Making a Scene Presents

Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Bryan SchumannBryan Schumann is an award-winning composer, producer, and singer-songwriter based in Minnesota. His music weaves together elements of pop, folk, indie, rock, electronic, and classical genres, creating a sound that feels both modern and timeless. Known for his strong melodies and emotional depth, Schumann’s songs range from infectious dance tracks to introspective ballads that linger long after they end. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents - DaVinci Resolve 20: The Ultimate Free Video Editor for Indie MusiciansIf you’re an indie musician — writing songs, shooting videos, or just trying to tell your story visually — you’ve probably realized how important good video editing has become. Fans don’t just listen anymore; they watch. Whether you’re putting out a full music video, a lyric visualizer, a rehearsal clip, or a behind-the-scenes vlog, video is the main way you connect with your audience. But good editing software can be expensive, complicated, and often limited unless you pay for premium plans. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents - The Roadmap: How to Transition from Web2 to Web3For most indie artists, Web3 can sound like another buzzword—like crypto, NFTs, or blockchain were just a few years ago. But under the hype, there’s something far more powerful going on. Web3 represents a shift from renting space on platforms like Spotify, YouTube, and Instagram to owning your creative universe. It’s the difference between being an employee and being your own boss. And for independent musicians, it might be the biggest opportunity since the invention of home recording. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene - The Sentient Studio: How AI Learns Your Sound Over TimeThere was a time when your digital audio workstation, or DAW, was nothing more than a glorified tape machine. You hit record, moved some faders, and hoped for the best. Every time you opened a new project, it felt like starting from scratch. Your EQ curves, compressor ratios, and reverb settings had to be dialed in again and again. You might have had a few saved presets, but the system itself didn’t know you. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents - From Likes to Income: How AI Marketing Translates Fan Engagement into RevenueThere’s a funny thing about the internet. It gives artists more visibility than ever before—yet most indie musicians still struggle to turn that attention into real money. Getting thousands of likes on Instagram or a viral TikTok video feels good, but when it comes to paying rent or funding your next album, likes don’t equal dollars. That’s where artificial intelligence is changing the game. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents - The Indie Advantage: How AI Levels the Playing Field in the StudioAccess to Major-Label Tech, at HomeImagine being in a major label studio in the 1990s: racks of outboard gear, professional engineers, weeks of tracking, mixing, and mastering. For most indie artists, that meant compromise: cheaper rooms, fewer takes, less time, less polish. But today, AI is giving indie musicians the power to access that kind of technology in a very different way. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents an interview with Samuel WilburSamuel Wilbur returns with a powerful new album, Ivory Tower — a record that feels nothing short of magical. Beyond its cinematic sound and lyrical depth, the album stands out for how Wilbur uses his platform to spotlight some of Minneapolis’s strongest female voices, featuring stunning performances by Meghan Kreidler, Dani Michaele, and Laura Kiernan. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents Gerry Casey's Interview with Tola Lamont and Kurt Michael of Coastland FairBlending coastal soul with Americana grit, Coastland Fair is the creative union of Tola Lamont and Kurt Michael — two artists whose musical chemistry feels as timeless as the tide. Based on a shared love for organic songwriting and heartfelt storytelling, the duo crafts songs that blur the lines between folk, roots rock, and modern indie pop, wrapped in harmonies that shimmer like sunlight on open water. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents - Mid/Side Processing in Mixing: The Secret to Width, Clarity, and ControlHave you ever listened to a pro mix and thought, “Why does this sound so wide and full, but everything still feels perfectly in place?” That’s not just good EQ or compression — chances are, the engineer used a little Mid/Side processing to get that balance between focus and space.Mid/Side, or M/S, is one of those behind-the-scenes techniques that can take your mixes from sounding flat and two-dimensional to open, clear, and three-dimensional. Once you understand what it does and how to use it properly, it becomes one of the most powerful tools in your mixing toolbox. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Billy Branch!Billy Branch is one of the most respected and influential harmonica players of his generation — a true ambassador of Chicago Blues. Discovered by the legendary Willie Dixon, often called the “father of modern Chicago Blues,” Branch was still in college when Dixon took him under his wing. Dixon urged him to complete his degree, which he did, earning a political science degree before joining Willie Dixon’s Chicago All-Stars. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents - AI for Session Musicianship: Tightening, Not ReplacingThere’s this fear floating around studios lately — that artificial intelligence is coming to take the jobs of session musicians, singers, producers, even mixing engineers. The truth? AI isn’t here to replace you. It’s here to help you sound tighter, cleaner, and more confident in the studio. It’s a tool, not a takeover. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents - Neutron 5: A Deep Dive Review For Real-World MixingIf you make music at home or in a small studio, you already know the hardest part usually isn’t the songwriting. It’s the mix. Tracks pile up. Levels fight. Vocals hide behind guitars. Drums either feel weak or way too loud. That’s where iZotope’s Neutron 5 steps in. Think of it like a modern, all-in-one mixing toolkit that combines powerful modules with smart, AI-assisted workflows. You can drop it on individual tracks, stack the modules you need in any order, and even let it listen to your song so it can give you an honest first pass at balance and tone. You still make the creative calls, but it gets you to a clean starting point fast. http://www.makingascene.org

Audius Introduces Artist Coins!Think of an Artist Coin like a digital fan-club pass. You make a coin under your artist name on Audius. Fans can buy it inside Audius. Holding your coin gets them into your inner circle: early listens, coin-only posts, private chats, special drops, and whatever else you decide to offer. It’s all built into the same Audius site where your music lives, so fans don’t have to learn a bunch of new tools. On day one, Audius already lets you gate music for coin holders and send message blasts to those holders, which makes the coin useful immediately—not some “maybe later” promise. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents - Mix Clarity: The Truth About Masking (And How to Fix It)by a recording engineer who’s spent way too many nights chasing clarity in crowded mixesThere’s a moment every indie artist hits when a mix sounds almost perfect… but something feels wrong. The vocals are there, the bass is there, the guitars are crunchy, the kick is thumping — yet somehow, it all sounds like a muddy soup instead of a clear, powerful record.You might try turning things up, EQing harder, or adding compression, but nothing seems to fix it. That’s not a “bad mix.” That’s masking — one of the most misunderstood problems in music production. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents - Know Your Fans: How AI Analytics Shows You Who to Market To (and How)Picture this. You’ve just dropped your new single. You check your stats on Spotify, maybe glance at YouTube views, and you’re left wondering—Who’s actually listening to my stuff? Are they in your hometown? Across the country? Maybe on the other side of the world?Most indie musicians have asked these questions at some point. The thing is, guessing who your fans are is kind of like throwing darts blindfolded. You might hit something now and then, but you’re mostly just hoping for the best. That’s where AI analytics comes in to lift the blindfold. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene - Building Your Web3 Artist Brand: How to Present Yourself as a Forward-Thinking MusicianIf you’re an independent musician trying to stand out today, you’ve probably noticed that the music world is changing faster than ever. Between streaming algorithms, AI, and blockchain, it can feel like the ground keeps shifting under your feet. But here’s the thing—change isn’t the enemy. It’s the opportunity. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Jimi Primetime SmithJimi “Primetime” Smith has lived and breathed the blues his entire life. A veteran guitarist and vocalist, he’s performed with legends like Otis Rush, Albert King, Albert Collins, and Etta James. Though his humble nature often keeps him under the radar, his recent surge of attention is making sure blues fans finally know his name. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents Gerry Casey's Interview with Preacher StonePreacher Stone was born from guitarist Marty Hill’s vision of creating a world-class Southern rock band—one that carried the torch lit by legends like Lynyrd Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet, and The Allman Brothers, but with its own modern grit and swagger. Hill’s idea came to life when he teamed up with powerhouse vocalist Ronnie Riddle, whose raw, soulful delivery gave the songs their authentic Southern edge. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Kaitlin CassadyKaitlin Cassady is an indie-folk-rock artist rooted in the vibrant Minneapolis, Minnesota music scene. Her sound blends the heartfelt storytelling of Aimee Mann and Carole King with the modern textures of Phoebe Bridgers, Norah Jones, Billie Eilish, and Kacey Musgraves—all tied together with a touch of Brian Wilson’s harmonic sophistication. The result is a rich and emotionally resonant style that explores love, grief, self-discovery, and mental health with unflinching honesty. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents Rethinking Crowdfunding for the Indie Musician in a Decentralized Music IndustryWhy rethink crowdfunding?Let’s begin with a simple question: when you ask fans for money to make an album or go on tour, is that “donation” or “investment”? Traditional tools treat it like donation: you promise perks (a signed CD, a shout-out, backstage passes). But the fan gives you money up front, hoping you deliver. That’s okay, but it doesn’t change the relationship: you’re asking, “Will you support me?”Web3 crowdfunding changes that. Instead of begging, you offer fans a stake in your project. They become partial owners (in a clearly defined way) of future revenue streams. They share upside with you. That is closer to how businesses raise investors. This flips the incentive: fans want your success, because they benefit when you succeed. http://www.makingascene.org