StreetcredMusic: Winner, Photo of the Year 2016.

Here it is, and two of the same mugs won last year. Ah hahahahahahha
Foxy mugs I might ad, and talented too. Kayce Laine and Erin Pellnat 💙💚

This year they are joined by Tessa Lena and they were all part of a project we put together called #Pianowomen. 
Here are the::Pianowomen Videos

It was a fun day and the videos by Streetcred and Director, Daniel Diosdado
are wonderful, all original music and great video work!! My thanks to ALL!!

Here is last years winner, taken in a snow storm in NYC:

Kayce & Erin

 
Here are all the other nominees, have a look,  All 2016 nominees

To all my readers and supporters of IndieMusic, have a GR8 2017.
  Here's a video of the events in 2016 that Streetcred worked on.
   Enjoy: 2016 Highlights

Follow me:: Pete Carma

StreetcredMusic; Would You Give Up Every$$thing To Make Music?

I posed the question,
   ...'would you give up all other jobs and try to make a living from making music'?
I asked artist I know, and said they could answer anonymously, or tag themselves.

I was prompted by my observations over six years.
I wondered why the successful indie artists, were not copied by the others who were struggling
   ...having to share apartments, work two or more jobs, and still playing venues for free.
While others of equal skills were being paid for gigs, and traveling, and quite frankly, refused to under value themselves. It seem to me the conveyor belt the industry has set up to keep artists from breaking out was still attractive to most. It seems the make up of the individual is the answer.


I'll be adding posts as I receive them.

Shrederella Regretowittz, Bklyn. NY:
 "Sometimes I wish that someone would have told me when I was younger how hard it is to be a musician. I get kind of resentful of all the people I looked up to but then I remember that literally everyone in my life told me constantly, and also every movie, biography, and casual piece of pop culture explicitly stated how haggard and lonely and broke all musicians are...

...but as a child I had no concept at all of the perils of adult life so none of those things even made sense to me... and then I get kind of wrapped up in the perfect innocence of children and how many times my entire world view has been shattered and then I think that like, life probably isn't hard cuz I picked a crazy thing to do with my life, life is probably just hard in general and that's pretty chill. I can get down with that cuz it means that I'm probably not wasting what little time I have working on a craft and using that craft to try and benefit other people somehow,

...and then I feel better because in a broad sweeping way life is trash, but it's like, trash all round, Y'know? Like, trash for everyone? And that's pretty comforting"
                                 ****************************************

Anonymous, NYC:
 "Don't do it. When it becomes a way of life, it ceases to be an escape from life. Gradually, you'll compromise your musical principles for the bottom dollar, and when that happens, your passion will erode away. Where I'm at, I'd go insane if I didn't have guitar to decompress, but I'd also go insane if it constituted 90% of my time"
                              ********************************************

Alan, NYC:
 "I don't understand the question. I've been a musician my whole adult life, and I work in the biz for $ as a tech. I even married a professional backing musician. I didn't give up anything. This is who I am.

Nothing would change my central core identity, I am an artist. It's my soul. It can't change. I could be a postman or a janitor, and it wouldn't change. (Fuck office work, though. Working in an office is my idea of hell) And I would suggest that for you it is the same.

What I would advise anyone with a "normal" career (WTF is normal?) is don't throw it all away. Be cautious and keep an income, maybe modify the way you work, because you ain't gonna make big money being a touring musician unless you are staggeringly lucky. And you probably have better chance of winning the lottery.
Unless you are preternaturally talented, like a Hendrix or something, and even then luck plays a huge part.

If you read dots, you can do well as a session muso, but that really depends on where you live, because it is all about demand.
My experience is that doing audio and stuff for a career really ate into my passion for music as an art form. It became "a job" and whenever I played or listened to music I wasn't listening with absorbed passion, but with the jaded cynicism of someone who works on that for a living.
I stopped playing in bands when I was in my early 20s, 'cos most musicians annoy me (ha ha) I'm more of a loner, but I've heard the same from people who play touring groups, they have to compromise what they love for playing shit that people want to hear. And they get real jaded. Some people love it, of course, but you have to be a particular type.

Remember also that you ain't always gonna be young. This shit is a young person's game. You can always make music til the day you die, but the touring lifestyle gets old really fast, and it will make you crazy, as Mr Zappa once noted. You need to have something to fall back on when your back gives out and your prostate is cranky.

