Trying Times

Look at that freakin donkey! That wagon is completely owning him like the Giants against the Patriots in the last two Superbowls they played! Obviously he was trying really hard before his feet left the ground...

I read an article recently about the struggles of musicians trying to break into the music business and saw some interesting parellels to recommendations i've been making to friends of mine for years. Regardless of anything else, it's all about the job.

"Ya Gotta Eat." - Checker's Commercial

It's true. Want to touch the hearts and minds of people everywhere with your powerful music? Eating would be beneficial to you then. So you don't fall over and die. Besides, I really like Checker's so I figured i'd let you know how awesome their burgers are. But I digress.

That full-time job you absolutely hate, well, that's what pays the bills, lets you drive your car, and lets you listen to that cool new song from Nicholas Kade. Yes, I admit, that was shameless advertising. I would feel a little bit better about myself if you went on itunes or Amazon.com and bought it. I'll even provide the link for you below...

My apologies. The point is that if you want to do what you love, start looking for those little things in life that you enjoy during that job you hate. It may be nothing, but nothing can always be something. Look at musicians. We take a vaccum of space, and create a sound that you love and enjoy. We try to temper our sound to reach to your soul. If you don't think you have a soul, then just listen to the rhythm and bounce with the beat, just to humor me.

So let's think about the annoying little funny things that keep us going during those trying times where you want to start beating your co-worker Devin who keeps clucking while he taps a pen on his desk in the cubicle next to you before slurping his cup of coffee like a three year old even though you know the ass is in his late 20s early 30s. Don't think about the fact that he never wears a tie, likes to watch naughty movies on his computer and literally doesn't do any work at all while you're busy slaving away at your...

Excuse me, I'll be right back.


Before the police get here and Devin's mother comes to identify the body, I'd like to point out that I was enjoying a few moments of comedy thinking about this situation. Which, aside from the body, is actually something that has happened to me before.

So keep your chin up, you'll get there soon, make sure to clean the back of your chair from where you hit Devin in the head, and keep rolling. You're awesome. I don't care what your mother says about you.

Nicholas Kade- AYW

IT'S BEEN A WHILE!

My apologies. The past few months have been absolutely crazy! The great news is that I had a few things happen that were really awesome!

Nicholas Kade - The Drive
As You Were - I'll Call You Back

Both of these albums were released on St. Patty's day!

As You Were is my band. It's me, Nicholas Kade vocals/rhythm guitar/piano/drums, Paul M bass, and David Van Tassell lead guitar/ukulele/drums/ vocals. We have been going crazy!!!

As You Were released its first music video, "Out of the Bottle" on Youtube just a few weeks ago, and it's already gone over 200 views without any advertising! Check it out below!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvQArPekjkA&list=UUk9l5GQbG9Lsy8naeZrDKQw&index=1&feature=plcp

I will be releasing a new acoustic album in the next week or so, I've been working on it non-stop since the release of the earlier albums.

We're also working on my next music video, "One Final Time." I hope to have it out in the next month, and I promise to make it REALLY GOOD.

A giant thank you to Rockstar Film Company for making the music video with us!

Solo and Band Release!!!

My solo project, "The Drive" is on itunes Now!!! Check it out!

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-drive/id511923304

If you want to hear a rock band play music, my band, As You Were, is also out!!!

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/ill-call-you-back/id511930681

This music is independently recorded and not owned by a label. These artists did this for free and for the joy of playing music. Support the people who helped me and who i helped!

Thanks

Nicholas Kade

Business and Music

"I don't want to work. I wanna bang on the drums all day." -Todd Rundgren

Bad news, everybody. We can't just do that. Especially in music. Writing music takes, time, as with any sort of endeavour. You have to have the right stuff when you strike that first chord, a vision, an experience, an ambition. It's got to flow, and that can take days, weeks, months. Just to write one little song. So why are we going to try to work on the business side of this? We have no time.

A few reasons why:

1. Just because you wrote a song doesn't mean anyone will hear it.
2. People connect better with you if you make a conscious effort to do the same things they do.
3. Your music is truly special. Better for a thousand people to hear one song then one person to hear a thousand songs.
4. The more that know you, the more that will.

So put an emphasis on the basics with the business. These might help you:

1. Social Media, Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, Blogspot, various other websites.
2. Play live. If you can't play live, youtube and other sites can help you, just get a camera and start filming.
3. Stay organized. If you clean your guitar every other day and it's immaculate, then keep all of your information for contacts, websites, and shows the same way.

Finally, enjoy your music. My dry list of things to do sucks, but better that you're hating reading this from a brand new car you bought after signing a record deal than sitting on a tricycle you've been using to get to the nearest grocery store. Good Luck!

Music Video Madness

I had a little fun with some amateur filming. This song was written on request from a friend of mine. The verses are written about conversations we had, while the chorus is a love story I know she hoped to have at one point.

Pictures in Cities

It's been a while. Last week i had the opportunity to have a small photo shoot in Baltimore, Maryland, in the U.S.A. The city is beautiful at night. The shoot was for a possible front cover for my new album, The Drive. Just wanted to share a few shots of the city.

The Drive

             I have been working on music now for years, singing since I was four years old, piano since I was thirteen, guitar since i was seventeen. I've played in four different bands, each with amazing musicians that i've learned so much from. The life of a musician is hard. Getting into the business is tough. You need either a lot of money, or a lot of talent. My own experiences make me want talent over money.

             It's a hard road. I didn't have a lot of money at the end of college, I worked three jobs just to put myself through. My first guitar i bought from a New York sweatshop online for $40, and my fingers bled for two weeks while i learned my first chords and songs. After my third band, I started a solo project, ONX, where I managed to get my hands on professional recording software, and I started teaching myself how to professionally record. the first album had music that sounded wonderful, and music that i had no idea how to record correctly. So i released it among my friends and among a few fans and went back to work.

           It's that long road ahead that i've been facing, it's the drive that i've kept pushing through. It was a car that i first had the next inspiration for my music, and a car that I talked to one of my closest friends about another solo project. "Be yourself," she said. "why try to be anything else?" I applied that same idea to my music, and started writing again. Now i'm getting to the end of that album, and it's my friends and fans that have encouraged me to be the best.

           That same drive has been applied to a new band, with more music, more sound. Both albums are going to be released soon, the first for the band, the first for my brother Paul, who has taught me so much and agreed to play music with me. It's been a lot of work and a lot of time spent perfecting this art, making something out of nothing.

           The ability to create is one of the hardest things humans have to do. Where there is Peace, so War will follow. It's the conflict within ourselves that we fight to succeed, the question of whether we will be good enough to handle all of the problems we face. So no matter what you are doing in life, find the drive to push though what you are doing, and get to that peace. It's not the scoring that counts all the time, but the game itself.