2024 Here comes a new album

Here we are in the last week for 2023. Probably many of us are thinking about all the things that happened during the year, those that we wanted to do and those that are still unattainable.

I remained pretty much silent during this year without any new releases after the 2022 EP “The Lo-Fi Sessions”

I had the need to reset myself in many areas. I probably took it too slow, but maybe that is what I needed after two very intense years I had in other ventures. Still, I managed to travel to new places to get inspired.

I went to the Iguazú Waterfalls, in Misiones, Argentina one of the natural wonders of the earth, I also had the chance to visit the Wanda Mines, another interesting visit to understand the extraction of diverse crystals.

Then I had the opportunity to visit Brazil for the first time, spending a few days around Rio de Janeiro and Niteroi. I loved it so much I have been learning Portuguese since then. I think I’m quite good at it.

Finally I visited my good friend Sebastian in Uruguay. It was my second time in Montevideo but My first time in Punta del Este. We had a good time!

Martin Strang in Niteroi Brazil

Martin Strang in Rio de Janeiro Brazil

Iguazú Falls

Martin Strang

In Wanda Mines, Misiones Argentina

Punta del Este Uruguay

Martin Strang in Punta Ballena Uruguay

The good thing is that while relaxed, I managed to keep composing new music and in 2024, I will release my new full length album. In fact, the release of it’s first single “Like Adults” will be released on 02/02/2024. Cool number hu?

Like Adults it’s a song about toxic relationships and the inevitable moment in which one of the parts wont take it anymore. Maybe the character in the lyrics has a lot of my personality, by simply avoiding conflict and just walk away.

It’s a very cool song with a lot of movement. A very solid Funky Rock track with very interesting moments, catchy phrases and a spark of magic.

This album is also special and different because it’s the first time I’m sharing the producer seat. This new album is Co-produced with Pepe German, he also plays the drums in the recordings in his professional and talented fashion.

I’m pretty sure the fans will enjoy this new single and I’m looking forward to hear what you think. Until then, here is the album cover:

The album cover has been done by me, Started with a photo I shot in Niteroi Brazil to the famous eye building by the notorious architect Oscar Niemeyer. The I worked around replacing concrete with white marble, to make it feel colder but impressive. Let me know if you like it.

Finally Please keep in touch with this effort and pre save for you to receive in Spotify this new song on release HERE

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December 18 2022 before the FIFA World Cup Final in Buenos Aires

Its has been a while since my last blog post and many thing happened during this past months so let’s get started.

I delivered to all platforms my EP “Lo-Fi Sessions” as expected. This album includes 4 instrumental songs on a beautiful conceptual format. It’s original, it’s laid back, sounds great in the background. To be honest, when you are a multi genre artist like myself who is not precisely into mainstream genres (Even tho, I’ve done it. Guilty as charge) its very hard to break any kind of barriers and get into the ears of millions.

This EP needed a strong song, with a vocal presence according to the tale. “Siento que” is the main single from the EP and got very nice results. People are still enjoying it and keeps counting modest streams.

After this project I felt like a needed a rest from music to come up with the concept from my next project, which is going to be a new full album.

I want this to feel honest to where I come from, gathering the sounds from 90’s grunge and 00’s metal into a project for Rock lovers.

If I have to talk about influences: Deftones, A perfect circle, Soundgarden, Radiohead are some bands I have been listening for years and shaped part of my sound making in it into the list.

So, in September 2022 we entered the studio at “El Ruido Records” with my good friend Pepe German on drums and Diego Estrella on Bass and recorded a couple songs for this project that are currently in post production. If you want to check a video while we were composing the first song click here

Recording drums at El Ruido Records

After that, I recorded another song by myself called “Catharsis” which is also in the line waiting for post production. I still need to compose at least 7 more songs. Sadly I don’t have time, either inspiration. But hey, this is not a race, this is art and you can be pretty sure I will keep writing song for this project during this year.

Then came the world cup and I witnessed and unbelievable display of happiness by people all around me. Argentina is again, champion of the world. I was there, on sunday after the final at the mythical 9 de Julio Avenue along with other 1,5 millions of Argentineans. It’s hard to explain, but I bet you already watched videos on the news about the celebrations. A week later was Christmas and the year was gone.

2023 came with a new variety of episodes in my fast paced life. I was hired to teach E-commerce at UISEK Business School. I already finished teaching my first course. I’m happy about this new challenge and opportunity. This is the third University in which I’ve taught.

Other than that I’ve been working to close doors in other professional ventures that will give me back time for pursuing music. But there is always a catch, I still need to replace that income with something else, so as you can see, the life of a musician not living from music is a plethora of inconveniences.

I feel this year will bring difficult times, maybe some that will take a while to recover from. Peace of mind always carries a cost.

