Doing all the things: The new blueprint for making a living in music

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I'm Elizabeth McQueen.
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And I'm Miles Bloxin.
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And this is Paws Play, the podcast
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about live music, why it matters,
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and what comes next.
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Miles, this is our sixth season.
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It's hard to believe.
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Yeah, Elizabeth, we've covered so
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much about Austin music in this
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podcast.
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And this season, we're looking into
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the future.
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Yes, we are.
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I mean, right now we're in this
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moment where everything is changing
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so quickly, not just in
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music, but like everywhere.
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And we're wondering what the future
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of Austin music might be.
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Are there alternatives to streaming?
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Or what about social media?
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Can artists ditch socials and reach
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their fans other ways?
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What about AI, Elizabeth?
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How are artists using it or not
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using it? And what about the future
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of South by Southwest after the
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changes the organization made around
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the music part of the festival?
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What is Gen Z up to?
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I mean, after all, they literally
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are the future.
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Yeah, they are.
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And in this episode, we'll be
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looking at what the future may hold
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for how musicians make money here in
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Austin.
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How can you make a living when the
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things that used to bring in money,
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they don't anymore?
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I mean, we've covered this a lot in
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this podcast.
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Musician pay has stayed the same for
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decades in this city.
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And let's be honest, streaming often
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doesn't bring in much income for
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local artists.
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So if you can't make money playing
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music, and you can make money
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selling music, what can
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you do?
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Well, in this episode, we're
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going to talk to four musicians who
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are trying to answer that very
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question.
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Their solution?
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Do lots of things.
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Like Sara
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I'm Sara L Houser and
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I am a musician in Austin.
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In her solo work, Sarah goes by
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S.L. Houser.
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We play her music on KUTX.
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In fact, she's been an artist of the
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month, but she does more than
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just play her own gigs.
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She tours in other people's bands.
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I've been on the road a lot the last
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couple of years with two artists,
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Zela Day and Matthew Logan Vazquez.
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She works in the studio playing
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piano, and she does background
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vocals and vocal arrangements on
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other people's recordings.
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I did it for a Spoon record,
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I did for Golden Dawn, I've done
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it for Walker Luke.
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Walker Lukens is a musician and
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producer here in Austin.
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He also hosts the song confessional
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podcast, which we distribute.
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She's also written orchestrations.
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Started by making some for Walker.
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And then that kind of spiraled
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out into doing some for other
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artists around town.
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She's written film scores.
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I did a short film with
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a guy named Jordan Langmore this
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last year that maybe will come out
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sometime. She's a producer.
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I've produced an album for Lizzy
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Lehman a couple years ago and
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was part of Jimmy No's Project
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Traction.
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And she teaches.
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I'm an adjunct professor at ACC in
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the ATI department and
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I freelance teach kids.
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Yeah, Sarah does a lot of things.
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But this wasn't always the case.
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When Sarah was growing up, she was
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obsessed with music.
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I could like identify every song
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on the radio. So when she was seven,
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her parents got her a keyboard.
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And they were just kind of like
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explore. She signed herself up for
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formal lessons at 11.
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And after that she was into piano,
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like into piano.
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She practiced four hours a day
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into it. She actually studied
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classical music at first.
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Then Sarah went to a performing arts
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high school where she studied
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classical piano and got into jazz.
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Started playing gigs for the first
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time. I started playing in jazz
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combos at restaurants and stuff when
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I was like 15 or 16.
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So I guess that's like where I first
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started like, oh I could make some
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money.
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From that time, she also started
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writing her own music.
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She ended up going to Berklee
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College of Music, studying piano and
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songwriting.
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After she graduated, she moved to
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Austin. She didn't think too much
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about her choice, though.
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All she knew was that she was burned
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out from Berkley and she didn't want
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to move to New York, L.A., or
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Nashville.
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I didn't really have a plan.
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I did know that I wanted to come and
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I want to start a band.
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And I wanted play live music and
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I wanted be a part of
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the music community.
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Plus, one of her favorite bands
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was from Austin.
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I loved Spoon in high school
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and knowing that they were here
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was like, that was even a carrot
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enough for me where I was like
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oh man.
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Sarah did have an idea of what.
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She wanted to do, though.
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My one goal was to move here and
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start a band.
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So she got a job at Guero's.
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I got it two weeks into living here.
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And she started a band called A
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House at Home.
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Then that ended.
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She joined a band, called The Couch.
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It was a band her now husband,
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Taylor Wilkins, was in.
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Then after a couple of years, she
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left that band and started her own
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project.
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And for a while that's what she did.
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She worked at a restaurant and
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played gigs, but then
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about eight years later, she started
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to get this itch.
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I'd been far enough away from
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college and like from my academic
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world where I was like hi,
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there's like so much stuff I want to
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do with music.
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Maybe I could start teaching, you
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know, I knew that I wanted to kind
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of bring that part of my brain
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back to the forefront and not
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just like the live show setting,
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which was super
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fun and fulfilling, but like was
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a completely different part of my
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brain than like my academic
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experience.
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So, she's started Teaching.
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A couple of years after that she
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started playing as a sideman in a
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band called Golden Dawn Orchestra
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which is a huge band that plays
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like psychedelic world funk jazz.
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And the way she got That gig was
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pretty random.
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Rick from Nine Mile called
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me and he was like, hey, I know you
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play piano, but would you be
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interested in auditioning on
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Vibraphone for a band and going to
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Europe for five weeks?
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Rick is Rick Pierrick, owner of
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Nine Mile Records and Touring.
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And I was like well, I played
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vibraphone a little bit in jazz band
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in high school. It's like piano with
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sticks, you know?
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And auditioned and then like three
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weeks later was in Europe with them.
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The two things I love probably
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the most are playing music and
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traveling. And so I was like,
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oh, touring, like.
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Duh. And I was really lucky to fall
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in with them and like,
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just they're my family, you know, at
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this point. But working with them
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and working on their records kind of
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like cracked me open and like oh,
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I could do this for anyone, you now.
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So Sarah was playing live with her
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own band and teaching.
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And touring.
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And around this time she
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was also getting more comfortable in
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the studio.
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Walker was the first person to
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pay me to come in the studio
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and put background
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vocals down.
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the record sang background vocals on
is called Tell It to the judge.
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Walker ended up introducing Sarah
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to Jim Eno, the drummer for
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Spoon.
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Which is like how I ended up
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on the spoon record.
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That spoon record was Hot Thoughts.
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Wait, didn't Sarah say one reason
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she moved to Austin was because
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Spoon was like one of her favorite
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bands and they were from here?
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It's funny cause the spoon record
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was like probably the second time I
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ever got paid to come in and
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record vocals. And it was like,
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you know, just so surreal
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to be asked to do that and
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stuff. But then I had them on
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my resume.
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And so it turned into like,
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oh, Sarah can do this
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thing. I think where I
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sort of started to like assert
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myself is vocal harmony
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work and being really efficient
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in the studio and an efficient
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communicator. And so it was like.
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I can come in and knock out a
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lot of stuff in like a pretty short
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period of time, which when you're
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paying for time is important.
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And that connection to Jim Eno
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led her to work with him on Project
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Traction.
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According to their website, Project
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Tracton is about empowering women
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plus gender-expansive musicians
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to gain traction in the audio
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production and engineering fields.
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Sara Didn't really think of herself
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as a producer.
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Just even like having somebody
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like Jim say,
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I think he would be really good at
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producing was like
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huge. Yeah, so I did Project
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Traction with him. I produced a song
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for Lizzie.
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Lizzie really loved it, loved
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working with me.
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And then we did a whole album
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together at Estuary.
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Lizzy is Lizzy Lehman.
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You might remember Lizzy from one of
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our past episodes.
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The album they made together is
284
00:08:38,510 --> 00:08:39,950
called Technicolor Love.
285
00:09:09,889 --> 00:09:10,749
Walker Lukens also got her started
doing
286
00:09:10,750 --> 00:09:11,729
orchestrations.
287
00:09:11,730 --> 00:09:13,709
I had gone in and like conducted
288
00:09:13,710 --> 00:09:15,569
a session he knows I can read music
289
00:09:15,570 --> 00:09:17,129
being from like my classical
290
00:09:17,130 --> 00:09:19,469
background and stuff like that and
291
00:09:19,470 --> 00:09:21,309
so we started talking about this
292
00:09:21,310 --> 00:09:23,149
project he's been working on and
293
00:09:23,150 --> 00:09:24,649
he was like I want you to do the
294
00:09:24,650 --> 00:09:25,889
strings for it would you be open for
295
00:09:25,890 --> 00:09:27,729
that and I was like, I could
296
00:09:27,730 --> 00:09:29,669
do that for sure and I would love
297
00:09:29,670 --> 00:09:29,969
to do that.
298
00:09:29,970 --> 00:09:32,129
So Sarah plays her own shows
299
00:09:32,130 --> 00:09:33,909
and teaches and tours with other
300
00:09:33,910 --> 00:09:35,849
bands and does background vocals and
301
00:09:35,850 --> 00:09:37,069
produces and does string
302
00:09:37,070 --> 00:09:38,289
arrangements.
303
00:09:38,290 --> 00:09:39,949
Like we said Sarah does a lot of
304
00:09:39,950 --> 00:09:40,649
things.
305
00:09:40,650 --> 00:09:41,879
She's a busy woman.
306
00:09:41,880 --> 00:09:43,319
And how does that all work out
307
00:09:43,320 --> 00:09:44,209
financially?
308
00:09:44,210 --> 00:09:46,209
I'd say, Touring Session Work is
309
00:09:46,210 --> 00:09:48,829
probably like, it's like
310
00:09:48,830 --> 00:09:50,789
a quarter and a quarter, and then
311
00:09:50,790 --> 00:09:52,309
teaching is like probably about
312
00:09:52,310 --> 00:09:54,209
half, I would say.
313
00:09:54,210 --> 00:09:56,289
Or maybe like teaching is a third,
314
00:09:56,290 --> 00:09:58,349
and the remaining fraction,
315
00:09:58,350 --> 00:10:00,189
because I'm not doing that math,
316
00:10:00,190 --> 00:10:02,129
is just random
317
00:10:02,130 --> 00:10:03,989
jobs or one-off
318
00:10:03,990 --> 00:10:06,229
gigs or, you know,
319
00:10:06,230 --> 00:10:07,749
just the kind of stuff that
320
00:10:07,750 --> 00:10:09,299
sometimes falls into my lap.
