Her release show sold out. Every seat full. She still lost money.Muriel Boulanger doesn't sugarcoat what it really costs to be an independent artist — and that's exactly why this conversation matters.Muriel is a bassist, singer, and songwriter running four projects at once — her solo work, the folk ensemble Folia, the Arabic-ska-reggae band Soukoush, and pop project Wave Away. She's trained in music production, deeply intuitive as a songwriter, and brutally honest about the gap between the creative dream and the financial reality.In this episode we go beyond the process and into the stuff most artists never say out loud: what it actually costs to make a record, why your album has a 6-month window before it's dead, why venues are booking less post-COVID, and why government artist status can feel completely disconnected from building a real career.Real music career advice. No highlight reel.▬▬▬▬▬▬ WHAT WE COVER ▬▬▬▬▬▬🎸 Writing from emotion over theory — Muriel's intuitive songwriting approach🎧 Album production costs & working with an external producer (the real numbers)📣 The promo paradox — why you're already too late before you've even started💸 Losing money on a sold-out show — and why her manager said "that's normal"🎟️ Genre boxes, booking politics, and how venues underestimate audiences⚖️ Balancing artistic integrity with commercial survival🏛️ How government artist status works (and where it completely falls short)🌍 The music industry is oversaturated — here's how she navigates itIf you're an independent musician trying to survive — and find your place — in today's music business, this one is for you.▬▬▬▬▬▬ CHAPTERS ▬▬▬▬▬▬00:00 Intro — Soul Vibe Sessions is a movement00:17 Meet Muriel Boulanger03:14 How a song evolves from idea → studio → live show → back again09:38 The promo paradox and the 6-month album shelf life11:40 Why programmers underestimate what audiences can handle16:00 Sold-out show, still lost €250 — and her manager's response24:15 Writing from emotion: why she composes on instruments she can't play▬▬▬▬▬▬ CONNECT WITH MURIEL ▬▬▬▬▬▬[Add Muriel's socials / website / streaming links here]▬▬▬▬▬▬ SOUL VIBE SESSIONS ▬▬▬▬▬▬🎙️ Podcast for independent artists — real talk on gear, music, and the business of being an artist#SoulVibeSessions #MusicBusiness #MusicCareerAdvice #IndependentArtist #MusicIndustry #MusicPodcast #IndependentMusician #MusicPromotion #MusicBelgium #Songwriting

What happens when an aerospace engineer with a sales background decides to build a band?

Jorik Van den Bosch doesn't just play music — he markets it like a product launch. In this episode, the guitarist, pianist, and songwriter behind Wave Away shares how he and his partner Muriel built a dreamy alt-rock project from scratch — using mood boards for brand identity, a guerrilla sock campaign to get radio airplay, and in-person venue visits across Belgium to book gigs.

We dig into the songwriting process behind their Cigarettes After Sex-inspired sound, why authentic branding beats fake personas, the reality of Spotify revenue for indie artists, and why Jorik deliberately chose NOT to be a full-time musician — and how that actually makes his music better.

Plus: band agreements, rights & royalties, playing 100% live and analog, and Keith Richards' advice on songwriting.

Whether you're starting a band, promoting your music, or trying to figure out the business side — this one's packed with real strategies you can use today.

Guest: Jorik Van den Bosch — Aerospace engineer, sales professional, guitarist, pianist & songwriter (Wave Away / 925)

Louis Vandommel went from nighttime drummer to co-founding AndR — a platform built to fix what's broken in the music industry. In this episode, we go deep on artist branding, fan data ownership, content strategy, the death of the middleman, and why distribution matters more than talent in 2026.

Louis breaks down exactly how independent artists can turn one live show into 10 pieces of content, why you NEED to own your fan data, and what artists like Jacob Collier, Charlie Puth, and Tyler, The Creator understand about marketing that most musicians don't.

Whether you're a bedroom producer or a touring musician trying to cut through the noise — this conversation will change how you think about the business of music.

Key topics: artist authenticity, fan-generated content (UGC), music distribution, Spotify strategy, the role of labels in 2026, data-driven artist development, and why passion beats spreadsheets.

🎙️ Guest: Louis Vandommele — Co-founder & CEO, AndR

🎸 Host: Peter — Soul Vibe Sessions

He never went to music school. He wanted to be a pilot. Then a coincidence threw him on stage — and 30 years later, he's still there.

Michael Schack joins Soul Vibe Sessions for a raw, wide-ranging conversation about what it actually takes to build a lasting career in music. From his accidental start with Blue Blot, to pioneering hybrid drumming with Roland, to playing live drum and bass at festival scale with Netsky — Michael has seen every version of the music industry and adapted to all of them.

We go deep on the economics of music (why streaming killed the old model), the entrepreneurial mindset every artist needs, the bizarre history of the Roland TR-808, how he helped shape the SPD-SX, and his personal rules for longevity: no alcohol, no drugs, no negativity.

Whether you're a drummer, a producer, or any kind of independent musician trying to figure out how to actually make a living doing this — Michael's 30 years of hard-won wisdom will shift your perspective.

🎙️ Guest: Michael Schack — Hybrid Drummer, Roland Artist, Netsky Live

🎸 Host: Peter — Soul Vibe Sessions

Key topics: hybrid drumming, music business evolution, Roland TR-808 history, SPD-SX development, Netsky, Milk Inc, Blue Blot, musician mindset, live performance revenue, artist as entrepreneur, longevity in music.

He went from working in a pub to managing GOOSE and Vive La Fête — two of Belgium's most iconic touring acts.

Hans Ascrawat, founder of AndR, joins Soul Vibe Sessions to break down what separates artists who build real careers from those who stay invisible. We go deep on artist identity, branding, the shift from album revenue to live performance income, and why Spotify is actually modern radio — not a revenue stream.

Hans shares his "Full Body Yes" framework for decision-making, explains why most musicians are essentially running non-profits, and reveals the one thing every artist needs before they even think about marketing.

Whether you're an independent musician, a manager, or just someone who loves the business behind the music — this one will shift your perspective.

🎙️ Guest: Hans Ascrawat — Founder, AndR / Manager of GOOSE & Vive La Fête

🎸 Host: Peter — Soul Vibe Sessions

Key topics: artist branding, music management, Spotify as discovery tool, live music revenue, artist identity, the punk dilemma, content distribution, building touring brands, intuition in business.