What are merch cuts? Why should I care? What can I do? What’s next?

Since the inception of Rock ‘N Roll, the music industry in the United States has been building itself from the awareness that there is big financial potential in music. A lot of industry norms that artists are fighting against today such as label ownership of an artist’s music, and unfair contracts and percentage distribution, originated with the rise of major labels in the 70s and 80s.  Throughout the years performers from TLC, to Nina Simone, and Taylor Swift have taken to the public about how unjust these systems are in replenishing the artist(s) who created and/or performed the music. It’s common for mid to high level labels to not only own the artist’s music masters (the recording of your song) but take up to 90% of net sales on royalties. Even the most commonly used platforms for streaming music such as Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube are paying bands less than half a penny for each stream. Therefore, to make $1 on YouTube the artist would need 1,500 streams. This disparity has in turn led artists to focus on increasing their social media presence and content delivery in hopes that it will result in a royalty check or a brand sponsorship. When a musician is  in the developing stages of their career,  they are often  the songwriter, the creative director, the designer, the marketing team, the content creator, the promoter, and the logistics operator. Sometimes even requesting invested labor from their  community.

I bring all of this up not to send a bolt of existential crisis down your back, but to put into perspective why a venue or promoter then taking a 30% cut of merch (on top of taxes) feels like the last straw for many touring artists across genres. As fun as it sounds to seemingly be getting paid to travel and do what you love—that’s the glamorization of it anyway—touring is extremely grueling work that often leaves even the highest paid artists deprived and depleted. 

In the last 15 years, I’ve gotten to tour and play venues around the United States in a wide range of styles. From DIY punk bookings and sleeping on dirty floors, to being a hired touring guitarist with Sleater-Kinney traveling on a tour bus, and most recently getting to support Sylvan Esso on their No Rules Sandy tour with my own band Reyna Tropical. Alongside being a touring musician for almost half my life, I’ve also gotten the chance to speak with hundreds of artists as the editor in chief of She Shreds Media. If artists like Santigold and Little Simz, who would be considered high level independent artists, are canceling tours due to financial unviability and exhaustion, imagine what bands at earlier stages of their careers are dealing with. 

Frankly put, the music industry is outdated. Today we are battling a decades old system founded by capitalist driven white men who literally built their foundations off the backs of Black, Brown and Indigenous musicians.

Excerpt from Under African Skies (Zaire, 1988) Congolese Rumba Documentary, Soukous, Ndombolo, Sebene, Champeta

So within this context, a venue and/or promoter taking a percentage of merchandise sales they had nothing to do with seems on par, although it makes no sense. Over the decades, we’ve gotten used to undervaluing and extracting from artists, brushing it off by saying “it’s just how it is”. The topic of merch cuts is the starting point for the many issues that we need to shift in the music industry. But first, let’s get to know what exactly is happening.

What are merch cuts?

According to American Economic Liberties Project, in 2022 touring made up 95% of an artists’ income, a lot of which is dependent on merch sales.

Merch cuts are when a venue and/or promoter take a percentage of merch sales from the band or artist performing that night. Both the venue and/or promoter can impose them but ultimately the venue has the power to say no. Typically, they can be as low as 10% and as high as 40%, not including the additional tax deduction of up to 10% in select cities, 5% credit card fees and any tips made. 

For some bands, these venue fees can also be in addition to percentages due to managers or lawyers ranging from 5% – 20%. At a 30% venue cut + 8% taxes + 15% management fees—that leaves the artist with 43% of gross profits, before deducting the expenses it took to design and create the merch.

Unsurprisingly, bands are now fighting against them saying that it’s morally unethical seeing as neither the venue or promoter have anything to do with the production of a band’s merchandise. 

A couple of weeks ago, while on tour with Gillian Welch, Tomberlinn made a post that described why she wouldn’t be able to sell merch at their show in Virginia, hosted by the venue Wolf Trap. She described that doing so would have meant a 41% cut of “soft merch” such as shirts and tote bags, and therefore needing to charge $60 to the audience that night. This conversation resurfaced an issue that has been on the table since it became common practice in the 80s. The speculation is that merch cuts were introduced to offset lack of liquor sales during all ages or straight edge shows in New York and Los Angeles. Once word spread that this was becoming a lucrative revenue source for venues, it began to be nationally implemented. Naturally, it has become a point of tension between the venue and artist that gained national attention in 2018 through the metal scene, then again in 2020 when Live Nation announced new merch cuts and artists cancellation fees amidst the COVID pandemic, and again in 2022 when UMAW (United Musicians of Allied Workers) called for a ban on all merch cuts. This issue has since become dormant in the public eye until now. 

Why Should I Care?

Although this might seem small, it’s something that every aspiring touring musician and music fan alike should be aware of and invested in. Merch cuts are one of the many things affecting the ways that artists and audiences interface. Reminiscent of the backlash Ticketmaster (who’s owned by Live Nation) has been facing for their obscenely high ticket fees, such is the case when we’re unable to sell our own merch or forced to charge upwards of $50 for a shirt, making it inaccessible for a lot of working class folks to support the music they love. 

While promoters and venues argue that this long standing tradition helps offset financial losses from shows that don’t do so well, keeps their production running, and even assists with venue maintenance and staff payroll, it puts the added pressure on the whole touring team and dilutes fan experience in a segment of the industry that strictly relies on audience connection to ensure future tours. It forces the practice of offering low quality goods at high prices and extracts from what could otherwise be an unforgettable experience for both audience and artist.

“If all the venues continue this, it’s just going to lower merch sales and make the merchandise sold at shows not worth the price,” says Orion. “A lot of bands will say they then deserve a cut of the bar’s alcohol sales in exchange, but I believe these should be separate; the venue sells the alcohol, so they keep the money from those sales, the merch money stays with the band and the ticket money should go to the promoter.” – Jason Netherton, formerly of Dying Fetus and presently of Misery Index for WhiskeyRiff.com

Financially, the margin for what an artist actually gets to take home continues to get smaller and smaller. While shows and touring are the most lucrative source of income for bands, it still takes a team of managers, bookers, crew, and label support to make it happen, all of whom are taking a cut as well. Strategically, an artist can only tour so much before saturating their markets. This means that whatever money is made on a grueling 6-week tour is what an artist has to live off of until the next tour (usually the next year) or hope for a slew of high paying one-off shows. 

For up and coming acts, it’s rare to make money on tour. If given the chance to support a high profile band and play to a bigger audience, the industry guarantee for a supporting act can be as low as $250 a night. I know this because I’ve had to do it. In these cases, the only hope for breaking even is merch sales. 

Inevitably, the costs that venues and/or promoters are not willing to take on themselves trickle down to the artist, which trickles down to details such as raising ticket prices, fees, and turning a $20 shirt into a $60 shirt. 

Live Nation Announces Ending Merch Cuts From 77 Venues

On September 26th, 2023 Live Nation, one of the largest promotional companies for music entertainment in the world, announced the On The Road Again artist program in partnership with Willie Nelson that would:

1. End merch cuts across 77 of their club-sized venues across the United States 
2. Offer artists playing these venues $1,500 in touring expenses including gas and hotels 
3. Offer unspecified bonuses to crew members (not specified whether that is crew specific to each venue or traveling with the band) 
4. Contribute $5 Million to the Crew Nation fund founded by Live Nation during the pandemic to provide global relief for crew members

Images from Live Nation’s website

While on the surface this seems to be an amazing step towards a direction that provides care and support for artists on the road, and at the very least an example for other promoters and venues implementing merch cuts today, it’s also important to keep in mind Live Nation’s history and position within the rest of the industry.

Over the last decade, Live Nation has been under repeated scrutiny and even lawsuits for their growing monopolization of every corner of the music industry—owning 338 venues worldwide, managing over 400 bands including acts such as U2 and Madonna, and in 2010 merging with one of the highest selling ticketing platforms, Ticketmaster. With that in mind here are just a few of the higher profile cases they’re involved in:

• 2020: Live Nation declares new merch cuts at venues, and rewrites performer contracts requiring bands to pay double their performance fee to Live Nation for canceled shows, including cancellations associated with COVID.
• 2022: Live Nation accused of shutting out venues that don’t use ticketmaster
• 2023: Biden Calls for Limits on Ticket Fees for Concerts and Sporting Events From Tickrtmaster

To put all of this into perspective, a critical analysis written about Live Nation explains that there are four segments that build the bridge between artists and fans: Artist — Management — Show Promotion — Venue Operation – Ticketing – Fans. Live Nation holds over 50% of shares within each segment. Meaning that while they maintain the most control over venue ownership, ticket sales and artist management, their lack of competitors strengthens their ability to implement any rules they want at any point. This is especially critical to keep an eye on, because as a seller and buyer of music, Live Nation gives us no other choice but to play by the rules that they impose.  

What Can I Do?

While this is not the first time the industry has presented the case of whether or not merch cuts are morally wrong, it is the first time this topic has gained such national discourse. Artists from Willie Nelson to Laura Jane Grace, and all throughout the community of independent artists, are sharing their experiences dealing with merch cuts on the road. 

Here are 4 ways that artists, fans, and venues can keep this conversation moving and make a difference:

1. Add your venue: UMAW launches #MyMerchCampaign,166 venues sign on to give artists 100% of merch sales
2. Sign the petition: Laura Jane Grace creates petition to end merch cuts worldwide for artists and fans
3. Download and post: Free badge download declaring that your venue let’s the artist keep 100% of merch sales
4. Add your experience: A spreadsheet to keep venues accountable. Artists and bands can add which venues take merch cuts and how much.

Almost five months into the film industry’s strike over issues including job security, fair pay and regulating the use of artificial intelligence, it bears the question “what about the music industry?” How can fans and artists work together to create a level of transparency that reduces the dependency that we end up having on corporate stakeholders, and the ways that they dictate how we experience music? At the very least, if the audience is going to be paying up to triple the price of a shirt, how can we ensure that 100% of that money is actually going towards supporting the artist? My hope is that these questions propel us—regardless of our proximity to music—towards a more equitable exchange for both fans and artists alike. One that invites equity, not extraction. We will continue to keep an eye on how this issue develops and any further resolutions that are presented. 