At the end of the day, it's your life and your adventure, so take a risk and go for your dreams. But always have a backup plan"

Sarah, Boston:
 "After graduating college, I spent 4 years working with my band. I would only work jobs that had complete flexibility for gigging (mostly seasonal positions), I worked 2 jobs...barely scraped by money wise, and sacrificed relationships with family and friends.

A little over a year ago the band fell apart for multiple reasons (we got to complacent and too comfortable) and I've felt empty since. I have very few friends, barely speak with most of my family still, and am starting to practice less and less.
It is worth every second and I would give anything to have it back again.

Our refusal to stick to what we did well, and trying to fuckin fit with trends destroyed us.
Do what made your followers happy, not the industry. know your audience, they don't like
moving around"

Sarah: Do what made your followers happy.

#SupportIndieMusic..

Just added Dec. 11th 2016.

Marissa, NJ:
I met Pete Carma in 2011. He saw my music on line and contacted me, and came to see me perform.
That was so encouraging to me, because to be honest, not one other person who had any influence reached out to me. I was teaching at the time, second grade at a private school in NYC. I was living in a roach infested building on the lower east side, and my rent would go up every year. Every spare dollar I had went to my music career. Chasing rainbows, and hearing bullshit from everyone.
I'm out. I now live in NJ, I'm 37, teach and sing and play for the kids. The exhausting life style, the misogyny, playing for nothing, was too much to waste my youth on.

Pete Carma:
Let me add one sentence to this. Marissa was great, a bluesy, jazzy, sexy vocalist. Miss her! 

Added: Jan. 2d 2017:
DJ: Jay:
 Quitting your day job, or at least your main stream of income, for music doesn't mean you'll never make money outside of playing shows or selling merchandise. Many musicians in consistently working bands still pick up a shift here and there at a job when they are in their hometown. Others have the occasional DJ night that pays a set amount, and often comes with a drink and food stipend. So like other musicians, you may still work every now and then, without having to compromise tour plans or band rehearsals.

Anonymous:
  Last year, I had a chance to do just that, quit my day job and I learned a few things during my exciting, though sometimes heartbreaking year of freedom. Although it certainly feels great to throw caution to the wind and dive head first into pursuing your dream, music, my biggest barrier to success remained the same. I simply did not use my time and resources wisely. 

Added Jan. 5th, 2017:

PlayMC: New Jersey:

The artists and bands that I know that are making a full-time living are some of the hardest working people I know. They hustle every day and work long hours, evenings, weekends, whatever it takes to get the job done and bring in the income they need to survive. Most bands dream of quitting their day job to do music full-time, but some don’t realize that it is a job to be a full-time musician, and you might end up working harder and longer than any day job out there, but the reward will be to do what you love for a living. 
....More coming~

Follow me: Pete Carma

StreetcredMusic: 'Shattered' The New CD from Greta Panettieri.

Releasing her third CD, 'Shattered' in as many years, international song stylist Greta Panettieri
has again set the bar high for female vocalists.

Greta Panettieri

 Greta's phrasing is nuanced and stylized in the way of no other jazz singer. But her persona is modern and upbeat. The album is all original music with the exception of a tribute to David Bowie, Greta does 'Life On Mars'. A rendition Bowie would admire.

As I'm writing this Greta has released the first single and video from the album, "I'm In Love" which makes a statement about Gay marriage. It is a shout out to the first Gay couple to be officially married in Rome, Italy, Luca and Francisco.
VIDEO: I'm In Love

           ****************************


 The album produced by Andrea Sammartino is a 360 degree look at Greta's eclectic musical persona and her virtuoso artistic style that creates her very own genre. 

Get the album: 'Shattered' HERE

 Greta: 
"I've always called myself a Jazz singer, (but not really)
I improvise but I don't exactly scat. I like soul music and R&B, but I don't sing melismas.
I like mainstream melodies but I'm not a 'pop' singer. Who am I then? 
I am what I sing. I sing what I like, the way I like. I leave it to my voice without trying to frame it in a specific style. Definitions just 'Shatter' on me"

                   **********************************************
No album, review, or conversation about Greta Panettieri could be complete without  mention of her love for Brazilian Jazz. She has performed with 'the best of the best'. 

