How to Start Collecting Royalties from Your Original Music
A practical Leerecs guide for independent musicians: protect your songs, understand sound recordings versus musical works, register with ASCAP, and prepare your catalog to collect royalties properly.
Marlo B West Takes Manhattan: Look for the Beauty
Theatrical rock from the Lower East Side — Marlo B West Takes Manhattan brings jazz, blues, cabaret, and the Brooklyn Horns to stages across New York City, and finds art in the unexpected.
Hannah Hughes: Welcome to Planet X
NYC one-woman band Hannah Hughes — also known as Planet X Hannah — talks trumpet, guitar, psychedelia, and the debut double EP that brings her self-contained sonic universe into focus.
Minerva: Keep on Dreaming
Filipino alternative rock band Minerva talk about violinist Sky, the origin of their online hit "Alala," and their EP <em>Pangarap</em> — a word that means "Dreams" in Tagalog.
Alagon: Something Irrational, Something Free
Italian progressive metal band Alagon discuss the ancient Greek meaning behind their name, their tarot-concept album, and the "serve the song" philosophy that drives every creative decision.
Joe Paolo: The Dizzying Sensation of Finding Yourself
Singer-songwriter Joe Paolo talks about moving from drums to solo work, co-writing with his childhood best friend, and why the acoustic test is his only quality filter.
Tony Leo: Alien Punk, Alternate Tunings
Tony Leo discusses the alternate tuning behind "Venus," how a coworker's offhand remark named his album, and a musical path from Beatles records to punk to indie.
Faced: What You Hear on the Record Is What You Hear Live
Upstate New York metal band Faced discuss their album <em>Death Trip</em>, the years-long evolution of "Sheep Music," and their commitment to fully organic recording.
Pilot: The Thing That Counts Is the Sound
Belgian alternative rock band Pilot discuss the intuitive guitar approach behind their two albums, why <em>Black Swan</em> came from a real betrayal, and what it means to search for sounds rather than chord names.
Anslee McCrae: Every Song Is for Someone
Anslee McCrae talks about funding her records one piano lesson at a time, the empowerment message behind "Warrior," and why her album <em>Dream Again</em> came from real loss.
Miguel Moreno: Telling People Who He Is
Spanish singer-songwriter Miguel Moreno discusses his band El Rojo Gana, discovering rock at 15, and a new solo phase built around intimate, honest performances for small circles of friends.
Melodramatic Fools: Chemistry Is the Secret
Philippine alternative rock band Melodramatic Fools discuss the Green Day lyric that named them, how "Dying Room" became a song about choosing to bring life into the world, and the mutual support of the Philippine indie scene.
Arunava Roy: Everyday Life Is the Inspiration
Bangalore-based songwriter Arunava Roy discusses his band Roots, the move from Bengali rock to blues and reggae influences, and an album that finds depth beneath a feel-good surface.
Lihim: Wake Up and Move Forward
Metro Manila pop punk and post-hardcore band Lihim discuss forming in 2017, their love-songs-about-pain approach, and building an entirely independent debut EP.
How On-Demand Vinyl Actually Works for Independent Artists in 2026
A practical breakdown of how on-demand vinyl pressing works, what it costs, how long it takes, and when it makes sense vs. a traditional pressing run.
Cassette vs Vinyl for Independent Artists: Which Physical Format Should You Release First?
A direct comparison of cassette and vinyl releases from an artist operations perspective — cost, lead time, audience fit, and which format makes sense to start with.
How to Sell Physical Music Direct to Fans Without a Distributor (Zero Inventory Model)
A step-by-step guide for independent artists selling vinyl, cassettes, and CD without a distributor, without holding stock, and without managing fulfilment manually.
Leerecs Interview: Eric Fuentes of The Unfinished Sympathy
Eric Fuentes of The Unfinished Sympathy reflects on raw production, touring internationally, and why imperfection makes music timeless.
My Sister Deaf Sense: Writing About Human Behavior
Madrid-based grunge duo My Sister Deaf Sense talk about forming in 2006, the irony behind "Almost Serious," their album <em>Desert of Believing</em>, and why playing to what felt like a deaf audience only sharpened their focus.