Nestled between the skyscrapers of downtown Atlanta, GA, it felt other-worldly to enter into a wave of warm energy as we opened the doors of the W hotel—reminiscent of a familiarity found only in the comfort of your own home. Excitement and openness filled the room as those attending Femme House’s Takeover Tour prepared themselves to dive deep into a two-hour course on the “Basics of Ableton Live.” Hosted by Christina Horn, an experienced producer and Ableton Certified Trainer, it was a breath of fresh air to approach a topic as technical as navigating your DAW with the awareness of how magical the beginner’s mind can really be, all while being reminded that at the end of the day it’s all about having fun.

Femme House celebrates curiosity from the controller, allowing a level of magic to shine through in an industry that has historically upheld perfection and patriarchal violence. The Takeover Tour is a new initiative created by Femme House to provide access to music industry education while inviting the spirit and undefined energy of dancing the night away at the club. Since 2019, the non-profit has built roots connecting regional and  international communities with a seemingly simple goal in mind: to foster more equitable opportunities for women and gender-expansive individuals in music. As a musician and movement organizer myself, it’s not often to come into contact with an organization that invites the freedom to just play around and push knobs. Through this sense of safety and community, experienced within the skill-shares, gear swaps, and panels hosted by a spectrum of talented producers and DJs, it becomes apparent that access, opportunities, and space are the pillars of Femme House’s mission. 

“I realized that we had something really powerful on our hands when people were coming to us to find that community and building communities within this, you know, in a really uncertain time of upheaval” — Lauren Spalding, co-founder of Femme House

Led by their vision for creating a more equitable industry as a whole, workshops such as Intro to Ableton Live and Building Your Beats are offered at a sliding scale tier system with free access for womxn of color—a step towards access and inclusivity that is unfortunately few and far between. In 2021, they teamed up with Alicia Keys’ non-profit She is the Music and We Are Moving The Needle to co-create She is the Producer, a six-week intensive that gives participants hands-on industry experience, as well as the gear to support them on their creative journey.  As their last cohort saw incredible success serving over 3,000 creators from over 1,400 cities and 77 countries, She is the Producer II is making a comeback in April of 2022.

During a time when connecting in physical spaces is being re-imagined, Femme House’s mission to host hands-on educational experiences has been a long time dream for co-founders LP Giobbi & Lauren Spalding. With support from Ableton, we had the chance to catch up with them and talk about their manifestations, dreams, and promises to keep open spaces available for femmes and gender expansive people.

She Shreds: Can you tell us about the foundations of Femme House?

Lauren: Me and LP have been friends for well over a decade, done a lot of drinking together and a lot of dreaming together. We just have been having conversations over the past, you know, 12 years about how to make an impact and how to create an industry. All of our conversations always came back to creating an industry that we were proud to be a part of. 

LP: Yeah, as Lauren said there, we used to do my favorite thing, something that we call ‘roof topping.’ We would go there before we went out in the night and have real deep heart to heart conversations. It was the most beautiful, best friend shit ever. The idea of Femme House was sort of born throughout those rooftops.

How has the Femme House community impacted your orginization?

Lauren: I realized that we had something really powerful on our hands when people were coming to us to find that community, and building communities within this, you know, in a really uncertain time of upheaval where all of a sudden, we were feeling scared and ungrounded. The fact that we could be quite literally a safe space for people to come and connect with other people. This shit is different. A lot of our community comes to us and says, ‘Ay yo Femme House has changed my life. I just started throwing a party while DJing, with my friends, because I learned how to DJ.’

How do y’all see Femme House interested in challenging those things that y’all talking about, the boys club and continuing to create those spaces? Also what does a long term collective abundance look like, whether that’s through funding, creating space, or opportunities?

Lauren: You know, this started out as education and visual representation. Now we’ve got some wind under ourselves and have brand partners looking at us and interested in what we’re doing. But basically, it’s almost a replication of what the boys do, right? You have to ID to go get ID’d. Why the fuck do you have to do that? How the fuck do you have 500 people on the lineup and 13 fucking women. That doesn’t make any sense. Like, why the fuck is LP playing a festival and walking around the entire week-and-a-half of the festival and not seeing another woman backstage? 

Such a fan of all this knowledge and skill-share that y’all do. I mean definitely the roots of feminism is skill-share so can you give me just an overview of your current programs?

Lauren: Yeah, I’ll let LP talk about the nerdy shit.

LP: [laughs] We do free monthly workshops, and those are all in Zoom. They cover everything from mini concepts to drum programming to sound design to,  loading a MIDI track and an audio track in Ableton. Everything is done in Ableton. We also just launched our DJ courses, which turns out there was a lot of demand for that, which was really, really cool. Mary Droppinz is our lead educator on the DJ courses, and Mini Bear is our lead educator on the Ableton production courses.

Lauren: Last year, we started tip-toeing into a mentorship and professional development base, which is something that’s close to my heart and so we have a bit of programming called Backstage Pass, where we basically have a fireside chat with executives, mostly women and women of color behind the scenes. We also created Pass The Mic to just basically be like, here’s the keys of the platform, showcase whatever you want and we will amplify it.

How did the BIPOC scholarships get started?

Lauren: Yeah, that was one of the levers that we decided to pull when we had a look at the community. How can we make this actually diverse, right? I always think of what I had in mind when we started this was Suzi Analogue, who’s one of the most brilliant creators of our time. It’s not enough to be dope. But, you have to have a stamp that says you’re dope from people that aren’t necessarily going to understand what it is that you do.

How has The Takeover Tour been going? 

LP: It’s been so exciting to be in person because you never know. Do other people care about what these things are? Is this empowering to them? You build and they will come and that’s been so fucking unbelievable. It’s more inspiring than the DJ set. We’ve always really originally dreamt this concept up to be an in-person thing. The one thing the pandemic allowed was for our community to grow way outside of L.A. and internationally through She Is the Producer. Seeing those groups form in real life [makes me] want to keep doing this. The Takeover Tour concept will roll up, hopefully, yearly.

What do you hope that your students will walk away with when they leave a Femme House workshop?

Lauren: Oh, LP this is you baby!

LP:  TO FEEL EMPOWERED [hands waving in the air]! The goal for these Intro to Ableton workshops is to walk out able to start your own musical journey.

What are y’all dreaming and manifesting for the future for Femme house? 

Lauren: We’re sort of manifesting being gatekeepers. And you know, gatekeepers have a dirty connotation—a well earned dirty connotation. If you’re standing at a gate and your job is to close it, that also means that your job is eventually to open it.

The only thing better than a mystery is a sequel.

In case you missed it, in January, Reverb, the online music gear marketplace, sponsored part one of our series “Tones of the Unknown,” wherein Livvy of Mamalarky was sent a box of mystery effects pedals to explore. 

Now we’re back, this time with Cathy Begien of Datachoir. Cathy was sent some truly incredible pedals from Reverb, and we’re excited to share more details of these stellar effects.

All of Mastro Valvola’s effects are designed and built in Italy, a country well-known for their impressive craftsmanship and design. And Mastro Valvola’s pedals are no different. “This thing feels very sturdy and slick,” Cathy remarks as they first take a look at the LFO Optical Tremolo during their unboxing.   

Featuring an impressive 16 different tremolo waveforms, the Mastro Valvola LFO Optical Tremolo gives players the warm, vintage tremolo tones found in valve amps, but with added modern functionality and flair. 

So what is optical tremolo? Many vintage tube amplifiers employed optical tremolo, which uses a light-dependent resistor (aka photocell), to create their tremolo effects. Light=optical. So, essentially, the LFO (low-frequency oscillator) turns a light bulb on and off, which varies the resistance in the photocell, turning the volume up or down. The characteristics of optical tremolo are smooth, pulsating, and somewhat lopsided. 

In the Mastro Valvola LFO Optical Tremolo, the photocell is managed by a “digital brain,” which enables its 16 waveforms, tap tempo (so, as Cathy points out, you can change the speed on the fly with your foot) with three selectable subdivisions, and the ability to alter the shape of the 16 LFO waveforms via the symmetry control. 

Cathy shows off a few of the settings in their video, getting a fluttery “purr” out of the Mastro Valvola LFO Optical Tremolo as they ramp up the speed in a sawtooth wave shape. They also show off some of the trippier settings in a square wave shape by adding some drive and increasing the rate of the LFO, creating a sound that borders on that of a ring mod.

At $399, the Mastro Valvola LFO Optical Tremolo is a premium tremolo pedal with high-end features. If you’re in search of a versatile, smooth, vintage-voiced tremolo with modern touches and a bevy of waveforms, this is an excellent option to consider.

Though Cathy was quietly hoping for their Cutting Room Floor during their unboxing, they were sent the Seattle-based Recovery Effects’ hand-wired fuzz, filter, and oscillation pedal, Sound Destruction Device V3. So, does the Sound Destruction Device live up to its name? Oh yeah, it definitely does. 

More than a fuzz or gain pedal, the Sound Destruction Device delivers glitchy, splatty, voltage-starved sounds that can be shaped with its two filter knobs. It offers a wide host of controls in addition to the filter knobs, giving you—if nothing else—the feeling of control over elements including gate or threshold, amount of distortion, compression, and oscillation. The oscillation can even be controlled by an external expression pedal. 

Cathy wastes no time getting gnarly noises out of the Sound Destruction Device via their Fender Jaguar and Benson Monarch. “It’s great for S.O.S. noises,” Cathy remarks, using their Jaguar’s pickup selector controls as a kill switch. If you’re looking for something untamable, check out the Recovery Effects Sound Destruction Device, which retails at $229 and is hand-made by the husband and wife team out of Seattle, WA.

One thing we haven’t seen until now in Tones of the Unknown: Screens. That changed when Cathy unboxed the GFI System Synesthesia, a dual-channel multi-modulation engine that can run two different modulation algorithms simultaneously. 

Named after the condition of experiencing one sense through another—such as seeing color in music—the GFI System Synesthesia features an impressive 38 classic and modern modulation effects and 32 presets out of the box. 

Those effects can be broken down into six categories: amplitude (namely, types of tremolo), filters, swirls & shimmers (such as chorus and flangers), phase (phasers and univibe), sequencers (arpeggiators), and a miscellaneous bucket that includes the warbly “Record Antics” and “Phono Filter” modes Cathy showed off in the video. 