Shattered is no exception, here is a fun behind the scenes video look at a tune from the album 'Oppure No' with Claudio "Greg" Gregori,  >Video:Oppure No

 Shattered,  nine tunes in all, is another well done work by Greta and her people. The arrangements, the choice of material, the world class musicians, the art work and the concept, are just an extension of her work ethic and overall class and respect for her music.

Follow the 'Diva' :Greta Panettieri, HERE



Follow me:: Pete Carma

StreetcredMusic: 2Women, Two Different Solutions, One Universal Problem. Yula Beeri, Dionne Warwick.

Musical solutions to breakups:
...here are two, a generation apart.

Yula Beeri 
....and her take.
      

Yula and Asi Spector

 Enjoy,  Yula, Video> "My Heart No Longer Skips A Beat"

Yula Beeri

                       *******************************************************

Dionne Warwick and Burt Bacharach had a slightly different take...

Enjoy the video: "Walk On By"

   .....History of  "Walk On By"
     

Follow me:: Pete Carma

Streetcred: Nominees for Photo of the Year, 2016

That time again... I have to select the best photo of 2016. Remember the photo is judged on it's emotion, the timing, and the feeling when the photo was taken. And of course the people involved, and perhaps most important, the mood. Photo quality takes a back seat to all that.
ALL of these people and places were responsible for the success of the blog this year.

Here is 2015's winner::

Kayce Laine   &   Erin Pellnat

                           ****************************************************
 ...here are the rest of the nominees for 2016 Photo of the Year...

...a GR8 shot from the album release show, Sept.
   .........Keren Botaro

Keren Botaro 

...Veiny Girl, unmasked, at ThehiveNYC
.........Yuli

Yula Beeri

 Nikki Yanofsky's first album with Quincy Jones.
.....Single video here:: 'Kaboom Pow'

At TheHive, video release of 'Now'
...Yuli with Yoav Bar
Here is the video:: 'Now'

     

Yoav & Yuli

just added five more as of Dec. 14th...
  (a couple more coming)

Keren Botaro
   ...album release Sept.

Erin Pellnat, Caretaker
   ...their show, Brooklyn, NYC 

Top to bottom: Yula Beeri, Tessa Lena, and Melanie Willey
   ...together on stage at TheHive.

The 'original' Pianowmen, June 2016
   ...Erin, Tessa, Kayce, NYC

The Diva, Greta Panettieri...
   ...Signing her new CD, 'Shattered'

just added four more as of Dec. 12th...

The creation of ??Veiny Girl??, at: TheHiveNYC
   ...created by Alain Rochefort, Yuki Sato & Libi Ohayon

Erin Pellnat, B4 her band Caretaker
   ....hit the stage.

Erin Pellnat

 Yula Beeri, performing with,
   ...Renzo Vitale & Strings.

Yuli

Songstress Kayce Laine
   ...at Pianowomen video shoot, June 2016.

just added four more as of Dec. 8th......

Me and "what's her name"?
Before her show. September 2016.

MaryC & The Stellars, June 2016.
DUMBO, under the Manhattan Bridge.
Mary sings backup, GR8 show as always.

MaryC 'Love Automatic' video

Tessa Lena, Pianowomen shoot, NYC
June 2015. "Baby Robots"

Tessa Makes Love

"The Butt Shot" Erin Pellnat,
  Pianowomen shoot June, 2016, NYC
  With Daniel Diosdado &  Ricardo Birnbaum

just added four more as of Nov. 28th......

The many talents of  Lara Bello
Vocalist, musician, writer, dancer, composer.
Her Tribute Performance to Federico Garcia Lorca, in New York City.
My review of the show, HERE

Lara Bello

This is the Queen of R&B, Arika Kane
I chose this photo from several she sent to me. She was gracious enough to do an Op/Ed for Streetcred. Which BTW drew thousands of readers.
She was a big part of the blogs success in 2016,. xo

Arika's Op/Ed Read it HERE

This one has to be in the running, for many reasons.
1. This may be the only selfie you will ever see of Tessa Lena (L)
...........with her are the other two 'Original Pianowomen' Kayce Laine  
        ..........and Erin Pellnat .....#Pianowomen videos: HERE
 

Tessa, Kayce & Erin xo #Pianowomen

 ....and this is just me in the bathroom of Nublu
    .......at a Tessa Lena show, Tessa Makes Love, is the band.

