Feature: Mikee vs The World - X Factor (The Good The Bad and The Ugly)

Already Heard is pleased to welcome back singer-songwriter and Engineer Records employee Mikee J Reds for his latest instalment of his monthly column - ‘Mikee Vs The World.’

With experience from being involved in several bands, touring throughout the UK and involved in an independent label, Reds has worthwhile valuable knowledge which we feel makes him ideal for this feature.

In this month’s column, Mikee discusses reality TV singing contests, the fame and money they bring and how they sometimes produce a surprise or two.

If you’re in a band, run a label or is involved in the music industry and would like to write a column for Already Heard, contact Sean Reid at Sean@AlreadyHeard.com.

Disclaimer: The thoughts and opinions in this feature are solely of Mikee J Reds and not of Already Heard.

Cheap TV is what it is. No real thought is needed, very much like ‘Big Brother, I’m A Douchebag Get Me Out Of Here and The Only Way Is Shit.’ Having said that it doesn’t mean that it is purely a bad idea to have shows like X Factor, Britain’s Got “So Called” Talent. The main issue of all these reality TV shows is that we, as a human race, are not there to watch someone succeed but to watch people fail miserably.

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Feature: Mikee vs The World - One For The Road (Tour Essentials)

Already Heard is pleased to welcome back singer-songwriter and Engineer Records employee Mikee J Reds for his latest installment of his monthly column - ‘Mikee Vs The World.’

With experience from being involved in several bands, touring throughout the UK and involved in an independent label, Reds has worthwhile valuable knowledge which we feel makes him ideal for this feature.

In this month’s column, Mikee talks about the essential items to remember when heading out on tour.

If you’re in a band, run a label or is involved in the music industry and would like to write a column for Already Heard, contact Sean Reid at Sean@AlreadyHeard.com.

Disclaimer: The thoughts and opinions in this feature are solely of Mikee J Reds and not of Already Heard.

One For The Road (Tour Essentials)

Over the last few years or so I have been very lucky enough to get out on the road and tour be it the UK or a bit of Europe, but either way I have been away from the comforts that is home. With that in mind I thought I would write a little list of what I would recommend to bring on the road with you. Too many times have I left without something vitally important, or I am on tour with people who done that same thing and ended up using my stuff, meaning I lose my extra pillow. I do love a second pillow. The list below will obviously depend on the room you have left in your transport.

Pillows - For sleeping on obviously, me personally I need two but thats up to you.

Sleeping bag - The amount of times I have been on tour with people and they don’t bring the most obvious thing.

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Feature: Mikee vs The World - Demos: Do’s and Don’t’s

Already Heard are pleased to welcome back singer-songwriter and Engineer Records employee Mikee J Reds for his second installment of his monthly column - ‘Mikee Vs The World.’

With experience from being involved in several bands, touring throughout the UK and involved in an independent label, Reds has worthwhile valuable knowledge which we feel makes him ideal for this feature.

In this month’s column, Mikee talks about the do’s and don’t’s of submitting demos.

If you’re in a band, run a label or is involved in the music industry and would like to write a column for Already Heard, contact Sean Reid at Sean@AlreadyHeard.com.

Disclaimer: The thoughts and opinions in this feature are solely of Mikee J Reds and not of Already Heard.

Demos: Do’s and Don’t’s

Working for Engineer Records, I get the pleasure to discover new bands before the rest of the world. To be found, the bands and artists send what are known as demos to us via e-mail, now back in the day it was all done via post which does still happen but by a very small percentage. If I’m honest, I am all for the new generation of demos because when you get a stack of CD’s it can be quite daunting, so you can just end up putting it off. E-mails are a little easy click a link and away you go!

So from the years of experience of receiving demos, I have created a list of Do’s and Don’t’s when it comes to sending your all important life changing demo.

I hope this will help bands/artists when sending their demos. Why work so hard on something for someone just to press the delete button.

DO: Introduce yourself and the band, a short description of what you may sound like and who you are influenced by etc.

DON’T: Tell us your life story, we do not need to know that the bands met when they were 4 years old and have been best of friends since then, we also don’t really need to know every member change there has ever been in the bands history. Bands change we get that, so if there is a big back story that s great but not for a simple demo. Labels and promoters don’t want to be sent an essay to read, they are likely to delete it.

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Feature: Mikee vs The World - Battle Of The Bands

As part of a new feature on Already Heard, singer-songwriter and Engineer Records employee Mikee J Reds will be writing a monthly column on a particular area of the music industry. 

With experience from being involved in several bands, touring throughout the UK and involved in an independent label, Reds has worthwhile valuable knowledge which we feel makes him ideal for this feature.

Disclaimer: The thoughts and opinions in this feature are solely of Mikee J Reds and not of Already Heard. 

Hey I am Mike I have quite a few years under my belt when it comes to music, whether it be playing it, organising it or helping running independent UK record label Engineer Records.

The kind people of Already Heard have been nice enough give me this wonderful piece of internet space to speak out about what I think of certain situations within the music “scene”. Be it right or wrong, it will always be something I am passionate about and I hope it is an enjoyable and sometimes a helpful read.

Battle Of The Bands

I shall try to keep this fair, ie looking at both sides of the coin but having dealt with Battle Of The Bands contests on many occasions or known those who have, I find one side is a lot darker than the others.

For those who don’t know what a Battle Of The Bands is I shall explain. It is pretty much what it says in its title, Bands battling it out for some prize may it be cash, time in a studio to record or a support slot for a larger more high profile show, the prizes will always vary some may even get the winner a record deal.

So with the positioning of the dangling carrot i.e. “The Prize,” it makes the whole situation a competition. Now this is where it gets to me, music is not a competition, its an art not to be judged by well judges but to be heard, felt and lived. How do you judge art, someones blood sweat and tears I hear you ask?

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