Summer is coming to a close, and it's been a busy year for me. A lot of events have transpired, some good, some bad, but all in all I can honestly say I'm happy with everything.
The new release of HUMAN has come out on Believe Digital through my record and production company Figment Sound. It's finally time to move on to my second album, with many lessons learned and a fresh perspective.
After a very discouraging experience with Mark S. Berry of Attack Media Group and Deevel Promotions, where I was ripped off and taken for a long and painful ride, I have picked up the pieces and taken the reigns once again, with much success. I originally hired Mark Berry in November of 2009 for a marketing and promotion campaign via one of his "companies" Deevel Marketing and Promotion. I was strung along with grand promises and fed with fake contracts from 3rd party industry professionals, such as MTV, Samsung, Believe Digital and others. After countless efforts to get information and updates out of the evasive Mark Berry regarding these "contracts", I finally got in touch with the 3rd parties, only to find that they had no idea what I was talking about and had never issued any contracts. Having lost over $5000 in fees and merchandise to a fraudulent Mark Berry, there is now a police investigation underway, among other things. I will post updates as they transpire. Someone needs to put this con artist in his place. I'm on the Berry trail!
I invite anyone else who has had a bad experience with Mark Berry to share their story!
On the upside of all this, I did have the opportunity to remix and re-release HUMAN, and also signed a "real" contract for distribution with Believe Digital on my own! (In your face Berry). There are now music videos in production, and I'm also in the pre production phase of album number 2, which is going to be stellar!
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Sunday, January 3, 2010
First CD review in!
Well the first of many reviews has come in on my debut release and all things considered, I'm pretty damn pleased with it! Taking into account that i put this CD together for fun, never anticipating what would happen! If I'd known I would have definitely made a few changes and polished the songs more. But wow... I'm quite stunned to be honest with all that's happening with this CD. I wish I could share that feeling with you! Guess I'll just have to write a song about it haha
Here's the link to the review!
Here's the link to the review!
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Auddy Award!!
As you can see on the right, my song Will You Be There has won a platinum status of 8.9/10 for hit potential! Sweeeeeeeeet!
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Hmmm
At first I thought I had something to write about,
and as I began to create this first sentence,
I sorta thought that maybe I don't really have much to say right now.
It's not that things aren't happening... that's for sure. I'm starting on a new adventure into the world of professional songwriting and recording, and it's so surreal to me that it's almost as though it were a figment of my imagination.
For years I've "dreamed" about being able to make a difference with my music, and to make a living as well for that matter. I managed to accomplish the first. That one was easy. I have a way of getting into people's hearts, and I write songs that touch nerves that people always thought were just their own. And now, I have decided to finally see if I can get my music heard by the rest of the world and try to make a difference. To make my mark on the world. And earning a living by that same means is only icing on the cake.
I will always be a writer, and always have been. I started doing it for nobody other than myself, and stayed that way for a while as i taught myself how to write songs, how to sing, how to train my ears and create melody, to hone my craft, and only now, withing the past few years have I felt it was time to open myself up to the world and let the music into the light. It's a scary process, a terrifying one, a daunting one, and a comforting one. I will truly learn over the course of the next few months if my skills, talents and songs are up to scale in the real world. It may be a slap in the face, or it may be a comforting pat on the back I so desperately need. It scares me. Art is a creation of the soul and spirit and the heart, and when you create something and put it out on your sleeve for all the world to judge, the pain can be tough to bear. But I'm being met with adulation and delight by professionals in the industry and it's genuine... and it feels so beautiful, but so scary. I guess i have to learn a very tricky trick: To somehow detach myself from my songwriting and the attachment to the song but at the same time write from the heart and soul. Could be interesting. The music business is not a comfy place to hang out, that I can assure you. The real world in this business isn't an MTV video, it's cut-throat and full of senseless and untalented people that just want to make money off your back by promising you stardom and fame, stealing from the poor with promises of riches. (Sound familiar? lol)
Aaaaanyway... Time will tell.
And it looks like I had something to say afterall lol.
Goodnight
and as I began to create this first sentence,
I sorta thought that maybe I don't really have much to say right now.
It's not that things aren't happening... that's for sure. I'm starting on a new adventure into the world of professional songwriting and recording, and it's so surreal to me that it's almost as though it were a figment of my imagination.
For years I've "dreamed" about being able to make a difference with my music, and to make a living as well for that matter. I managed to accomplish the first. That one was easy. I have a way of getting into people's hearts, and I write songs that touch nerves that people always thought were just their own. And now, I have decided to finally see if I can get my music heard by the rest of the world and try to make a difference. To make my mark on the world. And earning a living by that same means is only icing on the cake.
