Making a Scene Presents

Making a Scene Presents - Unreal Engine 5.7 For Music Videos A Deep Dive ReviewEpic Games built Unreal Engine to make video games, but that is no longer the most interesting use case. Over the last few years, Unreal has quietly become one of the most powerful tools for film, television, and music visuals. Version 5.7 continues that shift. It is not a toy, and it is not a filter. It is a real-time world-building engine that lets independent musicians create cinematic environments that used to require soundstages, location permits, crews, and serious money. http://www.makingascene.org

IPFS and the Decentralized Music ArchiveHow Indie Artists Can Host Their Entire Catalog, Serve Every Kind of Fan, and Build a Real LegacyFor decades, independent artists were handed advice that sounded helpful but quietly worked against them. Upload your music to platforms. Share a link. Trust the system to take care of the rest. On the surface, that sounds reasonable. In practice, it put your entire career inside systems you never controlled. Dropbox links expire or get buried. SoundCloud accounts get capped, throttled, or flagged. Platforms change pricing, remove features, rewrite terms, or simply decide your music no longer fits their priorities. Meanwhile, your catalog, which might represent twenty or thirty years of creative work, ends up scattered across services that can disappear, lock you out, or change the rules overnight. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents - AI Won't Kill Music Careers—Starving Artists WillAs we head into the New Year, it's time to take an honest look at one of the hottest and most misunderstood topics in the music industry right now. Every few months, the same cycle plays out. A scary headline appears. A new AI tool gets released. A video goes viral showing a fake song that sounds like a famous artist. Almost overnight, the mood shifts. The conversation turns dark. People start saying AI is going to replace musicians. They claim creativity is dead. They insist the soul has been ripped out of music and that this is the end of everything we care about. http://www.makingascene.org

If you're an indie artist working from home, green screen might sound like something left over from old Hollywood movies. It can feel outdated, expensive, or disconnected from the way modern AI video works. That assumption couldn't be more wrong. Green screen is actually one of the most important tools you can pair with AI today, especially if you want your music videos, branding visuals, and short-form content to look cinematic without burning money on locations, crews, travel, or permits. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Levi PlateroLevi Platero is from the Navajo Nation in the Southwest United States. He first gained national attention with his family band, The Plateros, who emerged in 2004 as a blues-rock power trio often compared to artists like Stevie Ray Vaughan, Los Lonely Boys, and ZZ Top. The band spent more than a decade touring across the U.S., building a reputation for their high-energy live shows and strong musicianship. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents Gerry Casey's Interview with Johnny Barracuda of the Soho DukesSOHO DUKES won't admit it, but they're having a very good time.The band began in an unlikely way, not in a rehearsal room, but as a nineteenth-century–style drinking club roaming the pubs of London's West End. On one of those legendary crawls, Bomber on bass and Johnny Barracuda on vocals crossed paths with Col “The Duke” Foster on rhythm guitar and Age Blackwell on drums. As the nights grew longer and the beer got more expensive, two more essential characters joined the group, Si Leach on lead guitar and the mysterious Swerve on keyboards. At that point, the cost of keeping the “club” alive became unsustainable, so they did the only sensible thing. Col picked up a guitar, and the band was born. http://www.makingascene.org

Recording Vocals at Home: From Living Room to Radio-ReadyRecording vocals at home used to feel like settling. You'd stand in a bedroom or living room, sing into a mic, and then hope the computer could “fix it” later. That old approach is done. These days, an indie singer with a normal room, a few smart choices, and good habits can record vocals that sit right next to commercial releases without sounding out of place. Not because home gear is some kind of magic cheat code, but because the real process of making great vocal recordings is finally available to everyone. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents - Why AI Video Finally Makes Sense for Indie Artists using AIVideo.comFor most independent musicians, the music video has always been the most expensive piece of the puzzle. You can record at home, distribute digitally, market on social platforms, but the moment visuals enter the conversation, the price jumps and control disappears. Crews, locations, schedules, favors, compromises. That is the old system. AI video changes that system, not by replacing creativity, but by breaking the video down into its smallest, most manageable parts. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene is reaffirming and expanding its commitment to the independent music community with a clear editorial mission: to continue delivering in-depth, practical journali/sm that helps artists take control of their careers instead of asking for permission from systems that were never designed to work in their favor. This commitment is not rooted in trends, hype cycles, or surface-level commentary.It is grounded in the belief that a healthy music ecosystem depends on a strong, informed, and economically sustainable music industry middle class made up of independent artists who understand both their creative value and their business power. