Blaza will be performing live at TP Entertainment's Car and Bike Show on July 20 at the Metrolina Expo in Charlotte, NC.
The event will feature some of best independent talent in the Queen City all competing for a grand price in a day long festival of food, drinks and the best decked out wheels on the east coast! Tickets are $10. Come have fun with us and support your favorite artist!
T.I. started his career as an indepent artist before signing to LaFace Records.
Now, he's back to doing his own thing. HEAD OF THE FAMILY!!
Photo courtesy of sandrarose.com.
Being an independent artist is a lot of work according to T.I., who described his recent ventures in the independent market during this video with midweststars.com.
If you aren't T.I., or another rapper worth $46 million or more, then you might find the rap game confusing and overwhelming.
I see too many artists struggling with motivation and branding, so I did a little research that I hope will encourage you as much as it is encouraging me as a publicist.
The key is taking steps one day at a time. Little things really do add up.
You should submit your music to someone new everyday, create a goal of how many shows to do in a month and continuously build relationships with fans and industry professionals.
Most importantly, change your views of the finish line: believe it and see that it exists for yourself:
Stop Worrying, Start Doing:
Stop thinking about what you can't do and find something you can. You can't make things happen by sitting around hoping. Get serious about your music goals and work towards them. Realize that everything may not work as you expect, but those are lessons for later trials. Furthermore, stop worrying about making money. I know, it sounds crazy, but as an independent artist starting in the game, you must focus on investing in it first to grow your fans. If your music is good, then the money will come. Use Google:
There are hundreds of sites that list advice, tips and tricks to growing your fan base and tactics for booking shows. I found this article, "10 Things Every Musician Should Know to Help Their Career" by simply googling "independent artists."
Sell Something!
Don't discredit your music by giving it out free, even if it's only the Itunes $.99 download. This opens doors for promotional giveaways and, finally, some income! Awesome and easy right?
Use Social Media
Socialize with your friends of course, but also establish some credit as a business person and artist. Don't bombard your followers with your music and videos. Instead, build relationships with them so that *they* will know who *you* are. Think about it. People listen to music from artists they know personally or through the grapevine. Building relationships increases the probability of new listeners who will share your music. You should always be conscious of your brand. Don't offend your target audience or discredit your music--or other's music for that matter, you don't want to look like a hater.
*Its also important to establish your followers. Your timeline shouldn't consist of only video vixens and the comedy of the week, but also credible people in the music industry: DJ's, producers, magazine editors and other rappers.*
Keep your music and image prepared
You never know when the opportunity will come to promote yourself. With this new age of technology, you should always have your songs and press kit available to send of upon request via your email or hard drive.
Perform!
This is a source of promotion and revenue. Don't know how to book shows? That's fine. There are a variety of show booking websites to choose from. Some are free, some cost money. It's all about using your resources guys! One of the websites for booking shows that is growing the fastest right now is myafton.com. Another really good one is reverbnation.com.
Need more advice? Great! I did the hard work for you. Here are some links to some more great articles that talk about being an independent artist:
"I'm also the most motivated, all the odds are against me. So I'll prove everyone wrong."
We recently got to catch up with NBC's R&B singer Beretta Star. She talks about her music and her life below:
How would you describe yourself and your music?
I would describe my music as emotional yet aggressive, R&B with a strong edge. I write love songs but I have an angry side because I've been through a lot. Whatever I can't convey strongly enough in words, I sing or rap it. I'm an individual. My music is real and all me. No gimmick, just me.
When did you first realize that you could sing? How did you grow and develop your craft?
I've always 'sang,' which is so cliche'. Anyone can 'sing,' but I first realized I was good at it when I was around 8. I was playing with my next-door-neighbor's daughter singing S.W.V. Her mother overheard me and had me sing for everyone she could find. I grew my craft from writing constantly no matter my mood, happy or sad, and writing about what was around me.
Describe your position in NBCMG and what it's like to work with other artists in the group.
I am the feminine touch to all these crazy dudes! I bring diversity. The girl next door can relate to me and boys like that I can spit a bar or 2. I love working the with guys. They motivate me to stay on my job, match their work or do better.
Who are some of your musical influences?
My musical influences are people who make good music. I'm really into writing, so I admire Ester Dean, Priscilla Rene, Ne-Yo and Ryan Leslie. I love a lot of 90's music, anybody who does what they do well.
What puts you in the mood to make songs?
What puts me in the mood to write is interesting or strong situations. I write about my bad and good relationships and my friends' relationships. What could be, what should be, those types of things.
What is the biggest obstacle you've faced so far on your journey to stardom?
My biggest obstacle is myself. I'm a perfectionist. I question everything I do. My life has been so crazy and because of that I have some doubts. Because I'm also the most motivated, all the odds are against me. So I'll prove everyone wrong.
What is your biggest accomplishment?
My biggest accomplishment is never losing site of all my goals and everything I want to do.
What is your favorite song that you've written and why?
I thought long and hard and I think every song is my favorite on certain days. Some come from special places, but they are all my favorites. It really depends. Right now it's this song called Love Flu. I love it because, who can't understand being sick of loving someone? You want to stop but you can't. When I wrote it I was thinking about the irony of doing something even though you know it's no good for you. That's my favorite right now.
What can we expect from Beretta Star in the future?
You can expect great music from me. All I want to do is make great music. I'm working on my first solo tape entitled, The L.I.A.R., which stands for Love Is Always Real. Up until now I've been writing and doing features for other artists.
Check out this track she features on with Yung Blaza:
Yung Blaza's highly anticipated mixtape, "C.R.O.W.N.," was released yesterday, immediately receiving exceptional reviews.
The mixtape includes Blaza's sick version of Drake's 'Started from the Bottom,' as well as dope collabs with NBC artists Fox and the Sound, Young Sin and Ben B.
Click the picture and see how he "continues to repeatedly out work niggas"
"Dreams of Victory, Nightmares of Defeat" hit bronze status after receiving over 25,000 downloads!!!
With over 33,000 views and 29,000 downloads, Yung Blaza's latest mixtape has made him an underground legend. If you haven't gotten your copy, do so by visiting Datpiff.
"I ask that people keep supporting and believing in me. It's time to make moves and take my talent, family and state all the way to the top," Yung Blaza said in a recent interview. "I'm really going to make it happen."
