Hello,
This is the second installment of Sound Bites.
Sound Bites- quality information in bite-size pieces is for anyone in or associated with the music industry who is in the pursuit of quality in all areas of their lives. I have received great praise throughout my life for my ability to find the most accurate, succinct and quality information pertaining to products, experiences, fun facts, you name it. With my affinity for research and the ability to compile the best of the best out there, I feel compelled to share my wealth of knowledge. Because I value your time, the intention of this newsletter is to share my findings with you on a routine basis in digestible and curated morsels. Check out this week’s findings below!
Next Level Converse Chuck Taylors: Chuck Taylor ’70 Sneakerboots with Gore-Tex
What happens when you take gore-tex outdoor shoe technology and combine it with one of the most classic shoe styles of all time? The result is the Converse Chuck Taylor ’70 Sneakerboots. This pair of shoes is the perfect balance of style and rugged functionality. The gore-tex is the magic ingredient of these special edition Chucks. It makes this pair thrive when others just get by. The biggest pitfall I have found with every pair of Chucks I have owned is how they handled adverse weather conditions. I have put the gore-tex pair through their paces- I’ve submerged them in puddles and had food debris, latte, and smoothie spilled on them at my part-time job at Cafe Gratitude. This pair took everything I threw at them in stride. The best part about these shoes is when they got wet from walking in the rain. They practically cleaned themselves and kept my feet dry at the same time. The cost for these sweet kicks is double what you would pay for a regular pair of Chucks, but for more than double the value in durability and rigidity it is hugely worth the price.
Click Here for additional styles and sizes
Music I am Revisiting: Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go by WHAM!
This track has a feel-good vibe that permeates the whole body and makes you want to move. From baby mix tapes my aunt made me to the age of digital streaming I have heard this song a lot- more times than I care to count. After listening to a song so many times, my ear begins to hear and focus on different details of the music I didn’t previously notice. When I tuned into the bass playing, my ears perked up like a young guitar player hearing Jimi Hendrix for the first time. The bass line captured on this track was the kind of lightning in a bottle that would make anyone listening be on the edge of their seat with excitement. As a result, I wanted to dive deeper to learn more about who was behind the bold bass licks. His name is Deon Estus (Twitter @DeonEstus). I was not surprised when I learned that he was the understudy of the late, great Motown bass player James Jameson (click here to listen to his playing). Give this track a listen if you’ve never heard it or revisit it to see if you’re pickin’ up on what Deon is layin’ down.
Product I Use Every Day: Roost Computer Stand : (Click Here To Purchase)
It is no accident that this product raised over one million dollars for its Kickstarter campaign. When it comes to my computer set-up I like the flexibility and portability of a laptop. I also like looking at a desktop screen because I often catch myself hunching over my laptop. The Roost laptop stand is the perfect blend of both. This computer stand combined with a full-size keyboard and mouse gives me the experience of a desktop computer while still having the flexibility of using a laptop. Don’t have or want to purchase a keyboard or mouse? The other surprise use I discovered about this stand- it is perfect for watching your favorite movies or TV shows on your laptop. It works flawlessly in a variety of places; in the bed, on the ottoman of a couch and on top of my rack case. You could also couple it with a Bose soundlink mini or another Bluetooth speaker. This is an impressively satisfying experience with such a minimalistic set-up. It packs down to the footprint of a closed straightening iron that stores easily in my backpack wherever I go. The Roost computer stand is the best in its class and is an integral piece of my favorite computer set-up I’ve ever had.
Bonus: The show that brought me to testing this stand in every room of my apartment: Sense 8
Favorite In-Ear Monitor(IEM)/Headphone Case:
Jerry Harvey Audio Signature IEM Case
This case is one of the best small purchases I have ever made. As a professional musician in-ear monitors have been an everyday carry item for me for sixteen plus years. Having a case that withstood the rigors of the road was the difference between damaged in-ears and still using the same pair I purchased sixteen years ago. The pelican case that came with my in-ears could probably survive an apocalypse but was bulky for the size of its contents. I knew there had to be another case out there that didn’t sacrifice rigidity while simultaneously shrinking the footprint. The Jerry Harvey IEM case has all of these features in spades. It is made of dimondyzed aluminum and is the size of a hockey puck with a little added thickness. This case was monumental in regaining some of the internal real estate of my backpack. The experience of taking out and putting away my buds is music to my ears as a result of this purchase. Whether you are carrying around in-ear monitors like me or any type of ear-bud headphones, this might be the last case you ever need to purchase.
Website I’m Enjoying: Expert Boxing
This website really helped me learn and understand as world-renowned coach Freddie Roach @freddieroach would say “The sweet science of boxing.” Between the website and complimentary YouTube channel, it covers every aspect of boxing. This website knocked me out with its vast amount of knowledge and helped me step into the ring with a balance of confidence and humility. It taught me about the sport and how to avoid or limit the rookie mistakes. From finding the right gym and gear to technique and nutrition optimization, Expert Boxing is a wealth of in-depth information. The articles are lean with high-quality content while still being incredibly thorough. If you are looking to learn about boxing, this is the best reference source I’ve found.
My Business:
Source Science Sound– Helping musicians, bands, and artists do what they love and love what they do. Even in pursuing what I loved in life it still left me feeling unfulfilled. I also know through years of talking with many of you that I’m not alone. Why does this happen? I’ve concluded that no matter what we pursue in life if we’re not happy and fulfilled from within first then anything we give our time and energy will be colored by our unfulfilment. Unfulfilment is the result of internal imbalance. Like a movie projector, any internal discontentment is projected onto our external experiences from the inside out. Our outside world is merely an effect of all of our combined thoughts, actions, and emotions we’re constantly feeling inside. By recentering yourself from within the world outside of you will change automatically. What will this result in? People being magnetized to you when you walk in a room, it will lead to more gigs, standing out in auditions, feeling encouraged instead of discouraged to practice your instrument or given trade more, better relationships with the ones you love, and a renewed love for music and life. If you feel you are struggling through life’s obstacles and want to know how to overcome them in a way that is simple, streamlined and will shift your life in the most amazing ways please reach out to me. Do this by replying to this newsletter for more information about private sessions or ways I can help. Experience what others think isn’t possible in career, finances, and relationships. I will work with you or your bands to find a way to break through whatever your obstacles are to help you reconnect with the passion for music and life.
Please give me feedback by replying to this newsletter or messaging me on Instagram. Which finding is your favorite? What do you want more or less of? Other suggestions? Let me know! You can also send a message to @sinatra_sound and put #SoundBites at the end.
Enjoy,
SS