Munich Sessions

The Fortress of Solitude

Patrick Thompson — Fri, 26 Jan 2024 09:42:48 +0000

It should be common knowledge at this point that the music industry is at best, unkind to the psyche, at worst, straight up soul destroying. The saving grace is really the people and those little magic moments on stage or in the studio when everything comes perfectly together. The problem lies in the freelance work lifestyle, from the outside the public will only see you performing with people, or highlight reels of studio time where you’re surrounded by musicians who look like they’re having the time of their lives. Unfortunately, this is not the norm. More often than not, you’re alone planning, practising, mixing, preparing projects, or any number of other tasks that have to be ticked off in order to maintain some semblance of a functioning life.

I had a friend in the studio last night for a cup of tea, like any proper Englishman should. We chatted about the industry and life in general, the choices we made to get to the point where we are today. The main thing that i took away from his visit, is that we may certainly work alone most of the time, we are most definitely, not alone in our problems. The weight of the work and lifestyle we choose isn’t an isolated problem resting only upon your shoulders. It’s a double edged sword that I live by, when I say “You can’t rely on anyone’, it’s not a put down of colleagues or friends, it’s to say that nobody is going to do the work for you, you have to pull up your socks and do the grind, get s**t done. The other side of that sword, if you don’t have friends and colleagues around you, you are almost certainly going to fail. You are both solely responsible and completely dependent.

So as i sit in my studio, after a day of working by myself, feeling like the studio is my Fortress of Solitude, I have to take a moment to appreciate that I most certainly am not alone, that if the shit hits the fan, I have a solid and reliable base that at the very worse, are going to have an open ear to listen to me bitch and moan for an hour. So please, next time you’re feeling like the industry has chewed you up and spat you out, remember, you are most certainly not alone and you’re only a text message away from somebody who’ll help.

The post The Fortress of Solitude appeared first on Munich Sessions.

Phillip Bracken – Munich Sessions Artist Series #003 – Music & Interview

Patrick Thompson — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 13:22:13 +0000

Long time Session’s friend Phillip Bracken joined us as our third guest for the Artist Series. His music has a beautiful dream like yet grounded quality about it, much the same shines through his personalilty. We’re proud to share the time we spent in the studio with him.

Video – Joel Moser
Audio – P.R Thompson
Interviewer – P.R Thompson

The post Phillip Bracken – Munich Sessions Artist Series #003 – Music & Interview appeared first on Munich Sessions.

Modern Music Production

Patrick Thompson — Mon, 06 Nov 2023 14:02:22 +0000

Within the modern age of music production, you may well find yourself sitting alone for long periods, hunched over the computer trying to find the perfect sounds to fit your mix.

Working alone has undoubtedly brought about some world class music, people with a single minded devotion to create something beautiful can bring to life a track that can change the game. But, more often than not, working alone brings more problems than perks, you become trapped in the same routines of song writing and production, you have no one telling you that that was the killer take, you have no reference outside of your own ears.

This is where the beauty of collaboration comes in, working with others that you trust brings a chemistry to studio time that is unbeatable in almost all aspects of music. Having someone to battle down the imposter syndrome, having a second set of ears to reference the mix, having someone to encourage you and guide you when you’re about to throw in the towel on what you thought was 9th symphony.

The post Modern Music Production appeared first on Munich Sessions.

Self Built is Best Built

Patrick Thompson — Mon, 06 Nov 2023 13:57:23 +0000

When I first started getting the studio together, hiring someone to design and build it was never really an option.

Firstly, we simply didn’t have the budget for it, we refused to get ourselves in debt, instead working with what we had available.

Secondly, and maybe more importantly, when you build something yourself, you have an absolute and intimate knowledge of every aspect of it.

Of course, you can spend a lifetime researching the physics of sound waves and fluid dynamics to try and make the room sound the best it can possibly sound but as soon as you open that door and start reading, you find out pretty quickly that no room will ever be perfect, no matter how much time and money you invest in it.

This leads on to why self built is best built, because more important than anything in the studio world, is that you know how your room sounds. You know it’s strengths and it’s weaknesses, you know which microphone to use in which situation for the best possible outcome.

