Author archives: Vakseen

S/tick Features 3 Vakseen Paintings

Much love to, Canada-based literary magazine, S/tick for featuring my Solitaire, Chic City and Morning Glory paintings on their blog. I’ll also have a feature in S/tick’s Spring 2013 issue so keep your eyes open. Check out the feature here and the screenshot below.

Payola: The Dirty Industry Practice

“Payola is as old as radio. The legalities have also changed most recently allowing legal loopholes. Legal loopholes created playola the creation of corporate america to cash in legally. For decades decision makers were individuals in each marketplace. Payola comes in the way of cash,trips, appliances, drugs, sex and anything of value for today’s marketplace. Payola is as American as prostitution. Radio programmers and Dj’s hands are shaped like cups. Everyone […]

Where Artists Should Be Touring/Performing

When it comes to touring, I find more musicians focused with the “How,” “When,” and “Where” aspects but not enough of the “Why.” Of course, touring can be an incredibly important step in most artists’ careers but you should definitely take some time out to create solid goals and a definitive strategy before you decide when/where you want to hit the road. Why do we pick the target areas for […]

Vakseen TV: The Robert Glasper Experiment x Bilal Perform Live

I saw The Robert Glasper Experiment perform earlier this year at Exchange LA and Bilal was a special guest. I wasn’t up on much of their music at the time, but I’ve been a huge Bilal fan from day 1. Needless to say, I was definitely in for a treat and left a new fan of Glasper. Check out footage below as Bilal performs Reminisce (from his debut album) and […]

Solving The Problem of New Music and Artist Discovery

Whether they ever choose to regain some of their former financial stature and growth, record companies, majors and indies alike, along with unsigned and unknown independent artists, too, must cultivate and create, as quickly as possible, a SINGLE new digital marketplace.  Here competition will flourish and some semblance of reasonable choice and control over the discovery of new artists with original new music will be exercised by whatever is left […]

San Francisco Hosts iStandard Producer Showcase December 11th

#TeamVakseen will be in San Fran next Tuesday at the Rock It Room. I’ll be judging for the iStandard Producer Showcase and I’m definitely looking forward to hearing what the Bay Area has in store. The winner leaves with over $2000 in product, so if you’re a producer in the SF area, you can register here. Major shout out to the fam J-Hatch and Don!  

How to Develop a Hardcore Fan Base

Whether or not you think it is the key that unlocks your music career, it is always good to build an army of enthusiastic supporters who will fervently support your music. The best way for any company or new artist to grow their fan base is through referrals. The combined energy from a hardcore fan base can create some serious momentum (just look at the career of Justin Bieber or even the […]

16 Quick Tips To Become A Better Networker

Six degrees of separation are allegedly all that stand between you and anyone on the planet.  Or, according to my father, “There are not six degrees of separation, there are two; you just have to think hard enough.” Like him, I’m a connector, and would agree that regardless of how many people it takes to connect us, no one is too far removed.  More so, it can be a great joy […]