321
00:10:09,300 --> 00:10:10,899
So a third of her income is teaching
322
00:10:10,900 --> 00:10:11,719
music?
323
00:10:11,720 --> 00:10:13,479
Yeah, and Sarah says sometimes
324
00:10:13,480 --> 00:10:15,239
musicians feel away about the
325
00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:16,339
profession of teaching.
326
00:10:16,340 --> 00:10:18,019
I think a lot of musicians have kind
327
00:10:18,020 --> 00:10:19,979
of a very jaded look
328
00:10:19,980 --> 00:10:21,939
at education of like, oh those that
329
00:10:21,940 --> 00:10:23,999
can't do teach that trope,
330
00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:26,059
and I just really hate it because,
331
00:10:26,060 --> 00:10:28,019
I mean, I would not be here
332
00:10:28,020 --> 00:10:30,119
without both the
333
00:10:30,120 --> 00:10:31,799
good and bad teachers that I had
334
00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:33,679
growing up, but getting a chance
335
00:10:33,680 --> 00:10:35,339
to really share your knowledge with
336
00:10:35,340 --> 00:10:36,419
somebody is so special.
337
00:10:36,420 --> 00:10:37,959
I mean, and I have to say, like,
338
00:10:37,960 --> 00:10:39,619
it's a huge accomplishment to not
339
00:10:39,620 --> 00:10:41,379
have to do anything else, you know,
340
00:10:41,380 --> 00:10:43,599
to like make your living doing music
341
00:10:43,600 --> 00:10:45,439
in whatever form is
342
00:10:45,440 --> 00:10:46,440
like.
343
00:10:46,870 --> 00:10:49,029
I feel incredibly grateful.
344
00:10:49,030 --> 00:10:51,169
I think there
345
00:10:51,170 --> 00:10:53,169
was a significant portion of my
346
00:10:53,170 --> 00:10:55,449
time in Austin where
347
00:10:55,450 --> 00:10:57,329
I wasn't sure
348
00:10:57,330 --> 00:10:59,369
that music was ever
349
00:10:59,370 --> 00:11:01,329
going to be any kind of
350
00:11:01,330 --> 00:11:03,149
income for me.
351
00:11:03,150 --> 00:11:04,989
I was going to have to pivot or
352
00:11:04,990 --> 00:11:06,289
I was gonna have to find some kind
353
00:11:06,290 --> 00:11:08,169
of work or I just was
354
00:11:08,170 --> 00:11:10,049
gonna barton and wait tables and
355
00:11:10,050 --> 00:11:11,929
then do music on the side.
356
00:11:11,930 --> 00:11:13,329
I really struggled for a long time,
357
00:11:13,330 --> 00:11:15,369
especially coming from Berkeley
358
00:11:15,370 --> 00:11:16,479
and seeing.
359
00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:17,779
Lots of people that I went to
360
00:11:17,780 --> 00:11:19,879
college with either
361
00:11:19,880 --> 00:11:22,079
quit music altogether or
362
00:11:22,080 --> 00:11:24,379
really struggle in
363
00:11:24,380 --> 00:11:26,199
the music cities or
364
00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:28,039
alternatively be on the Grammys
365
00:11:28,040 --> 00:11:30,279
or touring with giant
366
00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:32,199
bands or working on records
367
00:11:32,200 --> 00:11:34,539
that were really famous or
368
00:11:34,540 --> 00:11:36,059
scoring movies that were winning
369
00:11:36,060 --> 00:11:37,699
Oscars and stuff.
370
00:11:37,700 --> 00:11:39,379
And so there's a lot of weird
371
00:11:39,380 --> 00:11:41,319
comparison thing that I
372
00:11:41,320 --> 00:11:43,159
had to get over and go through
373
00:11:43,160 --> 00:11:44,160
and just kind of.
374
00:11:45,930 --> 00:11:47,909
Acknowledge that I'm on my own path
375
00:11:47,910 --> 00:11:50,049
and I know that I
376
00:11:50,050 --> 00:11:52,029
am going to figure it out eventually
377
00:11:52,030 --> 00:11:53,970
or figure out a way to make it work.
378
00:11:55,249 --> 00:11:56,309
Sars's created an LLC called
379
00:11:56,310 --> 00:11:58,089
Sirenhouse that covers all the
380
00:11:58,090 --> 00:11:59,769
things she does that aren't teaching
381
00:11:59,770 --> 00:12:01,499
or her solo work as SL Houser.
382
00:12:01,500 --> 00:12:03,719
I wanted like an umbrella term
383
00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:05,639
or company for
384
00:12:05,640 --> 00:12:07,299
like all the touring and session
385
00:12:07,300 --> 00:12:08,399
work and all that kind of stuff that
386
00:12:08,400 --> 00:12:09,559
I was doing.
387
00:12:09,560 --> 00:12:11,379
And I wanted to sort of
388
00:12:11,380 --> 00:12:13,299
kind of try to
389
00:12:13,300 --> 00:12:15,379
put it out there that like I
390
00:12:15,380 --> 00:12:17,539
could be this like one stop shop in
391
00:12:17,540 --> 00:12:19,579
some ways. I wanted to put a name to
392
00:12:19,580 --> 00:12:21,299
it and sort of treat it like I would
393
00:12:21,300 --> 00:12:22,189
a band.
394
00:12:22,190 --> 00:12:23,989
And Sarah said she's able to make a
395
00:12:23,990 --> 00:12:26,389
living in music by saying yes,
396
00:12:26,390 --> 00:12:26,849
a lot.
397
00:12:26,850 --> 00:12:28,009
I kind of saw the writing on the
398
00:12:28,010 --> 00:12:29,029
wall with the gig economy pretty
399
00:12:29,030 --> 00:12:31,189
early on and
400
00:12:31,190 --> 00:12:32,949
knew that it wasn't good for me and
401
00:12:32,950 --> 00:12:33,950
my brain space.
402
00:12:34,630 --> 00:12:36,769
So that's where I
403
00:12:36,770 --> 00:12:38,849
did shift into the diversifying role
404
00:12:38,850 --> 00:12:41,149
where it was like, okay, well,
405
00:12:41,150 --> 00:12:43,749
I want music
406
00:12:43,750 --> 00:12:45,729
to be how
407
00:12:45,730 --> 00:12:46,549
I make my money.
408
00:12:46,550 --> 00:12:48,529
But I also like to do lots
409
00:12:48,530 --> 00:12:50,689
of different things with music and I
410
00:12:50,690 --> 00:12:52,789
have an education that supports that
411
00:12:52,790 --> 00:12:53,790
also.
412
00:12:55,080 --> 00:12:57,039
I'm just gonna say yes to like every
413
00:12:57,040 --> 00:12:58,979
job that I can and
414
00:12:58,980 --> 00:13:00,999
see what sticks.
415
00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:03,100
And I did that for a long time.
416
00:13:04,180 --> 00:13:05,839
And, you know, did the one-off gigs
417
00:13:05,840 --> 00:13:07,699
with people or played
418
00:13:07,700 --> 00:13:08,700
in the airport,
419
00:13:09,520 --> 00:13:11,379
or I did like one
420
00:13:11,380 --> 00:13:13,459
day on set of Walker as a piano
421
00:13:13,460 --> 00:13:14,519
supervisor.
422
00:13:14,520 --> 00:13:15,839
She's talking about the TV show,
423
00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:16,676
Walker, Texas Ranger which was
424
00:13:16,677 --> 00:13:18,569
filmed In Austin.
425
00:13:18,570 --> 00:13:20,509
Like I just did like anything I
426
00:13:20,510 --> 00:13:22,329
could until I got to a place
427
00:13:22,330 --> 00:13:24,269
where it was like I
428
00:13:24,270 --> 00:13:26,409
could sustain myself and start to
429
00:13:26,410 --> 00:13:28,389
say no to certain jobs or like
430
00:13:28,390 --> 00:13:30,249
weed out what really wasn't serving
431
00:13:30,250 --> 00:13:32,389
me and stuff.
432
00:13:32,390 --> 00:13:34,249
But in terms of like just being
433
00:13:34,250 --> 00:13:36,469
in a band and
434
00:13:36,470 --> 00:13:38,449
making a living and being able to
435
00:13:38,450 --> 00:13:40,149
afford to live in this city, I don't
436
00:13:40,150 --> 00:13:41,989
know anybody I don't anybody
437
00:13:41,990 --> 00:13:43,409
in this town that is able to do that
438
00:13:43,410 --> 00:13:45,129
right now.
439
00:13:45,130 --> 00:13:46,570
I could be wrong, but.
440
00:13:47,610 --> 00:13:49,309
It certainly was not feasible for
441
00:13:49,310 --> 00:13:51,289
me, which is
442
00:13:51,290 --> 00:13:53,129
tough when it's a city that
443
00:13:53,130 --> 00:13:54,589
says it's the live music capital of
444
00:13:54,590 --> 00:13:55,590
the world.
445
00:14:31,080 --> 00:14:32,879
Sarah does so many things, it's
446
00:14:32,880 --> 00:14:33,880
actually really inspiring.
447
00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:36,919
I love the fact that she figured out
448
00:14:36,920 --> 00:14:38,619
a way to make it work by just trying
449
00:14:38,620 --> 00:14:40,539
everything that she possibly could,
450
00:14:40,540 --> 00:14:42,039
even though it wasn't what she set
451
00:14:42,040 --> 00:14:44,159
out to do when she initially moved
452
00:14:44,160 --> 00:14:44,749
here.
453
00:14:44,750 --> 00:14:46,609
Totally, and you talked to a
454
00:14:46,610 --> 00:14:48,249
couple guys who also figured out a
455
00:14:48,250 --> 00:14:49,929
way to make a living by expanding
456
00:14:49,930 --> 00:14:51,789
their ideas of what they can do
457
00:14:51,790 --> 00:14:52,789
with music.
458
00:14:52,790 --> 00:14:54,689
Yeah, I talked to Chinasa and Carlos
459
00:14:54,690 --> 00:14:56,229
of Tribe Mafia.
460
00:14:56,230 --> 00:14:57,849
Coming up after the break, we'll
461
00:14:57,850 --> 00:14:58,850
hear from them.