When I was designing the room, I had pure workflow in mind. It’s not a huge room that requires several assistants to help me mic up the drum kit, I don’t need to explain to people that the Lewitts work best as overheads or the baby Neumann does a killer job as a shoulder mono mic when I’m tracking drums because I’m there and ready to put them in place. I know that the Audient preamps I have set up will give the cleanest sound for the whole band and I’ve set them up so with the smallest of movements, they’re ready to go. All these get patched neatly and simply into Pro Tools which gives me the fastest recording and editing I’m capable of.

All these small decisions along the way of design have help me create a space that I know intimately and can work on my own with the best possible workflow. All these decisions have been made so that the final product is of the highest quality available.

The post Self Built is Best Built appeared first on Munich Sessions.

Munich Sessions Summer Fest 2023

Dan Mills — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 10:47:16 +0000

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to everyone of you that made Summer Fest such an incredible spectacle this year. Whether it was seeing toddlers dancing to their first experience of live music, the crowd growing as the sunset to epic harmonies, or when the weather got crazy and the party just rolled on under rain macs, what underpinned the whole thing was an incredible feel of community and joy. We couldn’t make this happen without the amazing array of international talent, the tireless work from the food trucks, to the bar runners and of course the people of Munich.

We also want to thank our sponsors Paulaner for their continuous support and collaboration!

Will we get three days of sun next year? Who knows. Will it matter? Absolutely not.

From all of us at Munich Sessions, see you again at the next event and stay tuned!!

#munichislive Video

Production: Philip Cockrell

Song: Maze Of Me – Keanan Eksteen

The post Munich Sessions Summer Fest 2023 appeared first on Munich Sessions.

Loriia – Munich Sessions Artist Series #001 – Music & Interview

Patrick Thompson — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 03:51:46 +0000

We had the pleasure of having Munich artist Loriia in the studio for a couple of songs and a good chat over what it means to be a contemporary artist.

Video – Joel Moser
Audio – Alex Keogh
Interviewer – Patrick Thompson

The post Loriia – Munich Sessions Artist Series #001 – Music & Interview appeared first on Munich Sessions.

Live Performance Nerves

Joel Moser — Wed, 21 Jun 2023 04:06:01 +0000

Getting on stage and performing is a difficult thing at the best of times. Getting in the zone and knowing how to deal with nerves is something I have learnt over the past 15 years of performing live. Playing drums on stage to a lot of people seems fun. I do agree, but to get to that point, there are a lot of processes/steps before fun is engaged, key elements here being routine and preparation. In my experience, most of the time these steps happen before I get up on stage and even hit the first note.

Firstly, I plan my day around the gig. I organise myself so that I arrive at the venue/stage on time. This is part of controlling my stress levels, which in turn brings a relaxed start before the performance. Also, if I have to bring a drum kit, I always double check, before leaving for the venue, that I have all the necessary equipment for myself to feel comfortable on stage. (Even double checking what sticks I have).

Secondly, if there’s a quick changeover time between bands, I always make sure I work out what I need on stage and then setup what I can off stage, eg. hardware stands, cymbals and alike. Being at the ready helps with my stress levels as there’s been times where I have had the sound tech death stare me or the stage manager.

Thirdly, I warm my hands up, which can simply be shaking them, stretching my wrists, and even swinging my arms in different directions/rotating the shoulders. This helps with circulation and loosens the tension I may have in those areas. I will also occasionally use a practice pad and some sticks to help the hand warm up process.

Next, I like to enjoy a beer (no I don’t get pissed) before I get on stage, this helps the nerves, I’ve noticed when I do get on stage, my concentration and focus on the songs I have to play last longer. Having a laugh and talking shit before I get on stage is always part of my routine as well, (whether that’s in my head or to people around me).

Now when I do get on stage, I never focus on the crowd first up (if there is a crowd, ha), this helps to calm my nerves and focus on the setlist and the songs I have to perform (especially the opening song) and then once I’ve hit my comfortable zone and I’m in control, that’s when the fun side comes out. It could take 30 seconds or it could take one song, it changes all the time, I never push my mind, it happens naturally.

