Launching a Music Career by Hand

Culminating Experience Initial Presentation
Nan Macmillan

Background

Piano Lessons
Guitar Lessons
Poetry

Influences

What do I admire about these
artists?
1) Songwriter
2) Instrumentalist
3) Unique Voice
4) Producer
5) Authentic & Organic Artistry

My Artistic Identity
1) Folk/Americana Songwriter
2) Instrumentalist (Guitar)
3) Producer & Collaborator
4) Authentic & Organic Artistry

CE Main Objective
“The main goal of this project is to develop the tools and generate a
portfolio of work that will help me best express my artistic identity. This
will allow me to have a clearer sense of artistic purpose and allow me to
share my work effectively as I emerge in the music industry.”

Overview
Objective 1: Artist Interviews
Objective 2: Establish Daily Habits
Objective 3: Write 10 Songs
Objective 4: Choose 5 to Record
Objective 5: Record 5 Songs
Objective 6: Record 2 Videos
Objective 7: Create Website

Objective 1: Artist Interviews
1) Emerging

2) Established &
Growing

Genna
Matthew
Asher
McGlothlin
4) Producer: Jay Foote

3) Artist at Peak
Sarah Jarosz

Adam Barnes
Louis Smith

Takeaways
Have specific questions, do background
research on the artist
Be clear about why I’m interviewing them
Ask for any further connections
Follow up contact

Objective 2: Establish Daily Habits

Free writing — 15 minutes/ day
Practicing Voice — >30 minutes/ day
Practicing Guitar — 30 minutes/ day

Take-aways

absolutely crucial to maintaining technique
learning songs — guitar
setting aside creative space

Pro Advice

“I don’t have a set structure for when I
play… I just let the moment happen.” —
Adam Barnes

Objective 3: Write 10 Songs
10 songs
written

66 other song
ideas

Song Productivity

August

September

October

November

December

January

February

March

April

May

June

3

12

8

7

3

2

5

8

11

5

2

Takeaways
Always record!!!
Flesh songs out, sit with them
I don’t have one specific process —that’s ok!
Create the right environment

Pro Tips
“Write with everyone you meet. Cultivate a
daily writing practice by yourself as well.
Learn your favorite songs and try and figure
out what you like about them. Then write a
song that uses those ideas. Do that every
day.” — Jay Foote

Objective 4: Choose 5 to Record
Song Title

Instrumentation

Tempo/ TS

Key

Mood

Sapling for August

Ac. Guitar

4/4, qn = 134

D

Nostalgic, longing, sentimental, folky

6/8, 8n = 120

C

Blues, southern rock, full band

4/4, qn = 80

D

Atmospheric, folky, stripped down,
easy cruising

6/8 & 4/4, qn = 85

F#m

Minor, dark, natural imagery, rootsy

4/4, qn = 75

D# (Capo 1 in D)

Atmospheric, acoustic, harmony
focused, questioning, unresolved

4/4, qn = 125

Similar to Backyard, sus chords,
F (Capo 3 Open D) questioning, longing

6/8, qn = 165

C # (Capo 6, G)

Upbeat, major, nostalgic, travelling,
goodbye

12/8, 8n = 157

D

Soulful, ballad, about leaving

4/4, qn= 87

G# (Capo 4, G)

Upbeat, happy, positive, wishing well

6/8, 8n= 145

C

Minor, hopeful, reminiscent, childhood

Mando
Violin
Vox + Harmonies
Northbound Train

Elec. Guitar
Elec. Bass
Piano
Drums
BGVs

Greener Country

Ac. Guitar
Upright Bass
Violin
Percussion

When You Gonna Give

3 Violin
Acoustic Gtr
2 Harmonies

Backyard

2 Guitars
Violin
Harmonies
Marimba

Apple Trees

Guitar
Violin
2 Harmonies

Up From It

Guitar
2 Voices

Burden Baby

Piano
Drums
Bass
Voice

May My Love

Guitar
Vox

There is a Light By The Door

Piano
Guitar
Violin
Chimes

Takeaway

Still worth it to try recording iffy songs
Think about how the songs fit together —
lyrically, musically, with instrumentation, etc.

Objective 5: Record 5 Songs
Objective 6: Record 2 Videos

Engineer: Nan Macmillan
Producer: Nan Macmillan
Violin/Arrangement: Korina
Davis
Mandolin/ Voice: Sam Amos
Guitar/ Voice: Nan Macmillan

Engineer: Ido Goldberg
Producer: Ali McLeod
Voice/ BGV Arrangement:
Nan Macmillan
Piano: Sam Amos
El. Guitar: Dan Caton
Bass: Thomas Champion
Drums: Nathan Smith
BGV: Carolina Magini,
Gracie Laboy, Josh Wallace,
Eddie Ruddick

Vocal Arrangement
SOPRANO

Northbound Train BVs

Northbound Train BVs
Nan Macmillan
Nan Macmillan

q = 115

q = 115

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Then

Now

Engineer: Ronald Ayala
Producer: Nan Macmillan
Arrangement: Korina Davis,
Dan Caton, Nan Macmillan
Voice: Nan Macmillan,
Gracie Laboy, Naomi
Westwater
Violin: Korina Davis, Nehir
Akansu, Gracie Hays
Guitar: Dan Caton

Objective 6: Record 2 Videos
preparation & artistic vision is key

video: Jon Forsyth
audio: Ronald Ayala
location: Playground Art
Center

Video

Engineer/ Producer/
Arranger/ Voice/ Guitar:
Nan Macmillan
Violin: Yeji Yoon

Greener Country
Takeaways:
rehearsal is key!
important to have a vision going into session
try out different textures/ instruments, not all
will work

Takeaways
rehearsals
re-recording
plan ahead
comfortable studio environment

Pro Tips
For me, a good studio environment requires a
great engineer who doesn’t talk too much, is
prepared and thinks ahead---to allow the
musicians to create/listen without being
bogged down by the technical aspects of a
session. Another component are musicians/
producers who create an environment of
possibility and positivity.” — Jay Foote

Objective 7: Website

How do I want to showcase my artistic
identity?

Folk/ Americana Songwriter

Instrumentalist

Producer & Collaborator

Authentic & Organic Artistry

Takeaways

Online presence is important
Put time & thought into photo shoot
Get feedback — still need to do!

Pro Tips
I think it’s just trying to find
that balance of letting
people in because they
follow you, they care about
your music, they’re
supporting you, but also
where to draw the line… it’s
just whatever feels natural
and normal to you.” —
Sarah Jarosz

Reflection
Clearer artistic identity
Development of sound
instrumentation
production

Good material to share as demos

Reflection, Cont’d
Areas of strength
songwriter, minimal production, vocal
arrangements

Areas to improve/to seek help
mixing, larger band recordings, charts, guitar

Collaboration is Key
Producer, Guitar player, Filming: Shaudi Bianca Vhadat
Vocal arrangement: Ido Goldberg
Vocal harmonies: Naomi Westwater, Gracie Laboy, Sarah Martinson, Eddie
Ruddick, Lily Byrd:
Engineer: Korina Davis, Gracie Laboy, Carlos Llerena
Co-songwriter & voice: Nathan Smith
Voice & Guitar: Nehir Akansu
Guitar: Sarah Martinson
Bass: Victor Mendoza Ensemble

Next Steps
Share Music, Video, Website
Find other artists
Improve on Guitar
Re-visit song ideas

Multi-dimensionality

Thank you!