462
00:15:00,730 --> 00:15:02,469
This is Pause Play, the podcast
463
00:15:02,470 --> 00:15:04,549
about live music, why it matters,
464
00:15:04,550 --> 00:15:06,329
and what comes next.
465
00:15:06,330 --> 00:15:07,749
In this episode, we're talking to
466
00:15:07,750 --> 00:15:09,109
artists who've figured out how to
467
00:15:09,110 --> 00:15:10,549
make a living in music by
468
00:15:10,550 --> 00:15:12,569
diversifying what they do,
469
00:15:12,570 --> 00:15:14,389
like Chanasa and Carlos from Tribe
470
00:15:14,390 --> 00:15:15,569
Mafia.
471
00:15:15,570 --> 00:15:17,929
Chanasa Broxton, I'm an artist,
472
00:15:17,930 --> 00:15:19,029
sound engineer,
473
00:15:20,030 --> 00:15:21,489
temporary videographer while our
474
00:15:21,490 --> 00:15:22,650
creative director is not in town,
475
00:15:24,730 --> 00:15:25,849
and an anime ampid watcher.
476
00:15:27,030 --> 00:15:29,149
I'm the other half of Trimafia,
477
00:15:29,150 --> 00:15:30,687
Carlos Deshawn Daniels-Moore.
478
00:15:32,210 --> 00:15:33,609
And I'm an artist too, also.
479
00:15:33,610 --> 00:15:35,229
We've talked to Tribe Mafia before
480
00:15:35,230 --> 00:15:37,149
on this podcast, way back in like
481
00:15:37,150 --> 00:15:38,469
2021.
482
00:15:38,470 --> 00:15:40,149
Back then, they all lived in a
483
00:15:40,150 --> 00:15:42,189
shared house and worked day jobs to
484
00:15:42,190 --> 00:15:43,449
support their art.
485
00:15:43,450 --> 00:15:45,469
And over the years, they've built a
486
00:15:45,470 --> 00:15:46,949
name for themselves and they've
487
00:15:46,950 --> 00:15:48,569
figured out how to make it work and
488
00:15:48,570 --> 00:15:50,449
make a living in music.
489
00:15:50,450 --> 00:15:52,529
So besides like doing like live
490
00:15:52,530 --> 00:15:55,149
shows and putting out music,
491
00:15:55,150 --> 00:15:56,409
how else do y'all make money from
492
00:15:56,410 --> 00:15:57,410
music?
493
00:15:57,940 --> 00:16:00,219
We sell merch, we do sync,
494
00:16:00,220 --> 00:16:02,399
and we help other artists
495
00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:04,319
with their music, if they need to
496
00:16:04,320 --> 00:16:06,279
come record, I'll record them.
497
00:16:06,280 --> 00:16:07,479
Basically, whatever that we can get
498
00:16:07,480 --> 00:16:09,659
into artistically, we'll try to
499
00:16:09,660 --> 00:16:11,799
see a dollar sign in it and
500
00:16:11,800 --> 00:16:13,719
thrive at it as best as we can,
501
00:16:13,720 --> 00:16:15,019
because I always tell people when I
502
00:16:15,020 --> 00:16:16,199
work for them or if I work with
503
00:16:16,200 --> 00:16:18,019
them, like I'm not going to be like
504
00:16:18,020 --> 00:16:19,879
the best person, but I'm going to
505
00:16:19,880 --> 00:16:21,959
give you what I do for myself,
506
00:16:21,960 --> 00:16:23,919
and I put 110% in whatever I
507
00:16:23,920 --> 00:16:24,379
do, so.
508
00:16:24,380 --> 00:16:25,259
Yeah, you're like a walking
509
00:16:25,260 --> 00:16:26,579
business, so you gotta treat
510
00:16:26,580 --> 00:16:27,919
yourself like a walkin' brand.
511
00:16:27,920 --> 00:16:28,999
So anything that a regular business
512
00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:31,499
is doing, just do it for yourself.
513
00:16:31,500 --> 00:16:33,159
Musical-wise or outside of music.
514
00:16:34,530 --> 00:16:36,329
And based off of all the stuff that
515
00:16:36,330 --> 00:16:38,049
you listed, Chanasa, what would you
516
00:16:38,050 --> 00:16:39,909
say the top two streams of
517
00:16:39,910 --> 00:16:41,129
revenue, like where do they come
518
00:16:41,130 --> 00:16:42,059
from?
519
00:16:42,060 --> 00:16:43,779
Definitely sync and then selling
520
00:16:43,780 --> 00:16:44,780
merch.
521
00:16:45,280 --> 00:16:46,439
Yeah, because people like a lot of
522
00:16:46,440 --> 00:16:48,339
our stuff that we you know Produce
523
00:16:48,340 --> 00:16:50,019
out and then sink wise.
524
00:16:50,020 --> 00:16:51,619
I mean you can always you can make a
525
00:16:51,620 --> 00:16:53,369
full-time living off of doing sink
526
00:16:53,370 --> 00:16:55,089
Sync licensing is when music gets
527
00:16:55,090 --> 00:16:57,129
placed in TV shows, films,
528
00:16:57,130 --> 00:16:58,329
and commercials.
529
00:16:58,330 --> 00:16:59,749
We've gone in depth about sync
530
00:16:59,750 --> 00:17:01,609
licensing in earlier episodes,
531
00:17:01,610 --> 00:17:03,649
but Chinasa really laid out why
532
00:17:03,650 --> 00:17:04,969
it can be so good for
533
00:17:04,970 --> 00:17:05,789
artists.
534
00:17:05,790 --> 00:17:07,068
Every time you get music placed on a
535
00:17:07,069 --> 00:17:08,669
TV show, you get paid.
536
00:17:08,670 --> 00:17:09,749
You get paid every single three
537
00:17:09,750 --> 00:17:11,249
months from Roaches with BMI or
538
00:17:11,250 --> 00:17:13,229
ASCAP, whoever your rights are with.
539
00:17:13,230 --> 00:17:14,909
So you get pay quarterly.
540
00:17:14,910 --> 00:17:16,129
And if you're doing good on shows
541
00:17:16,130 --> 00:17:19,129
and if it's like a top show, good.
542
00:17:19,130 --> 00:17:20,429
My goal is always just to make like
543
00:17:20,430 --> 00:17:22,088
at least 10 sync placements a year,
544
00:17:22,089 --> 00:17:23,429
like good ones.
545
00:17:23,430 --> 00:17:24,209
And yeah, you ain't got to do
546
00:17:24,210 --> 00:17:25,269
anything else.
547
00:17:25,270 --> 00:17:26,129
I mean, if you ain't trying to live
548
00:17:26,130 --> 00:17:27,529
all bougie, like if you just trying
549
00:17:27,530 --> 00:17:30,209
to like a regular life.
550
00:17:30,210 --> 00:17:32,029
And just enjoy the music
551
00:17:32,030 --> 00:17:33,009
that you're making and it gets
552
00:17:33,010 --> 00:17:34,429
placed on the TV show, you can live
553
00:17:34,430 --> 00:17:35,709
really good, you can do good.
554
00:17:35,710 --> 00:17:37,769
Chinasa told me sometimes that
555
00:17:37,770 --> 00:17:39,109
the amount you can get paid for
556
00:17:39,110 --> 00:17:41,329
these placements can really vary.
557
00:17:41,330 --> 00:17:42,509
So for the lowest we ever made was
558
00:17:42,510 --> 00:17:44,129
like $50, which is cool.
559
00:17:44,130 --> 00:17:45,169
And then the most we ever make was
560
00:17:45,170 --> 00:17:47,310
like a 25,000 sync placement.
561
00:17:49,110 --> 00:17:50,669
And that's why you said if you do 10
562
00:17:50,670 --> 00:17:52,829
sync placements, then you're good
563
00:17:52,830 --> 00:17:53,350
for the year.
564
00:17:53,351 --> 00:17:55,249
Yeah, 25,000 times 10, you do the
565
00:17:55,250 --> 00:17:55,609
math.
566
00:17:55,610 --> 00:17:56,869
You do the math.
567
00:17:56,870 --> 00:17:58,609
He pulled out his calculator, ladies
568
00:17:58,610 --> 00:17:59,509
and gentlemen.
569
00:17:59,510 --> 00:18:01,749
And then how did y'all get into
570
00:18:01,750 --> 00:18:02,750
placements?
571
00:18:03,840 --> 00:18:05,219
That's the producer name, Quality.
572
00:18:05,220 --> 00:18:06,379
She was dope.
573
00:18:06,380 --> 00:18:07,699
We did like one song with her.
574
00:18:07,700 --> 00:18:09,559
It didn't get placed, but she
575
00:18:09,560 --> 00:18:11,519
had told us that she did music for
576
00:18:11,520 --> 00:18:13,079
a TV show and it paid her this much.
577
00:18:13,080 --> 00:18:14,459
I was like, what?
578
00:18:14,460 --> 00:18:15,579
You know how many streams that would
579
00:18:15,580 --> 00:18:17,539
be for us to make that?
580
00:18:17,540 --> 00:18:19,079
You know? And I was just like, wait,
581
00:18:19,080 --> 00:18:20,559
so you're telling me that we're
582
00:18:20,560 --> 00:18:22,659
doing all this hard work to get
583
00:18:22,660 --> 00:18:24,579
10,000 streams, 5,000 screens,
584
00:18:24,580 --> 00:18:26,240
and we only get 50 cents.
585
00:18:27,740 --> 00:18:29,099
And it was so weird because at the
586
00:18:29,100 --> 00:18:30,159
time we was already looking for
587
00:18:30,160 --> 00:18:31,599
other ways to get paid more with
588
00:18:31,600 --> 00:18:33,119
music Like yeah early on he was
589
00:18:33,120 --> 00:18:34,259
already lookin for that and then it
590
00:18:34,260 --> 00:18:35,260
just came
591
00:18:36,060 --> 00:18:37,419
When we got our first placement, we
592
00:18:37,420 --> 00:18:38,859
was like, what the?
593
00:18:38,860 --> 00:18:40,939
$5,000 for this how
594
00:18:40,940 --> 00:18:42,499
we just freestyled this ain't saying
595
00:18:42,500 --> 00:18:43,730
then we get royalties after that ?
596
00:18:46,318 --> 00:18:47,539
And get Royalties, real royalties?
