Use this search bar to help find blog posts on your favorite topics. Ex: “contracts”, “vocal health”, or “management”

Mark Thress Mark Thress

How To Warm Up Your Voice In Less Than 10 min. (For When You’re In A Hurry!)

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!

Read More
Mark Thress Mark Thress

The Evolution of a Successful Artist

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.

Read More
Mark Thress Mark Thress

Is Fame Really Worth It?

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.

Read More
Mark Thress Mark Thress

Productivity Habits That Accelerate Your Music Career

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!

Read More
Mark Thress Mark Thress

Community: What Every Developing Artist Needs to Thrive

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…

Read More
Mark Thress Mark Thress

Inspiration & Motivation—and Where to Find Them

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.

Read More
Mark Thress Mark Thress

Best Social Media Practices to Help Grow Your Brand in 2023

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.

Read More
Mark Thress Mark Thress

2023 is On the Horizon—Am I Ready!?

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:

Read More
Mark Thress Mark Thress

A Music City Staple: The Nashville “Writers’ Round”

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!…

Read More
Mark Thress Mark Thress

How to Make More Money Playing Live!

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.

Read More
Mark Thress Mark Thress

Best Books to Read for the Holistic Artist (Part 1)

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.

Read More
Mark Thress Mark Thress

When Should An Artist Seek Management?

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…

Read More
Mark Thress Mark Thress

Networking Tips for Musicians

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.

Read More
Mark Thress Mark Thress

Singing Throughout Your Menstruation Cycle

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!

Read More
Mark Thress Mark Thress

A Guide to Singing with Seasonal Allergies

Is it a cold? No. Is it COVID? Nope! It’s just your allergies telling you that Spring has officially sprung! 🤧

Allergy symptoms can very easily change the quality of your voice and make it difficult to sing normally. BUT, WE CAN FIX THIS!

Read More
Mark Thress Mark Thress

Becoming (and Remaining) a Confident Musician

Take a moment to answer these questions in your head…

Would you consider yourself to be confident? What does being confident as a musician mean to you? What does confidence LOOK like to you?

We’ve compiled some tips to get you on track towards becoming your CONFIDENT self…

Read More
Sheridan Gates Sheridan Gates

What is New Roots?

So, you’ve been hearing this program called “New Roots” tossed around Nashville or social media so you decided to do a quick google or Instagram search, and it brought you here…Welcome!

Read More