What does it mean to be Export Ready? We’re demystifying the process of building sustainable touring careers through Export 101, our suite of professional development and educational offerings. This page is your one-stop shop: bookmark it to stay dialed in on upcoming workshops, new podcast episodes, and more new resources coming in 2025.
Export 101: Louise Page
Music Export Memphis’ Export 101 podcast talks with independent artists about their journeys to effectively exporting their music, with a focus on tangible advice and honest takes on what it takes to tour. This episode features Louise Page, a singer/songwriter whose blend of piano rock, pop and jazz styles is evocative and playful. Louise talks about her first tour, where she’s gone from there, and gets into the brass tacks of how she did all of it. Get ready to take notes!
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Export 101: Talibah Safiya
This episode features Talibah Safiya, a singer/songwriter who mixes neosoul, R&B, blues, rock and pop sounds to create something hard to describe – a genre all her own. Talibah talks about her own export story, a unique journey with creative approaches to building tour routes, fan bases and maximizing out-of-market opportunities.
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Export 101: Josh Shaw of Blvck Hippie
This episode features Josh Shaw of Blvck Hippie, one of the most successful breakout indie bands from Memphis in recent history. The band has toured their critically acclaimed 2021 album If You Feel Alone At Parties relentlessly, including lengthy international runs, almost all supported in some capacity by Music Export Memphis grants. Josh talks about how they’ve done it, what they’ve learned and what’s next.
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Export 101: Rachel Maxann
This episode features Rachel Maxann, a singer/songwriter whose powerhouse vocals and style create her own genre, Goth-Black Folk. Rachel recently dropped an album in 2023 ‘Black Fae” which is available on all streaming platforms. In this episode she talks about her first tour, crafting her live show, and how she approaches touring now with the help of grants from Music Export Memphis.
Export 101: Nick Black
This episode features Nick Black, a Memphis soul-pop singer/songwriter and twitch personality. Nick wrote over 100 songs in front of a live streaming audience which resulted in his ‘TWITCH #1’ album. In this episode, Nick talks about his first tour, touring solo versus with a band, and how COVID changed his approach to growing his audience.
Export 101: Marcella Simien
This episode features Marcella Simien, a Creole psychedelic-soul artist based in Memphis, TN. Her experimental approach is all about pushing boundaries and trying new things! In this episode, Marcella talks about her first tour, juggling logistics while curating a live show, and how she leverages conferences like APAP to sustain her career.
Export 101: Alicja Trout
This episode features Alicja Trout, a multidisciplinary artist based in Memphis, TN. Her experience spans from touring with Spit Shine to Sweet Knives to River City Tanlines and countless other bands. In this episode, she talks about her first tour with The Clears, being flexible acting as your own team, and promoting a tour in the US versus abroad.
Export 101: Qemist
This episode features Qemist, an underground Producer and DJ based in Memphis, TN. In his tenth year of his music career Qemist has emerged as one of the fresh, new electronic artists from the South. In this episode, Qemist talks about his first DIY tour, building his network and community, how to market yourself as a DJ, and testing out tracks at live shows.
Export 101: Justin Toland of Dirty Streets
This episode features Justin Toland lead guitarist and vocalist for Dirty Streets, a Memphis Rock band established in 2006. Dirty Streets has recorded 6+ albums in the heart of Memphis all while touring the country year after year. In this episode, Justin talks hitting the road for the first time, independent VS having a team, and best practices for ‘show trading’.
Export 101: Suroor
This episode, we talk with Suroor, an experimental pop artist based in Memphis, TN. She shares insights from her first West Coast tour, the power of collaboration in building a tour, performing in non-traditional spaces, and the importance of staying flexible on the road.