I'm very grateful for what Reverbnation has done in providing a forum for independent artists. It's hard to complain for a service this valuable when it's free. But I am compelled to voice my frustration over some recent changes. Apparently, I now have 6 songs that are hidden because they are over 8 MB. They cannot be unhidden unless I subscribe to a paying membership. It wouldn't be so bad if the songs hadn't been allowed from the start, but because they were, and they have vital stats attached to them, it seems a little inproper to hide them now. It almost feels like they're being held for ransom. The only way they can be released is to pay RN's price for membership. It just leaves a bad taste in my mouth when a business changes horses in midstream. Hopefully, they will reconsider, and reverse their decision.
Reply
I have imported a dozen or so videos of my newer recordings from my YouTube channel and shuffled around the Top 5 songs on my profile page. I also updated to Reverbnation's newer format. I regret not being able to spend more time on this site. It's a great community, despite any obvious flaws. I am eternally grateful for the contacts I've made and the friendships created here. Hope to keep creating and supporting as much as possible. Thank you for sharing the bond of music with me.
Reply
I'd like to take this opportunity to wish my Reverbnation family a Happy New Year. I am not as active as I used to be, so if you notice I don't respond as quickly as expected on a comment or request, don't feel like it's an intentional snub. If you need to reach me in a more timely manner, feel free to email me at baluja@earthlink.net. Thank you for all your support, and may 2016 be filled with blessings for you and your family.
Reply
Often, I get messages from artists that I just friended, liked, followed, linked with, or subscribed to, and they ask if I can support them on a number of different sites. Sometimes I'm able to respond favorably, and other times, I just don't have the time to. For me, I think it would be much easier if someone were to reach out while on any particular site, and initiate a link to their page or profile. I'm much more apt to respond to a direct action than I am to a request to act. I answer most requests about 50% of the time, but whenever someone initiates a like, follow, friend, etc, I have about a 99.9% response rate. The math is simple...and in all honesty, it's the type of response I look for when I am the one initiating...we're all in this journey together, and our support should be mutual.
Reply
Over the past two years, I've had the privilege of collaborating with Mitchell Small, aka, Songs Unsung, on a number of songs. Mitch is a professor of engineering who does a little moonlighting as a songwriter. His work is filled with wit, humor, historical facts, and significant social commentary. Anyone who visits his Reverbnation page would agree that his lyrics have a great deal of substance to them. He puts them out there, and invites artists to take a stab at them, and the results are usually pretty remarkable. In my case, I've been able to pick and choose the ones that I feel fit my vocal attack, and for whatever inexplicable reason, whatever I try to do with them musically usually clicks. So, in anticipation of this month's release of Baluja & Small's Tight Connection, I have updated the top 5 songs on my playlist to include some of the cuts which will be on the CD. There will be a total of 12 songs on it, including 5 that were recorded and released last year on our Nowhere to Land EP, and 7 which we carved out this year. I've also linked a YouTube lyric video for one of the songs, A Single Drop of Rain, to my RN page. There are few others you can view on either my page, his page, or on my YouTube channel (Baluja123). in addition, I have uploaded the entire CD with artwork on Bandcamp (https://baluja.bandcamp.com/album/tight-connection-baluja-small), where those who would like to do so, can purchase the whole CD or the individual tracks. Normally, I would have done that through Reverbnation, but unfortunately, they stopped their online store features a few months ago. I know I speak for Mitch when I say that we would both appreciate what ever networking help we can get in an effort to distribute our work. Sales would be nice, but not our current objective. What we are after are listens, likes, comments, and shares. If we can improve those numbers, everything else will fall into place.
Reply
If I follow you on Twitter, follow me back. if I fan you on Reverbnation, fan me back, if I like your Facebook page, like mine back. If I add you on Google +, add me back. If I subscribe to your youtube channel, subscribe to mine. This is what I would do for anyone when I'm networking. It's the sign of mutual respect that comes with the territory of social media. Nobody is insignificant enough to ignore, nor too important to be forgotten. There are always exceptions to the rule (scammers, spammers, etc.), but for the most part, it's all about proper etiquette.