....more coming!

Some of the nominees for 2016.

Tessa Lena at #Pianowomen filming

M Train, Flushing Ave  TheHiveNYC

31 inches of snow, 33d Street & 6th Avenue

Mary Jo Camel Toe Awards Show, Mary Jo accepting her 'Uneven Titties' Award.

         .........More coming!
               .......Follow: Pete Carma

StreetcredMusic: David Bowie, Prince, 2016. By Greta Panettieri and Lucine Fyelon

In 2016 we lost David Bowie, and Prince, but not their music.
Tributes were all over social media, TV, and live gigs.
These were the best I've seen....

Greta Panettieri ... a longer version is available on Greta's new album 'Shattered'

Video: David Bowie: "Life on Mars"

                           

Greta's Music: Here

                      ******************************************************

Lucine Fyelon...as only she can, also paid tribute.

Video: Prince's 'Purple Rain'

Lucine Fyelon, web site

  Prince: 1958-2016

Follow me:: Pete Carma

StreetcredMusic: Pianowomen From Outer Space. Cezara, Aziza.

They must be from Outer Space. Every once in a while I have to back myself up for all the times I write 'amazing women' on my social media, so this is one of those pieces.

....from Romania: Cezara Lucia Vladescu  

     .....video: 'Song For Dodo'

When I listen to either of these marvelous pianists, composers, musicians play, I listen over and over again. The music only sets in after several times. The visual, their stage presence and their hands capture me and the music passes like a cloud to be inhaled and enjoyed later.
                       **********************************************

  .....from Baku, Azerbaijan:  Aziza Mustafa Zadeh

      .....video: Ladies Of Azerbaijan

    
.....follow me:: Pete Carma 

StreetcredMusic: October Songstress Fest, Three Videos.

Enjoy some of the best "Women in Music"
    ...Streetcred's October Songstress Fest.
       ....Enjoy, sip some of your favorite beverage!

        Cezara Lucia Vladescu
            .... HER VIDEO: 'Alice, Alice'

  

Cezara Lucia Vladescu

                              *********************************************

If you like Halloween and scary stuff......her talent will scare you for sure!!
   ...the amazing, Jade Simmons
                     ...Her Video: 'Improvising' 
                 

Jade Simmons

                                   ****************************************

...and finally the 'Little Sparrow' who, does not regret anything! Do you?
    ....Edith Piaf

         ...Her Video: 'Non, je ne regrette rien'

Edith Piaf

      ....Have a very gentle Fall!

             Follow me:: Pete Carma

 

StreetcredMusic: Lara Bello, Tribute To Federico Garcia Lorca, NYC

It was my pleasure to attend this wonderful performance by Lara Bello
...at Saint John's Lutheran Church, NYC
   ....the poetry and letters of  Federico Garcia Lorca

Lara Bello

  ..the tribute was presented with all the dignity and elegance and musical perfection it deserved.
........Lara and guitarist, Eric Kurimski, frankly overwhelmed me.

Lara designed her gown to be a part of this tribute.

as seen in these photos

In addition to her voice, performance art, and creativity, it was quite clear that this hero of her homeland, holds a special place in her heart...Amazing show.

...at the finish of the performance Lara distributed (in small envelopes) to her audience, messages from Federico, I will not open mine, until.....

....every time I see her, she amazes me.

Follow: Lara on Facebook, here

Follow me:: Pete Carma

StreetcredMusic; Sixth Anniversary... Kiss Slash Crooked Smile.

During the six years of this blog, I have seen many artists grow, and some fail.
...I especially enjoy watching the many faceted artists evolve with more than one identity....For instance: Yula Beeri 
          ....here with Kiss Slash Crooked Smile
 

  KSCS  :with Asi Spector & Stefano Baldasseroni

 ....they started like this: video: KSCS, 2012


...then they 'amped' and up and after ...
the greatest *CD release party ever....they were out...


..........Video; KSCS, "This Is How........"

With Stefano & Yula

 Their album 'Ethereal Dance'  ..AVAILABLE HERE

 ..........* *CD release party footage

....Just some of the great shows and enjoyment over the six years.
........Follow me: Pete Carma