For those looking for maximum versatility in their pedals, Synesthesia also features flexible DSP routings, tap tempo, MIDI in and thru, expression and cv in, and aux switch expansion, making it extremely features-rich for its relatively small footprint. 

Though Cathy opted against connecting the Synesthesia to their computer via the included cable, you can do so to update the firmware and use GFI System’s proprietary editing software. 

Being essentially two pedals in one, it’s not too surprising that the Synesthesia retails at $399. If you’re looking for a multi-modulation solution that can run two effects simultaneously with MIDI capability that runs on standard 9v power, it’s a solid choice.

Thanks to Reverb for sending these pedals and to Cathy for showcasing them! If you’re looking to pick up any gear from Reverb, please be sure to use our affiliate links—it’s a great way to support She Shreds just by stocking up on gear.

Who doesn’t love a good mystery? 

For our two-part series “Tones of the Unknown” in partnership with Reverb, the online music gear marketplace, Livvy of Mamalarky was sent a box of mystery effects pedals to explore. We have to admit, she got some real winners. Don’t worry, we’re only a little jealous. Here’s a deeper look at what she got in her mystery box.

Despite having symbols instead of words to describe its control parameters, the Caroline Guitar Co. Météore is an easy-to-dial-in lo-fi spring reverb pedal. As Livvy says, the Météore “has a lot to say,” and can do everything from “gorgeous, understated, beautiful,” tones to complete havoc at the press of a footswitch—conveniently named havoc. 

The “sun” and “mountain” settings Livvy describes are the bright and dark voicings of the effect, and the “space invader” is the attack control, which controls the amount of gain going into the preamp—the lo-fi heart of the pedal. The controls, especially the preamp, interact heavily with each other. For example, if you set the attack (that’s the preamp we talked about earlier) and the regen (the decay, or how long the reverb lasts) high enough, the pedal can enter self-oscillation without having to engage the havoc switch. 

Even though Livvy already has a spring reverb in her amplifier, this pedal isn’t a redundancy. What really sets the Météore apart from a simple digital spring reverb emulator is its ability to impart gritty lo-fi character without overwhelming your sound (until you want it to). If you’re looking for a reverb pedal that can balance on the edge of clean reverb tones and descend into a whirlwind of feedback—and back again—the Météore can do that and more.

Named after the Greek word for motion, the “gnarly” Dreadbox KINEMATIC is a VCA-based compressor and envelope filter in one. And those eagle-eyed viewers might notice that it has three patch points, making it equally usable for Eurorack users and guitarists alike. 

Livvy shows off both modes in her demo: the Comp Color mode (that’s the compressor) and the Envelope filter, which you move between via a toggle on the face of the pedal. 

In the Comp Color mode, the pedal acts as—you guessed it—a VCA-based compressor with an extreme compression ratio. VCA stands for voltage-controlled amplifier, which is an analog compressor. Essentially, it’s an amplifier (in this sense, an amplifier is anything that amplifies audio signal) that alters its gain in proportional to a control voltage or modulator signal. 

Knowing exactly how it works is probably less important than knowing that VCA-based compressors have extremely fast attack (that’s the intensity with which a note is plucked or strummed) and release (that’s the decay or how the note stops) parameters. Attack Magazine describes VCA compressors as “fast and punchy on rhythmic material” with the ability to “smooth out peaks without squashing everything in sight.”

The Dreadbox KINEMATIC also serves as a frequency booster and has up to 18 dB of boost potential. In other words, it gets LOUD. 

The Envelope Filter mode is a 12dB low pass filter with an auto-wah. It has a slow envelope curve and it is weird, funky, and a ton of fun. Oh, and did we mention that it has an overdrive circuit and can also effectively function as a distortion pedal? The KINEMATIC has a lot going for it and is a real workhorse on a pedalboard.

“I have a feeling this one is going to be strange in a very good way.” Paradox Effects makes some astounding pedals, and the Obsidiana Octave Layering Engine is toward the top of the list. As the name implies, it’s an octave pedal and its polyphonic nature ensures that it responds equally well to single notes and chords alike. Polyphonic means it can translate multiple notes at a time, unlike monophonic octave pedals which only allows one note to be played and sent and octave up or down at a time. 

As you can hear from Livvy’s demo, the Obsidiana does more than simple octaves up and down. Firstly, it has two modes for filtering options: one pole low pass mode and two pole resonant low pass mode. The one pole low pass filter mode is a more traditional fixed low-pass filter—the filter knob is brighter to the right, darker to the left. For the two pole resonant low-pass filter mode, you get more resonant synthesizer-esque tones as you sweep the filter control.

But its most unique feature is the branching octave trails that build syncopated rhythms or layers of octaves and pitches. As Livvy says, “That’s kind of what my brain sounds like when I’m trying to fall asleep.”

At the top of the controls, you have octave up, octave down, a direct control for the wet/dry blend and filter as well as regen (controls feedback of the octave trails) and lag (varies by mode). Like the KINEMATIC, the Obsidiana is the type of pedal you can take a deep dive into.

Thanks to Reverb for sending out that Mystery Box and Livvy for showcasing those incredible pedals! If you’re looking to pick up any gear from Reverb, please be sure to use our affiliate links—it’s a great way to support She Shreds doing things you already do.

Leo season is about magnetism, connection, and the individual expression of selfhood that empowers your bold heart. Seek out what brings you joy. There may be a lot of voices and opinions about how to spend this time, but in the end there’s only you: your voice, your opinion, and your heart’s content.

ARIES (March 21 – April 19)

I cultivate a chosen family who I trust to guide my process. 

The last year has been too difficult to choose anything but the small happinesses you’re able to secure. Celebrate reconnection with loved ones on the Full Moon on July 23rd, and use that energy to set plans in motion at the New Moon on August 8th. What about those connections support your full expression? Be intentional with your love. Cultivate a strong circle of people you trust to guide your process—then let that full self flourish into what’s to come.

Audio Challenge: Take stock of your gear. What’s no longer serving your sound? What’s slowing you down? What needs to be updated in order to further your process? Reach out to a trusted gear head for suggestions.

TAURUS (April 20 – May 20)

I notice the opportunities that present themselves and act on them wisely.

You’ve been cultivating the seeds of projects that are now ready to manifest. This is the time to bring them to fruition, to release a new song, to work on your social media game, and to generally take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves during this auspicious time. You can count on the connections and contracts you create to hold firm, especially after August 19th when Uranus goes retrograde. No more surprises here—just personal growth. Own it.

Audio Challenge: Post a new song, announce your new musical endeavor, create visual art to accompany whatever it is you have to share with the world this month. 

GEMINI May 21 – June 20

I have the power and agency to create change in my life in order to invite new energy. 

The time has come to invite open horizons that expand your vision. It’s ok to feel frustrated by the continuing confinement and repetition, and it may be time to do something about it. The Full Moon on July 23rd will inspire you to travel—if not geographically, then mentally at the very least. It’s time to make plans for the future, and the best time to do that will be the New Moon on August 8th. Open the release valve and let some of that frustration go. You have the capacity to invite change now. 

Audio Challenge: Feeling stuck in your musical routine? We dare you to explore genres you’ve never attempted before.

CANCER (June 21 – July 22)

There is nothing more important than my own belief in my power. 

You’re the arbiter of your own power, and the ultimate decider of your fate. The Full Moon on July 23rd will bring forward something that is ready to be released during this period; a belief or narrative about your self-worth is ready to be let go. You don’t need to hold yourself back anymore, and with the New Moon on August 8th you can make a commitment to yourself only: be true. 

Audio Challenge: What outdated belief or narrative about your music needs to be released? Rewrite it through song.

 LEO (July 23 – August 22)

I pay special attention to the connections in my life that shape my energetic expression, carefully choosing who I want to become by choosing who I connect with. 

You give a lot of power to those who you bring into your chosen circle. The Full Moons on July 23rd and August 22nd, which open and close your season, both center your personal and professional partnerships. If there is an adjustment to be made in your relationships in order to cultivate more freedom of expression, now is the time to do it. 

Audio Challenge: Is there a relationship in your life that is inhibiting your musical voice? Use this month to center those who encourage and celebrate your expression. 

VIRGO (August 23 – September 22)

In order to express my energy with intention, I must develop clarity of purpose. 

You were not brought here to serve the purposes of others. The Full Moon on July 23rd will highlight any challenges that need to be addressed in your daily routine and the impact on your health. This will be the time to take in information so you can make some course corrections come the New Moon on August 8th. The key will be to reorient your practice so it is better aligned with your purpose. Take some time to reach clarity on this issue, so you can direct your energy with intention moving forward. 

Audio Challenge: Focus on your musical purpose. Spend time alone, use guided meditation, reflect on your routine, and listen to your inner light.

LIBRA (September 23 – October 22)

I break free of self-imposed restrictions in order to ground my power.

You cannot continue to make compromises with your own vision in order to please others. The Full Moon on June 23rd will bring forward new visions of creative projects that you can dedicate your energy to, but only if you make the conscious decision to choose your own path above those ascribed by others. It’s time to choose whose voice you’ll listen to: your own, or those of people you think you need approval from.

Audio Challenge: Isolate your own voice from the static noise that surrounds you. Separate yourself from the expectations of industry and peers—give full attention to your own vision.

SCORPIO (October 23 – November 21)

I am not required to repeat the patterns and behaviors of my past. 

The same agency you can exercise in defining your chosen family grants you the ability to choose what expectations you respond to and what you will leave behind. The Full Moon on July 23rd may bring an unconscious expectation to the surface, which a family member may expect you to fulfill. You will have until the New Moon on August 8th to decide how you will respond. Choose to show up with the same powerful commitment that you expect from others, or not at all.

Audio Challenge: Reflect on the musical expectations others attribute to you and determine if they are reasonable—or rather, if you are willing and able to commit to them. 

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 – December 21)

I trust my heart to lead me, and my mind to make changes as needed.

The best laid plans need to account for change. The inevitable re-hashing of your vision for the future is not a reflection of your lack of clarity, but rather an accurate response to the changing landscape of our time. Pay attention to the information presented by the Full Moon on July 23rd and make the necessary changes in order to account for the shift by the New Moon on August 8th. This is a time of expansion, not retraction—trust your heart to lead you, and trust your mind to make changes accordingly. 

Audio Challenge: In what ways has your musical vision shifted compared to this time last year? Are there more changes to be made? Are you still holding your most true vision at the center?

