Long Time

Sorry guys we have not posted anything in a long time. Things have been crazy. We will not lie, we love our independent artists. Hell, we're independent artists. However, the economy has been terrible so sales have been down. Therefore we've been focusing on selling exclusive tracks to labels. We have to cover over head. We're still here for you guys and you are our number one focus with the exception of God.

This works to you're benefit as well. As we sell more tracks to labels and mainstream artists, we build credibility. Trackmasterz and Spoken Word Beats is gaining momentucrem and credibility everyday. Please excuse our absence as of late and we'll be posting new tracks shortly.

Trackmasterz

Reason 3.0

Somebody asked our executive producer what software we use to produce music. We use Propellerheads Reason 3.0 We received the 3.5 update, but never got around to loading it. We plan to and we're excited that the 4.0 is in beta or soon to be.

Would we recommend Reason? We recommend using what program works best for you. Reason is our top pick and we would advise experimenting with it first. Find a friend who has it and ask a few questions. Test it out before you go and shell out the money. If it's something you feel comfortable on after a couple weeks GO WITH REASON!!

Reason has amazing sounds, effects, processors, and you can sample sounds into it like an AKAI MPC. It works well on both PC and Mac so you can't go wrong. Finally, you can use it with most major audio sequencers (i.e Pro Tools, Cubase, Logic, Nuendo, etc..). This is done through a something called rewire, which enables you to make your beat in Reason, but record it directly in to Pro Tools or whatever program you're using.

All the aspects mentioned above are great, but you do have to be computer friendly to learn how to do all these things. In short patience is a must. I wanted to throw the computer through the wall when I first started using Reason four years ago, but now I don't use anything else. Go try different programs and pick the one you feel most comfortable with. Trackmasterz is comfortable with Propellerheads Reason.

Need a Manager?

Almost everybody needs a manager because nobody is accepting unsolicited material. The question is how do I find one? If you're looking on you're own stop looking at those big major labels (unless you know somebody on the inside). Look at small labels who are making waves. The perfect example would be Hidden Beach Records. This is a smaller indie label that houses Jill Scott. Nobody even heard of Hidden Beach until a few years ago when Scott took home a Grammy. When they're small they're looking for talent and a lot more open minded. Problem is, there are not a lot of labels like this.

This brings us to option 2: Musician's Atlas.
The Musician's Atlas is a magazine that lists all the music industries contacts. We're talking managers, entertainment lawyers, record label A&R's, independent A&R's, distribution companies, you name it. It costs about $50.00 and is only printed quarterly or yearly. If you're an aspiring artists and you cannot afford it, go to Borders (we have not seen it in Barnes & Nobles lately), bring a pen and paper and start writing some names down. Now remember the guys that make this magazine have to eat too, so go visit their website and throw them a donation at http://musiciansatlas.com You want somebody to buy your album instead of burning it off the web for free right?

Congratulations you're on the road to finding a manager! No you're not done but you are a hell of a lot closer.

Is Your Beat Really Hot?

How many times have you let people listen to your tracks and get comments like "the mix is off" or "EQ that differently". They may in fact have a valid point. However, if the person you are talking to is a music business contact (i.e A&R, entertainment lawyer, or manager) then their critique is probably a bull crap excuse just to stall you or string you along and keep taking money. Sad but true, a story that employees at Trackmasterz know all to well.

Have you listened to the crap that's on the radio? It's awful and if Britney Spears can get a recording contract then you know they're lying. Has nothing to do with talent, again it's all about money to them. They have to see you as a product, a product they (major record labels, marketing firms, and distributors) can manipulate, sell, and dispose of easily (if need be and heaven forbid). It's a dirty dirty industry, but life is dirty. It's no dirtier than congressmen and senators lobbying for campaign money. Yeah that's pretty dirty!!

In short, you have to be careful about believing criticism. Examine the source it comes from, determine their motives, then decide should you take their advice and go back to the drawing board. Hell, they could just be trying to take the song.

Queen Latifah's " Last Holiday"

This by far is her best work. If you're a Queen Latifah fan and you have not seen it you should be ashamed. If you're not a Queen Latifah fan you should be ashamed. Why are we talking about it? We're into film as well, we just only know how to make the sound in respect to movie production. However, we do love movies!!

Everyone at Trackmasterz and Spoken Word Beats loves this film!! What better way to evaluate our tastes and learn about who we are then our movie picks. If you've been skeptical about what kind of people are behind the music at Trackmasterz and Spoken Word Beats then here's away to find out if we're trustworthy. Go watch "The Last Holiday" starring Queen Latifah. You can buy it at Wal-Mart for like $5 or visit Blockbuster and get 4 for $20.00

After you watch this, you'll trust Trackmasterz and Spoken Word Beats forever!!