Singer Songwriter — Podcast — Making It with Chris G.

You can also listen to this episode on iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher |

Andrew Duhon is a singer-songwriter based in New Orleans, LA. His second album, ‘The Moorings’, was Grammy Nominated for the best-engineered album. Duhon has been touring the United States and the UK for the last decade, starting completely DIY. Since COVID-19, he learned how to quickly pivot his business, and created alternative revenue streams through live streaming and Patreon, offering a new experience and value to his fans. In this conversation, we discuss how Andrew Duhon built relationships with people at venues while on tour to further expand his touring business, going on a vacation to the UK that lead to touring the country, how he’s built revenue streams with live streaming and Patreon, and much more.

To learn more about Andrew Duhon visit https://www.andrewduhon.com/.

Highlights from this Episode
[6:23] Getting started playing music
[8:13] DIY Touring
[9:34] Playing open mics
[13:05] Touring strategy
[16:32] Talking with strangers at shows
[18:52] Playing outside of your hometown
[22:00] Communicating with fans for upcoming shows
[23:10] Becoming a Creator on Patreon
[27:50] Starting Facebook Live Streams
[32:02] Engaging with people on a live stream
[36:50] Encore performances on Patreon
[38:12] Writing process and habits
[42:55] Things he’s done different since COVID-19
STUDENT Q&A
[45:48] How do you attract people to your Patreon page?
[47:25] How are you testing new songs since open mics are not an option?
[50:01] Can the Global Quarantine help you build new fans overseas?
[54:25] Do you think if you released the Patreon content for free, the audience would be as engaged?
[57:42] Wrap up Questions - getting to know Andrew Duhon

Quotes from Andrew Duhon
“The open mic is a petri dish for creativity.”
“I think the open mic for me was important for playing a draft of a song...and see how it landed.”
“The open mic was helpful to bounce songs off of strangers.”
“People who enjoy a set want a souvenir….give them an opportunity to take you with them.”
“After starting Patreon, I’m reminded not everybody is on Facebook or Instagram.”
“People who gravitate toward what an artist is doing or where that artist is going, are gonna love seeing incomplete stuff or stuff that doesn’t make the cut.”
“That tip jar thing, that works. People are not tipping 5 bucks. They’re tipping what a concert ticket would cost.”
“The only thing different from me recording a video and doing a live steam is the opportunity to interact.”
“You have to figure out a way to talk your way down that comment list until you feel like you can engage.”
“The corners of your mind when you just start sweeping around, there are ideas in there that you are going to enjoy, and you won’t find them unless you just start moving the pen.”
“Not everything should feel like an effort to make a song on a record. Sometimes you’re just working the muscle some other way.”
“When people hear a new song and they really like it, they want to let you know about it.”
“If it feels like thoughtful content, people will appreciate it.”

Get in touch with Andrew Duhon
https://www.andrewduhon.com/
https://www.patreon.com/andrewduhon
Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Twitter

Keep in touch:
chris.goyzueta@gmail.com
www.makingitwithchrisg.com
https://www.instagram.com/chrisgoyzueta/
https://www.facebook.com/makingitwithchrisg

Credits:
Host: Chris Goyzueta (Chris G.)
Producer: Jason Trosclair
Executive Producer: ONElive Creative Agency
Music: Emily Kopp

You can also listen to this episode on iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher |

Heather Mae is an award-winning singer-songwriter who is unfazed by what typical pop artist today is “supposed” to look like and how the typical pop artist is “supposed” to sound. She writes and performs beautiful pop music with lyrics about real topics that affect the average person. Heather. Is inspired by her own experiences and identifies – a queer, plus size woman living with Bipolar Disorder. In this episode we discuss her new album, body positivity and empowerment, mental disorders from Bipolar to Tourette’s, and alternative remedies for mental health.

