--- title: blog | Toby Schuetgens description: This is all about the struggles of making a living as independent country music artists, music production, music marketing and my simple country living. --- [Skip to content](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/author/toby-schuetgens#main-content) [![](https://toby.schuetgens.com/hs-fs/hubfs/TS%20Swirls%20Logo%20Favicon.png?width=24&height=30&name=TS%20Swirls%20Logo%20Favicon.png)](https://toby.schuetgens.com) [Shop](https://schuetgens.com/) | [Homestead Nation Community](https://schuetgens.com/apps/single/membership#/join) ![TSM Header 86 26 Website 2](https://toby.schuetgens.com/hs-fs/hubfs/TSM%20Header%2086%2026%20Website%202.jpg?width=2000&height=601&name=TSM%20Header%2086%2026%20Website%202.jpg "TSM Header 86 26 Website 2") # Welcome to Toby Schuetgens Music Blog This is all about the struggles of making a living as independent country music artists, music production from songwriting over recording to mastering, music marketing and just a little of my simple country living.   [![](https://toby.schuetgens.com/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/The%20image%20depicts%20a%20rustic%20wooden%20workbench%20cluttered%20with%20tools%20and%20materials%20illuminated%20by%20warm%20natural%20light%20streaming%20through%20a%20nearby%20window%20On%20the%20bench%20a%20wellused%20notebook%20lies%20open%20filled%20with%20handwritten%20notes%20sketches%20and%20diagrams%20in%20vario-1.png)](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/the-homestead-skill-that-saves-time-and-effort) [homestead life](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/tag/homestead-life) ## [The Homestead Skill That Saves Time and Effort](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/the-homestead-skill-that-saves-time-and-effort) ![Picture of Toby Schuetgens](https://toby.schuetgens.com/hs-fs/hubfs/42013990-01.jpeg?width=50&name=42013990-01.jpeg) [Toby Schuetgens](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/author/toby-schuetgens) Oct 1, 2025, 11:23:55 AM Last time, we covered the physical skill of maintenance. This week, we're focusing on the mental ski... [Read more](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/the-homestead-skill-that-saves-time-and-effort) [![](https://toby.schuetgens.com/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/The%20image%20depicts%20a%20closeup%20of%20a%20skilled%20artisan%20sharpening%20a%20highquality%20fixedblade%20knife%20on%20a%20traditional%20whetstone%20The%20scene%20is%20set%20in%20a%20rustic%20workshop%20filled%20with%20warm%20natural%20light%20filtering%20through%20a%20nearby%20window%20casting%20soft%20shadows%20The%20arti.png)](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/sharpening-your-knife) [homestead life](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/tag/homestead-life) ## [Why Sharpening Your Knife Changes Everything](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/sharpening-your-knife) ![Picture of Toby Schuetgens](https://toby.schuetgens.com/hs-fs/hubfs/42013990-01.jpeg?width=50&name=42013990-01.jpeg) [Toby Schuetgens](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/author/toby-schuetgens) Oct 1, 2025, 11:19:15 AM [Read more](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/sharpening-your-knife) [![](https://toby.schuetgens.com/hubfs/Banner%200725-4-small-min.png)](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/unreleased-music) [unreleased](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/tag/unreleased) ## [Unreleased Music](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/unreleased-music) ![Picture of Toby Schuetgens](https://toby.schuetgens.com/hs-fs/hubfs/42013990-01.jpeg?width=50&name=42013990-01.jpeg) [Toby Schuetgens](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/author/toby-schuetgens) Jul 11, 2025, 8:53:27 AM As a TS Homestead Nation Member you can get access to unreleased songs. This way you can become a pa... [Read more](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/unreleased-music) [![](https://toby.schuetgens.com/hubfs/IMG_20241106_170241-01.jpeg)](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/savor-the-simple-life) [behind the scenes](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/tag/behind-the-scenes), [community](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/tag/community), [simplelife](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/tag/simplelife) ## [Savor the Simple Life](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/savor-the-simple-life) ![Picture of Toby Schuetgens](https://toby.schuetgens.com/hs-fs/hubfs/42013990-01.jpeg?width=50&name=42013990-01.jpeg) [Toby Schuetgens](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/author/toby-schuetgens) Nov 9, 2024, 11:03:20 PM If you're living some kind of a similar lifestyle as I do: don't forget savoring the simple life! Th... [Read more](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/savor-the-simple-life) [![](https://toby.schuetgens.com/hubfs/When%20You%20Were%20A%20Child%202024%20cover%201500.png)](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/unreleased-when-you-were-a-child-2024) [music creation](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/tag/music-creation), [music production](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/tag/music-production), [unreleased](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/tag/unreleased) ## [Unreleased: When You Were A Child 2024](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/unreleased-when-you-were-a-child-2024) ![Picture of Toby Schuetgens](https://toby.schuetgens.com/hs-fs/hubfs/42013990-01.jpeg?width=50&name=42013990-01.jpeg) [Toby Schuetgens](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/author/toby-schuetgens) Nov 8, 2024, 9:05:07 AM [Read more](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/unreleased-when-you-were-a-child-2024) [![](https://toby.schuetgens.com/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/The%20image%20of%20an%20independent%20country%20artist%20struggling%20to%20make%20a%20living%20in%20the%20streaming%20era%2c%20relying%20on%20selling%20merchandise%20and%20a%20monthly%20membership%20p.jpeg)](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/struggling-to-make-a-living-as-independent-artist-in-the-streaming-era) [musical journey](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/tag/musical-journey), [behind the