I will always be a writer, and always have been. I started doing it for nobody other than myself, and stayed that way for a while as i taught myself how to write songs, how to sing, how to train my ears and create melody, to hone my craft, and only now, withing the past few years have I felt it was time to open myself up to the world and let the music into the light. It's a scary process, a terrifying one, a daunting one, and a comforting one. I will truly learn over the course of the next few months if my skills, talents and songs are up to scale in the real world. It may be a slap in the face, or it may be a comforting pat on the back I so desperately need. It scares me. Art is a creation of the soul and spirit and the heart, and when you create something and put it out on your sleeve for all the world to judge, the pain can be tough to bear. But I'm being met with adulation and delight by professionals in the industry and it's genuine... and it feels so beautiful, but so scary. I guess i have to learn a very tricky trick: To somehow detach myself from my songwriting and the attachment to the song but at the same time write from the heart and soul. Could be interesting. The music business is not a comfy place to hang out, that I can assure you. The real world in this business isn't an MTV video, it's cut-throat and full of senseless and untalented people that just want to make money off your back by promising you stardom and fame, stealing from the poor with promises of riches. (Sound familiar? lol)
Aaaaanyway... Time will tell.
And it looks like I had something to say afterall lol.
Goodnight
Sunday, October 11, 2009
And it begins!!!
The replies have started already from my mass CD mail-out campaign with the help of Tinderbox Music. I imagine that over the following 2 to 4 weeks I should start getting quite a few replies... i hope hah.
One unrelated contact that I made this past week was with a very highly respected Radio promo guru that was referred to me by Jon at Tinderbox. She sent me a personal email and was just in love and highly impressed with the work I'd done, and all by myself no less. She's a super gal and has made me an offer I simply cannot refuse on an 8 week AAA Radio campaign in the US for the song Will You Be There. Interesting that this is the song she chose out of them all, considering that one or 2 other radio promo people were focusing on I Belong as a single to push. But Liz knows her stuff and she has a golden ear for knowing what will fly on radio and what won't, so I trust her judgment implicitly. I'm so amazed at the network I've begun to build and the quality and level of professionals that are starting to become my posse. Nothing but good things can come from all of this. God knows i've paid my dues and put in my time in honing my craft and developing my style and sound, and it's about time that it is finally being taken seriously by more than just friends and family.
You know... in the end, my dream may actually come true that music will become my career. How incredible would that be. The one thing that I do and have always done for the sheer love of it and total disregard for the money it can make for me might actually become my principle cash cow. How awesome would that be eh?
Getting paid to do what I love! :D
Keep those fingers, toes and legs crossed for me!
One unrelated contact that I made this past week was with a very highly respected Radio promo guru that was referred to me by Jon at Tinderbox. She sent me a personal email and was just in love and highly impressed with the work I'd done, and all by myself no less. She's a super gal and has made me an offer I simply cannot refuse on an 8 week AAA Radio campaign in the US for the song Will You Be There. Interesting that this is the song she chose out of them all, considering that one or 2 other radio promo people were focusing on I Belong as a single to push. But Liz knows her stuff and she has a golden ear for knowing what will fly on radio and what won't, so I trust her judgment implicitly. I'm so amazed at the network I've begun to build and the quality and level of professionals that are starting to become my posse. Nothing but good things can come from all of this. God knows i've paid my dues and put in my time in honing my craft and developing my style and sound, and it's about time that it is finally being taken seriously by more than just friends and family.
You know... in the end, my dream may actually come true that music will become my career. How incredible would that be. The one thing that I do and have always done for the sheer love of it and total disregard for the money it can make for me might actually become my principle cash cow. How awesome would that be eh?
Getting paid to do what I love! :D
Keep those fingers, toes and legs crossed for me!
Friday, October 2, 2009
Official Website Stats
It's been just under a year now that I've had my new official website www.paulgrenier.com up and running and I'm just clicks away from hitting the 10,000 visitor mark! Pretty darn awesome if you ask me. And now having placed some ads on Facebook, my fans are starting to grow there too. That's the thing about all of this. it doesn't matter how good your music is or whatever type of art you do, if nobody knows you're out there, nobody will look for you and consequently not even know you exist. Promotion is a tough game too... trying to figure out who your target audience is and the demographics of it all, but I'm learning. Mind you, I'd rather be spending my time writing new songs and getting some recording done rather than sitting here typing out blogs, mailing out CD's to prospects, spending money on placing ads and the list goes on. At least I have a small cash flow coming in from my music from my TV placement of my song Frightened, which helps a bit. But this is not an easy business to be in. One professional will tell me that my songs need tons of work and that I need vocal training, while others will adore what I do and praise my unique sound and style and love it for what it is. It is certainly a business that teaches you that you can't please everybody all the time.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Introduction
Hello everyone and welcome to my blog. I'll do my best to find the time to keep it updated and keep all of you in the loop. It's my first blog, so bear with me as I ease into it and develop it and hopefully turn it into a successful tool for my art. Wish me luck and don't forget to become a fan on Facebook as well as visiting my official website www.paulgrenier.com.
Thanks!!!
Thanks!!!
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