In this conversation, Cainan Grier emphasizes the importance of understanding oneself as an artist and finding a niche within the music industry. He encourages artists to use the resources available to them in the era of information and to learn from what has worked historically. Cainan also discusses the significance of audience expectation and the need to align one's visual and artistic identity with the genre or space they are performing in. He shares personal experiences of being misbooked and highlights the role of social media in testing and marketing oneself as an artist. Cainan concludes by emphasizing the importance of experimentation, self-reflection, and understanding one's own artistic lane.

Takeaways

• Use the resources available in the era of information to learn from what has worked historically.
• Utilize social media as a tool for testing and marketing yourself as an artist.
• Experiment and explore different genres to understand your own artistic lane.
• Understand yourself as a product and market yourself accordingly.

In this episode, Cainan discusses the importance of finding balance in creation. He emphasizes the need for artists to find a balance between technique and artistic expression. He explores the concept of discovery in art and the need for artists to find the truth in their work. Cainan emphasizes the role of the inner child in informing artistic growth and encourages artists to stay connected to their creativity and imagination. Cainan shares his experiences as a vocal technician and coach, highlighting the importance of listening to and learning alongside his students while working to amplify their natural talents. He concludes by discussing the importance of musical effect and interpretation in performances, urging artists to go beyond technical perfection and focus on telling a compelling story.

Takeaways

• Balance between technique and artistic expression is crucial for artists.
• Discovering the truth in your work and amplifying your natural talents is essential.
• Staying connected to your inner child can inform and enhance your artistic growth.
• Musical effect and interpretation are key elements in creating compelling performances.

In this episode, host Cainan Grier reflects on the importance of having a selfless intention in music and performing. He discusses how the focus on sounding good and seeking validation can overshadow the true purpose of music, which is to touch and move the audience. Cainan emphasizes the need to understand the meaning and story behind the songs we sing and to approach every performance with integrity and soul. He encourages listeners to reconnect with their initial passion for music and to remember why they started in the first place.

Takeaways

• The true purpose of music is to touch and move the audience
• Understanding the meaning and story behind the art we make is crucial
• Approach every performance with integrity and soul

In this episode, Cainan interviews his friend and fellow musician, Dreion, about their experiences at Berklee College of Music, its social network and fraternity-like atmosphere at Berklee, and the value of being open and uncomfortable in order to grow as a musician. They also touch on the diverse musical experiences they had at Berklee, including exposure to different genres and cultures, and the opportunities to learn from industry professionals who visited the school. The conversation highlights the importance of both academic learning and practical experience in a musician's education. Dreion and Cainan discuss the importance of humility and social skills in the music industry and emphasizes the need to be a well-rounded musician. They also discuss the significance of the oral tradition in music and the importance of ear training. Dreion highlights the value of perseverance, sacrifice, and commitment to excellence in achieving success as an independent artist. In this final part of the conversation, They also talk about the importance of being comfortable and creative in their performances and encourage artists to commit to their excellence and strive for improvement throughout their careers. In this final part of the conversation, Cainan and Dreion discuss their Mount Rushmore of vocalists, including artists like Luther Vandross, Barbara Streisand, Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Michael Jackson, and Prince.

Takeaways

• Being open and uncomfortable is necessary for personal and musical growth.
• Success as an independent artist requires perseverance, sacrifice, and a commitment to excellence.
• The oral tradition in music, particularly in the black church, teaches important skills such as dynamics, spontaneity, and working in the moment.
• Berklee offers a social network and fraternity-like atmosphere that connects musicians from diverse backgrounds.
• Committing to excellence and striving for improvement is important for artists at any stage of their career.

Contains Mature Language

In this episode, Cainan shares his thoughts and experiences with learning new repertoire and exploring jazz music. This conversation also explores the themes of serendipitous discoveries, fear in teaching and performing, the importance of being fearless, the impact of generalizations and comparisons, the role of challenges in personal and artistic growth, and the significance of self-awareness and self-care in vocal performance.

Takeaways

• Finding music that fulfills and empties oneself as a performer is important.
• Fear can be present in teaching and performing, but it is important to be fearless and face it head-on.
• Challenges are essential for personal and artistic growth, and should be embraced and overcome.
• Being open to new experiences and constantly challenging oneself leads to personal and artistic development.

Contains Mature Language

Welcome to the first episode of Get In Tune! A Musical Talk Show. For our inaugural episode, Cainan is joined by his best friend Amanda Pelay as they explore Cainan Grier's journey in music, from his early experiences in musicals to attending Berklee College of Music to his current roles as an artist and an educator. We start our show covering his introduction to musical theater, particularly his time at J-CAT, a theater program at the Jewish Community Center in Aventura, his involvement in various productions, and the challenges he faced balancing academics and theater. The conversation also touches on the importance of commitment, responsibility, and the value of learning and mastering skills in the performing arts. Continuing on, Cainan discusses the challenges and successes he faced, including imposter syndrome and finding his place at Berklee. Cainan also reflects on the importance of mentorship and the magic of music. The episode concludes with a discussion of the purpose of the podcast, which is to demystify the craft of music while amplifying the magic. Cainan invites listeners to visit his website to participate in the Q & A segment “Ask Asher” and submit music for the “Put Me On” playlist!

Takeaways

• Music is a magical and otherworldly art form, but skill and craft are necessary to succeed!
• Musical theater can be a transformative experience for young performers, providing opportunities for growth and self-expression.
• Balancing academics and art requires discipline and time management skills.
• Having a diverse range of mentors can provide a well-rounded education and perspective

Hey everybody! You are about to experience “Get in Tune”, my new podcast where I help my creatives and creative adjacent folk navigate this crazy world the best way I know how, using music and humor and cold hard truth. This podcast is going to cover everything you ever asked me a question on or dm'ed me about(or even challenged me on!): vocal health, artistry, performance and everything in between. Fair warning, this podcast is not for the faint of heart or the soft of stomach, and I and my guests will be keeping it 112% at all time but if you’re looking for a place to be entertained, educated and informed, then we’ve got a show for you!