to hear your music at a fee that is reasonable for them and worthwhile for you.

If you plan on streaming a concert, be sure that your performance area looks the part. If you have some old furniture you plan to use to dress the set, reach out to a local reupholstery company to see about having the furniture refreshed. You can read online reviews of local companies to get a good idea of their service before choosing a company to go with. Good looking furniture makes a great small performance backdrop.

Online Music Classes

Not everyone is cut out to teach or enjoys teaching, but for those who do, online classes can be a great opportunity to make money while sharing their expertise with other music-lovers. Parents of children who are homeschooling might especially be interested in accessing high-quality music lessons for their children online. Other types of classes you could offer include music appreciation, music history, and composition.

Outdoor Performances

Talk to your local park service or cultural center to see about organizing an outdoor concert at a set venue. Find out if your area farmers market would be interested in hosting you as a performer. Ditto Music explains you could even set up in a popular public place as a street performer — though it’s important to be aware of city laws, and whether you need a license.

Outdoor performances are also a great chance for networking with other local artists. By collaborating with other local musicians, you can expand your audience and also set the stage for future collaborations and projects down the road. You’re stronger together than you are apart!

Creating Digital Products

Creating digital products is a great way for a musician to make passive income, which will allow you time to work on your art, or to pursue other money-making ventures. Besides downloadable songs or compositions you could also create soundtracks and sound effects to be purchased by video makers. You could also sell ringtones or beats. The great thing about a digital product is that once you create it and set it up for sale, your work is done — but every time anyone purchases access or use, you get paid.

If you lack certain business skills or need a website created, you can hire freelancers to fill in gaps. Don’t overlook talent from other countries since you can often hire top performers for less cost than domestic freelancers. If you go this route, it’s important to set up an account with a reliable and easy-to-use money transfer service, which is a convenient and affordable way to pay your overseas freelancers. This might even end up forming the basis of your own home business!

Last but not least, look for free online tools that can help you design cool artwork for your digital products. As an example, if you don’t yet have a logo and your budget doesn’t have any wiggle room, look into a free logo design tool that allows you to build your graphic using premade templates. This is a good way to create a logo while you’re saving up money to have a graphic designer take a wholly unique approach to your idea.

Other Ideas When You Need Extra Money

If you need alternatives for earning beyond monetizing your music, you can find additional ways to earn as a freelancer depending on your other skills or training. Start by taking advantage of free resume templates to highlight your varied skills in a professional-looking style that gives you an edge over the competition. Consider offering your services as a personal assistant, a branding coach, a copywriter, or a call center rep, to fill the gaps between creative income opportunities. You could also work as a delivery driver, or a pet sitter, if you’re interested in getting out of the house more often.

People need art and connection in their lives. Even if you aren’t able to provide in-person concerts or classes, there are more ways than ever to enjoy and share music remotely.

If you’re an independent or unsigned artist, get your music heard on New Lease Music!

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