242 Artist Network Interview with Soundwaves founder and Musician Tim Daniels

 242 Artist Network Interview with Soundwaves founder and Musician Tim Daniels 

The 242 Artist Network had the pleasure of connecting with Tim Daniels of Soundwaves Online to answer questions we posed regarding the current state and future development of the local music industry. Each question dealt with key areas of consideration faced by members of the creative economy. 

Pineapple Down at The National Art Gallery

"SoundWaves is an events company that promotes original music, art and poetry made in The Bahamas. Our series includes the annual SoundWaves Original Festival, SoundWaves Cafe (a bi-monthly mini festival), SoundWaves Presents, Acoustic Brunch (weekly) and Fire and Flow (a bi-weekly hip hop event)".

1. How can success be measured for the Bahamian creative. i.e. Can the local market sustain the amount of creativity produced or is accessing an international market necessary. Furthermore are there enough booking agencies, publicists or managers. In other words; persons that can guide or assist artists? With album sales and sold out shows being the traditional success indicator, is the population of the Bahamas a factor in the artists having sustainable careers? 

Success is a difficult thing to measure, as success means something different for each artist. Simply playing their first live performance may be a success for some individuals. Others may consider getting a record deal to be a sign of success. Perhaps success is attained when you get over a million listens on spotify or sell out your first show. If an artist makes something they are proud of and connects with an audience I view this as a success. I certainly think this can be attained in the Bahamas, albeit on a smaller scale than in other countries or at an international level. 

To gain a true following and be able to make a living off music a Bahamian artist will have to gain global exposure and recognition. We simply don’t have a large enough population when you are making fractions of a cent per download. Also, a Bahamian artist would not be able to sell out a large enough venue repeatedly to raise enough capital to support themselves and their band. 

We have a couple of booking agents, publicists and managers in the Bahamas; however, few of these have global connections where they are able to launch an artist into another market. Many artists are forced to take on multiple roles in their careers as musicians. I for one developed relationships with venues to get more bookings, learned to design and create my own media, purchased and set up my own sound system, and negotiated contracts. This takes time away from the creative process and means a great deal more work than just showing up to perform

2. Can the industry of musicians be united under a banner. Is this even beneficial in that each artist is responsible for their career, furthermore what are the goals of agency, society or unifying body?

I think to an extent we already are united under the banner of being a Bahamian musician. I see many artists supporting each other, sharing content and listening to their musical peers. We don’t seem to have a united governing body that is able to educate musicians, ensure they are operating legally and that their rights are being upheld. Artists and musicians in the Bahamas seem to be separated into their own factions or bubbles of support where they typically work at the same venues or with the same performers.

Musicians need support and a community, which is why a society or unifying body is important. It creates a rising tide where fans of one artist are exposed to another and they can help each other grow. We can view our fellow musicians as competitors. If one act gains popularity they can help bring attention to others. If a band books a successful show at a venue this often leads to that venue seeking out more live musicians to add value to their establishment. 

3. Are you able to list any local or international bodies apart from Publishing companies that would be of benefit to the Bahamian creative?

The Ministry of Youth Sports and Culture's Cultural Commission hosted a public meeting recently. As a community service, a representative of 242 Artist Network Administrative team attended the gathering. The meeting was open to all creatives, and the stated goal was to assist in progress of the Bahamian music industry by establishing a consensus on what we label or define as 'Bahamian Music'. The other goal was to inform the nations creatives professionals of an official Government  registry, now active, that is to be of benefit in the form of information, artist development, booking opportunities. 

Likewise it was our pleasure to connect with other entities doing significant work in the community, creating platforms for artist to develop and showcase their talents to the Bahamian public and world at large. One such creative vanguard is Tim Daniels of Soundwaves Online.

As the founder of SoundWaves I do my best to benefit Bahamian artists creating and performing original material. SoundWaves is free to join and does not require exclusivity. Our goal is simply to support Bahamian creatives and connect them with an appreciative audience. We do this by creating and holding consistent events such as the Acoustic Brunch at Studio Cafe, Fire and Flow at Nirvana Beach Bar, The Sunset Series at Compass point, and SoundWaves presents at various venues. We also have the bimonthly SoundWaves Cafe and the annual SoundWaves Festival that unites many performers under one lineup. SoundWaves promotes these events and the artists involved. We also have an equipment share, which allows musicians to hold their own events or do gigs at a low cost. Recently we have launched our SoundEscapes web series which films local musicians performing live with different locations around the Bahamas as the backdrop. To get updates on events follow SoundWavesOriginal on Instagram and Facebook. You can register as a SoundWaves musician free of charge at SoundWavesOriginal.com. If you want to perform, be sure to reach out! 

The 242 Artist Network also does a great job of uniting musicians by inviting them to collaborate and promoting musicians without asking for anything in return. These types of networks are invaluable in creating a community and allowing performers in the industry to grow together. 

There are some record labels/studios that are doing a good job of promoting and supporting  their artists. These include Commonwealth Studios, Grace Records, OEU Studios, and Savage 100. 

4. Having a good product or service is key but what about after. How can musicians and creatives in general compete with major label funding and make their mark?

To compete we need to be innovative and work together. Also, be sure to have a promotion strategy and be willing to spend money on recording and promotion equally. This can be a real challenge for musicians that don’t have the support of an outside entity or enough money to do so themselves. Creating a catchy music video or collaborating with a well known artist can be helpful. Staying positive and never turning down a chance to perform can also get you noticed! 

Mr. Daniels views are well thought out, and communicated with wisdom and clarity. The goal of this article is for the reader to gain value in the form of tools and inspiration that can assist in their journey as a creative professional, or supporter of the arts.