Making a Scene Presents

Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Brigitte Purdy

Brigitte Rios Purdy is a Los Angeles-born singer and songwriter whose voice carries the warmth of classic soul, the emotional depth of the blues, and the smooth elegance of R&B. From an early age, Purdy understood that singing was more than simply having a gifted voice. For her, music became a way to translate inner feeling into sound, turning personal emotion into songs that connect with listeners on a deeply human level.

Raised in Los Angeles, Brigitte was drawn to the power and honesty of soul, blues, and rhythm and blues. Her pure, silky vocal tone quickly set her apart, earning her opportunities to perform alongside respected artists including Walter Trout, Sugaray Rayford, Tim Bogert, Dionne Warwick, and Dolly Parton. She has also contributed background vocals for major artists such as The Who and Paul Rodgers, experiences that placed her in the company of some of rock, soul, and blues music’s most recognizable names.

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Making a Scene Presents Gerry Casey's Interview with Stone James of Hollis Dorian

Hollis Dorian is an award-winning country singer-songwriter whose music blends country roots with rock and pop energy. His sound is built on strong hooks, honest storytelling, and a modern country edge that reflects the wide range of influences that shaped him.

The title track from his debut EP, Country By Birthright, earned major recognition at the 2023 Josie Music Awards in Nashville, winning Country Song of the Year (Multiple Writers). Hollis accepted the award while standing inside the legendary Opry Circle at the Grand Ole Opry House, a milestone moment that marked an important step forward in his career.

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Making a Scene Presents - Using AI Tools to Improve Your Mix Without Letting AI Take Over

The New Home Studio Problem

The home studio has changed everything for the independent artist. That little room in the house, the spare bedroom, the basement corner, the treated garage, or the desk with a laptop and a pair of headphones is no longer just a demo space. It is where songs are written, arranged, recorded, mixed, mastered, pitched, released, and sometimes turned into real income.

That is powerful. It is also a lot of pressure.

A working indie artist today is expected to be the songwriter, performer, producer, engineer, content creator, marketer, booking department, merch department, and sometimes the van driver. Somewhere in the middle of all that, they are also supposed to make a mix that sounds good on studio monitors, earbuds, car speakers, phones, laptops, club PAs, streaming platforms, radio shows, sync pitches, and the merch table after the gig.

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Making a Scene Presents - How To Use AI To Write Better Email Subject Lines For Fans

The First Line Is The Front Door

Every indie artist knows the feeling. You have a show coming up, a new single dropping, a fresh batch of shirts on the merch table, or a membership offer you finally got the nerve to launch. You write the email. You care about the email. You know the people on that list are not strangers. They are fans, friends, buyers, believers, and maybe a few people who signed up three years ago at a gig and forgot they did. Then you get to the subject line and freeze.

That tiny line suddenly feels bigger than the song.

The subject line is not the whole email, but it is the front door. If it feels fake, fans walk past it. If it feels boring, they miss something they might have cared about. If it feels like a desperate ad, they delete it. If it sounds like you, gives them a real reason to open, and respects their time, you have a much better shot.

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Making a Scene Presents - How To Build A Simple Artist CRM (Customer Relationship Management) Without Getting Overwhelmed

The Fan List Is Not The Boring Part

Somewhere along the way, independent artists were tricked into thinking the “business side” of music was a separate, joyless dungeon where creativity goes to die under a pile of spreadsheets. The myth says the real artist writes songs, plays shows, makes records, and posts into the algorithmic void while some mysterious business goblin with a laptop handles the rest. That myth has been very useful for platforms, labels, middlemen, and anyone else who benefits when artists stay disorganized.

The truth is much simpler and much more dangerous to the old system. Your fan list is not the boring part. Your fan list is the beginning of your independent music business.

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