There is a quiet problem ruining a lot of good music before it ever has a chance to connect with listeners. It is not bad songwriting. It is not cheap microphones. It is not even weak mixes. It is loudness. More specifically, it is the guessing game around loudness that happens in home studios every single day.

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Making a Scene Presents - What Actually Matters When Building a Home Recording Studio
A no-BS guide for indie artists who want results, not gear lust

Let’s be honest. Most home recording studios fail long before the first note is ever recorded. Not because the artist lacks talent. Not because the gear is cheap or outdated. They fail because the studio was built around shopping instead of decision-making. Money gets spent before the purpose is clear, and gear piles up without a plan for how it will actually be used.

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Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Julia Eubanks of Agnes Uncaged

Agnes Uncaged, formerly known as Creeping Charlie, has quickly become one of the most compelling voices in Midwest indie rock. The Minneapolis-based band has earned attention for their guitar-driven, cinematic sound that balances raw emotion with melodic beauty. Critic Chris Riemenschneider called Julia Eubanks “one of the Twin Cities’ most promising young songwriters,” and the group was chosen to lead First Avenue’s Best New Bands showcase in 2022, a milestone that confirmed their growing influence in the region.

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Making a Scene Presents - The DAO Label Model: When Artists and Fans Run the Business

For decades, the record label model has followed the same harsh pattern. A small group at the top controls the money, makes the decisions, and sets the direction for everyone else. These decisions often happen behind closed doors, far away from the artists and fans who actually create the value. Artists write the songs, record the music, and build the culture, yet they are usually the last people with real control over what happens to their own work.

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Making a Scene Presents Gerry Casey's Interview with Willie Edwards

Wille Edwards is a Cornwall-based musician, songwriter, and the driving force behind the internationally acclaimed band Wille and the Bandits. Known for his eclectic style and fearless approach to genre, Wille has built a career that moves freely between blues, rock, folk, and world music, creating a sound that feels both timeless and modern.

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Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Daxton!

Daxton Monaghan is an Australian singer, songwriter, and guitarist whose music lives at the crossroads of grungy blues, psychedelic rock, and funk-driven soul. His sound is raw and adventurous, built on thick guitar tones, expressive vocals, and a fearless approach to songwriting that refuses to sit inside one genre.

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Designing a Full Fan Passport System for Indie Artists

A practical, real-world deep dive using tools you can use right now

This is not a theory piece. This is a build guide.

A Fan Passport system sounds fancy, but in practice it is just a way to stop forgetting your fans. It is a way to make sure that when someone shows up for you, buys something, or supports you in real life, that moment is remembered and can be built on later.

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Why Your Fan Data Is Worth More Than Your Music

If you are an independent artist, this is a hard truth that cuts against almost everything you were taught. Your music is no longer the most valuable thing you create. Your fan data is. Even more uncomfortable is this reality: recorded music has largely lost its status as a product.

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Making a Scene Presents - Fender Steps Into the Studio World With Fender Studio Pro 8!

For decades, Fender has been the company most musicians connect with guitars, amps, and the idea of owning your sound from the very first note you play. Fender has always lived at the start of the music chain, where hands touch strings and sound is born. What has changed is how far Fender now follows that sound. With the launch of Fender Studio Pro 8, Fender is no longer stopping at the instrument. It is stepping fully into the recording studio and placing its name at the center of the modern music workflow.

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Making a Scene Presents - The Home Studio Is Not a Shortcut, It’s a Strategy

For a long time, the home studio has been talked about like a backup plan. Something you use only because you cannot afford the “real thing.” A temporary setup you tolerate until a label calls, or until you can scrape together enough money to book time in a flashy room with a massive console and someone else running the session. That idea is deeply baked into music culture, and it is one of the quiet reasons so many independent artists feel stuck. It frames the home studio as a sign you have not “made it yet,” instead of recognizing it for what it actually is.

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