Notes on software modernization, music, and figuring it out as I go.https://isaacaskew.com/https://isaacaskew.com/2026/02/02/from-zero-to-akerfeldt/https://isaacaskew.com/2026/02/02/from-zero-to-akerfeldt/I’ve started a Substack where I’ll post all of my screaming and prog metal guitar progress. I haven’t…Tue, 03 Feb 2026 02:10:28 GMTmusichttps://isaacaskew.com/2026/01/25/the-execution-of-alex-pretti/https://isaacaskew.com/2026/01/25/the-execution-of-alex-pretti/Stepping away from music and career posts to write about the death of Alex Pretti, ICE, the videos I watched, and what they say about American politics in 2026.Mon, 26 Jan 2026 01:02:53 GMTpersonal-lifehttps://isaacaskew.com/2025/12/30/school-of-rock-2026-folk/https://isaacaskew.com/2025/12/30/school-of-rock-2026-folk/I’m continuing lessons at the School of Rock Broomfield location, this time joining the folk group. The choices…Tue, 30 Dec 2025 13:49:50 GMTmusichttps://isaacaskew.com/2025/12/27/year-in-review-limitations-misconceptions-part-3/https://isaacaskew.com/2025/12/27/year-in-review-limitations-misconceptions-part-3/I think I first tried to sing Outshined when I found the weird ‘stretched’ voice that I had used to get by on War Pigs before I found mix voice.Sat, 27 Dec 2025 07:45:37 GMTmusichttps://isaacaskew.com/2025/12/25/year-in-review-limitations-misconceptions-part-2/https://isaacaskew.com/2025/12/25/year-in-review-limitations-misconceptions-part-2/Part 2 of my year-in-review of learning to sing as an adult — post-midseason reflection, surviving the end-season show, and a Hellfest season of high notes.Fri, 26 Dec 2025 03:46:08 GMTmusichttps://isaacaskew.com/2025/12/23/learning-to-sing-as-an-adult-and-finding-a-powerful-voice/https://isaacaskew.com/2025/12/23/learning-to-sing-as-an-adult-and-finding-a-powerful-voice/This is my year-in-review of learning to sing as an adult—how I reclaimed music after 12 years away, found mix voice, and survived my first live show.Wed, 24 Dec 2025 04:14:12 GMTmusichttps://isaacaskew.com/2025/12/19/school-of-rock-broomfield-end-season-show-grunge/https://isaacaskew.com/2025/12/19/school-of-rock-broomfield-end-season-show-grunge/Notes from my grunge end-of-season show at School of Rock Broomfield — second time on stage, less nervous, and a milestone after 12 years away from music.Sat, 20 Dec 2025 03:57:23 GMTmusichttps://isaacaskew.com/2025/11/30/learning-to-scream-a-beginners-exploration-of-false-cords-high-compression/https://isaacaskew.com/2025/11/30/learning-to-scream-a-beginners-exploration-of-false-cords-high-compression/A beginner's notes on false-cord screaming and high-compression vocal distortion — sensations, mouth shape, breath support, and the early sounds I found.Sun, 30 Nov 2025 11:43:04 GMTmusicpersonal-lifehttps://isaacaskew.com/2025/11/15/open-mic-night-school-of-rock-broomfield/https://isaacaskew.com/2025/11/15/open-mic-night-school-of-rock-broomfield/I finally signed up and committed to an open mic night recently. I had about 15 minutes to play some tunes so I chose two covers and an original.Sun, 16 Nov 2025 04:13:31 GMTmusichttps://isaacaskew.com/2025/11/03/school-of-rock-broomfield-midseason-show-grunge/https://isaacaskew.com/2025/11/03/school-of-rock-broomfield-midseason-show-grunge/Mid-season grunge show recap from School of Rock Broomfield — three songs, stage anxiety, lessons learned, and a recording I was finally not embarrassed by.Tue, 04 Nov 2025 02:39:59 GMTmusichttps://isaacaskew.com/2025/10/08/hellfest-end-season-show-gallery/https://isaacaskew.com/2025/10/08/hellfest-end-season-show-gallery/Photo gallery from my Hellfest-themed end-of-season show with the School of Rock Broomfield adult band at Top Golf in October 2025.Thu, 09 Oct 2025 00:52:20 GMTmusichttps://isaacaskew.com/2025/09/06/outshined-by-soundgarden-practice-progression/https://isaacaskew.com/2025/09/06/outshined-by-soundgarden-practice-progression/Recording my progress learning to sing "Outshined" by Soundgarden across the