Production Advice

Another day, another clueless newspaper article about Twitter – this time from the Guardian, who should know better !

Here it is:

Behind the music: Should artists try to tweet their way to success?

So, over and over again, we have the same tired, trite, shallow complaints about Twitter.

But if you’re going to refer to Imogen Heap in a post as this article does, the very least you could do is actually read some of her tweets ! Here is her stream:

http://twitter.com/imogenheap

As I write this there are absolutely no dull references to what she is having for breakfast, but plenty of far more interesting ones – some replies to people’s questions about her new album, discussions about bands she enjoys listening to- and one surreal, dark sequence where she reports how a dead body was retrieved from underneath a waterfall near the hotel she was staying in.

Far from the dull, inane chatter that journalists who “just don’t get it” are so fond of complaining about.

Oh, hang on, she also tweeted that she’s lost her keys – but even that potentially dull moment turns out to be a link to an amusing 12-second video of her singing about losing her keys – simultaneously entertaining, endearing and funny.

YES some people’s tweets are dull, but “Immi” is not one of them. And for the ones who are, the solution is easy – don’t follow them !

Immi’s tweets are the exact opposite, and coupled with her fondness for experimenting with the possibilities that the “social web” offers – asking for opinions about different versions of a tricky section in a song she is working on, or broadcasting live piano improvisations from her hotel room on UStream – she is actually the perfect example of why an artist using Twitter in a creative, successful way.

We want to feel connected to musicians and artists we love. The “old” music industry was all about manufacturing fake relationships with fans through interviews, magazine articles and fan clubs. The opportunity that the “new” music industry offers – via Twitter, UStream and whatever comes next – is to create genuine connections between artists and fans.

It’s an idea that’s still in it’s infancy, and it won’t work for everyone, but I think it opens up a wealth of exciting new possibilities, especially for unsigned or independent musicians.

I would encourage any vaguely tech-savvy musician to think hard about following her example.

For more on this subject, the one and only Steve Lawson has written and said far more (and far better) than I ever could about musicians on Twitter (and Social Media for musicians in general) on his excellent blog, here.

Finally, if this is the first you’ve heard of Twitter, here are a few musical people I would say ARE very worth following on Twitter: @solobasssteve, @dubber, @kristinhersh, @miriamjones, @ihatemornings, @sentricmusic, @siggidori, @skinnermike…

And of course you can follow me, too (if you like !) – here.