Leerecs Interview: Sean Brennan of London After Midnight
Sean Brennan of London After Midnight on cult status, refusing trends, social justice in gothic rock, and decades of creative independence.
David Tanganelli: A Life in Jump Blues
São Paulo artist David Tanganelli brings 15 years of jump blues, R&B, and soul to his album <em>Up</em> — recorded at Lipe Studios with producer Cesar Bocchini and aimed squarely at stages in Argentina, Europe, and the USA.
Horsewreck Interview: Wyatt James on Writing From the Bass Up
Horsewreck / Wyatt James discusses bass-first songwriting, solo recording, and building a personal emo/pop-punk project from Portland.
Stardust Sonata Interview: Atlanta Rock, Dual Vocals and Up All Night
Stardust Sonata discuss long-running musical friendships, dual-vocal chemistry, and the rapid build behind Up All Night.
The Sky Creepers Interview: Javi Maurino on Stoner Rock Built for Two
Javi Maurino explains The Sky Creepers' two-piece heavy setup, split-signal guitar rig, and album-minded desert-rock approach.
Chris Marsol Interview: The Fear, Anxiety and Time Is the Circus
Chris Marsol discusses The Fear, lockdown anxiety, and the difficult process that shaped Time Is the Circus.
John Hawkins Band Interview: Offshore Work, Concept Albums and the Drive to Finish
John Hawkins discusses Tidewater, offshore life, and the solo DIY workflow behind a nine-song concept album.
Gonzo Interview: Dirty Army, The Buzz Lovers and the Energy of Nirvana
Gonzalo "Gonzo" discusses his dual role in The Buzz Lovers and Dirty Army, connecting tribute performance energy with original-rock momentum.
Ricardo Frutuoso Interview: Returning, Beauty and Recording on a Phone
Ricardo Frutuoso reflects on aesthetics, Voltando, and creating through lockdown constraints after recording hardware failed.
Matt Newell Interview: Country Music, Russia and Between the Living and the Dead
Matt Newell discusses recording country-rooted material in Russia, theological songwriting, and the EP Between the Living and the Dead.
Pat Gasperini Interview: Songwriting, Production and the Long Game
Pat Gasperini shares practical lessons on writing, pre-production, and sustaining long-term output as a producer-songwriter.
Tayla Rees Interview: Christmas Memories, Pop Soul and Writing With Pat Gasperini
Tayla Rees discusses holiday co-writing with Pat Gasperini and shaping personal family traditions into a memory-driven release.
Greg Kasper Interview: Indie Folk, Home Recording and Songs That Stay With You
Greg Kasper discusses home recording workflows, doubled-vocal texture, and balancing songwriting with full-time social work.
Cold Weather Kids Interview: Stolen Summer and the Pop-Punk Sound of Lost Time
Ryan Scottie discusses dual-lead vocals, home-studio continuity, and pandemic catharsis in Cold Weather Kids' Stolen Summer.
Geoff Alexander Interview: Music, Coffee and Creative Entrepreneurship
Geoff Alexander discusses entrepreneurship, River Moon Wellness, and how practical business structure can protect long-term creative work.
Tal Babitzky Interview: Sisters and Brothers, Film Music and Persistence
Tal Babitzky discusses Sisters and Brothers, composition craft, and long-cycle persistence across songs, albums, and scoring work.
Travis Shallow Interview: Let It Pass and the Independent Songwriter's Long Road
Travis Shallow shares an independent artist operating model spanning DIY production, selective outsourcing, and live-stream community building.
Joao Brandi Interview: Purple Eyes, Blues Roots and Musical Freedom
Joao Brandi discusses Purple Eyes, classic blues-rock lineage, and why independent artists need rights and royalty systems in place early.
Paraline Interview: Light Andersen on Russian Metal With a Western Edge
Light Andersen discusses building Paraline in Moscow, pursuing international production standards, and prioritizing originality over imitation.
Waves In Autumn Interview: Davide Cavaioli on Nature, Metalcore and Building a Tribe
Davide Cavaioli discusses Waves In Autumn's nature-symbol concept, single-by-single strategy, and community-driven heavy music ethos.
Handsome Karnivore Interview: Cinematic Rock Without Boxes
Franco discusses Handsome Karnivore's song-first production philosophy, progressive-cinematic rock evolution, and long-game persistence.