fall School of Rock season — tone, vowels, breath, and high-note technique.Sun, 07 Sep 2025 00:42:27 GMTmusichttps://isaacaskew.com/2025/09/05/never-rewrite-episode-120-bad-testing-release-practices-are-cultural-problems-not-technical-problems/https://isaacaskew.com/2025/09/05/never-rewrite-episode-120-bad-testing-release-practices-are-cultural-problems-not-technical-problems/Today we discuss the cultural implications of testing and release practices in software development.Sat, 06 Sep 2025 02:59:48 GMTnever-rewrite-podcasthttps://isaacaskew.com/2025/09/04/learning-the-high-notes-in-soundgardens-outshined-vocal-tips-that-helped/https://isaacaskew.com/2025/09/04/learning-the-high-notes-in-soundgardens-outshined-vocal-tips-that-helped/Notes on learning the high notes in Soundgarden's "Outshined" — mix voice, mouth shapes, and the vocal coaching tips that finally unlocked them for me.Fri, 05 Sep 2025 02:35:01 GMTmusichttps://isaacaskew.com/2025/08/31/false-cord-screaming-technique-placement-sensations-and-breath-tips/https://isaacaskew.com/2025/08/31/false-cord-screaming-technique-placement-sensations-and-breath-tips/I just got out of the second screaming lesson I’ve had and I got to ask a ton of questions regarding sensation.Sun, 31 Aug 2025 06:21:42 GMTmusichttps://isaacaskew.com/2025/08/29/episode-119-iterating-adapting-pivoting-ft-day-martin/https://isaacaskew.com/2025/08/29/episode-119-iterating-adapting-pivoting-ft-day-martin/Day Martin of Swayday on pivoting from standing desks to motion-gaming for kids with ADHD — by reusing, not rewriting, her pilot's gaming code.Sat, 30 Aug 2025 00:18:20 GMTnever-rewrite-podcasthttps://isaacaskew.com/2025/08/29/why-jamming-with-other-musicians-accelerates-songwriting/https://isaacaskew.com/2025/08/29/why-jamming-with-other-musicians-accelerates-songwriting/Why jamming with other musicians beats writing alone — connecting with fellow School of Rock players and how collaboration is unlocking new songwriting paths.Fri, 29 Aug 2025 06:18:54 GMTmusichttps://isaacaskew.com/2025/08/27/school-of-rock-broomfield-fall-2025-song-assignments/https://isaacaskew.com/2025/08/27/school-of-rock-broomfield-fall-2025-song-assignments/The grunge-season song assignments I got from School of Rock Broomfield for fall 2025 — covers from Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, and more.Thu, 28 Aug 2025 03:40:02 GMTmusichttps://isaacaskew.com/2025/08/26/unlocking-vocal-distortion-with-chris-liepe-my-experience-and-key-takeaways/https://isaacaskew.com/2025/08/26/unlocking-vocal-distortion-with-chris-liepe-my-experience-and-key-takeaways/Today I was able to meet with Chris Liepe, a vocal coach and YouTuber who I’d followed for many years while I was trying to work on my singing.Wed, 27 Aug 2025 03:50:24 GMTmusichttps://isaacaskew.com/2025/08/25/school-of-rock-broomfield-stage-anxiety-tool-lateralus-performance/https://isaacaskew.com/2025/08/25/school-of-rock-broomfield-stage-anxiety-tool-lateralus-performance/Yesterday was the summer season’s end season show, and all day yesterday before the show I was super anxious.Mon, 25 Aug 2025 23:57:43 GMTmusichttps://isaacaskew.com/2025/08/22/elementor-875/https://isaacaskew.com/2025/08/22/elementor-875/Today’s episode focuses on a real story where programmers and product did everything right but we still failed.Fri, 22 Aug 2025 20:36:42 GMTnever-rewrite-podcasthttps://isaacaskew.com/2025/08/21/happiness-levels-over-the-years/https://isaacaskew.com/2025/08/21/happiness-levels-over-the-years/Reflecting on my well-being trajectory since a 2021 corporate offsite in Puerto Vallarta, and what changed in the years that followed.Fri, 22 Aug 2025 00:42:54 GMTpersonal-lifehttps://isaacaskew.com/2025/08/20/transformation/https://isaacaskew.com/2025/08/20/transformation/Two years of personal change and growth — confronting perfectionism, learning to publish unfinished writing, and tracing the transformations along the way.Wed, 20 Aug 2025 22:39:41 GMTpersonal-life