597
00:18:47,540 --> 00:18:49,619
We got our BMI check this past,
598
00:18:49,620 --> 00:18:50,699
what was it?
599
00:18:50,700 --> 00:18:51,919
25Th? It was not that long ago.
600
00:18:51,920 --> 00:18:52,919
And I was like, oh snap.
601
00:18:52,920 --> 00:18:53,959
I mean, we've always been getting
602
00:18:53,960 --> 00:18:55,419
like pretty good royalty checks ever
603
00:18:55,420 --> 00:18:56,279
since we started getting stream
604
00:18:56,280 --> 00:18:57,219
placements. But I was just like, oh
605
00:18:57,220 --> 00:18:59,039
snap, this is what a real royalty
606
00:18:59,040 --> 00:19:00,419
check looks like.
607
00:19:00,420 --> 00:19:01,739
And I said, wow, we can actually
608
00:19:01,740 --> 00:19:03,619
like, it's not gonna go only to
609
00:19:03,620 --> 00:19:04,699
the gas.
610
00:19:04,700 --> 00:19:06,459
You know, it's gonna pay some bills.
611
00:19:06,460 --> 00:19:07,879
And we're gonna have some.
612
00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:09,399
And I say, dang, so this is what it
613
00:19:09,400 --> 00:19:10,439
looks like when you actually like
614
00:19:10,440 --> 00:19:12,349
getting like real placements
615
00:19:12,350 --> 00:19:13,949
like quality placements.
616
00:19:13,950 --> 00:19:15,029
And I'm just telling people like,
617
00:19:15,030 --> 00:19:16,649
yeah, you gotta focus on sync first
618
00:19:16,650 --> 00:19:18,429
because if you get on sync stuff, I
619
00:19:18,430 --> 00:19:20,109
know it's a tedious thing to get
620
00:19:20,110 --> 00:19:21,309
into and it's hard to get in to, but
621
00:19:21,310 --> 00:19:22,229
once you actually start getting in
622
00:19:22,230 --> 00:19:24,889
to and start placing songs,
623
00:19:24,890 --> 00:19:26,749
yeah, your good because it's
624
00:19:26,750 --> 00:19:28,909
so much more worth it
625
00:19:28,910 --> 00:19:30,509
than like hoping to get a million
626
00:19:30,510 --> 00:19:31,809
streams or spending all your money
627
00:19:31,810 --> 00:19:33,129
to get a million stream that doesn't
628
00:19:33,130 --> 00:19:34,130
even pay you back out.
629
00:19:34,990 --> 00:19:36,649
We'll be talking about streaming in
630
00:19:36,650 --> 00:19:38,889
an upcoming. Episode, by the way.
631
00:19:38,890 --> 00:19:40,569
Chinasa said once they saw how much
632
00:19:40,570 --> 00:19:42,429
money they could make from sync,
633
00:19:42,430 --> 00:19:43,789
they started researching who they
634
00:19:43,790 --> 00:19:45,329
could send their music to to get
635
00:19:45,330 --> 00:19:46,349
placements.
636
00:19:46,350 --> 00:19:47,889
They would watch the credits on
637
00:19:47,890 --> 00:19:49,729
shows and find music supervisors
638
00:19:49,730 --> 00:19:52,079
and reach out to them on Instagram.
639
00:19:52,080 --> 00:19:53,199
But that didn't work.
640
00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:54,759
And then one day, a person they
641
00:19:54,760 --> 00:19:56,399
reached out to gave them some
642
00:19:56,400 --> 00:19:57,079
advice.
643
00:19:57,080 --> 00:19:58,619
You need to go reach out to one of
644
00:19:58,620 --> 00:19:59,679
our libraries because these are the
645
00:19:59,680 --> 00:20:00,799
people that we trust.
646
00:20:00,800 --> 00:20:01,799
We're not gonna just take music from
647
00:20:01,800 --> 00:20:02,919
you because what if you're using
648
00:20:02,920 --> 00:20:04,879
like samples or loops
649
00:20:04,880 --> 00:20:06,659
or illegal stuff from like YouTube,
650
00:20:06,660 --> 00:20:07,599
you buying beats.
651
00:20:07,600 --> 00:20:08,279
We don't want that.
652
00:20:08,280 --> 00:20:09,419
Yeah, there are these music
653
00:20:09,420 --> 00:20:10,939
libraries that you can submit your
654
00:20:10,940 --> 00:20:12,859
music to. And this is often where
655
00:20:12,860 --> 00:20:14,539
music supervisors will go when
656
00:20:14,540 --> 00:20:16,319
they're looking for music.
657
00:20:16,320 --> 00:20:18,159
So like with us, we went to
658
00:20:18,160 --> 00:20:19,699
like audio vibes because they look
659
00:20:19,700 --> 00:20:21,059
for, they're always looking for like
660
00:20:21,060 --> 00:20:22,079
hip hop music.
661
00:20:22,080 --> 00:20:23,739
We went to super selective.
662
00:20:23,740 --> 00:20:24,939
They're always look for hip hop.
663
00:20:24,940 --> 00:20:26,279
But you can go to any kind of
664
00:20:26,280 --> 00:20:27,699
library and see what best fits the
665
00:20:27,700 --> 00:20:28,819
genre of music that you make.
666
00:20:28,820 --> 00:20:29,899
And don't try to make something that
667
00:20:29,900 --> 00:20:31,539
you don't normally make just to be
668
00:20:31,540 --> 00:20:33,259
inside the music library.
669
00:20:33,260 --> 00:20:34,879
Because if you do that, they're
670
00:20:34,880 --> 00:20:35,699
gonna be like, why are you giving us
671
00:20:35,700 --> 00:20:36,699
this? This doesn't even make sense.
672
00:20:36,700 --> 00:20:37,979
Like if you know you make hip hop
673
00:20:37,980 --> 00:20:39,279
and you're trying to submit to like
674
00:20:39,280 --> 00:20:40,959
metal music, why?
675
00:20:40,960 --> 00:20:41,639
You're just wasting time.
676
00:20:41,640 --> 00:20:43,279
And Chanasa told us that getting
677
00:20:43,280 --> 00:20:45,279
your music in a library is just
678
00:20:45,280 --> 00:20:46,349
the first step.
679
00:20:46,350 --> 00:20:47,749
Once you get past that library
680
00:20:47,750 --> 00:20:49,409
stage, you go into like the phase of
681
00:20:49,410 --> 00:20:50,549
working directly with like a
682
00:20:50,550 --> 00:20:52,269
supervisor or an agent.
683
00:20:52,270 --> 00:20:53,869
Once you pass that stage, you go
684
00:20:53,870 --> 00:20:55,249
directly with working with an
685
00:20:55,250 --> 00:20:57,009
editor. Once you past the editor
686
00:20:57,010 --> 00:20:58,589
stage, you go straight to working
687
00:20:58,590 --> 00:20:59,969
with the creative director.
688
00:20:59,970 --> 00:21:00,909
There's like, there's levels to
689
00:21:00,910 --> 00:21:01,910
this.
690
00:21:02,470 --> 00:21:03,869
There's level one, level two, level
691
00:21:03,870 --> 00:21:04,870
three, level four, level five.
692
00:21:20,490 --> 00:21:22,349
And you said the second thing is
693
00:21:22,350 --> 00:21:23,249
merchandise.
694
00:21:23,250 --> 00:21:25,129
Yeah, because you know when
695
00:21:25,130 --> 00:21:26,889
you do shows and you do a show good
696
00:21:26,890 --> 00:21:28,170
you bring out some merch
697
00:21:29,230 --> 00:21:30,809
Just tell people every every single
698
00:21:30,810 --> 00:21:32,689
two songs you get by on a set Hey, I
699
00:21:32,690 --> 00:21:33,749
got some merch over here who wants
700
00:21:33,750 --> 00:21:35,029
to buy something they're liking you
701
00:21:35,030 --> 00:21:36,109
They're feeling you you brought your
702
00:21:36,110 --> 00:21:37,549
own people out there A lot of people
703
00:21:37,550 --> 00:21:38,909
is gonna want to support you anyway,
704
00:21:38,910 --> 00:21:40,569
and if your merch look great You're
705
00:21:40,570 --> 00:21:41,449
gonna make some money off of them
706
00:21:41,450 --> 00:21:43,409
And I think that's the most
707
00:21:43,410 --> 00:21:44,809
important thing that an artist
708
00:21:44,810 --> 00:21:46,069
especially independent artists can
709
00:21:46,070 --> 00:21:47,729
do is you know to make their money
710
00:21:47,730 --> 00:21:48,929
back Cuz every time we do shows we
711
00:21:48,930 --> 00:21:50,789
do a live band we
712
00:21:50,790 --> 00:21:52,649
got people that we're bringing out
713
00:21:52,650 --> 00:21:53,929
from different parts of the states
714
00:21:53,930 --> 00:21:55,849
and that comes out of our pocket and
715
00:21:55,850 --> 00:21:56,689
the most that you can do for
716
00:21:56,690 --> 00:21:57,689
yourself if you're doing stuff like
717
00:21:57,690 --> 00:21:58,889
that is to make some of your money
718
00:21:58,890 --> 00:21:59,909
back.
719
00:21:59,910 --> 00:22:01,449
Chinasa and Carlos told Miles they
720
00:22:01,450 --> 00:22:03,349
often don't make money from
721
00:22:03,350 --> 00:22:04,359
live shows.
722
00:22:04,360 --> 00:22:06,539
All of our money goes to rehearsals,
723
00:22:06,540 --> 00:22:08,499
it goes to our band, especially in
724
00:22:08,500 --> 00:22:09,859
Austin, they be taxing over here.
725
00:22:09,860 --> 00:22:10,939
They be taxin'.
726
00:22:10,940 --> 00:22:12,539
But I get it, we're the live music
727
00:22:12,540 --> 00:22:13,979
capital. And if you wanna do good
728
00:22:13,980 --> 00:22:15,799
shows, you probably gotta
729
00:22:15,800 --> 00:22:17,119
have live music because people don't
730
00:22:17,120 --> 00:22:19,239
wanna only hear DJ sets,
731
00:22:19,240 --> 00:22:20,359
which I love DJ sets.
732
00:22:20,360 --> 00:22:22,739
I think that's fun because it's
733
00:22:22,740 --> 00:22:23,519
just us.