Finally and a very important point for my performance is, if I fuck up or make a mistake, I avoid overthinking it! As soon as it’s happened, it’s already in the past and you can’t wind back time. What’s done is done so then I just focus on the upcoming parts and keep pushing on. It’s taken me a long time to learn how to get over mistakes, one mistake used to ruin the rest of my performance because I would replay that moment over and over. But now I make a joke out of it in my head or look at the band members around me to see if anyone picked up on it and then laugh it off.

Now after saying all this, I believe you shouldn’t be completely nerve free before you get up on stage, although stress is avoidable. I believe having slight butterflies or jitteriness is 100% normal. Having a little bit of adrenaline come through me when I get up on stage helps with my concentration and getting in the zone. Then once I’m happy with my focus then that’s when I start enjoying what I’m doing. This is only my experience and what I’ve either taught myself or taken from other drummers/performers that have helped me.

As I’ve said, it’s taken time and I’ve definitely used different routines and processes but these points are the ones that have been a bit more prominent in overcoming the hurdles of performing live. Also, don’t get me wrong here, music is bloody fun and I don’t know where I would be without it!! But there are factors for me and my make up to be able to have a fun performance.

And one last note before any of this routine, which plays over and over in my head. The 5 P’s were drilled into my head by my drum teacher before I experienced what it was like to be on stage. And for those who don’t know what the 5 P’s are then here you go.

The 5 P’s are:
PRACTICE Prevents Piss Poor Performance!

The post Live Performance Nerves appeared first on Munich Sessions.

Why aren’t Munich artists building a fanbase?

Dan Mills — Mon, 19 Jun 2023 00:45:27 +0000

I had a conversation recently with a fellow artist manager which took the usual meandering path of mutual bemoanings of the industry, changes to IG, agents wanting to take a cut of a pot that hadn’t much in it, the usual racket over a coffee in an empty venue at the start of play. But things got interesting when we began to talk about some of the artists here in Munich, the excitement I was feeling at seemingly unearthing talent that, for whatever reason, weren’t receiving the lavish playlists and endless festival invites I felt they deserved. I asked the question to my excellent friend with regards to his artist whether he’d prefer 100 new fans in week one of a single release or 100,000 streams. And it was the pause for thought that told you a lot about where we are in this scene, and it belies some questions that I think artists need to be asking themselves.

Independent creators are bombarded by numbers. This is a numbers game. Decisions are made, investment from labels arrives, bigger shows are booked and playlists are curated on that one word. But at some point the DIY and indie troubadours need to start justifying the madness of show business by looking more at one number that – understandably – they’re convinced is the least important. And it’s that of their bottom line: making some money.

So the elephant in the room of artists I’m meeting in this city is a lack of fanbase, and to refine that, a lack of confidence in directly marketing towards them. Merchandise and ticketing is going to make you money, it’s the first thing I’m fighting on a weekly basis to take off the table in negotiating with circling sharks of indie labels and bean counters masquerading as publishers. But here’s the issue: artists are so utterly obsessed with the numbers that make other people money that they overlook the ones that actually bring a return.

Streaming numbers are important, incredibly important, but even when the jackpot is hit by a quick raid on a new release triggering the Gods of Radar, Discovery Weekly and then editorial playlists, they’re not gonna pay you. Not till you sign with Universal. But worse than that, most of the Spotify junkies flowing over your glorious two-minutes-thirty of a post-punk banger aren’t moving to your pages and following you, not to mention giving you engagement. So it’s time to look at your number of followers – another false number – and put some work into finding how many of those are actually fans. And that means doing something most musicians forget about: talking to them. Directly.

The most underrated function on your instagram is direct messaging. I recently consulted a copy writer for various mega corporate / pseudo satanic enterprises on how to write to a follower with the objective of completing a call to action. A long story short and a week later, I was beta testing two different messages with a band I manage, with the request of either an email address or a phone number – we were building a secret fan whatsapp group for exclusive content and early bird ticket links. Of fans that read the message over 75% of them engaged with it. And with the leg work of replying to every single message, we saw our engagement skyrocket, quadrupled our mailing list, and sold-out half a venue without even announcing the show publically.