Reply
Although I began writing in 1979, I did not begin to record my songs until 2000, when the digital era made it possible for most artists to set up home studios. Over the past 13 years, I have continued to work at developing my production skills, in an effort to put out as clear a recording as possible within the confines of a very limited budget. I am currently using a Teac digital 8 track and a Shure KSM42 to record vocals, and a combination of electronic music programs, ranging from Sony Acid and Magix Soundpool to Apple's Garageband, to create my musical tracks. I mix everything down on my computer, using Magix Sound Lab to get as close to a mastered product as I can get. In an ideal world, I would certainly be recording in a state of the art recording studio, engineered by a seasoned pro, using the finest musicians, and following the direction of a top notch producer. But since that may never happen, I guess I'll just have to settle for my virtual band and the modest home recording equipment I've been able to scrape together. That said, I'm very grateful for the opportunities I've had to catalog my songs with some degree of precision and clarity. After my first 20 years of recording everything onto a cassette player, the digital era has made it possible for me to make my songs presentable to listeners like you. I hope that some of you will enjoy my work, maybe even enough to share it. I welcome your comments and I look forward to listening to your work as well.
Reply
I would like thank all of you on Reverbnation who have been gracious enough to fan me, listen, comment on , and share my work. I normally will try to answer each reply or comment as they come in, but lately I've been preoccupied with events that are beyond my control. But I do want to assure you that I am constantly checking in, listening, fanning, or fanning back in an effort to gain insight and inspiration from the works you've created. Reverbnation has been a very supportive congregation of artists and music lovers, and I believe that, for the most part, it exemplifies the best of what social media and networking have to offer. May we all continue to work hard at whatever we do, and keep this circle of love alive.
Reply
I'm featuring the lyrics of Songs Unsung this week, including the recently recorded, Tight Connection. All 5 songs on my main page are interpretations of some of the most witty, biting, brilliant, and insightful lyrics on the planet. I hope you enjoy the presentation I put together for them. After you've listened, stop by https://www.reverbnation.com/songsunsung and let MJ know what a tremendous talent he has for words. And then take one of his many offerings, and put your own twist to it.
Reply
I'd like to thank The Magneto Flobe for allowing me to step into their wonderful world of improvisational funk on Use Me. I had a blast working with the band. I'd also like to thank all the Flobeheads who stopped by their page, and by mine as well, to offer their positive feedback and support of our efforts. The Flobe has a large and loyal following, and it was pretty amazing to witness firsthand how many fans respond to their releases. I'm very grateful for all the connections I made through our association. It was a very exciting and productive weekend. Special thanks to da boi for his tireless efforts in making these recordings happen and for working hard to insure that they have a chance to be heard.
Reply
Baluja / Blog
Reverbnation: An Unexpected Change
I'm very grateful for what Reverbnation has done in providing a forum for independent artists. It's hard to complain for a service this valuable when it's free. But I am compelled to voice my frustration over some recent changes. Apparently, I now have 6 songs that are hidden because they are over 8 MB. They cannot be unhidden unless I subscribe to a paying membership. It wouldn't be so bad if the songs hadn't been allowed from the start, but because they were, and they have vital stats attached to them, it seems a little inproper to hide them now. It almost feels like they're being held for ransom. The only way they can be released is to pay RN's price for membership. It just leaves a bad taste in my mouth when a business changes horses in midstream. Hopefully, they will reconsider, and reverse their decision.
Reply
Fall Updates
I have imported a dozen or so videos of my newer recordings from my YouTube channel and shuffled around the Top 5 songs on my profile page. I also updated to Reverbnation's newer format. I regret not being able to spend more time on this site. It's a great community, despite any obvious flaws. I am eternally grateful for the contacts I've made and the friendships created here. Hope to keep creating and supporting as much as possible. Thank you for sharing the bond of music with me.
Reply
Happy New Year
I'd like to take this opportunity to wish my Reverbnation family a Happy New Year. I am not as active as I used to be, so if you notice I don't respond as quickly as expected on a comment or request, don't feel like it's an intentional snub. If you need to reach me in a more timely manner, feel free to email me at baluja@earthlink.net. Thank you for all your support, and may 2016 be filled with blessings for you and your family.
Reply
Acting Vs. Asking To Act
Often, I get messages from artists that I just friended, liked, followed, linked with, or subscribed to, and they ask if I can support them on a number of different sites. Sometimes I'm able to respond favorably, and other times, I just don't have the time to. For me, I think it would be much easier if someone were to reach out while on any particular site, and initiate a link to their page or profile. I'm much more apt to respond to a direct action than I am to a request to act. I answer most requests about 50% of the time, but whenever someone initiates a like, follow, friend, etc, I have about a 99.9% response rate. The math is simple...and in all honesty, it's the type of response I look for when I am the one initiating...we're all in this journey together, and our support should be mutual.
