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GarageBand Hacks: Creating Professional-Sounding Tracks Without Expensive Plugins

October 1, 2024

GarageBand is often seen as an entry-level DAW (Digital Audio Workstation), but it has powerful tools that, when used effectively, can create professional-quality tracks. Many indie musicians and...

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Solving the General MIDI Program Change Dilemma in Ableton

October 1, 2024

When working with MIDI in Ableton, one might notice that although MIDI clips can send program changes, most of Ableton's native plugins don’t seem to respond to these changes effectively. This can...

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Escaping 'Tutorial Hell': Stay Motivated and Actually Progress in Music Production

September 21, 2024

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Should You Write Music or Lyrics First? Solutions from Famous Creators

September 20, 2024

One of the most common challenges for songwriters is deciding whether to write the music or lyrics first. This can feel like a "chicken-or-egg" situation, but there's no one-size-fits-all answer...

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How to Plan the Perfect Release Day for Your Single or Album

September 20, 2024

Releasing a new single or album is a huge milestone for any musician. However, without proper planning, your work may not get the attention it deserves. It’s not just about putting the song online...

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Mastering the Low End: Compression Tips for a Tight Mix

September 20, 2024

When it comes to music production, getting the low end right can be tricky. Many producers face a common issue: after the initial mix sounds perfect, a few days later, the low end starts to feel...

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How to Turn a Bedroom into a Professional Home Studio on a Budget

September 19, 2024

For many aspiring musicians, the dream of creating a professional-quality home studio seems out of reach due to costs and space constraints. However, with the right strategies and tools, it's...

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Remote Music Collaboration: Tools and Tips for Seamless Production

September 18, 2024

Collaborating on music remotely has become more common, but as you’ve experienced, it can be a challenge to get it right. Audio latency, control sensitivity, and lack of real-time feedback are...

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How to Build a Loyal Fanbase Using Social Media in 2024

September 18, 2024

In today’s digital age, building a loyal fanbase is essential for musicians to thrive. Social media platforms have become powerful tools for connecting directly with fans, sharing music, and...

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Best Apps and Websites for Creating Instrumentals When You Don’t Play Instruments

September 18, 2024

As a songwriter, it can be frustrating to have melodies or lyrics in your head but no way to bring them to life without instrumental skills. Thankfully, with modern technology, there are apps and...

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How to Match Chords to Your Singing – Overcoming the Struggle

September 18, 2024

Creating music often feels like an intricate puzzle. You might have a melody that you love, but when it comes to pairing it with chords, you feel stuck. If you're in this situation, you're not alone.

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The Top 10 Free Tools Every Indie Musician Needs to Succeed

September 18, 2024

As an indie musician, creating professional music while sticking to a budget can be challenging. You might not have the resources to afford high-end software or pay for expensive marketing...

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Olivia Rodrigo Strikers Gold Again with “GUTS”

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Photo Source: Teen Vogue

For Olivia Rodrigo’s devoted fans, the long-anticipated moment has finally arrived.  After a long two year wait since the release of her first breakout album “Sour”, Olivia Rodrigo is back with her sophomore album, “GUTS.” Olivia Rodrigo has been a revelation in the music industry since her first album, with songs like “drivers license” and “good 4 u” taking the world by storm. The pressure on Rodrigo’s new album has been undeniably immense after the massive success of her debut album. But she does not have to worry, as “GUTS” is already here and it’s nothing short of a masterpiece. 

Just like her 2021 debut, “Sour,” the album has 12 tracks, with Rodrigo credited as a lead songwriter alongside her go-to producer Dan Nigro. Rodrigo talks about how the album is “about growing up and finding your footing in the world” in an interview with The Guardian. The first single of the album, “Vampire,” was released back in June 30, 2023. In only its first week of release, “Vampire” racked up as the highest one-week streaming total on the Hot 100 with 23 million streams. 

It was not the single that only skyrocketed with streams, “GUTS” also became Rodrigo’s second No.1 album at the age of 20. Around 302,000 albums were sold in the U.S. and nearly 100 million streams in the first week, making it the largest opening week for any album released in 2023. In comparison to her breakthrough album, “Sour” debuted with 295,000 units sold in the opening week.

The album included many hits, with all 12 tracks from the album placed in the top 40 of Hot 100. Upon the album’s release, Rolling Stone even granted “GUTS” a score of a perfect 100, titling it as an “instant classic.” Fans has also gone crazy with Olivia Rodrigo announcing a 75-date world tour that is going to start in February 2024. However, if you’re in Toronto and you were looking forward to attending her concert, then Ticketmaster has unsurprisingly announced that tickets to each of her 2024 Toronto dates has been already sold out. You don’t have to worry since you can still stream her “instant classic” album on both Apple Music and Spotify! Below is the track list of the album of the year contender. 

  1. all american b – h 
  2. bad idea right
  3. vampire
  4. lacy
  5. ballad of a homeschooled girl
  6. making the bed
  7. logical
  8. get him back
  9. love is embarrassing
  10. the grudge
  11. pretty isn’t pretty
  12. teenage dream