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Sennheiser HE1 Experience

11/28/2018

Today was an exciting day for me and I think any other sound engineer who would get to know that Singapore’s one (and so far, the only) Sennheiser HE1’s experience station had been launched in Connection IT, Somerset 313. This headphone is world’s most expensive headphones, standing at €55,000. The announcement was in presence of Sennheiser’s CEO, Mr Daniel Sennheiser and the hands on, 1-to-1 experience with "the beast" was the highlight of the event to me! Here is why.

STAYING TRUE TO YOURSELF WHILE WRITING COMMERCIAL SONGS

11/24/2018

Here are some ways I try to stay authentic to myself while at the same time trying to get a cut from the commercial song we are working on, specially when the song is ordered by a client to be in a specific way or topic or direction.

4 THINGS I LEARNED FROM MY FIRST CUT

11/21/2018

1. It takes a LOT longer than you think it will in the beginning. I had written for 3 years on my own and about 3-4 years into a writing deal with ZERO cuts before I landed that first one. I was really fortunate that it went to #37 on the charts and became my first Top Forty hit.

2. There is a huge learning curve when you are trying to write commercially. It’s not as simple as “writing a really good song”. There are lots of other elements that go into making a song commercial and getting a song cut.

WHY DID YOU START SONGWRITING?

11/17/2018

Even as professional songwriters, sometimes we get to the point that we keep asking this question over and over to ourselves. Why on earth I started writing in the ﬁrst place?

The situation can get rough. There can be times that you might think of doing any other job, and just give up on writing, at least professional writing! But that exactly is when you need to remind yourself about your goals and dreams when you ﬁrst started this path. What were you looking for? Where were you seeing yourself in 5 years from the time you started? Had you achieved those?

WAYS SONGWRITERS SHOOT THEMSELVES IN THE FOOT

11/14/2018

In an almost 15 year music career as a producer and a songwriter, I’ve shot myself in the foot so many times that it’s amazing I still can walk.

I thought I’d share some of them to help you avoid doing the same thing.
Here are some of the worst “shots” I’ve taken in the foot.

Don’t shoot your size 12s the way I did. Learn the easy way – not the hard one!

GUIDE TO BECOMING AN EMPOWERED OR NON-EMPOWERED SONGWRITER

11/10/2018

It struck me today that there are basically two kinds of writers I work with. There are empowered writers and non-empowered writers. Here is how I describe the difference:

PREPARING FOR YOUR PHOTO SHOOT

11/7/2018

The more people I photograph, the more I've come to realize something: a great portrait is a collaboration between photographer and subject. When both are working together the result is far more than what comes from direction alone. Our subjects often aren't experienced in having their photo taken, and don't know a lot about the process.
The number one thing I always start out with when I meet a new client is to explain my style and what to expect from me and what I expect from them; as well as any others they may have with them, as many have spouses, management team, wardrobe stylists, hair and makeup team etc. I encourage them to be themselves… Talk, move, and most importantly, relax and have fun!

4 WAYS A SONG BECOMES “BETTER”

11/3/2018

I’ve been songwriting for years before I started teaching songwriting. The more I have tried to teach, the more I realize that I can only teach what I’ve learned, so I’m continually studying and trying to learn and improve myself. Whether you are trying to write songs for the commercial market or are just writing songs for your own pleasure, here are some things that I think make a song “better”.

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