CAPRICORN (December 22 – January 19)

My value is not defined by the outcome of my endeavors, but by the strength of my commitment to myself in the process.

Exaltation and loss come hand in hand to remind you that the peaks and valleys of your life are expressions held in universal balance. Take note of the memories you gravitate towards on the Full Moon of July 23rd—these are moments of challenge to your self-worth that are ready to be released. The New Moon on August 8th will give you the opportunity to redefine how you measure your success—not only by the achievements you’re able to grasp, but by the courage with which you face the past.

Audio Challenge: What detrimental visions of success are you still holding onto? Redefine what success means to you—be sure it aligns with your self-worth, and move forward with courage.

AQUARIUS (January 20 – February 18)

I can only give as much of my energy as I am able to replenish on my own. 

The Full Moon lands in Aquarius twice this month, and with it the desire to focus on your own projects and energy over what others expect of you in return. But even as the focal point turns to you and your power, the New Moon on August 8th will ask you to renew your commitments to those relationships that give you the strength to move forward. Take the powerful emotional drives of this month with the recognition that they are a reflection of the balance in reciprocity between you and those you love.

Audio Challenge: Take a look at your monthly calendar and notice if there’s an imbalance between time spent on your own projects and time spent on others. Try your best to create harmony between the two.

PISCES (February 19 – March 20)

I have the agency to act from my source of power once I choose to listen to it without fear or doubt. 

The power of your intuition is only fully uncovered once you learn the difference between fear and insight. With two Full Moons landing in your 12th house of the subconscious this month, be wary of the many voices of fear that may inhabit your dreams and wandering reveries. Dedicate this time to clearing out doubt instead. The New Moon on August 8th asks you to commit to a new energetic practice: make this month about clearing out house. 

Audio Challenge: Keep a running list of fears as they arise. Write them in a notebook or on your phone’s memo app. For each one, write out a courageous counterpart. 

This Cancer season, Jupiter and Neptune go retrograde as we step into a summer that plunges us back into “how things were before”— or is it “how things will be moving forward?” 

There are big decisions to be made, and those you love most will be affected by your choices. Take care and take your time as you choose how to step out now that the coast is somewhat clear. There’s no use in moving forward if you’re not making space for those you hold dear. It’s our connections to each other that keep us going through challenging times, and this Cancer season asks us to reconnect and invest in the people that bring us together.

ARIES (March 21 – April 19)

I trust my decision to move forward in honor of lineage. 

Last month you may have had to make some decisions about the direction you want to take with your vocation as the world starts to open back up, and those choices start to pay off as we enter Cancer season. The Full Moon on June 24th highlights your career, bringing with it an unexpected opportunity for professional growth or a challenge that needs to be addressed in order to move forward. Center your need for a stable home and supportive network of loved ones with the New Moon on July 9th if the decision before you feels difficult to make—ask yourself how you can best honor those who have helped you along the way.

Audio Challenge: Practice asking for help from your support systems this month when things feel too difficult to do alone: advice on reentry into live music, help picking out new gear, tips on tone. Be sure to reciprocate—center mutual support in your relationships.

TAURUS (April 20 – May 20)

I renew my faith in the strength of my connections. 

On the Full Moon of June 24th, an adventurous leap of faith may bring with it some much needed connection as you refresh both future and past relationships. Venus enters the magnificent sign of Leo soon after this lunar transit on June 27th, re-opening spaces and places that you may have once believed were gone. The seeds that you plant today with friends and loved ones will blossom into opportunities come fall. For now, focus on your vision and renew trust in your ability to manifest at the New Moon on July 9th. You can only achieve what you believe is possible. 

Audio Challenge: In what ways have you been honoring your musical visions? In what ways have you been holding yourself back? Before you jump back into anything, let this reopening of opportunities and space guide your vision back into focus.

GEMINI May 21 – June 20

I renew my opportunities by settling my debts. 

It’s time to settle your debts as the Full Moon in Capricorn shines on your eighth house of shared resources on June 24th. You’ll have a helper in Venus after June 27th, when the planet of grace and charm enters your third house of communications. Honesty is the best currency, as is courage to face mistakes. Whether this means you’re going to be squaring out your finances or making amends with the past is your call, but be sure to clear your karma by the New Moon on July 9th. Having done your penance, the New Moon brings you the opportunity to regrow your support systems in a new, more vitalizing way: there’s nothing like the feeling of renewal to inspire some big steps forward.

Audio Challenge: Use this time to access your gear and music budget—and if you don’t have one, write out what seems reasonable at the moment, or what you’d like to manifest. Be honest with yourself about what is do-able, and what you’re working toward.

CANCER (June 21 – July 22)

I receive the care and support that I freely offer to those I love.

‘Tis the season to take care of your loved ones, dear birthday Cancers and lovely Cancer risings. The Full Moon that kicks off your season on June 24th rests firmly in your seventh house of partnership, highlighting the importance of keeping your loved ones close and trusted ones even closer. This could be a time when you renegotiate a relationship or invest more deeply in one that is ready for the next step. Lovely Venus, entering your second house of fortune on June 27th, ensures that whatever connections you build now will strengthen your resolve and help you push forward. Make sure you take the New Moon on July 9th as a personal opportunity to initiate a new chapter—after reconciling commitments to others, it’s time to make sure you’re taken care of as well.

Audio Challenge: It’s time to celebrate, Cancer—both yourself and those you care for. Use this month to connect with those who have supported you and your music by making thoughtful plans to express gratitude and foster closeness. 

 LEO (July 23 – August 22)

My actions feel more aligned when I know what I am aligning them with. 

Restlessness may manifest as a need to make changes in your daily routine now, as your season is fast approaching and you want to make sure to look and feel your best for the celebrations that are sure to come. The Full Moon on June 24th lands in your sixth house of health, so the focus may lie squarely on the physical aspects of self that are more easily appraised than the deeper issues that lie beneath the surface. There is much internal work to be addressed if you’re up for the challenge. The New Moon on July 9th will illuminate the emotional motivations behind some of your less than resonant patterns of behavior; there may be loss of direction, confusion, or indecision. The task at hand is to define what it is you value: the why behind the practice, the inspiration behind the drive.

Audio Challenge: What are the emotional motivations behind the practice, behind the drive? What is it that you value in your musical practice? Take stock of what pushes you forward, what you value, and what changes need to be made in your routine to honor both. 

VIRGO (August 23 – September 22)

I expect nothing from myself except rest in order to ignite the creative spirit within.

All work and no play make for a detrimental imbalance to self and others, dear Virgo. What can start as a mild frustration at the onset of Cancer season can turn into full blown agitation by the Full Moon in Capricorn on June 24th, which highlights your fifth house of creativity and joy. Ease has been missing in your world as you’ve been striving to reach a new pinnacle, and now is the time to address this loss and course correct. Invest in making some breathing room in your schedule to do absolutely nothing at all: no penciling self-care time, no scheduling self-reflection. By the New Moon on July 9th you should have a clear vision of how you want to structure your time moving forward that is better aligned with the creative inspiration that initiated you down this road in the first place. 

Audio Challenge: Let your creative mind lead you this month. Carve out time to refill your cup by not scheduling anything at all—a whole day, a few hours to let your musical creativity show you the way. 

LIBRA (September 23 – October 22)

I can only reach as high as my root structure allows—investing in grounding is an investment in my personal growth.

It’s time to make sure your home and support system are in order. You can only strive as high as your ground, and with the Full Moon in your fourth house on June 24th it’s quite clear that this is the time for you to focus on matters close to home. Venus, your ruling planet, moves into Leo on June 27th and will bring ample opportunity to reconnect with friends and chosen family, but only if you’re feeling rooted and supported first. Otherwise the energy of re-opening may quickly become overwhelming, a flurry of changes too quick to keep track of. It’s better to take this time with ease, as the New Moon on July 9th promises far more inspiring opportunities for elevation in your career path, provided you’ve done the work to receive them.

Audio Challenge: What makes you feel grounded at home? What about in your support systems? Use this time to give your music space a makeover, and spend time with yourself to uncover what keeps you rooted so that you can flourish in weeks to come. 

SCORPIO (October 23 – November 21)

Small tasks will be rewarded with big steps later—make sure to wrap things up now so I can move forward with clarity. 

There may be a lot on your plate as we push into Cancer season, with the Full Moon on June 24th hitting a spotlight on your third house of communication and daily routine. But the emails to answer, responsibilities to fulfill, and plans to figure out will all be worth it come July, when opportunities for travel begin to unfold. If you can take care of the minutiae at the end of June, you’ll be rewarded with a beautiful New Moon on July 9th that offers the opportunity to set a new plan in motion. Think of it as wrapping up the loose ends of an old chapter so you can step into something new. It’s better to take care of it now than have it show up at an inopportune time later.

Audio Challenge: Use this time to create specific and separate to-do lists for everything on your musical plate right now and get it done: gear maintenance, show offers, things that will help you re-enter the world of live music, etc.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 – December 21)

I let go of my expectations in order to invite deeper intimacy.

Your ruling planet Jupiter goes retrograde right at the beginning of Cancer season, which may feel like the wild ride that was the reopening journey is starting to cool down now. The dust is settling, loved ones are finding new places to call home, and your relationships may need to transform as the new configuration of your personal constellations are revealed for 2021. The Full Moon on June 24th is the time to adjust to new circumstances, give what support you can offer, and let those you love find a place that suits them best. Cancer season is about letting go of the way you used to relate in order to invite new relationships based on deeper intimacy. Invest your energy in connections that support your drive on July 9th with the New Moon in Cancer: you will receive the quality of relationship that you are able to offer. 

Audio Challenge: Evaluate how you give and receive support—is there any imbalance on either side? Make sure the supportive energy you give others is returned, and vice versa.  

CAPRICORN (December 22 – January 19)

I acknowledge my relationship needs so that I may create clearer connections with others. 

Relationships require a fine balance between your own desires and those of others—and nothing will require your patience more than finding balance this Cancer season. On June 24th, the Full Moon in your first house will shine on the relationships in your life where you may be feeling less appreciation and celebration than you desire. That’s because Full Moons usually bring out the underlying factors that we haven’t vocalized but are nonetheless influencing your behaviors underneath the surface. It’s time to integrate these feelings so you can invest in your beloved connections with a renewed sense of trust and optimism. Do so by the New Moon on July 9th, when your seventh house of partnerships is emphasized, and you’ll be in an optimal spot to renew your vows or intimate a new romance. 