734
00:22:23,520 --> 00:22:25,779
We can keep some of that money for
735
00:22:25,780 --> 00:22:27,799
the most part, but
736
00:22:27,800 --> 00:22:29,579
to keep it real, like no, I noticed
737
00:22:29,580 --> 00:22:31,059
when we got our own band, we started
738
00:22:31,060 --> 00:22:32,739
getting booked for bigger events.
739
00:22:32,740 --> 00:22:34,199
We started... We got sponsored by
740
00:22:34,200 --> 00:22:35,479
Ford, Sennheiser.
741
00:22:35,480 --> 00:22:36,559
We started getting like all these
742
00:22:36,560 --> 00:22:37,419
big placement shows.
743
00:22:37,420 --> 00:22:38,179
Brought to states
744
00:22:38,180 --> 00:22:39,619
We never thought we would ever get,
745
00:22:39,620 --> 00:22:41,719
but when
746
00:22:41,720 --> 00:22:43,219
we're just doing DJ sets, we barely
747
00:22:43,220 --> 00:22:44,319
got anything and the pay was
748
00:22:44,320 --> 00:22:46,419
nothing. Sometimes it was for free.
749
00:22:46,420 --> 00:22:47,519
You know, so it was like, okay, we
750
00:22:47,520 --> 00:22:49,419
got to do what we got do, but if
751
00:22:49,420 --> 00:22:50,399
we're going to do that, we need to
752
00:22:50,400 --> 00:22:51,879
have some merch so we can make some
753
00:22:51,880 --> 00:22:52,880
money for ourselves.
754
00:22:55,120 --> 00:22:56,899
I love performing, but it's still
755
00:22:56,900 --> 00:22:58,179
gotta make sense.
756
00:22:58,180 --> 00:23:00,819
We don't wanna just wing
757
00:23:00,820 --> 00:23:02,339
a show. Everything that we do is a
758
00:23:02,340 --> 00:23:03,959
reflection of us and a reflection on
759
00:23:03,960 --> 00:23:04,960
everybody else around us.
760
00:23:06,400 --> 00:23:08,619
We're so heavy on bringing people
761
00:23:08,620 --> 00:23:10,419
with us when we do shows because a
762
00:23:10,420 --> 00:23:11,519
lot of people around us, they don't
763
00:23:11,520 --> 00:23:12,699
get these kind of opportunities that
764
00:23:12,700 --> 00:23:14,199
we get. And it took us a while to
765
00:23:14,200 --> 00:23:15,199
get the opportunities that we can.
766
00:23:15,200 --> 00:23:16,639
We see how hard it is for people to
767
00:23:16,640 --> 00:23:18,459
be recognized here in Austin,
768
00:23:18,460 --> 00:23:19,479
especially for the brown and black
769
00:23:19,480 --> 00:23:20,819
community. It's hard to get these
770
00:23:20,820 --> 00:23:22,719
really good shows.
771
00:23:22,720 --> 00:23:23,939
And when we start bringing out
772
00:23:23,940 --> 00:23:25,309
people, we're like, okay, here.
773
00:23:25,310 --> 00:23:26,349
Whenever you got a show, you don't
774
00:23:26,350 --> 00:23:28,169
got to bring us up, but if you do,
775
00:23:28,170 --> 00:23:29,869
at least do it, do it like how we do
776
00:23:29,870 --> 00:23:31,489
you. You know, I fly them out from
777
00:23:31,490 --> 00:23:33,429
LA, I fly to them out of New York,
778
00:23:33,430 --> 00:23:34,829
I fly the amount from wherever they
779
00:23:34,830 --> 00:23:35,689
coming out of there, if they're our
780
00:23:35,690 --> 00:23:36,509
guests, I'm gonna make sure that
781
00:23:36,510 --> 00:23:37,349
they're taken care of, they're gonna
get
782
00:23:37,350 --> 00:23:38,189
their own hotel.
783
00:23:38,190 --> 00:23:39,809
It's out of our pocket.
784
00:23:39,810 --> 00:23:41,409
So whenever we do our shows, yeah,
785
00:23:41,410 --> 00:23:42,349
we got some merch cause we're trying
786
00:23:42,350 --> 00:23:44,059
to make some of that money.
787
00:23:44,060 --> 00:23:46,019
They told me that these new revenue
788
00:23:46,020 --> 00:23:47,879
streams have actually changed their
789
00:23:47,880 --> 00:23:48,739
focus.
790
00:23:48,740 --> 00:23:50,759
They're playing fewer live shows.
791
00:23:50,760 --> 00:23:52,299
Instead, they spend a lot of their
792
00:23:52,300 --> 00:23:53,759
time making music for sync
793
00:23:53,760 --> 00:23:54,779
placements.
794
00:23:54,780 --> 00:23:56,599
In fact, I had trouble scheduling
795
00:23:56,600 --> 00:23:58,459
this interview because they were so
796
00:23:58,460 --> 00:23:59,249
busy.
797
00:23:59,250 --> 00:24:00,649
Like you saw when you called me last
798
00:24:00,650 --> 00:24:02,169
week, I had to make 12 songs that
799
00:24:02,170 --> 00:24:03,129
was due that week.
800
00:24:03,130 --> 00:24:05,009
And now, what they want out of their
801
00:24:05,010 --> 00:24:06,010
careers is just...different
802
00:24:07,230 --> 00:24:08,589
We first started off, yeah, we
803
00:24:08,590 --> 00:24:09,969
definitely wanted to have the most
804
00:24:09,970 --> 00:24:11,029
numbers.
805
00:24:11,030 --> 00:24:12,389
We definitely wanted to do the most
806
00:24:12,390 --> 00:24:14,209
biggest shows,
807
00:24:14,210 --> 00:24:15,669
but none of that stuff matters.
808
00:24:15,670 --> 00:24:17,149
Like we just want to make good music
809
00:24:17,150 --> 00:24:19,029
and as long as that, you
810
00:24:19,030 --> 00:24:19,909
know, as long we're making good
811
00:24:19,910 --> 00:24:21,689
music to ourselves and it's it's
812
00:24:21,690 --> 00:24:22,849
making sense. Yeah, we'll do
813
00:24:22,850 --> 00:24:23,850
whatever we got to do.
814
00:24:24,870 --> 00:24:26,869
Somebody better know about
815
00:24:26,870 --> 00:24:27,870
me
816
00:24:45,540 --> 00:24:47,419
And finally, we talk to an artist
817
00:24:47,420 --> 00:24:49,279
who has really expanded how she
818
00:24:49,280 --> 00:24:50,939
approaches what she does.
819
00:24:50,940 --> 00:24:52,029
Meet Carrie.
820
00:24:52,030 --> 00:24:53,229
Carrie Rodriguez.
821
00:24:53,230 --> 00:24:55,909
I am a singer-songwriter,
822
00:24:55,910 --> 00:24:57,729
violinist, vocalist, and
823
00:24:57,730 --> 00:24:59,689
the founding executive director
824
00:24:59,690 --> 00:25:01,699
of Laboratorio Arts.
825
00:25:01,700 --> 00:25:03,579
Now, if you know Austin music,
826
00:25:03,580 --> 00:25:04,799
you may know Carrie.
827
00:25:04,800 --> 00:25:05,859
She's a classically trained
828
00:25:05,860 --> 00:25:07,539
violinist who also played roots
829
00:25:07,540 --> 00:25:09,559
music first in her teens with
830
00:25:09,560 --> 00:25:11,559
her dad, David Rodriguez.
831
00:25:11,560 --> 00:25:13,299
And then in her early 20s, she
832
00:25:13,300 --> 00:25:15,019
started playing with Chip Taylor.
833
00:25:15,020 --> 00:25:16,639
He wrote Angel of the Morning and
834
00:25:16,640 --> 00:25:17,679
Wild Thing.
835
00:25:17,680 --> 00:25:19,419
He asked her to do something she'd
836
00:25:19,420 --> 00:25:20,699
never thought of doing.
837
00:25:20,700 --> 00:25:22,659
He asked to sing.
838
00:25:22,660 --> 00:25:24,819
And I had never sung before.
839
00:25:24,820 --> 00:25:27,259
I mean, I would definitely not
840
00:25:27,260 --> 00:25:28,879
have considered myself a singer at
841
00:25:28,880 --> 00:25:29,899
all.
842
00:25:29,900 --> 00:25:32,139
And I very shyly was like, well, OK,
843
00:25:32,140 --> 00:25:33,099
I'll try.
844
00:25:33,100 --> 00:25:34,679
OK, so we sang one duet.
845
00:25:34,680 --> 00:25:36,579
And then a week
846
00:25:36,580 --> 00:25:37,879
after that, he's like, let's make an
847
00:25:37,880 --> 00:25:38,719
album of duets.
848
00:25:38,720 --> 00:25:39,959
And
849
00:25:39,960 --> 00:25:41,699
That's such a short timeline.
850
00:25:41,700 --> 00:25:42,700
Seriously. Oh my gosh.
851
00:25:45,120 --> 00:25:47,359
Um, but I was game, you
852
00:25:47,360 --> 00:25:48,559
know, even though I'm like, I have
853
00:25:48,560 --> 00:25:50,379
no idea how to do this.
854
00:25:50,380 --> 00:25:52,279
But I, I don't know, I'd
855
00:25:52,280 --> 00:25:53,219
love to figure it out.
856
00:25:53,220 --> 00:25:55,259
I think I've always just, if there's
857
00:25:55,260 --> 00:25:57,099
an opportunity, I take it and
858
00:25:57,100 --> 00:25:58,579
I have faith that I'll figure it
859
00:26:01,360 --> 00:26:02,719
Carrie and Chip made a bunch of
860
00:26:02,720 --> 00:26:04,579
albums, and then in 2006 she
861
00:26:04,580 --> 00:26:06,579
released her first solo album, Seven
862
00:26:06,580 --> 00:26:07,999
Angels on a Bicycle.
863
00:26:08,000 --> 00:26:09,899
And for a long time, she toured
864
00:26:09,900 --> 00:26:11,899
and released her own music.