scenes](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/tag/behind-the-scenes), [community](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/tag/community) ## [Struggling to Make a Living as Independent Artist in the Streaming Era](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/struggling-to-make-a-living-as-independent-artist-in-the-streaming-era) ![Picture of Toby Schuetgens](https://toby.schuetgens.com/hs-fs/hubfs/42013990-01.jpeg?width=50&name=42013990-01.jpeg) [Toby Schuetgens](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/author/toby-schuetgens) Nov 4, 2024, 11:51:03 AM Well, howdy folks. Let's talk about the good ol' music industry, specifically the part where a fella... [Read more](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/struggling-to-make-a-living-as-independent-artist-in-the-streaming-era) [![](https://toby.schuetgens.com/hubfs/Jamey%20Johnson.png)](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/what-toby-schuetgens-fans-also-like) [community](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/tag/community), [artists recommendation](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/tag/artists-recommendation), [what fans also like](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/tag/what-fans-also-like) ## [What Toby Schuetgens' Fans Also Like](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/what-toby-schuetgens-fans-also-like) ![Picture of Toby Schuetgens](https://toby.schuetgens.com/hs-fs/hubfs/42013990-01.jpeg?width=50&name=42013990-01.jpeg) [Toby Schuetgens](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/author/toby-schuetgens) Oct 22, 2024, 3:06:01 PM If you’re a fan of Toby Schuetgens' music, you’re likely drawn to artists who blend traditional coun... [Read more](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/what-toby-schuetgens-fans-also-like) [![](https://toby.schuetgens.com/hubfs/InShot_20231221_234642786.jpg)](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/this-is-about-friends-and-partners) [friendship](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/tag/friendship), [community](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/tag/community), [partners](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/tag/partners) ## [This is about friends and partners](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/this-is-about-friends-and-partners) ![Picture of Toby Schuetgens](https://toby.schuetgens.com/hs-fs/hubfs/42013990-01.jpeg?width=50&name=42013990-01.jpeg) [Toby Schuetgens](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/author/toby-schuetgens) Oct 22, 2024, 2:06:52 PM Even though I really like doing every aspect of my music career myself, there are times I need some ... [Read more](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/this-is-about-friends-and-partners) [![](https://toby.schuetgens.com/hubfs/Handmade%20by%20a%20craftsman%20Header.png)](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/ai-in-music-like-it-or-not-its-there) [music creation](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/tag/music-creation), [AI](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/tag/ai), [music production](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/tag/music-production), [songwriting](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/tag/songwriting) ## [AI in music, like it or not, it's there!](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/ai-in-music-like-it-or-not-its-there) ![Picture of Toby Schuetgens](https://toby.schuetgens.com/hs-fs/hubfs/42013990-01.jpeg?width=50&name=42013990-01.jpeg) [Toby Schuetgens](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/author/toby-schuetgens) Oct 16, 2024, 11:08:02 AM What is music? Or what is it, that makes music what it is? We should ask these questions today, beca... [Read more](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/ai-in-music-like-it-or-not-its-there) [![](https://toby.schuetgens.com/hubfs/Uncontrollable%20Header.png)](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/from-germany-to-dixie-the-journey-of-toby-schuetgens) ## [From Germany to Dixie: The Journey of Toby Schuetgens](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/from-germany-to-dixie-the-journey-of-toby-schuetgens) ![Picture of Toby Schuetgens](https://toby.schuetgens.com/hs-fs/hubfs/42013990-01.jpeg?width=50&name=42013990-01.jpeg) [Toby Schuetgens](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/author/toby-schuetgens) Oct 14, 2024, 11:06:52 AM Hey y'all, Toby Schuetgens here, your friendly neighborhood country rock troubadour. Settle in and l... [Read more](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/from-germany-to-dixie-the-journey-of-toby-schuetgens) First Prev [1](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/author/toby-schuetgens) [2](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/author/toby-schuetgens/page/2) [Next](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/author/toby-schuetgens/page/2) [Last](https://toby.schuetgens.com/blog/author/toby-schuetgens/page/2) ## By the way: do you know my merch shop yet? If you like my music and would like to support me a little bit, show some love with one of my latest items from the merch store... [Learn more](https://schuetgens.com/) ## Remember when music had a story? ### This is the part the streaming services left out. You'd tear off the plastic, open the booklet, and sit there reading every lyric and seeing every photo. It felt **real**. That feeling is almost completely lost in a world of fast-scrolling feeds and an endless digital noise. Most music today is just background sound—one song after another without a story or a soul. But it doesn’t have to be that way. I believe music should have a story, and a raw, authentic connection. That's why I've created something to bring that feeling back. I've put together a playlist that's the soundtrack to my story, along with a free digital booklet that gets you behind the scenes. It's a way to hit pause on the world and connect with music the way it was meant to be experienced. ## Get Booklet now! [Follow us on Facebook](https://open.spotify.com/intl-de/artist/5Ke3sAcptTc59mGBlEYVjr?si=ivmcMdvgRUSGQGBFXGFe9g) [instagram icon](https://www.instagram.com/tshomesteadnation) [youtube icon](https://www.youtube.com/@tshomesteadnation) [facebook-f icon](https://www.facebook.com/tshomesteadnation) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.tiktok.com/@tshomesteadnation) --- 838 Walker Rd., Suite 21-2, 19904 Dover DE USA Copyright © 2026, Schuetgens LLC