Audio Challenge: Do some stream of consciousness writing this month—don’t take your pen off the page and don’t stop writing for three full minutes. See what comes up, if there’s any feelings that rise to the surface that need addressing… and maybe you’ll even get some lyrics out of it.  

AQUARIUS (January 20 – February 18)

My daily practice is inspired by clear purpose: I take the time to listen to what truly motivates me now.

Others may be celebrating the return of socializing and reconnecting, but if you’re feeling a bit more reserved, know that you are right on track with this Cancer seasons’ lunation. The Full Moon on June 24th shines on your 12th house of subconscious motivations and hidden desires, and this is usually a time when rest and reflection are called for in order to listen closely to what comes to light. The information you gather about the purpose you seek will help inspire a shift in your energy by the New Moon on July 9th, which offers you the chance to set a new wheel in motion. The clearer you are about what truly matters, the better you’ll be able to orient your daily patterns. 

Audio Challenge: It’s time to listen closely to yourself. Use this month to gather more information about your musical purpose, values, and goals without making any big moves—not yet. Take what you hear seriously, repeat it to yourself daily, and see how your energy shifts.

PISCES (February 19 – March 20)

I can take on more responsibilities while still remaining true to myself and my purpose. 

With new responsibilities comes a new expression of self, and nothing will become more apparent this Cancer season than how your added duties impact your relationship to others. Whether a new job is taking up more of your time, or a leadership role asks you to take on a different expression of power, changing connections through changed expectations is the key point of the Full Moon on June 24th. Whatever information comes up for you will be for your benefit, as you’ll have the rest of the month to figure out how you want to move with these changes. May I make a suggestion? Remember what inspired you to take on this role in the first place, and center that. The New Moon on July 9th is in your fifth house of creativity and unique expression—remember that you don’t have to do things their way just to fulfill your duties.

Audio Challenge: Check in with how you express yourself musically. The world is different now, and so are you—try and change your writing (lyrics, tone, melody patterns) to express the most authentic version of you in this moment. 

Last year, Brooklyn-based singer and rapper KAMAUU released “MANGO,” his latest single promoting healthy relationship dynamics and eschewing selfishness in service of full potential and growth for one another. Adeline, our Issue 16 featured artist, accompanies KAMAUU with her impeccably groovy bass lines and divine vocals that hit heights us mere mortals could only dream of reaching.

“The way [the bass] felt on my fingers, the way it felt on stage, even the way it felt with my voice. The contrast between playing the low notes and singing the high notes was something I fell in love with.” 

— Adeline for She Shreds Magazine, Issue 16

In partnership with KAMAUU and Cultural Fusion Agency, we bring you the opportunity to write your own bass cover or remix of “MANGO” for a chance to win a KAMAUU & Adeline signed bass kit. 

Channel your inner Adeline and read how to enter below!

HOW TO ENTER

1. Read full contest rules below
2. Post your cover or remix of “MANGO” by KAMAUU and Adeline on IG or TikTok using the hashtag #SheShredsXKAMAUU and tag @culturefusionagency @sheshreds_media + @kamauuworld + @adeline between June 4 – June 16, 2021 
3. Upload your submission to link to your IG or TikTok bio

CONTEST RULES

Eligibility: She Shreds Competition with KAMAUU is open to all 50 States and the District of Columbia. 

Contest Period: Entries can be submitted beginning June 4th, 2021 through 11:59 PM EST on June 16th, 2021.

Judging Criteria: Voting will be open from June 11th – 13th on She Shreds platform to pick the winner of the competition. 

Prizes: The winner(s) will receive a KAMAUU signed bass kit from Guitar Center

Winner Selection and Notification: Winner(s) will be notified by email on approximately June 18, 2021. 

Acknowledgments: By uploading a submission, you agree to give Culture Fusion Agency and She Shreds a royalty-free, irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive license for incidental use of your submission in any form, media, or technology now known or later developed, only for historical, promotional, or marketing purposes.

View sheet music & tabs below:

Taurus season opens up with a Full Moon in Scorpio that will dig up the past and ask you to reconcile memory with future direction. This lunation comes at an opportune time, as the beginning of Taurus season also marks the beginning of our integration with a new pandemic normal. Some decisions must be made about how you want to move forward in this society we are (re)building: How do you grieve what has been lost while finding hope for the future? Whom can you call on for support and inspiration? 

We’ll spend the first two weeks of Taurus season integrating emotional information in order to emerge with a strong foundation into the brilliance of the summer season, ready for the changes that 2021 brings.

ARIES (March 21 – April 19)

I acknowledge the spaciousness in my life as an opportunity to call in what I desire.

Yes, there have been a lot of losses in the last year. People will never be replaced, but their memories may serve as inspiration for what comes next. Certain paths may never be retread, but if you allow yourself to be guided in a new direction you may find more vibrant fields up ahead. Let the Full Moon on April 26th be the closure you need on certain open wounds that may never be healedmore but are now feeling easier to hold. This is the time when you reconnect with family and roots in order to guide you forward. Invite loving communication by allowing your process to be witnessed by those you love and trust. By the New Moon on May 11th, you’ll be able to reassess your strengths and find the drive to rebuild—perhaps with a little help from your friends.

Audio Challenge: Organize a song-share that (safely) meets regularly. Ask only your most trusted friends and loved ones to join. Use constructive input, loving communication, accountability, and the witnessing of process to guide each other toward creative abundance.

TAURUS (April 20 – May 20)

I honor my desire for intimacy by first affirming my need for it. 

Happy Birthday, Taurus. With Mars moving into your house of communication and short trips on April 23rd, you’re offered the opportunity to travel or reconnect with some friends in order to revitalize. The Full Moon that comes right after on April 26th shines light on the health of your most intimate connection—are you adequately supported and celebrated during this time? You’ll want to feel the vitality of a strong and vibrant connection, so now is the time to invest in intimacy where you find it lacking. Last year dissolved old ideas and stagnant modus operandi; this year is about identifying the resulting space that has been made in your life and choosing to move forward with intention. Define yours by the New Moon on May 11th.

Audio Challenge: What fears have you been running from? What parts of your musical world do you hide from your most intimate connections, and why? If you had more support, would these fears and secrets be easier to hold? Consider opening up to the person closest to you, and let them both support and celebrate you fully.

GEMINI May 21 – June 20

I actively invite a new direction, acknowledging the end of my previous path. 

You’re right—something’s got to change. The beginning of Taurus season brings your daily routine, or lack of it, into sharp awareness as the Full Moon in Scorpio and Mars in Cancer stir parts of your life that have lain dormant for a year. Shaking off the dust from a deep slumber, your ambition and agency awaken to a new light: the opportunity that lies at the end of this season, as yours is about to begin. The way you were running your life before isn’t up to par with the needs of 2021. Don’t try going back; look forward. As Venus and Mars enter Gemini in the first week of May, you’ll start feeling an influx of energy and drive, the promise of hope. Sit with it and let the New Moon on May 11th guide you towards the training and skills you need to take on the path that you know lies ahead. Nothing says trust like investing in your vision. 

Audio Challenge: Consider what parts of your music practice need updating. Maybe it’s learning a new skill, technique, or piece of gear, or maybe it’s honing in on a new dedicated routine or ritual—invest in your vision by revising how you move forward.

CANCER (June 21 – July 22)

I advocate for my needs in order to model respect for my energy.

The world is going to start opening up more rapidly now, and with it your opportunity to strike out and make changes also blossoms. The Full Moon on April 26th highlights your house of creativity and unique expression: this will be a month when inspiration may strike, and you find yourself working on something entirely new. It may be that the events of the last year inspire new work, or it may also be that reconnecting with friends and loved ones, especially at the New Moon on May 11th, inspires collaboration. Whatever the seed is behind this new work, the energy to bring it to fruition is also with you as Mars moves into your first house on April 23rd, blessing you with optimism and drive for all of Taurus season. Use it to your advantage. 

Audio Challenge: With inspiration comes the need for more creative energy. Use this month to explore what refills your creative source, what keeps you moving, and how you can preserve and regenerate your energy.

 LEO (July 23 – August 22)

I build the strong foundations I need in order to support my ambitions. 

The Full Moon on April 26th will bring to light the places where your footing feels less than sure, in order to inspire you to address the anxieties and doubts in question. Push past the inner critic and empower the optimist inside. The New Moon on May 11th offers the chance to do just that, giving you the opportunity to elevate vision on sound footing and stable ground. If you create the setting, inspiration will come. Reconnect with collaborators and visionaries as Venus and Mercury enter your house of community vision on May 3rd and 8th: it is through reconnecting with loved ones that you’ll realize the vitality of your creative power.

Audio Challenge: Give close care to your creative environment and collaborators this month. Redesign your space to ignite inspiration, check in with your doubts and anxieties, and reach out to those who help calm your inner critic.

VIRGO (August 23 – September 22)

I center the power of human connection in my work, and recognize the inspiration I receive from those I love.

A long-term project is wrapping up this month, giving you the opportunity to invite a new endeavor. Look to the finalization of a current project that’s taken some time and energy to unfold by the Full Moon on April 26th. With Mars moving into your house of friendship and connections just a few days before, this may free up some time for reconnecting with friends and enjoying community. The inspiration for your next steps may come from a loved one or friend and inspire you to make some moves—literally or figuratively. The New Moon on May 11th is the time to set your travel plans in motion and make the necessary appointments for future movement: you’ll either be working on expanding your mind through more classes and training, or through a much-needed change in scenery. Don’t hesitate. 

Audio Challenge: Lay your task-driven mind to rest for a moment and indulge in community-influenced inspiration. Reach out to your people, and let those connections motivate your next steps forward.

LIBRA (September 23 – October 22)

I respect the resources I hold by using them with intention. 

It’s time to get your budget and expenses in order. Sure, the lockdown has made internet comfort spending a general pastime, but as we anticipate the world opening back up you’ll want to curb the number of resources going out and start focusing on what you need coming in. There’s no better time to do that than after the Full Moon on April 26th, which will bring to light some of the ways that your spending may be overreaching your income. You have a helping hand with Mars in your 10th house of vocation and career this month, so you could strive to gain some more avenues of resource this month through upgrades at work or intimating a new creative line. By the Full Moon on May 11th, you’ll have the opportunity to secure some additional support from a loved one or collaborator: just make sure the contract is clear, and that the risk is worth the reward.