865
00:26:11,900 --> 00:26:13,479
She moved to New York for a while,
866
00:26:13,480 --> 00:26:15,339
and she moved back to Austin,
867
00:26:15,340 --> 00:26:16,039
but she was still
868
00:26:16,040 --> 00:26:18,199
touring a lot and didn't really
869
00:26:18,200 --> 00:26:20,279
feel like I knew the Austin
870
00:26:20,280 --> 00:26:22,119
musical community much
871
00:26:22,120 --> 00:26:23,999
and just didn't feel involved in
872
00:26:24,000 --> 00:26:24,749
a part of things.
873
00:26:24,750 --> 00:26:26,909
And then in 2015,
874
00:26:26,910 --> 00:26:28,289
she had a baby.
875
00:26:28,290 --> 00:26:30,449
And that changed everything, of
876
00:26:30,450 --> 00:26:32,409
course. And suddenly I'm like, oh,
877
00:26:32,410 --> 00:26:34,469
I need to be home and I need figure
878
00:26:34,470 --> 00:26:36,529
out how to get to
879
00:26:36,530 --> 00:26:38,029
know people here.
880
00:26:38,030 --> 00:26:39,689
And one thing, growing up in Austin,
881
00:26:39,690 --> 00:26:41,549
I always felt like,
882
00:26:41,550 --> 00:26:43,849
I mean, honestly, we are a very
883
00:26:43,850 --> 00:26:45,289
segregated city.
884
00:26:45,290 --> 00:26:47,389
And by geography,
885
00:26:47,390 --> 00:26:49,429
there's all these lines and the I-35
886
00:26:49,430 --> 00:26:51,189
and neighborhoods.
887
00:26:51,190 --> 00:26:53,729
And in terms of Latin music,
888
00:26:53,730 --> 00:26:55,109
I always feel like it was this
889
00:26:55,110 --> 00:26:56,909
separate thing over here.
890
00:26:56,910 --> 00:26:58,589
And it had its own following, but
891
00:26:58,590 --> 00:27:00,649
then people so often
892
00:27:00,650 --> 00:27:02,469
talk about us being the live music
893
00:27:02,470 --> 00:27:03,909
capital of the world because they're
894
00:27:03,910 --> 00:27:05,549
talking about the singer-songwriters
895
00:27:05,550 --> 00:27:07,829
and the country folk artists.
896
00:27:07,830 --> 00:27:10,149
And I just wanted to
897
00:27:10,150 --> 00:27:12,489
find some space for,
898
00:27:12,490 --> 00:27:14,429
like, a more diverse
899
00:27:14,430 --> 00:27:16,249
musical experience for
900
00:27:16,250 --> 00:27:18,289
myself, for an audience,
901
00:27:18,290 --> 00:27:20,349
for my bandmates.
902
00:27:20,350 --> 00:27:22,249
So I called my friend Michael
903
00:27:22,250 --> 00:27:24,489
Ramos, who's a wonderful producer,
904
00:27:24,490 --> 00:27:26,729
musician here in town, and
905
00:27:26,730 --> 00:27:28,469
told him, I want to start this kind
906
00:27:28,470 --> 00:27:30,449
of like Latin music series.
907
00:27:30,450 --> 00:27:31,969
And I say Latin music with air
908
00:27:31,970 --> 00:27:33,789
quotes because what is Latin
909
00:27:33,790 --> 00:27:35,829
music? I mean, it can mean so
910
00:27:35,830 --> 00:27:36,769
many different things.
911
00:27:36,770 --> 00:27:39,049
And that's how, in 2017,
912
00:27:39,050 --> 00:27:41,109
the Laboratorio music series was
913
00:27:41,110 --> 00:27:41,779
born.
914
00:27:41,780 --> 00:27:43,499
At first, the series was a pretty
915
00:27:43,500 --> 00:27:45,859
low-key affair at the Cactus Cafe,
916
00:27:45,860 --> 00:27:47,539
which is like this legendary venue
917
00:27:47,540 --> 00:27:49,139
on the UT campus.
918
00:27:49,140 --> 00:27:51,299
Lucinda Williams, the Dixie Chicks,
919
00:27:51,300 --> 00:27:53,539
Lyle Lovett, they all played there,
920
00:27:53,540 --> 00:27:55,469
but the room is tiny.
921
00:27:55,470 --> 00:27:57,389
You can pack 120 in,
922
00:27:57,390 --> 00:27:58,770
but it's uncomfortable.
923
00:28:00,679 --> 00:28:02,459
Carrie and Michael got a band of
924
00:28:02,460 --> 00:28:04,119
great Austin players, and they would
925
00:28:04,120 --> 00:28:05,839
learn songs by guests like Ruben
926
00:28:05,840 --> 00:28:07,679
Ramos, Adrian Casada, and
927
00:28:07,680 --> 00:28:08,959
Eva Ibarra.
928
00:28:08,960 --> 00:28:10,519
They would have one rehearsal and
929
00:28:10,520 --> 00:28:11,660
then play the gig, and then they
930
00:28:11,661 --> 00:28:13,559
would just see what happened
931
00:28:13,560 --> 00:28:14,419
on stage.
932
00:28:14,420 --> 00:28:16,279
It was a lot of fun, but at a
933
00:28:16,280 --> 00:28:18,299
venue as small as the cactus,
934
00:28:18,300 --> 00:28:20,579
it was financially kinda hard.
935
00:28:20,580 --> 00:28:22,479
I would invite a guest
936
00:28:22,480 --> 00:28:24,539
and say, well, we're going
937
00:28:24,540 --> 00:28:26,399
to charge $20 for the tickets
938
00:28:26,400 --> 00:28:27,699
at the door, and then we'll split
939
00:28:27,700 --> 00:28:28,700
everything.
940
00:28:29,340 --> 00:28:31,019
And then I realized, well I need to
941
00:28:31,020 --> 00:28:32,279
at least be able to guarantee the
942
00:28:32,280 --> 00:28:34,119
guest something better
943
00:28:34,120 --> 00:28:35,199
than that.
944
00:28:35,200 --> 00:28:36,639
And then often, basically what it
945
00:28:36,640 --> 00:28:38,639
meant would be that I would
946
00:28:38,640 --> 00:28:40,699
pay everybody a very humble
947
00:28:40,700 --> 00:28:42,539
fee, and some of that was
948
00:28:42,540 --> 00:28:43,619
coming out of my own pocket, because
949
00:28:43,620 --> 00:28:45,139
I couldn't enough at the door to
950
00:28:45,140 --> 00:28:47,679
even come up with a humble fee.
951
00:28:47,680 --> 00:28:49,699
So it was really expensive on
952
00:28:49,700 --> 00:28:51,639
just a personal level.
953
00:28:51,640 --> 00:28:53,659
I just, just every single show there
954
00:28:53,660 --> 00:28:55,359
was that weight and challenge of how
955
00:28:55,360 --> 00:28:57,439
do I pay everyone for the
956
00:28:57,440 --> 00:28:59,089
time they're putting into this?
957
00:28:59,090 --> 00:29:00,789
Laboratorio went on hold during the
958
00:29:00,790 --> 00:29:02,649
pandemic, but when it came back,
959
00:29:02,650 --> 00:29:04,029
it was at a new venue.
960
00:29:04,030 --> 00:29:05,969
It was at the State Theater.
961
00:29:05,970 --> 00:29:07,689
State Theater was bigger, it fits
962
00:29:07,690 --> 00:29:09,609
around 300 people, it's
963
00:29:09,610 --> 00:29:11,489
right next to the Paramount Theater,
964
00:29:11,490 --> 00:29:13,369
and it's one of the oldest theaters
965
00:29:13,370 --> 00:29:14,449
in Austin.
966
00:29:14,450 --> 00:29:15,929
They are both run by the same
967
00:29:15,930 --> 00:29:16,519
people.
968
00:29:16,520 --> 00:29:18,559
The state and the Paramount really,
969
00:29:18,560 --> 00:29:20,479
I mean, they gave us a very,
970
00:29:20,480 --> 00:29:23,479
very generous guarantee
971
00:29:23,480 --> 00:29:25,319
that at least let me like, okay,
972
00:29:25,320 --> 00:29:27,139
I can pay everybody a
973
00:29:27,140 --> 00:29:28,619
respectable amount of money.
974
00:29:28,620 --> 00:29:30,419
Carey said the organization really
975
00:29:30,420 --> 00:29:32,619
got behind the show.
976
00:29:32,620 --> 00:29:33,859
In addition to providing that
977
00:29:33,860 --> 00:29:35,559
generous guarantee, they went above
978
00:29:35,560 --> 00:29:37,019
and beyond with marketing and
979
00:29:37,020 --> 00:29:37,959
production help.
980
00:29:37,960 --> 00:29:39,859
And little by little, the
981
00:29:39,860 --> 00:29:41,619
project that Carrie had created as a
982
00:29:41,620 --> 00:29:42,979
way to connect with her community
983
00:29:42,980 --> 00:29:45,119
and with other artists started
984
00:29:45,120 --> 00:29:46,120
to grow.
985
00:29:47,349 --> 00:29:48,289
We were like whoa Really love to get
some
986
00:29:48,290 --> 00:29:50,449
artists that aren't just from here,
987
00:29:50,450 --> 00:29:52,369
but like, let's get, you know,
988
00:29:52,370 --> 00:29:54,229
someone from another place.
989
00:29:54,230 --> 00:29:55,389
Then they have to fly in and then
990
00:29:55,390 --> 00:29:56,769
you have to put them up.
991
00:29:56,770 --> 00:29:58,309
And as it started to grow, it was
992
00:29:58,310 --> 00:30:00,009
like, we can't, we still can't
993
00:30:00,010 --> 00:30:01,010
sustain.
994
00:30:01,980 --> 00:30:03,999
And that was when the idea of making
995
00:30:04,000 --> 00:30:05,979
Laboratorio a non-profit and
996
00:30:05,980 --> 00:30:07,699
not just a show came up.
997
00:30:07,700 --> 00:30:09,699
We have dear friends who are
998
00:30:09,700 --> 00:30:11,619
huge supporters, not only of
999
00:30:11,620 --> 00:30:13,499
what we do with Laboratorio, but
1000
00:30:13,500 --> 00:30:15,639
of our community and so
1001
00:30:15,640 --> 00:30:17,719
many great organizations in Austin.
1002
00:30:17,720 --> 00:30:19,379
Our friends are Lynn Dobson and Greg
1003
00:30:19,380 --> 00:30:20,699
Wooldridge.
