PunkPonyPrincess

I have a support slot for a Gig coming up in December in London, it’s just me, Bass/Guitar and possibly a backing vocalist, it’s a lot to drop on me as I had hoped to get a drummer playing my parts by now, but no such luck (I do all my own drums on my record). So I’m putting my recorded drum tracks onto an iPad or something and playing along to that... Are there any apps people can recommend that they use that I can strap to my microphone stand that I can hit play that both plays the drum track and shows the lyrics like a karaoke type system? I occasionally have a brain fart live and lose my place or forget lyrics because I am playing bass and guitar simultaneously (via my pedalboard) and I have a lot on so anything that eases the process is welcome. It also helps new and possibly unfamiliar backing vocals to look across and know where they are too.

Unprofessional is good,, it stands out in a sea of po-faced wannabe professionals taking everything too damn seriously. I put my fursona/basschat icon on a download card and people say she’s cute and looks a little bit like me.

Bandcamp provided me with 200 unique codes off the bat. I bought another 100 for just $3 total to make the first pressing of 250 inserted when the pressings are sleeved and bagged... the remaining 50 are given away to reviewers, radio play, gifts, buddies and so on. Laser labels are £2.50 for 20 sheets containing 189 labels a sheet. Codes are an interesting idea, print off download cards for ppl to buy at gigs or QR code at the merch desk, Is that even a done thing?

One of the great joys of making a vinyl record is the download code card insert art because you discover it costs literally nothing to say ‘thank you’ and put your own fursona on the back…

Jean Jaques Brunel. Dunno why. He stood out at the time.

And a thing made manifest. nearly there. Preorders available and downloads are happening. It’s actually selling! https://clairefoxx.bandcamp.com/releases

All the time, I play crappy punk pop so I'm comfy with not misadvertising..

What I mean is being in Berlin I won’t be able to be present and listen and approve the master in person and there is a lot that can change to the sound at the mastering stage, not just for the purposes of getting the plates made for vinyl but all aspects of the sound. I will approve it remotely but it won’t sound as they hear it, here is an area for messing things up. But Dp&M have mastered some terrific records and their reputation is solid so I can forgo being there as a necessary safety net. As with graphic designers, sometimes you just have to leave them to do their work.

We’re getting away from recommendations for pressing companies, but ok.. On the one hand as you say streaming makes chances bigger and self promotion easier but as you also say, using them makes those bands seem less genuine and authentic and less sincere. My instinct and response to that Is to keep it small and what I find is personally manageable; definitely don’t give away right-to-play your assets to corporations like Spotify that pay $0.0014 per complete song play, not because of the money (there is no money or promotion in any of this for me) but because the relationship with corporations seems unhealthy. I DIY recorded a few songs in my living room. Just bass/drums/vocals no guitar or synths or computers. I’ll press a few up because it’s nice. It’s manageable like this.

It’s so very simple to avoid these online services. I think DIY publishing is a much better term than “vanity” — although it is (albeit a term that comes with assumptions about being unpublishable). I’m not interested in even engaging with that. The single is what it is. Anyway, just got the go ahead i’m using the mighty Dubplates and Mastering in Berlin to master and make the plates for this. €280 for two tracks incs plates. I won’t attend this one, but I trust them to not mess it up.

No, this is way better than anything I would have produced. Plus I want a different perspective on visuals. Everything gets claustrophobic otherwise. Will do when it’s pressed.

It is by its very definition vanity publishing n the practice of the author of a book paying all or most of the costs of its publication no one in their right mind would want to get involved with me.

Definitely a random choice of a couple of badges. Friend of mine makes badges and sells them at conventions. It’s a trivial thing, but it feels right.

I expect the ppl I hand my work to work they way they need to. I record without a computer not to be an analog luddite but because I don’t own one (I have an iPad for web browsing — which is plenty). The graphic artist I think uses a computer to print out art then uses tipp exx and spray mount and then rescans in — but that’s their process. Likewise the engineer and post production personnel tweaking this might use a computer, not my concern unless it’s harmful. I loved Desperate Bicycles and Television Personalities as a kid... lessee... £157 in 1977 appears to be just under a grand (Source). I reckon I could do it for £967. Maybe another time. Cumulative price change 516.17% Average inflation rate 4.42% Converted amount (£157 base) £967.38

I oppose streaming services, despite their inevitability i’m content to be unknown and exist outside of Spotify/Tidal/Apple/Google and Amazon (and all the attention grab stuff most bands seem to require and want to indulge in). I’m happy being smol and in control. It’s about £1600-£1700 all in with everything except recording (which I do at home) for a single. But oh it’s a thing that didn’t even require a computer to record or make the cover art on. That purity may disappear once it hits the mastering ppl but that’s out of my reach. i might include a random badge, “I hate Claire Fox” (I added the extra x to differentiate myself from a more well-known pile of human sludge) and/or “Antisocial Justice Worrier”. Like I said I’m more interested in recreating the essence of the late 70s than considering this an “investment” or as a moneymaking venture — I’m pretty sure I’m going to lose money and I’m okay with that. I’m making a double a sided petulant scream into the void.

This is true. I might think about going above £7.99. I’m not releasing on any of the digital or streaming services although there will be a download code and i’m hoping to just keep my music to physical copies as i’m not interested in gaining any more attention than what is personally manageable. Which is not much.

I thought £10 but if you charge that, will they come?