#044 Just put it out there man! | Steve East

--:--
"The majority of us will never get involved in the business side of music"

"I want us all to be 60 / 70 (years old). Still playing, still jamming and going at it and probably still moaning we don't get paid enough."

Steve East, aka Mayor of Benoni is a jack of all trades and a master of all of them! A musician, booking agent, designer, music video director, radio voice, vocalist from the old country band Crystal park, and founder of Rockford media.

In this week's episode of the Shotgun Story podcast we talk about the proverbial glass ceiling for roots, blues & country in South Africa, the 'boys club', ageism, playing on the same stages as your musical heroes and how hard it is to book bands when they don't have videos of themselves performing live!
"Pick your best song, play it live and send me like 30 seconds"

Listen for a really down to earth, honest perspective of what it's like to be a working musician in SA.

"It's just kind of finding your thing and just doing it." - Steve East

'Maybe Tomorrow'
Written by John Crossen and Terry Bush
Performed by Steve East
Recorded by Ye Olde Farm House Studios

Send an email to Steve - Steve.East@RockfordMedia.com
31 Jan English Explicit South Africa Music Interviews · Performing Arts

Other recent episodes

#055 Find inspiration everywhere | Simone Govender

"I can honestly say it (music) saved my life at one point." Simone Govender is a pop singer-songwriter based in Johannesburg. She teaches music on the side. I heard her exquisite voice at a Saturday morning market, and I knew that I had to have a conversation... The thing is,…
28 Aug 29 min

#54 Take the pressure off the music | Cito (WONDERboom)

"I haven't got millions of streams. I'm just doing what I'm doing." There is something wonderful about talking to someone with a lifetime of experience in their field. And this episode of the podcast is FILLED with delightful stories, lessons, coffee, and bits of GREAT advice. Martin 'Cito' Otto is…
8 Aug 37 min

#53 How do you become an artist? Sustainably | Dave Starke

Dave Starke is a folk singer-songwriter in the ancient British Isles troubadour tradition (the modern version, obvs). He speaks a language I deeply understand, that of grappling with how to be an artist. Sustainably. In this episode, we chat about 'cultural confidence', being comfortable with being uncomfortable, writing songs out…
1 Jul 46 min

#52 Music publishing is a money conversation | Thando Makhunga

You're a creator. Use your talents and find a NICHE for yourself. Are you a songwriter (or a composer) debating whether to get a publisher or to try your hand at doing it yourself? As a creator, it's important to have a very open vision of your career and what…
10 Jun 49 min

#51 The role of labels in the modern music business | Benjy Mudie

Why do you want to go to a label? They can't do anything for you. Benjy Mudie has been in the business of making music for over 40 years. In 1998, he founded the independent South African music label Fresh Music. He has been responsible for signing and developing some…
20 Apr 48 min