Audio Challenge: Consider your musical finances this month. Is there more money going out than coming in? Are you saving up to record or buy new gear? Write out your current budget and expenses, make a list of your financial resources and options, and be very clear about your needs and vision.

SCORPIO (October 23 – November 21)

I actively pursue a different vantage point in order to gain clarity on my current situation. 

It’s time to hit the refresh button on this life and renew these daily patterns. The best way to move with the changes is to take the energy from the Full Moon on April 26th and set some plans for travel or expansion. If you time it right, this much needed reset will also invite new energy into your romantic connections—whether the relationship is lacking spirit, drive, or just lacking period. Getting out of town may have you meeting just the right person at the opportune time or taking a class together with a loved one may be just the inspiration you two need to renew the love line. Either way, take a small chance and let it pay off big, especially by the New Moon on May 11th when you can set some intentions for how you want to move forward given this shift in opportunity.

Audio Challenge: Book a trip focused on writing and playing music, visit a new-to-you record or gear shop, go see live outdoor music that expands your musical tastes—hit the refresh button through new experiences this month.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 – December 21)

I have the capacity to face what once felt too difficult to hold as I give myself the space to process and move forward. 

You can’t hide those difficult feelings and ever-present doubts forever, Sag. The Full Moon on April 26th will make sure you realize that the voices of memories kept under wraps in your subconscious are just as compelling as ever, and are now ripe for the processing. The Full Moon on May 11th may inspire you to tackle this internal problem with external drive: exercise, a change in diet, more time spent outside. But talking it out with trusted ones will also prove helpful, especially after Venus and Mercury enter your seventh house in the first week of May. This is your time to move through the emotional challenges instead of sweeping them aside: emotional energy cannot be destroyed, just recycled and repackaged into light.

Audio Challenge: Think about all the ways you can use your emotional challenges to your creative advantage. Write the soundtrack to your inner turmoil, connect with others who have experienced similar emotional struggle—or those who will listen with care. Sit with your feelings, and see what light they may bring.

CAPRICORN (December 22 – January 19)

I honor the new role I’m taking on by making sure I have the spaciousness to meet my responsibilities. 

You’re viewing yourself differently now that you’ve arrived at a level of accomplishment that you’re comfortable with, and so too are your views on friendship changing. The Full Moon on April 26th will bring to light certain connections that no longer feel resonant with who you know yourself to be, and this month you’ll have the opportunity to address those concerns as well as invite new connections. Mars is entering your seventh house of partnership, indicating that a romantic connection may have strong potential for a serious match. But even as your social connections are shifting, it’s you who should be taking center stage in your thoughts. Pay attention to who inspires you, supports your vision, and energizes you to reach further— that’s where you want to invest your time. Make it so by the New Moon on May 11th.

Audio Challenge: Connections are everything to you this month, so use this time to invest in those who invest in you. Be clear with yourself: what do you need, what do you offer, and what do you refuse in your friendships and connections?

AQUARIUS (January 20 – February 18)

I actively invite the creative impulse that I need in order to recharge my steps forward.

With the Full Moon on April 26th in your 10th house, dissatisfaction with your current role is all but guaranteed. Focus on the life you intend to build instead of the one you’re not happy with. It can certainly be true that big changes need to happen in order to have more space for your creative expression, and you’ll definitely find the time when Venus and Mercury move into your fifth house the first week of May. Let the joy that you find in having more space to freely create inspire the intention you set at the New Moon on May 11th, focusing on a clear vision of the life you want to create moving forward.

Audio Challenge: Use your dissatisfaction to your advantage—you know what makes you unhappy; use that information to build your future. Make a list of changes to make, things that bring you joy, and what you’d like to manifest.

PISCES (February 19 – March 20)

I trust the path I have set before me, and communicate my intention clearly with others. 

The Full Moon on April 26th will bring some much needed clarity on the purpose behind your drive in the coming year. There are a new set of values that may get refined in this time, especially in light of the changing circumstances around you. The world is starting to open up, which means you’ve got to figure out how you want to join it. Use the insight to build better communication lines with loved ones, friends, and creative collaborators—especially on the New Moon on May 11th. With both Venus and Mercury in your house of home, you may be having some conversations with a partner about your future plans together or reconnecting with family that you haven’t seen in too long. Know what it is that you value in this time of change, and center it unequivocally. You can only call in what you’re willing to put in the work for.

Audio Challenge: Check in with your values, as they may have shifted in 2021. In what ways have you changed over the past year, and how have those changes reshaped your beliefs in yourself and your music? Share what you discover with a loved one.

Inspired by the support and influence of her older cousin, Andrea Genevieve has always felt a specific connection to heavy music.

“It’s just something that you feel. There’s just an excitement for those of us who are into it, you know? When you hear that, when you hear a good riff and you’re just like, “Oh, yeah. That’s good,” (laughs). For me, it’s what it comes down to.”

Based in Oakland, California, Genevieve now juggles being the guitarist of Heavy Rock band Psychic Hit and founder of Music Marketing platform Hesher Hustle—a combination that invites a conversation of health and healing to a genre historically known for its aggressive sounds and sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll mentality. 

For Ep. 2 of In Development, presented by She Shreds and Marshall, we sat down with Genevieve to discuss the new age of Heavy Rock and get her recipe into her essential Heavy Rock ‘n’ Roll tone. Stay in touch with Psychic Hit and a new album coming out mid 2021.

Who: Andrea Genevieve 

Location: Oakland, CA 

Project: Psychic Hit, Hesher Hustle 

Genres: Heavy Rock, Heavy Rock n Roll, NWOTHM (New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal)

1. Inspiration: A YouTube Video Playlist

2. Fender Stratocaster Player Series

I generally use Fender strats. I played a [Gibson] Les Paul for years, then I switched back to a strat because a Stratocaster was the first electric guitar that I ever had and just like comfort wise, I really love the way that strats feel.

3. Pickups: Seymour Duncan Hot Rails

I wanted to have their [Fender Stratocaster] single coil pickup, but more like a humbucker feel to my guitar. So I did a lot of research, a lot of experimenting with pickups and [the Hot Rails] were the pickups that I really, really liked ’cause they give me that sort of punchy, like in your face rock tone that I really, really like.

I usually play through the bridge. I like the aggressiveness of the Hot Rails but on certain songs when I need to pull it back a little, I’ll use my mid or neck position. Having that tonal variety with the Hot, Vintage, and Cool Rails respectively is ideal for what I do.

4. Pedals: Joyo JF-01 Vintage Overdrive, Catalinbread Naga Viper, MXR Phase 90, MXR Micro Flanger, TC Electronics Hall of Fame II.

As far as my pedal set up: I primarily use overdrives, a treble booster for my solos and then different things to kind of color it. Certain songs I’ll use a phaser. I always have a little bit of reverb obviously at the end and, yeah, just different things like a flanger and a chorus pedal for just different colors on songs. but usually I’m primarily just using an overdrive and then a treble booster for my solos. 

Joyo JF-01 Vintage Overdrive (essentially a Tube Screamer clone), Catalinbread Naga Viper (treble booster for solos). For color, I’ll sometimes use my MXR Phase 90 or MXR Micro Flanger. For reverb, I use TC Electronics Hall of Fame II.

5. Amps: Marshall Studio Classic SC20C JCM800 Combo Amp

If I’m using the amp settings, I’ll really crank up the gain pretty high. If I’m using my overdrive, I leave it set to mid and then use my overdrive and tweak it. As far as the EQing, I usually have my bass setting a little bit right of the dial of mid, and mid is usually right at mid. Treble’s usually a little bit right as well. I’m somebody who really likes a very straightforward setup on my amp.  I like more classic kinds of amps in that way that don’t have too many options. I feel like for me, I get better tone out of having less variables, less dials to have to mess around with. 

“In Development” is a new series highlighting contemporary voices revolutionizing vintage genres. Shout out to @marshallamps_uk for partnering with us this season.

The year of chaos comes to an end with a strong Full Moon in Cancer on December 29th, lighting the way into the New Year and reminding us that even though much has been lost in the storm, we have strengthened what matters most: our deepest connections. 

As we move into the dawn of 2021, Mars changes suit and pursues the realization of our collective visions with the determination of Taurus, ensuring we have the power to see ourselves through this next chapter and fulfill all the promises of light after a long storm. Look to the New Moon in Capricorn on January 12th as the time to commit to a new course of action based on the lessons learned from 2020 vision. We will build from what we have learned, not bury it behind us.

ARIES (March 21 – April 19)

And now we begin the slow climb up the mountain side, pushing our respective rocks against the pull of gravity that kept us close to the ground all year. Do you remember what it felt like to pull yourself up past the brim of the horizon, knowing there was a beautiful scene in store? The last of 2020 will feel like that moment between sleeping and waking, when we’re not quite sure if we should take those first steps up or lay in bed a little longer. You can wait past the square Mars, your ruling planet, makes to Pluto on December 23rd—this will be a test of character rather than an opportunity to elevate. The Full Moon on December 29th is a reminder to center chosen family and loved ones, your biggest lesson of this year. As we move into 2021 your energy will return, now inspired by the visions you entrusted to a new year. Mars enters Taurus on January 6th, and you’ll know that this chapter is truly behind us. By the New Moon in Capricorn on January 12th, you’ll know what energetic principle you want to dedicate your creative practice to, and you’ll have the strength to believe in it once again.

Audio Challenge: What has 2020 vision opened your eyes to? How do you want to enter 2021? Don’t wait until the New Year officially arrives—use this time to begin thinking about how you want your musical practice to look this upcoming year.