Reply
Tight Connection
Over the past two years, I've had the privilege of collaborating with Mitchell Small, aka, Songs Unsung, on a number of songs. Mitch is a professor of engineering who does a little moonlighting as a songwriter. His work is filled with wit, humor, historical facts, and significant social commentary. Anyone who visits his Reverbnation page would agree that his lyrics have a great deal of substance to them. He puts them out there, and invites artists to take a stab at them, and the results are usually pretty remarkable. In my case, I've been able to pick and choose the ones that I feel fit my vocal attack, and for whatever inexplicable reason, whatever I try to do with them musically usually clicks. So, in anticipation of this month's release of Baluja & Small's Tight Connection, I have updated the top 5 songs on my playlist to include some of the cuts which will be on the CD. There will be a total of 12 songs on it, including 5 that were recorded and released last year on our Nowhere to Land EP, and 7 which we carved out this year. I've also linked a YouTube lyric video for one of the songs, A Single Drop of Rain, to my RN page. There are few others you can view on either my page, his page, or on my YouTube channel (Baluja123). in addition, I have uploaded the entire CD with artwork on Bandcamp (https://baluja.bandcamp.com/album/tight-connection-baluja-small), where those who would like to do so, can purchase the whole CD or the individual tracks. Normally, I would have done that through Reverbnation, but unfortunately, they stopped their online store features a few months ago. I know I speak for Mitch when I say that we would both appreciate what ever networking help we can get in an effort to distribute our work. Sales would be nice, but not our current objective. What we are after are listens, likes, comments, and shares. If we can improve those numbers, everything else will fall into place.
Reply
Social Networking Etiquette
If I follow you on Twitter, follow me back. if I fan you on Reverbnation, fan me back, if I like your Facebook page, like mine back. If I add you on Google +, add me back. If I subscribe to your youtube channel, subscribe to mine. This is what I would do for anyone when I'm networking. It's the sign of mutual respect that comes with the territory of social media. Nobody is insignificant enough to ignore, nor too important to be forgotten. There are always exceptions to the rule (scammers, spammers, etc.), but for the most part, it's all about proper etiquette.
Reply
well said Mike... ya boi
For the Record...
Although I began writing in 1979, I did not begin to record my songs until 2000, when the digital era made it possible for most artists to set up home studios. Over the past 13 years, I have continued to work at developing my production skills, in an effort to put out as clear a recording as possible within the confines of a very limited budget. I am currently using a Teac digital 8 track and a Shure KSM42 to record vocals, and a combination of electronic music programs, ranging from Sony Acid and Magix Soundpool to Apple's Garageband, to create my musical tracks. I mix everything down on my computer, using Magix Sound Lab to get as close to a mastered product as I can get. In an ideal world, I would certainly be recording in a state of the art recording studio, engineered by a seasoned pro, using the finest musicians, and following the direction of a top notch producer. But since that may never happen, I guess I'll just have to settle for my virtual band and the modest home recording equipment I've been able to scrape together. That said, I'm very grateful for the opportunities I've had to catalog my songs with some degree of precision and clarity. After my first 20 years of recording everything onto a cassette player, the digital era has made it possible for me to make my songs presentable to listeners like you. I hope that some of you will enjoy my work, maybe even enough to share it. I welcome your comments and I look forward to listening to your work as well.
Reply
Thanks...
I would like thank all of you on Reverbnation who have been gracious enough to fan me, listen, comment on , and share my work. I normally will try to answer each reply or comment as they come in, but lately I've been preoccupied with events that are beyond my control. But I do want to assure you that I am constantly checking in, listening, fanning, or fanning back in an effort to gain insight and inspiration from the works you've created. Reverbnation has been a very supportive congregation of artists and music lovers, and I believe that, for the most part, it exemplifies the best of what social media and networking have to offer. May we all continue to work hard at whatever we do, and keep this circle of love alive.
Reply
The Songs of Songs Unsung
I'm featuring the lyrics of Songs Unsung this week, including the recently recorded, Tight Connection. All 5 songs on my main page are interpretations of some of the most witty, biting, brilliant, and insightful lyrics on the planet. I hope you enjoy the presentation I put together for them. After you've listened, stop by https://www.reverbnation.com/songsunsung and let MJ know what a tremendous talent he has for words. And then take one of his many offerings, and put your own twist to it.
Reply
Thanks to the Flobe
I'd like to thank The Magneto Flobe for allowing me to step into their wonderful world of improvisational funk on Use Me. I had a blast working with the band. I'd also like to thank all the Flobeheads who stopped by their page, and by mine as well, to offer their positive feedback and support of our efforts. The Flobe has a large and loyal following, and it was pretty amazing to witness firsthand how many fans respond to their releases. I'm very grateful for all the connections I made through our association. It was a very exciting and productive weekend. Special thanks to da boi for his tireless efforts in making these recordings happen and for working hard to insure that they have a chance to be heard.
Reply
the pleasure was all ours, birthday boi!!!!! without your rich baritone, the song would never have been as good... THANK YOU... ya boi