Blogs/News/PSAs

Brooklyn, New York's dance and tech-house artist Ercy Mirage to release new album "Glimpses of Me" on the Substantial Music label September 1st, 2020.

"Glimpses of Me" is Ercy Mirage's third studio album on which he collaborated with Zoya, worked with grammy nominated music engineer Maxim Morin, and songwriter Anisa H. The album is a complex compilation of sounds officially labeled dance and EDM but with multi-generational influences that span the decade's and genres. "Glimpses of Me" is a masterfully crafted album achieving a definitive release from one of the eras up and coming artists.

Boundless talent with a multifaceted set of skills. Ercy Mirage aka Ercy Leka is a tech veteran who is no stranger to creativity with a high caliber of expertise as a composer, director, engineer, producer of audio/film/photo, and Adobe master. Ercy has an impressive portfolio of projects produced for juggernauts such as Lexus, General Electric, ABC Studios, Pepsi Cola, and has worked alongside Grammy-winning artists like Rick Rubin and The Weekend.

soundcloud.com/ercymirage
instagram.com/ercymirage
twitter.com/ercymirage
substantialmusic.com
https://www.beatport.com/artist/ercy-mirage/48000

Independent Gospel Artists Alliance, Inc. presents the 7th Annual IGAA Conference.

July 6 - 8, 2017 at Held at Queen's Chapel UMC, 7410 Old Muirkirk Road, Beltsville, MD. 20705

Co-presented by Phillip Carter and Minister Earl Bynum, the Independent Gospel Artists Alliance Conference is an opportunity to provide wisdom and expert assistance and support to advance Independent Artists and their ministries. The Conference is a business and music conference that adjusts to the ever-changing needs of the Independent Artist. Therefore, conference sessions change from year to year.  Recent conference sessions include Music Distribution, Independent Label Operation, Licensing & Royalties, Structuring Contracts, Marketing, Artist Branding, The REALity of Radio, and Touring Across the U.S. and Abroad, Vocal Master Class, Radio/Marketing/Promotion for Holy Hip Hop Artists, Industry Facts & Myths, and Artwork Fundamentals, Artist Development, Accounting and Tax Tips for the Independent Artist, Worship in a Dry Land, Publicity, and more.

Independent Gospel Artists Alliance, Inc., a U.S. 501 national nonprofit organization, specializes in education, mentorship, and relationship building for artists and musicians with a focus on music entrepreneurship, technology, ministry, and artistry. Formed in 2009 by Award-winning Independent Gospel Artist Phillip Carter, the Independent Gospel Artists Alliance (IGAA) strengthens, motivates, and empowers the independent label owners and independent artists who believe in the power and participation of networking and trade. The IGAA is a leading source of education and mentorship for Gospel, Christian, and Inspirational artists.

Early Registration March 1, 2017

Regular Registration April 15, 2017

Register online https://www.indiegospelalliance.com

The R-word just won’t go away. I’m talking about rejection. Writers know it well.

As an independent author, rejection is just a painful part of the game. I didn’t mail my manuscript to a hundreds of publishers like other authors, but I did mail it to several over the years. And, well, you know the rest.

However, my story is a little different because I finally got a “nice” rejection from a major publisher. And when I say nice I just mean the editor liked my book, but those with the decision-making power did not. The one who liked my book encouraged me to keep writing. So that’s what I did. I took my bruised ego and hurt feelings and decided that I had enough encouragement to find another way to get published.

I surmise many of us who opt for partner-publishing or self-publishing decide the same thing. We just don’t have the patience, interest or heart to sit around and wait to be discovered. But somehow we find the money, time and determination to get it done.

Now that my novel, “The Second First Lady,” is out, the R-word is still an issue. I made a call recently and it wasn’t exactly a rejection, but it was an honest “call us back in a few months.” Yet it felt like the R-word at work.

Just because you finally have your book in hand doesn’t mean rejection will leave you alone. It’s challenging to get press coverage. It’s tough to get people to buy your book. And if you’ve ever sat at one of those vendor tables as people walk by, you know what I’m talking about.

Sometimes it’s tough to be taken seriously.

But I’ve decided to face the R-word head-on, not run from it. I tell my kids that life isn’t fair and rejection happens. I tell them they have to tough it out sometimes and do whatever it takes to get what they want. So I’m taking my own advice and putting on my game face, doing what I have to do to get what I really want.

My stories – and your stories – are just as amazing and engaging as those who have the big publishers behind them. The world just doesn’t know it yet.

So, c’mon Mr. R. Give me what you got. I’m ready.

Vanessa W. Snyder is a writer, National Board-certified teacher and mother of two daughters in Washington, D.C. The author of a new novel, “The Second First Lady,” and co-author of titles in the “50 Ways to Christ” series, she can be reached at vanessa@blackdoorventures.com.