The Lo Fi Sessions

Here I am again with an update after a few months. 2022 has been so far a very intense year but I think a good one. Even in struggle, having projects that you believe in becomes a shining light. I get anxious like a kid in Christmas while thinking in all the details involved…

I have been silent not because I have not been busy in music projects. I just don’t believe the pressure of posting daily to beat algorithms in social media. If I should be a hidden gem, so be it. I rather prefer that if you hear from me, it’s because I have something to say rather than being the daily entertainer. Cause I’m not. I’m a musician, a producer that prefers to keep creativity for projects important rather than filling “influencer” standards on social media.

There you go, I said it.

The Lo Fi Sessions

The Lo Fi Sessions is my new EP, I don’t have a date for release just yet but I’m happy to say that recordings have been completed! One of the things I love as a producer is that in each project I meet new people, and with them different door open. I feel it is so important to be flexible and keep wondering…

Miami is the first single from this album. It has very subtle lo fi textures with a strong and powerful latin vibe, heavily influenced with urban styles blended with cuban son and jazz. “Todo en español papi!”

This song features my new friends from Cuba Migdel & Rex and DJ Sound in vocals and lyrics. Their powerful performance is a breeze of fresh air. Clean and precise.

Siento Que will be the second single. I wrote this beautiful song inspired in the way “Gotan Project” and “Bajofondo” worked around argentine tango with an electrifying twist .

My approach is clearly my style, more jazzy and laid back. When I wrote the lyrics I was also influenced by the late master novelist and poet Julio Cortázar . In this song I worked with the argentine singer Mika Franco to deliver the essence of the story in a convincing way .

The other three songs in this Ep are Darma, Nowadays and Trapped. I will tell you about those later…

Now all this works will hit the studio for mixing and mastering before the release and I will work with new sound engineers this time in Argentina and probably Germany. I still need to define some things. Again, it’s great meeting new people and will talk about them as well later on.

Love

Martin

Duality

If you have been following me for a while, you already know that planning, executing and delivering this ambitious album for me was long and wonderful process of learning new skills, making new friends and finding myself in the process.

In July 15 2021 The album was released after more than 2 years in development, networking, and hard work.

Click here to listen.

So far I have a very clear picture of how things work in the industry and that a release campaign is crucial in order to gain notoriety, and it includes much more than just social networks. After saying this, there are a couple things to consider. First, you need to invest in yourself or nobody else will. So you gotta plan accordingly your finances to have a budget for promotion. Second, budget doesn’t lasts forever. So you gotta be smart about how to spend it with a clear strategy in mind for maximum optimization.

For me, touch points were:

• Concept and art

• Video

• Socials

• Bloggers / Press

So this time I went in a different direction regarding conceptual promotion. Instead of delivering one music video for the main single in the album, I decided to make 10 short videos, 10 stories, one for each song in the album, by creating impact with great visuals on footage and me behind the desk at the edition room.

The reason for this, To me it was important to concentrate my marketing efforts in socials narrowed to just one channel. Instagram. I invested in promotion and engagement obtaining very good results!

In music platforms, I invested in organic promotion in Spotify because it’s sort of a badge you must have. But to me, Spotify is very unfriendly and cold for artists to engage with followers and promote themselves.

So, the real work for me was gaining traction in Soundcloud to be closer to my audience and people that enjoys listening to my music. Again, really good results.

Finally, press and bloggers. The usual send 100 emails get 4 replies, but I got coverage from really cool cats scattered around the globe.

To me this release was a dream come true, I focused in enjoying every minute of the moment above all. I’ve listen to the album several times and I love it! Of course I’m my number one fan. That’s how it’s supposed to be.

Martin Strang “Duality” Release Campaign in Numbers

Spotify: To date, 110.000 streams

Instagram: 11.200 followers / 215.632 organic views for video campaign

Soundcloud: 1172 followers / 5200 streams / 200 shares (organic)

Press Coverage: 4 Music blogs

Beautiful numbers, beautiful results. I’m happy, grateful and thrilled about the reception of my first full length album. Dreams do come true, if you focus and work hard to get them.

Surgery and recovery

On September, I had a surgery in my right ankle. I’ve had a broken ligament for a while and was time to fix it. It was a long process, so far everything went really good. I’m walking again and doing regular stuff but still in recovery and waiting for doctors order to start with physiotherapy.

September 2021

What’s next

First of all rest, and recover my health. It’s my main concern.

I’m studying a 6 month specialization in Medical Cannabis at the University at this time. If you know me, you already know that I have studied a lot in different areas. This topic, is something fascinating to me and the opportunity for a better quality of life with my chronic pain, which I’m focused on beating! Also, I like to help others with my knowledge.

The year is almost gone. Sadly, this year I won’t be able to spend Christmas with my family. Prices for air tickets from Argentina are through the roof still because of the pandemia. Hopefully next year…

Ok, Ok but What’s next in music?

Remember my Jazz EP “The Lockdown Sessions” ? Well, I’m recording a more urban follow up that will be titled “The Lofi Sessions” Three songs have been recorded, two more to go and then post production.

Will tell you more about this project in the following months. I’m expecting to drop the EP at the end of the first quarter of 2022.

Thanks for being here and following up

Love,

Martin