Artists have been sold a lot of lies about the revolutionary implications of social media, and in my opinion have a greater burden to bring several new skill sets that are a world away from focussing on writing hooks and tightening-up a rhythm section. But they are often great communicators; it’s a desire to sublimate frustration into art that keeps people writing songs and thankfully, that communication of emotion means people will always want to listen. Talk to your followers, engage them on events that they can take ownership in, and have the confidence to say you need them to make something special. To return to the opening question, I’d rather 100 fans than 100,000 streams. Fans that buy a ticket, a piece of merch and maybe later two versions of limited edition vinyl. Because, whisper it, you’ll get paid. But to find them you’ve gotta do more than hit post on a gig poster followed by a couple of insta stories. You have to engage them. Because the definition of insanity is repeating the same action and expecting a different outcome. Conversation leads to community and community – around an artist – is a fanbase.

You don’t need to move to Berlin to find people that create hype in a sweaty venue, though you do have to have something to say…….

The post Why aren’t Munich artists building a fanbase? appeared first on Munich Sessions.

Imposter Syndrome/The Existential Dread

Patrick Thompson — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 03:56:26 +0000

When your entire career is built on subjective matters, when a matter of taste can get you paid or not, it’s not surprising that we are all plagued at some point or other by imposter syndrome.

Imposter syndrome gets us all, the overwhelming dread that we’ve been hired for a job that we can’t possibly do, that at any minute we’re going to be busted and put on show for the fake we are. The real kicker comes when you even completed the work, been paid and congratulated and still, that little voice creeps in and tells you, “someone else could have done it better”.

I was at a dinner once before a show, sat with the owners of the company that we were playing for that night. We knew them well, and were all on a friendly basis. But I was clearly showing that I believed I was out of my depth amongst them, as one of them leaned over with a reassuring smile and said, “You’re always supposed to be somewhere, if someone asked you to be there.” This sentence has become my entire career’s mantra.

The industry is built on word of mouth advertisement, that means that you’re booked for a job based on someone’s opinion of your previous work. So if you’re booked, someone, somewhere has good things to say about you. These are the thought patterns that you have to keep in mind, it’s easy to become overwhelmed but I would bet all the things I own that nearly everyone in any arts based industry is going through exactly the same thing.

The post Imposter Syndrome/The Existential Dread appeared first on Munich Sessions.

Munich Sessions Launch Night

Dan Mills — Thu, 15 Jun 2023 08:46:35 +0000

Munich Sessions are delighted to announce the launch night for our new venture: The Munich Sessions Agency. Having brought a myriad of emerging talent from across the world to the Munich scene, as well as giving a platform to local artists that have grown from their first appearances at @lostweekendmunich to other shores, we believe it’s time to step out and represent artists of personality and visceral talent in their journey from our city to international representation.
#Munichislive

Appearing at this event are four new signings. We’re inviting you, our friends, fans, family, lovers and a plethora of influencers from the local industry to see whats up, so let’s introduce you:
@clearcoast__ break a live hiatus to infuse their astral pop – like Kevin Parker remixing a Thom Yorke dream – that’s already breaking 100,000 streams per track, all cooked in their beat factory somewhere in Bavaria. Get ready for psychedelic ear worms that advance straight to your dancing shoes via your hips….

@fitz_holt joins our roster from the UK art/soul scene. Hunger Magazine artist of the year, Clash Magazine ‘one to watch’ with last single Medicine, Fitz answers a question nobody asked but wished they had: what would happen if Marvin Gaye and Father John Misty hit New Orleans with some studio time? A vital artist we’re proud to have brought to the party.

@caro_kelley is one of the most respected songwriters in Munich and yet somehow still underrated in our opinion. Having blitzed what seems like a million festivals this summer, Caro will be releasing game changing single “Junk Food” in time for this show and is set to announce debut headlines from Berlin to London via Paris with our agency. Its feel-good soul with a melancholy that creeps into your bones, we love her.

@loriiawithlove is our newest signing. A Hollywood decadence drips through her music, its cherry cola balladry laced with cyanide. Lorii is an example of Munich sheltering insane talent rather than shining a spotlight upon it, and it’s time that changed….

Share if you care. #munichislive

The post Munich Sessions Launch Night appeared first on Munich Sessions.