1004
00:30:20,700 --> 00:30:22,539
And basically, they set
1005
00:30:22,540 --> 00:30:24,639
me up with this consulting
1006
00:30:24,640 --> 00:30:26,739
company who consults with nonprofits
1007
00:30:26,740 --> 00:30:28,739
and helps them get organized
1008
00:30:28,740 --> 00:30:29,659
and get started.
1009
00:30:29,660 --> 00:30:31,659
And this company got me started
1010
00:30:31,660 --> 00:30:33,619
with the process of doing
1011
00:30:33,620 --> 00:30:35,159
the application with the IRS,
1012
00:30:35,160 --> 00:30:35,999
switch.
1013
00:30:36,000 --> 00:30:37,779
I mean, as a musician, we are not
1014
00:30:37,780 --> 00:30:39,739
prepared for such things,
1015
00:30:39,740 --> 00:30:40,740
such forms.
1016
00:30:41,620 --> 00:30:43,719
And it was wonderful.
1017
00:30:43,720 --> 00:30:45,779
So our dear friends,
1018
00:30:45,780 --> 00:30:47,619
Len and Greg, were responsible
1019
00:30:47,620 --> 00:30:49,539
for getting the whole thing started.
1020
00:30:49,540 --> 00:30:51,699
And then, extremely
1021
00:30:51,700 --> 00:30:53,599
generous, they gave
1022
00:30:53,600 --> 00:30:55,499
us this kind of nest egg for
1023
00:30:55,500 --> 00:30:57,399
three years in a row through the
1024
00:30:57,400 --> 00:30:59,379
Austin Community Foundation that
1025
00:30:59,380 --> 00:31:01,259
gives us the funds to start
1026
00:31:01,260 --> 00:31:02,579
the right way.
1027
00:31:02,580 --> 00:31:04,439
And to be able to set up everything
1028
00:31:04,440 --> 00:31:06,419
in the right way and just all
1029
00:31:06,420 --> 00:31:08,059
the help with like, what are best
1030
00:31:08,060 --> 00:31:09,939
practices, having the right kind
1031
00:31:09,940 --> 00:31:11,379
of board that has the right kinds of
1032
00:31:11,380 --> 00:31:13,259
skills. So we are
1033
00:31:13,260 --> 00:31:15,519
incredibly supported through this
1034
00:31:15,520 --> 00:31:17,179
process that I knew nothing about
1035
00:31:17,180 --> 00:31:18,999
and I'm learning more and
1036
00:31:19,000 --> 00:31:20,839
more every minute of
1037
00:31:20,840 --> 00:31:21,840
every day.
1038
00:31:22,170 --> 00:31:24,189
Being a nonprofit allows Cary to
1039
00:31:24,190 --> 00:31:26,169
expand how Laboratorio is
1040
00:31:26,170 --> 00:31:26,949
funded.
1041
00:31:26,950 --> 00:31:28,649
The organization can now apply for
1042
00:31:28,650 --> 00:31:30,469
grants and take in donations.
1043
00:31:30,470 --> 00:31:32,309
They actually got a two-year Thrive
1044
00:31:32,310 --> 00:31:33,729
Grant from the City of Austin
1045
00:31:33,730 --> 00:31:35,949
Economic Development Department.
1046
00:31:35,950 --> 00:31:37,029
It also expands with
1047
00:31:37,030 --> 00:31:39,649
what the organization can do.
1048
00:31:39,650 --> 00:31:40,909
So one of the things we've gotten to
1049
00:31:40,910 --> 00:31:42,609
do recently was, for example,
1050
00:31:43,630 --> 00:31:45,269
we had Flora de Toloache.
1051
00:31:45,270 --> 00:31:46,969
They're an all-female mariachi
1052
00:31:46,970 --> 00:31:48,809
ensemble. We got to take them to the
1053
00:31:48,810 --> 00:31:50,629
Ann Richards School for Young
1054
00:31:50,630 --> 00:31:52,969
Women Leaders and talk to the
1055
00:31:52,970 --> 00:31:54,269
all- female orchestra about what
1056
00:31:54,270 --> 00:31:55,689
it's like to be an all female band
1057
00:31:55,690 --> 00:31:56,809
on the road.
1058
00:31:56,810 --> 00:31:58,649
Things like that could have never
1059
00:31:58,650 --> 00:32:00,289
been possible before we became a
1060
00:32:00,290 --> 00:32:00,879
nonprofit.
1061
00:32:00,880 --> 00:32:02,699
What's the biggest thing that you've
1062
00:32:02,700 --> 00:32:04,779
learned from being
1063
00:32:04,780 --> 00:32:06,839
the founder and creator of
1064
00:32:06,840 --> 00:32:07,840
a non-profit?
1065
00:32:09,030 --> 00:32:10,230
That's such a good question.
1066
00:32:12,310 --> 00:32:13,310
Wow.
1067
00:32:14,900 --> 00:32:16,939
I think as, like
1068
00:32:16,940 --> 00:32:18,439
coming from my background of being
1069
00:32:18,440 --> 00:32:20,619
like a, you know, performing touring
1070
00:32:20,620 --> 00:32:22,399
singer songwriter, I've always felt
1071
00:32:22,400 --> 00:32:24,379
like I have to do
1072
00:32:24,380 --> 00:32:25,640
everything myself,
1073
00:32:26,660 --> 00:32:28,699
kind of to an extreme.
1074
00:32:28,700 --> 00:32:31,119
And I'm learning that with
1075
00:32:31,120 --> 00:32:33,499
a nonprofit, you cannot do that.
1076
00:32:33,500 --> 00:32:35,159
Because first of all, your nonprofit
1077
00:32:35,160 --> 00:32:37,539
belongs to everyone.
1078
00:32:37,540 --> 00:32:39,359
It's like we are part
1079
00:32:39,360 --> 00:32:41,399
of the community and we
1080
00:32:41,400 --> 00:32:42,279
belong to the community.
1081
00:32:42,280 --> 00:32:44,429
So you have to.
1082
00:32:44,430 --> 00:32:46,689
Allow them to help you.
1083
00:32:46,690 --> 00:32:48,609
And that's something that I, I would
1084
00:32:48,610 --> 00:32:49,889
say it doesn't maybe come naturally
1085
00:32:49,890 --> 00:32:51,809
just because I'm always just
1086
00:32:51,810 --> 00:32:52,869
felt like I have to do it all
1087
00:32:52,870 --> 00:32:54,469
myself, you know?
1088
00:32:54,470 --> 00:32:56,329
And I'm really like, no,
1089
00:32:56,330 --> 00:32:58,269
I have actually ask for help
1090
00:32:58,270 --> 00:33:00,469
and let people help and
1091
00:33:00,470 --> 00:33:01,829
they want to.
1092
00:33:01,830 --> 00:33:03,649
So that's my big,
1093
00:33:03,650 --> 00:33:04,849
big lesson.
1094
00:33:04,850 --> 00:33:06,389
I'm so happy to be saying it out
1095
00:33:06,390 --> 00:33:08,229
loud actually at this moment.
1096
00:33:08,230 --> 00:33:09,749
I need to say this every morning.
1097
00:33:11,280 --> 00:33:13,159
And does having a nonprofit make
1098
00:33:13,160 --> 00:33:16,119
not just the laboratorio
1099
00:33:16,120 --> 00:33:18,079
endeavor, but like your financial
1100
00:33:18,080 --> 00:33:19,239
situation more stable?
1101
00:33:22,550 --> 00:33:24,910
I feel like that could happen.
1102
00:33:26,810 --> 00:33:28,669
I mean, honestly, I mean just
1103
00:33:28,670 --> 00:33:30,609
to be like, like last year,
1104
00:33:30,610 --> 00:33:31,610
I think my total,
1105
00:33:32,470 --> 00:33:34,349
I guess my total salary
1106
00:33:34,350 --> 00:33:36,569
last year was like $5,000
1107
00:33:36,570 --> 00:33:37,570
for the year.
1108
00:33:39,110 --> 00:33:40,489
Because I'm trying to do so much
1109
00:33:40,490 --> 00:33:42,169
right now, but I do have these hopes
1110
00:33:42,170 --> 00:33:44,249
that I could figure things
1111
00:33:44,250 --> 00:33:46,369
out so that I could actually,
1112
00:33:46,370 --> 00:33:48,329
you know, have some
1113
00:33:48,330 --> 00:33:50,189
kind of salary, it wouldn't be
1114
00:33:50,190 --> 00:33:52,049
enough just a loan from
1115
00:33:52,050 --> 00:33:53,329
La Bordatoria, but something that
1116
00:33:53,330 --> 00:33:55,229
could pay for the time that
1117
00:33:55,230 --> 00:33:57,069
I spend, spend working on
1118
00:33:57,070 --> 00:33:58,969
it in combination with all the
1119
00:33:58,970 --> 00:34:00,889
other things that I do with music.
1120
00:34:00,890 --> 00:34:02,969
Um, so yes, I think that's
1121
00:34:02,970 --> 00:34:05,089
a possibility that it
1122
00:34:05,090 --> 00:34:07,509
could bring financial stability.
1123
00:34:07,510 --> 00:34:09,269
One thing that it has brought though
1124
00:34:09,270 --> 00:34:11,309
that I just there
1125
00:34:11,310 --> 00:34:13,709
is nothing that feels better
1126
00:34:13,710 --> 00:34:15,928
than writing checks
1127
00:34:15,929 --> 00:34:18,329
to musicians that
1128
00:34:18,330 --> 00:34:20,729
feel like they are
1129
00:34:20,730 --> 00:34:22,589
compensating them for their
1130
00:34:22,590 --> 00:34:24,529
work in a very fair legit
1131
00:34:24,530 --> 00:34:26,189
way. Like there's nothing that fills
1132
00:34:26,190 --> 00:34:28,569
better because that's
1133
00:34:28,570 --> 00:34:30,448
the hardest thing for
1134
00:34:30,449 --> 00:34:32,209
musicians to get paid what they
1135
00:34:32,210 --> 00:34:34,078
really deserve to be paid.
