Case Study: Milo Greene

For the last two years I've followed Milo Greene - thanks (once again) to Nashville's independent radio station, Lightning 100.  I loved their singer-songwriter sensibilities along with their three part, alternating lead singer vocals and harmonies.

They've got a new record coming out, and so far they've released three singles and lyric videos from the new album.  These songs are darker, and more electronic while still maintaining the different pieces that drew me to the band in the first place.

I love how the lyric videos incorporate the look and feel of the album cover and tie one to the next without being the exact same images, colors and textures:

Milo Greene's new record comes out January 27th.  Can't wait to see how the visual and musical themes continue across the whole album.

Case Study: Palatable Artistry - John Mark McMillan

Christian music gets a bad rap.  Sometimes deserved, sometimes not.  The reality is the Christian music most people are familiar with is what they hear on Christian radio.  And just like Top 40 mainstream radio, Christian radio is not a full representation of the music coming out of a particular community.

John Mark McMillan is an artist.  Many bands and musicians consider and identify themselves as 'artists' – but there is a big difference between being an artist and a musician… Which is another post for another time.  But when I say artist I mean: someone who is creating music with a purpose greater than entertainment, with staying power and substance.

John Mark McMillan is also a Christian musician.  Lyrically he weaves together real life with his faith through overt and subtle Biblical references – without falling into cliques and overused illustrations.  Musically his production elements have never been poor imitations of what’s going on (or has already passed) in mainstream music.  His songs are structured more like a story than they are a typical A, B, A, B, C, B format – while still being easy to follow.

Every piece of John Mark’s visual brand makes sense in the context of his music.  Whether it’s tour wardrobe, stage set up, logos and album covers – there is a simplistic artistry that is ever-present.

Being a true artist does not mean that you create things that people don’t understand.  That is in fact the antithesis of John Mark’s story – which is: palatable artistry.  John Mark knows his story, do you know yours?

It is clear when an artist understand that their brand is more than just their songs; but that the core of their brand drives every piece of their artistic process.  Do you understand your brand?  Do you know how to communicate your brand?  Let’s figure it out together.  Email me here.

Case Study: Why Taylor Swift Is Still Country.

Cowboy boots, some banjos and fiddles don’t make a country star.  And since record one, that has been the question about Taylor Swift – is she truly a country artist?

‘We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together’ from her last record Red was by far the most pop-leaning release from Taylor… That is until last week when she released ‘Shake It Off,’ from her forthcoming album 1989.

Some people say that she has fully embraced the fact that ‘she is a pop artist.’  But I do not agree.  Just like wearing cowboy boots and playing acoustic guitar do not make you a country artist, neither does loosing the boots and singing over a beat make you a pop artist.

Taylor is a country artist, always has been and always will be.  Because it’s not production that makes a country artist – it’s the songs.  It is the writing style.  Taylor is a storyteller – and at the core, that is what makes a country artist.

I have an easier time arguing that people like Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Sufjan Stevens, and even some hip-hop artists are more like country artists than their main identifying genre.  Because those artist’s primary mode of communication has been through telling stories.

Whether the synthesizers on Taylor’s new record outweigh the use of acoustic guitars, it still won’t change the fact that she is a country artist.

What do you think?  Are your songs and career painting an accurate picture of who you are as an artist?  Lets figure that out together, email me here.