TAURUS (April 20 – May 20)

The biggest shifts happen from within, when a misunderstanding held deep in the heart has finally shifted, causing a cascade of changes in your life like dominos finally giving way to a clearer path forward. This year has brought up a lot of strife, but the biggest challenge for you has been facing some of the beliefs you thought would hold you through any struggle. The Full Moon in Cancer on December 29th reminds you of the work you are here to do: clear ancestral stories in order to move forward with renewed light. As Mars moves into your first house on January 6th, you are energized with the renewed determination to create your own narrative out of this chaos, forging a path through this time that is entirely your own. It’s time to let those you trust show you how to step away from what you have known into what is truly yours. Sometimes the hardest comforts to give up are our own ideas about order, but by letting them go we can see what truly is. By the New Moon on January 12th, make a commitment to widening the scope of your vantage point—ask for the veil to be lifted. You are ready.

Audio Challenge: What beliefs about your music no longer serve you? How can you rewrite your own narrative so that it speaks honestly to the person you are right here, right now? Remember: it’s in moments of disorder when we can truly access who we are and what we need.

GEMINI May 21 – June 20

As 2020 ends, you leave behind all fears about your ability to find sure footing in this world. If the chaos has taught you anything, it’s that you can survive even the worst of storms and still find a soft, sweet place inside your heart to keep the light going until the sky breaks. The Full Moon on December 29th will bring a reminder that you can generate any resources you need—a parting gift from the goddess of chaos, as you leave her reign and enter 2021, with everything you need to get started. By January 6th, when Mars moves into your 12th house of spirit, you’re ready to channel the tones that speak to the deepest desires of your center. Move from this place with integrity, allow your trust to guide you through. Mercury, your ruler, will enter an expansive place in your chart now, allowing you to see the path that was meant for you when the others were blocked. Take it, and with the New Moon that rises on January 12th, make a commitment to trusting this voice that arose in the night—the one that speaks your heart true.

Audio Challenge: Think of your musical tone as an extension of your voice. How do you want your tone to change in 2021? What do you want it to say for you? What resources, what gear do you need to achieve this?  Commit to the tone that feels most authentic to only you.

CANCER (June 21 – July 22)

There is a great big stone inside your chest, right next to your heart, weighing down any moment of brilliant joy with a reminder of all that has been lost in this realm. Grief is a powerful motivator for personal transformation—it’s almost like being carried away on an iceberg, headed towards an unknown land, having no more say on it than trust that this current will bring you to a place of rest. The Full Moon on December 29th is in your sign, which means you’ll be able to reflect on all that has passed and all you’ve moved through during this short-long time. One year may have passed on the Gregorian calendar, but 10 years have been lived through in your heart—honor it. As Mars moves into the 11th house of community and connection on January 6th, you’ll find comfort and hope in the arms of those you choose to move into the light with. It will be time to make peace with loss—always with you, but not always standing in your path. It’s time you take your own steps forward now. By the New Moon in Capricorn on January 12th, you’ll know the power that lies in making connections that help pull you through difficult times and put the pieces back together. But remember it is you who chooses to bring them in; it is your heart who called in those who would help you through.

Audio Challenge: Hold a final vigil for all things musical you’ve lost this year (bands, tours, opportunities, etc.) and let it all go, for good. Light candles, make a list, and release. Make space for 2021 goals and what you need to do right now to manifest them.

 LEO (July 23 – August 22)

This whole year there has been a soft and quiet voice following your steps, directing your actions, leading you down the spiral staircase into the great unknown: the belly of your beast. Lying there in the dark hours of the night, alone, the world has come into sharp focus. There’s more to see here than what you’ve explored so far. So much more to go. And now as we step into the light of what will surely be the time for you to find those places, we have to make sure you remember that belly, the shape of the night, the dreams that held your light. The Full Moon on December 29th will ring out this year with a clear intention for what’s to come: you know what dreams you wish to serve by now. As we enter 2021, Mars ignites your house of offering, a time to step back onto the playing field and trust your craft. You’ll work on your daily practice this year, realigning actions with new intentions directed towards that energetic presence you trust. By the New Moon on January 12th, you will identify what practices need to go in order to realign. There are some habits that won’t be following you into the dawn.  

Audio Challenge: Consider how your daily practice may need adjusting. What habits no longer sustain you? What habits would you like to implement? Pay attention to what your heart tells you on December 29th, and make a game plan for your daily practice by January 12th. 

VIRGO (August 23 – September 22)

Learning to trace and retrace your path through ever-changing landscapes has given you two gifts: the strength to face changing circumstances, and the clarity to know what truly gives you grounding. It’s the second gift that will help most in the coming year, as you have the opportunity to reorient your life in order to align your actions with what you truly value. The Full Moon on December 29th closes out this year with a reminder that you are and have done enough. You cannot stop the losses from coming, and you cannot patch up others’ hearts so that they don’t face the brunt of the storm, but you’ve done everything possible to soften the blows. Now will be your time to collect the pieces of your own broken heart and take to mending. By January 6th, when Mars moves into your ninth house, you’ll be healed enough to take on a new course of study; there’s still so much left to be explored now that the doors start to swing back open and the sky has calmed down. Step out and make a commitment to trusting your creative vision by January 12th, when the New Moon shines on your fifth house of poetic expression. What better time to go for what you truly love then now, when you’ve made it through the storm?

Audio Challenge: What is it about your music that grounds you? Maybe it’s a belief, a certain sound, or an instrument. Identify the foundation of your practice and consider what’s yet to be explored. 

LIBRA (September 23 – October 22)

Your worries are well warranted. Even though certain, perhaps superficial, things have changed the current situation, this does not ensure that you will find ease in your professional and creative pursuits anytime soon. It will be months before we meet with friends, and even longer before you’re able to enjoy a live show. But in this moment, you can be sure that the time to share your work is approaching. And for now, that will have to be enough. The Full Moon on December 29th brings with it a reminder of what you love about the work you’ve taken on, and how much you have yet to explore. As Mars moves into Taurus to ring in the New Year, your determination to forge ahead will grow. Make sure to take care of any relationships that affect your ability to move forward now—business partnerships and collaborators will have important parts to play in the next few months as we begin to meet again. Who you connect with now can make a real difference in how much you are able to grow. The New Moon on January 12th will focus your attention on the space you need in order to fulfill the promise of possible collaboration. Trust that you’ll be able to grow this creative vision very soon. Invest your time in making it a reality. 

Audio Challenge: Which important musical relationships have you neglected in 2020? Which ones have you invested way too much energy into without much reciprocation?  Begin nurturing the relationships you want to keep and letting go of the ones holding you back.

SCORPIO (October 23 – November 21)

This year has been a real test of character for the integrity of your soul. It’s not the make and metal of your heart, but the way you speak about it to others that has been weighed against the truth inside. In every place where a small lie has helped you move through a situation with more ease, you have been asked to confront the dissonance. Is it truly worth your time to believe in anything but the fiercest truths now? As we move towards 2021, you’ll be asked to apply that same grit to the foundations on which you have built your life. Have you been cutting corners on your visions in order to make them more palatable? The Full Moon on December 29th will remind you of what you have gained by sacrifice: dedication to self, belief in your vision, and determination to see it through. As Mars moves into your seventh house on January 6th you’ll be asked to review the strength of your connections against this same harsh light. You’ve got a big project in store—you can count on big movements following the storm. Do those around you inspire you to keep building your vision? Take care of the foundations you set, and the people who help you lay down those bricks. The New Moon on January 12th will help you decide whether it feels right. 

Audio Challenge: What small lies have you been telling yourself and others about your music? Can those small lies be turned into truths? And if so, what sacrifices must you make? Spot the lies, and determine which ones you want to be truths and which ones must be released. 

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 – December 21)

There are so many things that didn’t go as planned, and so many people to blame for what went wrong. But in this moment, as this chapter starts to close, do you really want to go out holding a candle of frustration for those who stood in your path? There are so many opportunities blooming in the background, if you step into your capacity to trust that those who did you wrong will face their own just karmic deserts—this moment, however, is about you getting yours. The Full Moon closes out this year on December  29th, strengthening the courage you have cultivated through trust in the power you hold. This is your moment to realize that this year of loss has pushed you to depend on your power and strength alone, and you have been found capable of pushing through. As Mars enters your sixth house of work on January 6th you have the opportunity to change the course of your daily practice, aligning with your courage instead of your fear. This isn’t the time to return to the same wheels you spun before this moment: this is the time to initiate a new offering entirely your own. By January 12th, when the New Moon in Capricorn lights up your house of resources and stability, you’ll find that you’re fully capable of funding your dreams on your own grit alone. Go for it. 

Audio Challenge: What aspects of your musical practice have you been hiding from? What scares you the most? Use this time, along with your unrelenting courage, to address your fears.

CAPRICORN (December 22 – January 19)

You’ve had to let a lot of things go this year in order to move with the time that you’ve been given. But it’s not the goals or dreams or vision boards or future plans that have cost you the most: it’s the heavy weight of doubt that used to sit around your neck, reminding you at every moment of the things not yet finished. You’ve had to toss that ugly thing into the wind—who doesn’t have a long list of what was unfinished in 2020? But this constant companion, this drive to self-critique yourself into elevation must stay here in this night. As you walk towards the new chapter, remember all that you leave behind on December 29th, when the Full Moon in Cancer centers the clarity you have developed in your heart. As you move into 2021, Mars enters your fifth house of creativity, bringing back the practice that connects your craft with the spirit of purpose you have been able to regenerate in the night. As the New Moon in Capricorn blooms on January 12th, remember what you’re really here to do: not conquer, but integrate. Not achieve, but synthesize. 

Audio Challenge: Push aside all notions of success with your music and take a moment to connect to your purpose. What does it look like? Manifest it by writing it out or drawing a representative symbol, then hang it someplace where you will see it everyday. 

AQUARIUS (January 20 – February 18)

You’re not alone. Even if it’s felt like it for so much of the year, even if you’ve lost contact with many people you thought would always be around, even if you need to take a break from family, chosen and inherited—because you need some space to think. Even so, and more so, you’re not alone in this time, and you won’t be alone in this time for much longer. The Full Moon in Cancer on December 29th will bring with it the opportunity to cherish the quality of connection you value the most: the chance to build a vision with people who feel the same pull at the heart. As Mars moves into your fourth house on January 6th, you’ll find you have little patience left for home, this space you’ve inhabited for so long. It’s time to make some changes here in order to let in new light. Open the windows and let the cool air rush through, filling your lungs with promise. The New Moon on January 12th will bring you the answer you seek, if you’ve made the space within your home to receive it. Ask for guidance. Listen to what the heart has to offer. Trust. 