This has one of my favorite and most inspiring episodes so far. Heather really helped open me up and speak about topics that I want to share more on the podcast and have more experts on the podcast for those topics. During the episode I said something along the lines that creatives feel more. And that’s not saying that people that aren’t creative or using their creativity to make a living don’t feel. They just haven’t trained that side of their personality as much as creatives that are constantly pouring their soul out into a song, canvas, acting role, film directing, design, etc. I truly believe we’re all creative beings full of emotions, and it’s important to talk about these emotions that we feel. Thankfully for creative and brave people like Heather Mae, it brings more awareness to these topics, and hopefully makes people more courageous to talk to someone about their feelings. It’s something that’s so important, and we should never let anyone or any pre-conceived perception of what a pop star should look and sound like, what sexy is, what strong is, etc. hold us back from being our most true authentic selves.

I love this episode, and Heather Mae is a truly beautiful human being making a giant impact in the world, and I hope this podcast helps and inspires one person.

Highlights from this Episode
[3:10] Doing a Yoga Headstand
[7:02] Eating disorders and being fat in the music industry
[18:39] Struggles of Anorexia
[24:55] The things that really matter in health and longevity
[31:08] Using the terms fat versus overweight
[39:35] Overcoming the battle with an eating disorder
[43:25] Where Heather found her courage
[45:35] Being your real Authentic self
[50:25] First single “Feeling Crazy” and going off of Bipolar Medicine
[57:34] Finding alternative ways to treat mental illness
[1:14:05] Bringing more variety to the Podcast

Quotes from Heather Mae
“My body is a machine and she is capable of so much.”
“All bodies can be sensual, and all bodies can be beautiful.”
“Plus size women in the music industry is so much bigger than just singing our songs.”
“When my body is in the spotlight, girls who are bigger that look like me, they don’t feel like they’re a freak.”
“Your body will tell you where it wants to go.”
“You are the only one that knows what feels good.”
“Physical health is just as important as mental health.”
“I’m perfectly perfect the way I fucking am right now.”
“I made a vow to God that if I got my voice back that I would make social justice music.”
“When I came out as queer and as a social justice songwriter and fat, I realized I didn’t have to search so hard for my fans.”
“When I started shifting from trying to be a pop artist that fit into the music industry, and instead just talked about my fans what I believe…I found my fans.”
“I focus my time to what is the legacy I am leaving behind and that shifted everything for me.”
“We live in a world where mean aren’t supposed to feel…but it’s so ridiculous.”
“There is a huge spectrum of gender and so we should just let ourselves just exist.”
“We as creators, I believe, are in the service industry.”
“Somebody that is going through a hard time or has been through a hard time, when they listen to that, they feel seen, and when they feel seen they feel loved.”
“It’s really important that we as creators are mindful of what we do with our vessel.”
“Musicians need to be finding things that fill their souls that help them be the best creators they can be.”

Links to people, places, and things mentioned
Heather Mae
Lizzo
Adele
Blue Zones
Things No One Will Tell Fat Girls by Jes Baker [BOOK]
Alexa Bliss interview on Chasing Glory [Podcast]
Mary Gauthier
Scullcap
Ashwagandha
St. Johns Wort
Magnesium
Vitamin D
Southeast Wise Women Conference
Transcendental Meditation
Insight Timer [App]
Binaural Beats
Brain Wave Binaural Series [App]
BrainWave Tuner [App]
Mood Rise [App]
Qi Gong
Ben Greenfield podcast episode on Earthing with Clint Ober

Heather’s Definition of Making It:
“I have made it because I’m living a creative life where people listen to my music and are staying alive because of my music.”

Get in touch with Heather Mae
https://www.heathermae.net/
https://www.patreon.com/heathermae
https://www.instagram.com/heathermaemusic/
Heather Mae on Spotify

Keep in touch:
chris.goyzueta@gmail.com
www.makingitwithchrisg.com
https://www.instagram.com/chrisgoyzueta/
https://www.facebook.com/makingitwithchrisg

Credits:
Host: Chris Goyzueta (Chris G.)
Producer: Jason Trosclair
Executive Producer: ONElive Creative Agency
Music: Emily Kopp