Barclay Crenshaw is Writing A New Book on Being an Independent Artist

Barclay Crenshaw, who also releases music under the name Claude VonStroke, has announced he is writing a new book. The subject of the long-form work is building a completely independent career.

“I’m trying to pass on my deep level of knowledge about being 100% independent and never having to listen to anyone. Very few artists ever get here,” Crenshaw wrote in a recent newsletter.

Crenshaw’s independence begins with the record label Dirtybird, which he founded in 2005. Until late 2023 when he sold the label to the record label, distribution, and publishing company EMPIRE, Crenshaw released all of his records as Claude VonStroke through Dirtybird.

His sale of Dirtybird came around the time he shifted away from the funky house music beats of Claude VonStroke and began focusing on releasing alternative hip hop under his own name. As Barclay Crenshaw, he put out music through various independent entities including BCCV, Easier Said, and STX & BRX.

Beyond releasing music, Crenshaw organized independent events through Dirtybird such as Dirtybird Campout, the Dirtybird BBQ tour, and the Birdhouse Festival in Chicago. He also recently developed a music production plugin called “Nasty Channel.”

With all this experience under his belt, in the newsletter, Crenshaw asked what readers would want to learn from this new book:

“What do you want to know? AND What do you want to hear? Hit me back, you will be surprised that I read the emails.”

Click here to sign up for Crenshaw’s newsletter and have a say in what his new book will include.