Audio Challenge: Use this time to make changes to your environment that will ignite creativity and hope. Clear out any clutter and/or unused gear, and make space for new promises and connections. 

PISCES (February 19 – March 20)

You may not have always participated in opportunities to connect with others, and it’s been painful to realize just how far they’ve dwindled in the past year. You will have opportunities to see your friends and loved ones soon, but in this moment, as the dredges of 2020 begin to fall, it’s time to reignite the passion you once had for your creative practice. Because it’s this passion that you want to share with those you love when you are able to see them again; it’s this passion that will reinscribe sorrow with light. With the last Full Moon of 2020 on December 29th, take pride in the beauty you’re able to create when you invest your energy in hope that shines a light through the darkness. Center that vision in the year to come, and meet it with the drive that is offered by Mars entering your house of communication on January 6th. It’s time to record the small blooms of beauty you see and share it with those you love. By the Full Moon in Capricorn on January 12th you’ll have the strength and support to initiate a new practice with those you trust. By holding a light through the night, you illuminate a path that others can follow. 

Audio Challenge: What are you trying to communicate through your music? And who are you trying to communicate it to? Create a clear creative vision for 2021 and a roster of loved ones to share that vision with. 

We have changes that need to be made now, and in order to do so, our bonds must be strengthened and reinforced against the incoming tide. Because of the beloved investment we have in each other’s future, we will now manifest together. Reinforce trust in yourself to carry out the tasks that must be done, starting with building compassion for yourself and others. There is no right way to be, just a right way to hold each other through this process. 

Read through your Audioscopes for Libra Season and take on an extra challenge with our audiobytes and tips.

ARIES (March 21 – April 19)

Yes, this is your path—and yes, you’re the only one to lead it. There may be setbacks now, as the sun dims on the horizon and the ground before you lays unbroken: it’s up to you to cut this path through the dense foliage, alone and at night, with nothing but trust in your heart to guide you. This is both your gift to others and your curse: the power to go alone, but the fear of getting lost where no one has set foot before. Don’t rush the clearing, don’t push before you are sure you’re ready. You have time.

Audio Challenge: Use this time to consider yourself as your one and only bandleader. When working alone, what are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? Take five minutes to make two separate lists of each while listening to the Aries audiobyte, and use them to guide your creative process.

TAURUS (April 20 – May 20)

If it feels like every new proclamation you set forth is met with resistance and every conversation you open is filled with mistrust, your warning bell has been sounded—it’s time to reconsider the battlefield before setting up for another fight. You may think you are defending the right of all, when actually you’re only holding a partial picture of the territory. Listen. Allow for fullness to ring true before pushing forward. This may not need to be a battle after all.

Audio Challenge: Lay down your defenses this month and take time to reflect on what you are fighting both for and against with your music. Meditate on the Taurus audiobyte, or sit by a stream or other body of water if that’s available to you, and consider what nature has to say.

GEMINI May 21 – June 20

There are gifts hidden here behind the cave walls, a pool of clear water shining in the moonlight, the reflection of your dreams’ eye caught between waking and sleep. But you must learn to tell the difference between the images dancing on starlight in dreamtime and the fixed reality unfolding before you. Pay attention to the energy reflected in those whom you choose to share your most intimate secrets with. Where are you heading together? And for what purpose?

Audio Challenge: Put aside your musical dreams for a moment and take stock of what’s available to you right now—especially those who you trust with your most unrefined song drafts. Pick one person and collaborate on a song together, using the Gemini audiobyte as the backbone.

CANCER (June 21 – July 22)

There are times when all you can do is follow the pattern set by others, those with more power, more clarity, more light. It’s easier to lean on the cadence of those you choose to follow than it is to collect the pieces of your own vision and create your own map. But if you do so now—if you take on the responsibility of setting your own pace, going your own way, following the intuitive path your heart knows and mind must follow—you will find your power and your strength. You had the right map, all along.

Audio Challenge: Set aside time for yourself to draw an actual map of your musical journey. Start by mapping out how you’ve arrived at where you are now, and then where you would like to go. Spend time listening to the Cancer audiobyte as you reflect on what you’re heart has to say.

 LEO (July 23 – August 22)

It’s time to go back now. The hiatus from the songs that keep your heart singing and the steps that keep your body in flow has lasted longer than was necessary for you to re-seed this time with vibrancy. You must take the lessons you’ve learned from this time spent in contemplation and infuse your practice with the brilliance of a heart that has learned to pick up the pieces and start over once again. This time requires a new way of communicating your  light to those who are ready to receive it, and you will find a way. Trust.

Audio Challenge: Use the Leo audiobyte as your first step back into your musical practice. Write vocals and/or additional instrumentation that reflect what you’ve learned this year and record over the audiobyte. 

VIRGO (August 23 – September 22)

You’ve almost completely freed yourself of the chord that runs from the back of your mind down into the pit of the Earth, the place where all memories of failure lie. The only one continuing to feed into this is you, and although it may be an uncomfortable way to hold yourself up, it’s also the only way you’ve known. But you no longer need to remember every action gone awry, every word said out of haste, every connection severed in the night. This is a rebirth for both you and the Earth. Let it go. Bury it. You won’t be back here again.

Audio Challenge: On a sheet of paper, write a list of every musical failure that plagues you. Then, burn the sheet of paper and bury the ashes in the ground or in a houseplant. Listen to the Virgo audiobyte and rewrite your story through song.

LIBRA (September 23 – October 22)

There are so many things you can’t enjoy about this beautiful season, this year, but that only brings the joys that are available to you into sharper focus. There is a small patch of grass where the sun beams through, where the wildflowers grow despite the daily shifts in weather patterns. Sit here, in this small space of Earth that is warmed by the energy of those who have sat here before you. Remember the gifts that have been passed down to you through the lineage of the sweet smell of sage. This power will get you through.

Audio Challenge: Set up a corner of your space for musical productivity, and be sure to keep it set up so that you can return to it easily. Decorate it with photographs or ephemera of your family, ancestors, and/or others who paved the way for your journey. Listen to the voices in the Libra audiobyte, and see if you can channel the voices of your own people who came before you.

SCORPIO (October 23 – November 21)

You can finally see above the rim of the half empty cup, into the wide expanse of shifting sands below. The Earth moves herself into a new position, making way for the reality that is already brimming on the horizon, ready to breathe through the tightness in your chest in order to allow for new growth. But in this moment, in this clarity of vision, nothing more needs to be done but to accept the reality that is to come, and to allow your heart to meet it. Your plan of action will arrive soon enough, as surely as the season changes and the day follows night. 

Audio Challenge: Use this time to rest and accept what is to come. Spend time outdoors, or somewhere with a view of the outdoors, and listen to the Scorpio audiobyte. Reflect on the seasonal changes, and begin to compose a song that aligns these changes with those in your own life.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 – December 21)

Keep that candle burning bright in the window, because the light that shines through the glimmer in your eye is the only signal your kin needs to find you. The heart, sweat, and tears you’ve poured in the foundation will bring the recognition you’ve been needing to hear from those who can hold your heart’s intention and let it ring true. This is the last moment before the tide turns heavy and the winds begin to blow in a new direction. This will be the moment when your friends find you, by that same guiding light,  to navigate through the storm together.

Audio Challenge: Reach out to the musicians in your life who support you and offer you light. Arrange a time to brainstorm ways on staying connected right now—perhaps a songshare over Zoom or a mixtape exchange of songs that excite you. Keep the Sagittarius audiobyte playing lightly in the background as you brainstorm together.

CAPRICORN (December 22 – January 19)

There won’t be any decisions made now that won’t change later, and there won’t be any fixed path to lead you through the coming storm. The key here is to know that you’re well prepared for any changes afoot, and to lean into the trust in your heart so that you can adapt. Anywhere you find yourself now can be called home, as long as you carry the connection to lineage, kin—those gifts passed down from grandmother to grandmother that find a resting place in your heart to bear fruit. You won’t be alone in this time, and you won’t be forgotten as long as you remember the legacy you are carrying through.

Audio Challenge: Using the Capricorn audiobyte as the foundation, compose a piece of music that honors your lineage. Try to use an instrument or piece of gear that you’ve had trouble with in the past, but do not get frustrated with perfection—you have everything you need right now.

AQUARIUS (January 20 – February 18)

You will never find the perfect expression of human compassion that will ensure safe passage through any situation. There are monsters only you are destined to face, well-worn patterns passed down that must now be broken in order to clear the way for a new step forward. It’s up to you to face these demons and make friends, to step into knowing instead of fearing what will come next. The torch has been passed down, the night has fallen, and it’s your turn to run this leg of the race. You’ve been chosen. You will make it through.

Audio Challenge: What are some musical monsters you’ve been facing? These might be in your head, or even gear or a technique that you’ve had trouble tackling. Pick one and address it head on—use the Aquarius audiobyte to guide you.

PISCES (February 19 – March 20)

If the bright colors of the morning have lost their hue, and the daily tasks that ensure your strength have lost their meaning, then it’s time to recollect all the energy that you’re giving to the world and bring it back to center, to source, to the altar in the middle of the room. It’s time to renew vows to spirit first—to the guides that spoke to you so clearly earlier this year, but whose voice may be lost in the swirling chaos of this moment. Set up the altar: place connection before action, compassion before knowing, legacy before success. Your values are shifting now, and you need to recollect. The sun will shine brighter once you have received its blessing.

Audio Challenge: Create an altar that puts you at the center, and listen to the Pisces audiobyte as you assemble it. This can take on many different forms—a candlelit table top of things that bring you joy, a softly lit practice space filled with inspiring images, a playlist of songs of compassion—but no matter what form it takes, be sure it caters to nothing or no one else but your own spirit.

About The Author

Celia Sagastume is a first generation transgender non-binary Guatemalan astrologer living in San Francisco, California, by way of Miami, Florida. Celia’s astrology practice is devoted to de-colonizing the mind by elevating the mythologies and archetypes that have been undermined by patriarchal domination introduced by the colonizers. They combine the artistry and creativity of their B.A. in English Literature with the analytical precision of their Masters in Human Cognition. They are the founder of Astrosagas.com, and the resident astrologer at LatinX.com & DailyAstrologyGuide.com where they produce weekly video horoscopes, Astrology 101 guides, and articles on current applications of astrology in culture & politics.

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