Alan Cross

I can honestly say that this is the first submission of its kind that I've received. It's a very well-executed performance piece. A couple of questions and observations:

1. Where do you see such a song/video living? It's outside most commercial radio formats and is also quite long. If you're looking for that kind of exposure, I'd focus on public radio and perhaps jazz/classical stations that have specialty programs dealing with the avant-garde and the experimental.

2. The audio could also work with music supervisors for TV and film. If you have a portfolio of material like this, I'd start approaching them.

3. Live performance will be important. Lorenna McKennitt has been able to carve out a very nice fanbase by taking her music directly to the people in small theatre and concert hall settings. 

4. It might be a long shot, but maybe making clips available to TikTok might help. Maybe someone will want to do an interpretative dance or use this as a soundtrack for something. Think about it.

5. Given the environmental themes of the song and the video, might you team up with an environmental group or two? They might wish to use something like this in their promotional campaigns.

Good luck--and please keep making music like thsi.

Alan Cross

Very epic. Close to what might be called symphonic metal. Reminds of me of a 90s band called VAST cross with a little Evanescense. Cool video, too.

Now my questions:

1. What your marketing plans for this? At nearly 8 minutes, this is too long for radio. If you are hoping to go that route, he'll need a clever radio edit.

2. And you're right: This may lend itself to licensing and sync opportunities. You'll need to find ways of getting your music in front of music supervisors. 

3. A coherent and consistent social media plan will be necessary. As you know, there's a large community of people who like this kind of music. Your goal will be to find them and turn them into evangelists for what you do. That means paying a LOT of attention to your Facebook and Instagram accounts. Interact as often as possible.

I've shared this on my social media networks, so that should be good for about 100,000 people.

Søren Lund Korsgaard

Beautiful piece of music. However it's too clean and pretty in it's expression to be a good fit my blog where I like to focus on music that mixes classical and electronic music. 
Best of luck!
Søren

Alan Cross

This is extraordinarily pretty. Very well done. Good performance, production, and performance. 

Now some questions:

1.  What are your career goals? Radio play? Recording? Licensing and syncs? Income from a publishing deal? Soundtracks? (I can see that working very well for you) Writing for stage? All these paths need to be investigated.

2. Your social media strategy will be key. Make sure that you reply to every comment that may come in. Turn early fans into evangelists. Get them to spread the word.  

3. If you don't already, get someone to handle getting your material on streaming music services, especially someone who knows how to get your songs on the best and music influential new music/new discovery playlists. They're becoming increasingly important. Ask Drake what it's like to benefit from clever playlist placement. 

4. Make friends with as many bloggers as possible. Even the smallest want to think that they can discover The Next Big Thing. Every little bit of coverage helps.

5. Want to know if your material is great? (1) Are you friends and family raving about your stuff? (2) Are people actively seeking you out? If the answer to both those questions is "yes." You may have something on your hands. If not, then maybe what you're offering just isn't good enough to cut through all the noise. Remember that no one has a RIGHT to have their music heard. Your music has to demand people's attention on its own.

6. How often do you play live? Nothing is better than having a group of strangers giving you real feedback in real time. However, I understand that your sort of material may pose certain challenges when it comes to reproducing it live. Still...

7. Record labels are weird these days. They're all about pop and hip-hop. You may be best going about things on your own until such time that a label can't ignore you any longer. Hey, we could use a new Celine Dion or Sarah Brightman right about now.

Hope that helps. I'll post this on my social networks. That'll be good for about 100,000 people.

Alan Cross

This is good! Very dramatic, cinematic, and epic. Nice combo of Loreena McKennitt,  Evanescence and, er, Type O Negative. 

Great performance, songwriting, and production. Nothing from me on any of those fronts. Love the video, too. The things you can do with drones these days, right?

Now some questions.

1. What are your career goals? Radio play? Recording? Licensing and syncs? Income from a publishing deal? Soundtracks? (I can see that one working well for obvious reasons.) All these paths need to be investigated.

2. Your social media strategy will be key. Make sure that you reply to every comment that may come in. Turn early fans into evangelists, especially the ones who contributed to this video. Get them to spread the word.  This is the kind of music that lends itself to serious evangelism. You may not end up with the world's biggest fanbase, but they will be rabidly loyal--if you cultivate them properly.

3. If you don't already, get someone to handle getting your material on streaming music services, especially someone who knows how to get your songs on the best and music influential new music/new discovery playlists. They're becoming increasingly important. Ask Drake what it's like to benefit from clever playlist placement.

4. If radio airplay is important to you, get a radio plugger. They know how to get to the right music directors. Work with both campus stations, public radio and commercial alternative/AAA radio. 

5. Make friends with as many bloggers as possible. Even the smallest want to think that they can discover The Next Big Thing. Every little bit of coverage helps.

6. Can you play live? Nothing is better than having a group of strangers giving you real feedback in real time. But I have a feeling you knew that, right? 

Glad to share this on my social networks. That should be good for about 100,000 people or so.