Another incredible weekend in the books! Four talented artists from across the country ( CA —> VA ) joined us for a weekend intensive filled with 1-on-1 coaching with some of the best in the business.

It’s always a pleasure working with these talented young artists. They are daring, bold, and vulnerable!

Sheridan and I started New Roots Empower with the idea of becoming the mentors we wish we had while growing a career in the music industry. This past weekend intensive proved yet again the power of a supportive and uplifting community and the impact we can have when we work to elevate each other.

In this blog, we'll explore the importance of hearing health for musicians, the benefits of seeing an audiologist, and practical steps you can take to safeguard your auditory well-being.

The Importance of Hearing Health

Your ability to create, interpret, and enjoy music revolves around your hearing. Prolonged exposure to sounds at high decibel levels can cause hearing loss and may lead to irreversible changes that alter your perception of music.

Regular hearing check-ups with an audiologist are crucial for musicians. By scheduling regular appointments, you can detect potential issues early, allowing for timely intervention to preserve your hearing!

I recently had a conversation with Sheridan that completely shifted my mindset when it comes to the artists we work with and my own identity as an artist.

Sheridan made a simple, yet profound point:

She doesn't resonate with the idea of an "aspiring artist." Instead, she prefers "developing artist."

It’s amazing how words have the power to impact your perception. This struck a chord with me. Why wait to become something you've always been? From the moment we picked up a paintbrush, strummed a guitar, or sang in our living rooms as kids, we were artists.

The human voice is the most powerful instrument ever created. It has the ability to convey raw emotion, ignite the deepest of feelings, and transport listeners to imaginary places. While our magnificent instrument holds the key to storytelling, it is not invincible!

I wanted to share a few of the exercises that I use with my artists to help develop their vocal control, tone, and power. Below are three exercises that I have created to help get you started! You may use the audio clips to follow along.

We’ve all been there — rushing to a gig, belting out our songs in the car to try to warm up before hand… Unfortunately, there’s never enough time, you don’t have access to a piano, and it’s hard to focus on your singing!

Warming up your voice is crucial to ensure vocal flexibility, prevent strain, and achieve your best performance. Therefore, it is essential to have efficient warm-up routines that — when you’re in a less than ideal situation — can be completed in a short time period.

I’ve spent years refining my 10 minute warm-up routine to help with this issue. And, I’d like to share some of the exercises with you!

In order for an artist to enjoy a lengthy career, they must learn how to evolve. Successful artists not only evolve their sonic palette, but they also continue to explore different styles of clothing, ways to fix their hair, and topics to sing about.

Artistry requires having a “pulse” on current events and a uniquely innovative perspective on what it means to be human.

With fame or any remote level of success comes an INCREDIBLE amount of responsibility. Artists have the responsibility to use their talent to the best of its ability, to progress and work harder than anyone else, and to make an impact with the gifts that the world has bestowed upon them.

Musicians find themselves constantly searching for ways to “move the needle” and improve their music career. What most of us don’t realize is that the success of a music career is predicated on small, consistent, productive habits that eventually come to fruition in the form of positive opportunities!

If you rely on being productive ONLY during the times that you feel motivated, you will find that you may spend a lot of time thinking about what to do and less time actually doing it!

Use this simple, FREE tool we’ve created to help you get started!

If you haven't noticed yet, we are big on community here at New Roots! We feel that it is important to grow and develop a supportive community that allows artists to feel welcome to grow at their own pace and freely tell their story. With each new weekend event, webinar, or workshop, we continue to build a community of like-minded artists that envision a future filled with collaboration and support.

We finished yet another incredible New Roots weekend on Sunday — this time with artists from Washington DC, Arizona, and California! Each artist brought a unique story and a passion for sharing their message with the world. There were MANY things that stood out to me about this weekend…

Inspiration: the action or power of moving the intellect or emotions

Motivation: a motivating force, stimulus, or influence (motive — something, such as a need or desire, that causes a person to act)

Inspiration and motivation can be fleeting, but they are two driving forces in every creative lifestyle.

It’s important to recognize that a substantial following on SM can equate to an increase in collaborative opportunities with other artists, brands, labels, etc.

It’s not about the # of followers as much as it is about the QUALITY of followers. The best way to create high quality followers is to build a community around your message.

So, I got an email this week from Spotify saying my 2022 Spotify “Wrapped” is almost here…Is it that time already!? I feel like I am still processing the past 2 years. Anyone feel the same? Is it just me!?

This email made me realize just how quickly we are approaching 2023 (32 days left in the calendar year —but who’s counting).

Yes, unfortunately 2023 is knocking at our door. The question is—will we be ready?

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the impending new year, but instead I encourage you to use this moment as inspiration to set personal goals for 2023. To start, ask yourself the following questions:

Whether you have newly arrived or you are just stopping by, you’ll notice very quickly why Nashville is THE Music City, USA! Live music can be seen any given day, nearly at any given time! And, there are plenty of opportunities to perform live at numerous bars and restaurants, or in writers’ rounds and showcase events.

It is a Nashville staple to perform in a writers’ round and perhaps one of the best ways to network and meet other artists. To help you get started, we’ve compiled some of our favorite Writers’ Round events below. Good Luck!…

Here at New Roots we are adamant about helping artists maximize their performance and capitalize on their worth. As part of this mission, we are constantly on the lookout for new resources that leverage an artist’s abilities to increase their financial gain.

Juke is a streamlined, seamless platform that allows audience members to make live song requests, browse song lists, send tips, and more. The Juke platform is perfect for any artist who is looking to increase their earning potential for an upcoming gig. Plus, all artists receive 100% of their tips, and it’s FREE to join.

As any musician will tell you, there is SO much more to being an artist than simply making good music.

It’s important to look at an artist career from a holistic perspective—one that includes: business acumen, musical knowledge, mental and physical health practices, as well as an understanding of nutrition and financial literacy.

Behind the scenes of every successful artist is a hard-working manager. Their job is to oversee all aspects of an artist’s career. So, you might think—all I need is a manager, and I’ll have a prosperous career! Unfortunately, an excellent manager can help you level up, but will not guarantee a successful career in the music industry.

It’s important to understand exactly when an artist should seek management, and what is involved in an artist-manager relationship…

How Networking Helps Musicians:

Networking is EXTREMELY important for musicians and yet it is one of the most difficult aspects of having a successful music career!

An artist who has developed a skill for networking makes room for tremendous opportunity, creativity, and career growth.

As women, we hear time and time again, sadly, that we need to be skinnier, we need to sound like “radio,” we need to wear better clothes….BLEH. Especially for us artists out there, the pressure to fit in and look a certain way is only exacerbated by the endless accounts we follow on our social media…

Our voice serves as a direct connection to our physical and emotional wellbeing. Therefore, it’s important to identify— and perhaps prepare for— any vocal changes that might arise as a result of changes in our body.

Ladies— ever feel like your voice sounds or feels different before, during, or shortly after your period? This is very common for about 33% of female singers. And no, it’s not your fault that your voice changes in this way. It’s most likely your hormones!

What if I told you there is a way to pack your own calendar full of tour dates, while making meaningful connections with your fans, while being housed for free, and while making money. The answer…