Making a Scene Presents

The music industry has always been tough on independent artists. You spend hours in the studio, pouring your energy and creativity into your songs, only to find that the money side of things feels like an endless maze. Streaming platforms pay very little, royalty checks take months—or even years—to arrive, and by the time everyone in the chain has taken their cut, there’s often barely anything left for you.

http://www.makingascene....

If you’re an independent musician in 2025, your online footprint is your career.  Not your latest gig. Not your new single. Not even your merch table.

It’s how people find you, remember you, and decide whether to care about you. But here’s the problem: most indie artists are flying blind. They’re throwing songs into the void of Spotify, posting random updates on Instagram, and hoping something sticks. There’s no real strategy, no fu...

If you’re an independent musician, you’ve probably heard this advice more than once: “Post more on social media!” And sure, it’s good advice. But here’s the problem—coming up with fresh, creative ideas every single day while also writing songs, booking gigs, recording music, and, you know, living your life can feel impossible. You want to keep your fans engaged, grow your audience, and show the world your music, but there are only ...

Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Matt Schofield

British-born and now based in the United States, Matt Schofield has spent his career redefining and expanding the boundaries of British Blues. A multi-award-winning guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer, and bandleader, Schofield has been performing for more than 30 years, with over 20 years dedicated to his solo career. Widely recognized as one of the most distinctive and i...

Making a Scene Presents Gerry Casey's Interview with Andrea Dawson

Andrea Dawson is an emerging Australian singer-songwriter hailing from Adelaide, South Australia, and one of the country’s most powerful and dynamic female voices. After years of lighting up the local South Australian rock circuit, Dawson’s career took a major leap forward when she crossed paths with internationally touring artist Gwyn Ashton following his 2020 Downu...

Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Eric Wilson Adams

Eric Wilson Adams lit up the Prairie State’s rock scene with raw authenticity and relentless energy. Growing up in Brookings, South Dakota, he was just 14 when he and four friends formed COCOON in 1969—an unapologetically scrappy rock‑and‑roll cover band that cut its teeth playing armories, bars, proms, and sock hops throughout the state from their “puke‑green” converted sc...

Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Emma Wilson

Emma Wilson, a powerhouse vocalist and songwriter from England’s North East, blends the raw energy of the blues with the soulful elegance of early Aretha Franklin and Ann Peebles. Her debut album Wish Her Well earned her the UK Blues Awards’ “Emerging Blues Artist of the Year” in 2022, while her follow-up, Memphis Calling, showcased collaborations with Nashville Hall of Fame song...

Making a Scene Presents Gerry Casey's Interview with Jimmy Barnes

Jimmy Barnes is an Australian rock icon whose career has spanned more than four decades, delivering some of the country’s most powerful live performances and unforgettable songs. Rising to fame in the 1970s as the electrifying frontman of Cold Chisel, Barnes helped define the golden era of Australian pub rock with classics like Khe Sanh and Flame Trees. Since launchin...

Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Christopher Wyze

Formed as a studio project in 2022 by Indianapolis singer-songwriter Christopher Wyze and veteran producer/multi-instrumentalist Ralph Carter, Christopher Wyze & the Tellers made a remarkable entrance onto the global blues scene without playing a single live show. Their debut album Stuck in the Mud not only landed them a coveted spot in the Roots Music Report Top 40 Blues Al...

Making a Scene Presents Gerry Casey's Interview with Alan Maris of  Wanted

Formed in the summer of 2021 in the quiet, rural town of Leonard, Michigan—just a mile east of Oxford—WANTED emerged with one loud and unmistakable mission: to bring back the unapologetic, riff-heavy, and melody-driven glory of 1980s heavy metal. Born from a shared love for the giants of the genre—RATT, Dokken, and Van Halen—WANTED isn’t trying to reinvent th...

Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Kim Field

Kim Field is a celebrated harmonica player, singer, and songwriter best known for his work with his band The Perfect Gentlemen. With a career that spans decades, Kim has toured internationally and taken the stage at major festivals including the San Francisco Blues Festival, Bumbershoot, and the Waterfront Blues Festival. His dynamic performances have earned him spots on bills alon...

Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Stephan Jacques

A true artist and songwriter world-renowned for his prolific, heartfelt alt-rock love songs, Stephen has released ten albums to date, with his eleventh on the way. He is produced by Steve Albini. His body of work was culled from a lifetime of experiences, including those as an engineer, a Hollywood actor, a custom builder, and a TV host. Though Stephen lives in Charlottesvill...

Making a Scene Presents Gerry Casey's Interview with Rusty Ends

Rusty Ends is the real deal—a living bridge between the gritty rock and blues of the 1950s and ’60s and the ever-evolving sounds of the 21st century. He cut his teeth as a teenager playing the rough bars and taverns along Dixie Highway, from Louisville to Fort Knox. His early audiences were a wild mix of soldiers, bikers, hustlers, laborers, and working girls—a rowdy, u...

Making a Scene Presents an interview with the Reverend Freakchild

In the spirit of legendary Holy Blues figures like Reverend Gary Davis, Reverend Freakchild carries on the tradition—with a twist of irreverence and a whole lot of soul. These days, he mostly performs solo acoustic sets, but over the years he’s recorded with an impressive lineup of talent, including Chris Parker, Hugh Pool, Mark Karan, Melvin Seals, Jay Collins, Gramm...

Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Clarence Tilton

Clarence Tilton, the Omaha-based band known for their sharp storytelling and rich harmonies, returns with Queen of the Brawl—a new album that captures the grit, soul, and heart of the American Midwest. Featuring special guest appearances by country legend Marty Stuart and Presley Tucker (bandmate and daughter of Tanya Tucker), the album blends personal history, road-worn refl...

Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Rusty Ends

Rusty Ends is the real deal—a living bridge between the gritty rock and blues of the 1950s and ’60s and the ever-evolving sounds of the 21st century. He cut his teeth as a teenager playing the rough bars and taverns along Dixie Highway, from Louisville to Fort Knox. His early audiences were a wild mix of soldiers, bikers, hustlers, laborers, and working girls—a rowdy, unpredictabl...

Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Mercedes Nicole

Mercedes Nicole is a dynamic vocalist whose music radiates passion, soul, and emotional truth. With more than a decade of live performance experience and four acclaimed studio albums under her belt, she has crafted a sound that not only entertains but uplifts. Her voice has become a vessel for healing, hope, and the kind of high-energy connection that leaves audiences feeling...