Indie Rock 101: Running, Recording and Promoting Your Band, by San Francisco musician and writer Richard Turgeon, has just been published by Focal Press and is now available.
The book is part of Focal Press’s Mastering Music series, and is geared towards beginning to mid-level musicians looking for a clear, concise, all-in-one primer on running a band, audio production and promoting their music. It covers all the basics that can take years to collate from more specialized or technical books, magazines and websites -- and it’s written by a real independent musician. It also features photos and Q&As from some of today’s best and brightest artists and industry players on the indie rock landscape.
The book is divided into 3 main parts: Running Your Band; Recording; and Promoting.
"Over the years, I’ve had a lot of people ask me how to learn more about not just one subject related to their music, but several," Turgeon says. "How to get started in music; how to make records sound more professional; the best ways to sell their music online. I felt there really needed to be a single book out there that put all of these basics together in a way that wasn’t overly technical, or another ‘how-to’ hardware or software manual."
"This book’s different than most in that it covers the terminology, topics and techniques usually covered more categorically in different sources. This simple, broader approach to all the basics -- especially around audio production -- is designed to get musicians on the runway to doing things for themselves or directing others more effectively. I also thought it was important to include the thoughts and images of those artists and industry players who are actively producing, distributing and promoting their own music. Getting a collection of some of the people I respect and admire out there most was one of the most gratifying aspects of putting it all together."
"Basically, it’s a way for me to share everything I’ve had to learn the hard way as an independent musician and home recordist over a lifetime of discovery and real-world experience. I learned even more from the widely known and respected contributors who do this for a living, and I’m sure the book’s readers will as well."
About the author:
Since 1993, Turgeon has independently released 5 records as a singer/songwriter, recording and mixing the last four and managing his live band, Johnstown, along the way. He’s also played drums in a variety of San Francisco bands. He’s just released all 6 tracks of his new record, 10 Megs of Luv, which he mixed and played all instruments on. The record is currently available for free-download to the public.