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents - What the Hell Is an AI Agent and How can you Use it for your Music BusinessLet's strip the mystery away right now. An AI Agent is not a robot. It's not a sci-fi brain. It's not some Silicon Valley thing meant for billion-dollar companies. An AI Agent is simply a digital helper that can think through tasks, make decisions, and take action for you, without you babysitting every step. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Johnny "V" VernazzaJohnny “V” Vernazza was born in San Francisco and raised in Daly City, right in the middle of one of the most explosive music scenes in American history. In the 1960s, the Bay Area wasn't just alive with music, it was overflowing. Clubs were everywhere, and it was normal to jam at four or five spots in a single night. Add legendary rooms like the Fillmore, the Avalon Ballroom, and massive concerts in Golden Gate Park, and you had a city where music wasn't a hobby, it was a way of life. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents Gerry Casey's Interview with Laura RainDetroit is a city built on grit. After decades of being written off, it is rebuilding itself as a powerful center of ideas, art, and creation. The city is once again attracting artists, innovators, and dreamers who bring new energy and purpose to the Motor City. Detroit didn't lose its soul. It was just waiting for the right moment to rise again. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents - Why the Music Industry Middle Class Matters More Than SuperstarsThe Lie We Were All SoldFrom the very beginning, most musicians are taught the same story, whether anyone ever says it out loud or not. If you work hard enough, sacrifice enough, and stick it out long enough, someone with power will eventually notice you. A label. A manager. A gatekeeper of some kind. That moment, we're told, is when your real career finally begins. Until then, you're expected to struggle quietly and call it “paying your dues.” http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents - The Power of Reference Tracks: Learning to Mix by ListeningIf you want your mixes to sound more “pro” without buying more gear or plugins, this is the shortcut nobody talks about enough. Reference tracks. Not copying. Not stealing ideas. Just listening smarter.Most indie artists think mixing is about twisting knobs until things sound good. That's half true. The real skill is knowing what “good” even sounds like in the first place. That's where reference tracks come in. They train your ears faster than any tutorial ever will. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents - Record Labels Should Be Terrified: Artists Are Building Their Own EconomiesFor most of music history, there was one road. If you wanted a career, you went through a major label. They had the money, the power, the distribution, and the connections. Artists were told this was the only way. Sign the deal. Give up ownership. Wait to get paid later. Maybe. That story is breaking down fast. Today, artists are quietly building something new. Not a trend. Not a side hustle. A real replacement. Artists are creating their own economies where music, fans, data, money, and marketing all live under their control. No gatekeepers. No middlemen. No waiting. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents - Web3 Sync Licensing: Decentralizing the Music-to-Media PipelineThe Old Sync Game Is Rigged (And Indie Artists Know It)If you are an independent artist, you already know the truth about sync licensing, even if nobody ever said it out loud. The system is closed. The gates are tall. The same names show up again and again in film, TV, and video games. Music supervisors pull from trusted libraries, pre-cleared catalogs, and relationships built over decades. If you are not already inside that circle, you are usually invisible. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Murali CoryellMurali Coryell's story is one of deep roots, hard-earned growth, and a lifelong connection to music that runs far deeper than a famous last name. His journey started before he could walk. He was held as a baby by Jimi Hendrix, lived with Carlos Santana, and grew up around dinner tables shared with Miles Davis. Music wasn't something he chose later in life. It was the air he breathed from the very beginning. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents Gerry Casey's Interview with Katy DannKaty Dann is a Welsh singer and songwriter who writes and sings straight from the heart. Her music blends rock, pop, and soul into a sound that feels powerful, honest, and deeply human. There's emotion in every line she sings, but it's balanced with strength, confidence, and a sense of joy that pulls listeners in fast. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents an interview with Robert Top ThomasRobert “Top” Thomas comes straight out of the Florida backroads, where the air is thick, the nights are loud, and the blues still mean something. He's a swamp blues musician in the truest sense, pulling his sound from muddy rhythms, raw guitar tones, and stories that feel lived in, not written for show. When Top sings, it sounds like a late-night confession on a screened-in porch, with cicadas buzzing and a storm rolling in from the Gulf. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents Ace Studio 2.0 Artist Edition: The Deep-Dive Review Every Indie Musician NeedsThe walls of the old music industry are falling, and indie artists are finally getting the tools they deserve. For years, only big studios and big budgets had access to high-end vocal production, full instrument libraries, and teams of session singers ready to jump in at any moment. But now there's Ace Studio 2.0 Artist Edition, a tool that lets any indie musician create pro-level vocals, harmonies, and expressive instruments right inside their home studio. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents - Decentralized Touring & Ticketing: Taking Control of Live RevenueIf you're an independent artist, you already know the truth. Touring is the lifeline. It's the one place where you can still earn real money, meet real fans, and feel like you have a shot at building something that actually belongs to you. But the moment you step onto the traditional touring path, you slam headfirst into the same old walls that have stopped artists for decades. The big one is ticketing. Ticketmaster-style gatekeepers sit in the middle of everything, stacking fees on fees, blocking real fan access, and letting scalpers scoop up seats before your fans even know the show is on sale.The result is simple. You work. They eat. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents - How to Use AI Art to Build a Visual Brand Fans RememberHow indie artists can use Midjourney, Ideogram, and Leonardo.ai to create a powerful, consistent visual worldWhen people talk about branding in the music industry, it usually sounds like something only major labels can afford. Big agencies. Big budgets. Big teams deciding what your album art should look like or what colors fit your vibe. But that world is dead. Indie artists now have something better than a room full of marketing people. You have AI art tools that let you build your own visual universe with nothing but your imagination and a prompt. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents - The American Music Fairness Act: What It Really Means for Indie Artists in a World Where Radio Isn't King AnymoreFor years the music business has danced around the same old question. Who gets paid when radio spins a song? If you think the artist gets a piece of that pie, you're giving the system more credit than it deserves. The truth is, in the United States, the performer and the owner of the recording still earn nothing from AM/FM radio airplay. That weird loophole has survived almost a century. Now the American Music Fairness Act wants to close it, and the fight around it is getting louder every day. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents an Interview with American MileAmerican Mile isn't just a band. They're a touring machine, a modern voice for Southern rock, and storytellers for the real American struggle. Built on pure road-warrior grit, the band is carrying Southern rock forward with a sound that's loud, raw, and impossible to ignore. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents Gerry Casey's Interview with Claudia CaneClaudia Cane has been a force in the music scene for almost 25 years. German audiences first got to know her as the voice behind several SAT.1 TV theme songs, including the tracks for Benzin im Blut with Sonja Kirchberger, 36 Stunden Angst, and Die rote Meile. Her distinctive, raspy voice stood out right away. After spending five years in London completing professional training in acting and musical theater, she returned to Germany and quickly became known nationwide. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents - The Secret Power of Sidechains: How They Shape Modern MixesIf you've ever looked at a compressor or a gate and wondered what the little “Sidechain” button does, you're not alone. Most beginners skip right past it because it looks like something made for scientists, not indie musicians working in a home studio. But the truth is simple. A sidechain is just a way to let one sound control what happens to another sound. That's it. Once you understand that idea, you unlock one of the most powerful tools in the entire world of mixing. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Paul FilipowiczHe has been playing the blues for more than 40 years, all while working full-time in construction and roofing to make a living. This year, worn-out knees and elbows finally pushed him into retirement from the heavy labor. Even so, he hasn't slowed down. He's now building a cabin near Tomahawk using timber he harvested from his own 70-acre property. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents - What Is Latency? And How to Record Without Losing Your GrooveWritten for indie musicians who just want their tracks to sound right without fighting their gearIf you've ever tried to record vocals or guitar and felt like your timing was weird, or you couldn't stay in the pocket no matter how hard you focused, you've already met the enemy. That enemy is latency. Latency is one of those home-studio problems that doesn't care how talented you are. When it's bad, it throws off your groove in a way that feels like someone moved the beat a few inches to the left. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents - Turning One song Into 30 Pieces of AI-Generated ContentHow Indie Artists Can Turn a Single Track into a Month of PromotionThe New Reality: One Song Isn't Enough AnymoreIf you're an indie artist trying to grow your fanbase today, you've probably already felt the pressure. You drop a song, you post about it once or twice, and the whole thing sinks into the feed like a stone. It feels unfair, but this is the world we're in now. The truth is that the platforms don't promote your release just because you're talented. They promote you when you give them steady content that keeps people watching. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents - Touring 2035: Why Your Next Fanbase Will Come From a Wallet, Not a ZIP CodeThe touring world you know is collapsing. That old-school strategy of drawing lines on a map, circling major cities, and hoping enough people show up to cover gas is fading fast. For decades, touring was built on guesswork and geography. But the next era of touring won't be about cities at all. It will be shaped by something far more powerful and far more honest: blockchain wallets. These wallets hold tokens, smart tickets, digital credentials, and little pieces of fan loyalty that tell you exactly where your true community lives long before you ever pack a van. The touring map of 2035 will be drawn by clusters of fans who have already proven they care, not by the ZIP codes a promoter says might be “good markets.” http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Kamel L King Entertainment Lawyer and Artist ManagementKamel L. King was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi. He studied at American University in Washington, D.C., before returning home to attend Tougaloo College, where he graduated with honors and earned a bachelor's degree in Political Science and International Relations. He later received his law degree from Mississippi College School of Law, focusing on intellectual property and entertainment law. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents - Why Web3 Touring Collectives Will Replace Booking AgentsHow Indie Artists Can Use DAOs, Fan-Powered Ticketing, and Community Spaces to Build Tours Without GatekeepersThe music industry likes to pretend that touring is some kind of secret science only insiders understand. Booking agents act like they hold magic keys. Venues act like they own every path to a stage. Promoters act like they decide who deserves to play. But if you talk to indie artists long enough, you learn the truth. The system isn't complicated. It's controlled. And Web3 is about to tear that control down to the foundation. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents Gerry Casey's Interview with Pierre Lacocque of Mississippi Heat!On the back cover of Mississippi Heat's album Footprints On the Ceiling, there's a photo of a man playing harmonica with such intensity you can almost hear the music in the silence of the still image. That man is Pierre Lacocque—the band's founder, bandleader, and principal songwriter. What that photo suggests is exactly what his music delivers: a harmonica voice full of fire, soul, and emotion. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents - How to Use ChatGPT to Analyze Your Mix and Make It BetterThe New Secret Weapon for Indie Artists Mixing at HomeMixing your music at home shouldn't feel like guesswork. But most indie artists know the feeling. You sit in front of your speakers, you start turning knobs, and you hope for the best. Some days everything sounds muddy. Other days your vocals feel harsh and thin. Maybe your kick drum disappears on phone speakers. Maybe you're scared to even compare your mix to a real release because you don't want to hear how far off it is. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Pops FletcherMy story starts at age thirteen in the Roosevelt Jr. High auditorium. Three of us stood onstage with acoustic guitars, blinded by a single follow spot, singing “If I Had a Hammer” and “Blowin' in the Wind.” I didn't realize it then, but folk music was the doorway that pulled me into a lifetime of performing. http://www.makingascene.org

Making A Scene Is Moving Toward a 100% Ad-Free, User-Supported FutureFor more than a decade, Making A Scene has been showing up every single day for the indie music world. We have published fresh content every single day for over 10 years straight. No breaks. No missed days. No excuses. Every sunrise brings new interviews, new reviews, new gear talk, new music business guides, and new tools to help independent artists grow. This is not a hobby for us. It is a mission. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents - AI Isn't Replacing Musicians—It's Replacing the Music Industry MiddlemenThere's a strange truth hiding in plain sight in the music world right now, and the only people who seem scared of it are the ones who have the most to lose. If you listen to big labels, legacy execs, and certain industry talking heads, they want you to believe that AI is coming after the artists. They want you nervous, shaking, and convinced that a robot is going to take your guitar, steal your mic, and drop an album on Spotify before you can tune your instrument. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents - Emotion-Driven Mixing: How AI Reads Feelings to Shape the SoundThere's a quiet revolution happening in the studio, and it has nothing to do with new mics or fancy compressors. It's about something deeper. For the first time ever, we have AI tools that can actually read the emotional tone of music. Not just the key, tempo, or waveform shape. I'm talking about mood, feeling, energy, and intensity. This is called emotion-driven mixing, and it's changing everything for indie artists, bedroom producers, and even film scorers who need to tell a story through sound. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents - AI-Powered Music Ads: Smarter Targeting, Better ResultsWhen you hear people talk about AI in music marketing, it usually sounds like a bunch of tech hype. But the truth is actually much simpler. AI has changed ads on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok in a way that finally helps indie musicians reach real fans without wasting money. You no longer have to sit there trying to guess interests, age groups, cities, or behaviors. The machines do the learning for you. AI watches who reacts to your music, who skips it, who follows, who saves, and who keeps repeating the song. Then it reshapes your entire ad delivery behind the scenes. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents - Warner Music Signs Deal with Suno.com and Ends it's LawsuitSo… What Happened?Last week, Warner Music Group (WMG) announced it had settled its copyright lawsuit against Suno. That lawsuit was one of several filed by major labels in 2024 and 2025, accusing AI music generators like Suno (and its rival Udio) of using copyrighted recordings — without permission — to train their AI models. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents - Music Metadata on the Blockchain: Fixing a Broken SystemThe music industry has a weird problem that nobody outside the business talks about. It's not streaming payouts. It's not labels taking too much money. It's something way more basic, almost embarrassing when you think about it. The whole industry still runs on broken metadata. Metadata is the simple information about a song like who wrote it, who produced it, who played on it, who owns the master, who owns the publishing, and what identifiers track those rights. Without it, the entire royalty system collapses. And right now, that system is held together with duct tape, Excel sheets, and outdated databases that can't keep up with the global music economy. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Roy Blumenfeld of The Blues ProjectRoy Blumenfeld has lived at the center of some of the most electrifying moments in New York's 1960s music revolution. Born in the Bronx in 1944, he came of age just as American rock and roll was taking shape. Drawn early to the sounds of blues, R&B, and jazz, he picked up the drums and quickly became part of the city's vibrant, fast-moving music scene. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents Gerry Casey's Interview with Rebecca DownesBirmingham-based singer, songwriter, and independent artist Rebecca Downes has spent more than a decade building one of the most respected reputations in modern blues-rock. Working closely with longtime co-writer and multi-instrumentalist Steve Birkett, she releases all her music on her own label Mad Hat Records—a fully self-sustained operation that handles everything from writing and recording to manufacturing, marketing, and global distribution through Cargo Records. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Larin MichaelsBorn and raised in the heart of Motown, Larin Michaels grew up surrounded by one of the world's greatest music traditions. He began his musical journey at just seven years old as a drummer, laying the foundation for a lifelong career shaped by rhythm, soul, and unmistakable Detroit grit. By fifteen, Larin had expanded his musical palette to include guitar and piano, and soon formed his first rock band, The Noblemen, with longtime friend Mario Bee. The group quickly built a regional following, performing across the Midwest and appearing on radio and television while recording original material. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents - The Last Great Land Grab: How Web3 Will Decide Who Owns the Next Music EconomyThe music industry is going through one of the biggest power shifts in its history, and most artists don't even realize it yet. The shift isn't happening in the headlines. It's happening underneath everything, in the code, in the way money moves, in the way fans connect, and in the way ownership works online. This isn't a slow drift like the move from CDs to downloads. It's a full-on takeover. It's a land grab. And whoever claims their territory first will own the next music economy. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents - AI Audience Targeting: Finding Your True FansHow Indie Artists Use AI to Locate Real Listeners Before Spending a Dime on AdsIf you're an indie artist trying to grow your fanbase, you already know the truth that no one likes to say out loud. Posting nonstop on social media doesn't automatically bring fans. Boosting random posts doesn't work. Throwing a few dollars at an ad without a plan is basically donating your money to the algorithm gods. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents - Intelligent Room Simulation: AI That Maps Your Studio's Sonic DNAWhen you're working in a home studio that doubles as a bedroom, office, storage space, and part-time cat playground, it can feel like the whole room is fighting your mix. The low end swells in one corner, the highs disappear in another, and your mixes fall apart the second you play them anywhere else. For years, this was the single biggest problem for indie artists and engineers working outside fancy studios. You could have golden ears, killer monitors, and world-class plugins, but if your room lied to you, your mix would lie right back. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents - Fan Tokens and Social Currencies: The Rise of the Artist CoinsThere's a quiet revolution happening in the music world, and you can feel it in the air if you're paying attention. It's not coming from the major labels or the streaming giants. It's coming from the artists — especially the independent ones who are finally done waiting for permission. After years of dealing with algorithms that hide your posts, payouts that feel like pocket change, and companies that treat your fanbase like their property, musicians have started to build something different. They're creating their own economies using fan tokens and artist coins, and it's changing what it means to have a music career. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Henri HerbertOriginally from the UK and now based in Nashville, TN, Henri Herbert has earned a reputation as one of the most electrifying blues and boogie-woogie pianists working today. A permanent resident of the United States, his Green Card was granted specifically for his exceptional ability as a blues pianist—formal recognition of a talent that has taken him across stages throughout the U.S. and Europe. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents Gerry Casey's Interview with AK and the Red KitesAK & The Red Kites is a modern rock band with a retro-infused edge—big riffs, cinematic soundscapes, and a raw energy rooted in classic influences but driven by a bold, contemporary vision. At the center of this new creative chapter is frontman and guitarist Andrew Knightley, rising from the ashes of his previous blues-rock powerhouse, Trident Waters. http://www.makingascene.org

Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Joel DupuisBased in London, Ontario, The Joel Dupuis Band is a powerhouse three-piece delivering high-energy, no-nonsense, straight-ahead rocking blues. Winners of London Blues Band of the Year 2024 and Guitar Player of the Year 2024, they're known for explosive performances, soulful original songs, and bold, modern spins on classic favorites. http://www.makingascene.org