1136
00:34:34,079 --> 00:34:35,299
Carrie told us that she could have
1137
00:34:35,300 --> 00:34:37,099
paid herself more as the executive
1138
00:34:37,100 --> 00:34:39,099
director of Laboratorium, but
1139
00:34:39,100 --> 00:34:40,899
she chose not to this year because
1140
00:34:40,900 --> 00:34:42,539
she was the songwriter in residence
1141
00:34:42,540 --> 00:34:43,658
at UT.
1142
00:34:43,659 --> 00:34:45,559
She actually got a monthly salary
1143
00:34:45,560 --> 00:34:46,941
to be a songwriter and give labors a
1144
00:34:46,942 --> 00:34:46,959
month's salary.
1145
00:34:46,960 --> 00:34:48,899
Lectures and workshops.
1146
00:34:48,900 --> 00:34:50,359
Instead, she chose to give money to
1147
00:34:50,360 --> 00:34:51,738
the people who worked on projects
1148
00:34:51,739 --> 00:34:53,519
and shows for her nonprofit.
1149
00:34:53,520 --> 00:34:55,259
And over the course of last year,
1150
00:34:55,260 --> 00:34:57,339
the nonprofit paid around 80,000
1151
00:34:57,340 --> 00:34:59,439
to artists and musicians and
1152
00:34:59,440 --> 00:35:00,779
other creatives for various
1153
00:35:00,780 --> 00:35:01,739
projects.
1154
00:35:01,740 --> 00:35:03,469
Which is so rad.
1155
00:35:03,470 --> 00:35:04,749
And while she's been building
1156
00:35:04,750 --> 00:35:06,569
laboratorio, Carrie's also
1157
00:35:06,570 --> 00:35:08,169
been doing other things.
1158
00:35:08,170 --> 00:35:09,869
She wrote the music for a musical
1159
00:35:09,870 --> 00:35:11,869
called Americano, which is based on
1160
00:35:11,870 --> 00:35:14,489
the true story of Tony Valdivinos,
1161
00:35:14,490 --> 00:35:15,949
a man who wanted to enlist in the
1162
00:35:15,950 --> 00:35:18,029
Marines, but when he tried to,
1163
00:35:18,030 --> 00:35:19,559
found out he was undocumented.
1164
00:35:19,560 --> 00:35:21,079
Often I was writing about things
1165
00:35:21,080 --> 00:35:23,399
that I really, you know,
1166
00:35:23,400 --> 00:35:25,119
didn't know from experience.
1167
00:35:25,120 --> 00:35:26,539
You know, any songs that were about
1168
00:35:26,540 --> 00:35:28,139
wanting to be a Marine or the
1169
00:35:28,140 --> 00:35:29,939
Marines, like, I had to study.
1170
00:35:29,940 --> 00:35:31,969
I had to talk to Marines.
1171
00:35:31,970 --> 00:35:33,649
It premiered Phoenix and had a run
1172
00:35:33,650 --> 00:35:34,509
off Broadway.
1173
00:35:34,510 --> 00:35:36,169
She wrote music for a multimedia
1174
00:35:36,170 --> 00:35:37,909
show called Postcards from the
1175
00:35:37,910 --> 00:35:38,599
Board.
1176
00:35:38,600 --> 00:35:39,879
Postcards from the Border is a
1177
00:35:39,880 --> 00:35:42,159
collaboration between myself,
1178
00:35:42,160 --> 00:35:43,719
writer Oscar Cáceres and
1179
00:35:43,720 --> 00:35:45,859
photographer Joel Salcido.
1180
00:35:45,860 --> 00:35:47,519
And when Oscar came to me and asked
1181
00:35:47,520 --> 00:35:48,839
if I'd be interested in writing
1182
00:35:48,840 --> 00:35:50,659
songs to go with these
1183
00:35:50,660 --> 00:35:52,499
postcards he had written about
1184
00:35:52,500 --> 00:35:53,639
the border and about these
1185
00:35:53,640 --> 00:35:55,879
communities, it was a lot
1186
00:35:55,880 --> 00:35:57,839
easier for me to say yes and feel
1187
00:35:57,840 --> 00:35:59,679
confident that I could maybe do that
1188
00:35:59,680 --> 00:36:01,279
because I'd been through it.
1189
00:36:01,280 --> 00:36:03,999
Carrie, like Sarah and Tribe Mafia,
1190
00:36:04,000 --> 00:36:05,819
has made a career in music by being
1191
00:36:05,820 --> 00:36:07,979
open to new paths—paths
1192
00:36:07,980 --> 00:36:09,899
she didn't exactly choose.
1193
00:36:09,900 --> 00:36:11,499
If you had anything to say to those
1194
00:36:11,500 --> 00:36:13,619
musicians who were thinking like,
1195
00:36:13,620 --> 00:36:14,679
I really want to make a living in
1196
00:36:14,680 --> 00:36:16,499
music, but I'm having a hard time
1197
00:36:16,500 --> 00:36:18,539
just like playing gigs,
1198
00:36:18,540 --> 00:36:19,389
like what would you say to them?
1199
00:36:19,390 --> 00:36:21,129
Yeah.
1200
00:36:21,130 --> 00:36:22,130
Well.
1201
00:36:24,310 --> 00:36:26,569
Strength can always be found in
1202
00:36:26,570 --> 00:36:28,149
in collaboration.
1203
00:36:28,150 --> 00:36:30,009
I feel like I've since my
1204
00:36:30,010 --> 00:36:31,829
earliest days I've looked
1205
00:36:31,830 --> 00:36:33,769
to that and even working with
1206
00:36:33,770 --> 00:36:35,789
Chip Taylor like to start with I
1207
00:36:35,790 --> 00:36:37,469
that was a collaboration and through
1208
00:36:37,470 --> 00:36:39,429
that like I think coming
1209
00:36:39,430 --> 00:36:41,249
together with other
1210
00:36:41,250 --> 00:36:43,129
musicians and artists can bring a
1211
00:36:43,130 --> 00:36:45,029
lot of great things and it's a
1212
00:36:45,030 --> 00:36:47,409
good starting place you know because
1213
00:36:47,410 --> 00:36:49,269
maybe also like growing
1214
00:36:49,270 --> 00:36:50,809
up playing classical music, I would
1215
00:36:50,810 --> 00:36:51,810
see that that.
1216
00:36:53,610 --> 00:36:55,889
It can be kind of a limiting, lonely
1217
00:36:55,890 --> 00:36:58,009
place if you are just
1218
00:36:58,010 --> 00:37:00,109
trying to do one
1219
00:37:00,110 --> 00:37:01,329
singular thing.
1220
00:37:01,330 --> 00:37:03,209
Like, I just wanna play the
1221
00:37:03,210 --> 00:37:05,229
violin as perfectly as
1222
00:37:05,230 --> 00:37:07,009
possible so that I can get that job
1223
00:37:07,010 --> 00:37:08,649
in the symphony.
1224
00:37:08,650 --> 00:37:10,529
And that's kind of, it's
1225
00:37:10,530 --> 00:37:12,429
A, very, very difficult, but B,
1226
00:37:12,430 --> 00:37:14,449
it just kind of lonely,
1227
00:37:14,450 --> 00:37:16,189
hard situation.
1228
00:37:16,190 --> 00:37:17,849
So like opening yourself up to new
1229
00:37:17,850 --> 00:37:19,749
experiences is a good
1230
00:37:19,750 --> 00:37:21,369
starting place.
1231
00:37:21,370 --> 00:37:23,209
Let's turn the rain
1232
00:37:23,210 --> 00:37:24,210
video.
1233
00:37:49,850 --> 00:37:51,309
Opening yourself up to new
1234
00:37:51,310 --> 00:37:53,369
experiences and saying yes to
1235
00:37:53,370 --> 00:37:55,229
everything, that's just good life
1236
00:37:55,230 --> 00:37:56,389
advice.
1237
00:37:56,390 --> 00:37:57,889
Especially if you want to make a
1238
00:37:57,890 --> 00:37:59,169
living playing music.
1239
00:37:59,170 --> 00:38:01,629
We want to thank Sarah, Tribe Mafia,
1240
00:38:01,630 --> 00:38:03,409
and Carrie for telling us about all
1241
00:38:03,410 --> 00:38:04,510
the things they do.
1242
00:38:06,520 --> 00:38:07,359
In the next episode of Pause/Play,
we'll be
1243
00:38:07,360 --> 00:38:09,139
talking about social media.
1244
00:38:09,140 --> 00:38:10,539
Lots of artists are getting fed up
1245
00:38:10,540 --> 00:38:12,459
with it. Some are even leaving it
1246
00:38:12,460 --> 00:38:13,559
all together.
1247
00:38:13,560 --> 00:38:15,299
What does the future of social media
1248
00:38:15,300 --> 00:38:16,300
and music look like?
1249
00:38:19,450 --> 00:38:21,309
Pause/Play is a production of KUT
1250
00:38:21,310 --> 00:38:22,969
and KUTX Studios.
1251
00:38:22,970 --> 00:38:24,769
It's hosted and produced by me,
1252
00:38:24,770 --> 00:38:25,629
Elizabeth McQueen.
1253
00:38:25,630 --> 00:38:26,950
And me, Myles Bloxon.
1254
00:38:28,020 --> 00:38:29,639
Hearing and editing help from Jake
1255
00:38:29,640 --> 00:38:31,259
Perlman and Rene Chavez.
1256
00:38:31,260 --> 00:38:33,339
Abby Bryfogle and Tinu Thomas helped
1257
00:38:33,340 --> 00:38:34,479
with production.
1258
00:38:34,480 --> 00:38:36,179
Stephanie Federico is our digital
1259
00:38:36,180 --> 00:38:38,119
editor. Michael Minassi is our
1260
00:38:38,120 --> 00:38:39,479
multimedia editor.
1261
00:38:39,480 --> 00:38:41,119
Our theme song was created by the
1262
00:38:41,120 --> 00:38:43,109
talented Jaron Marshall.
1263
00:38:43,110 --> 00:38:44,709
Pause/Play is a listener-supported
1264
00:38:44,710 --> 00:38:44,949
production.
1265
00:38:44,950 --> 00:38:47,029
Of KUT and KUTX Studios
1266
00:38:47,030 --> 00:38:48,209
in Austin, Texas.
1267
00:38:48,210 --> 00:38:49,789
You can support our work by becoming
1268
00:38:49,790 --> 00:38:51,169
a sustaining member at
1269
00:38:51,170 --> 00:38:53,050
supportthispodcast.org.