Cellar recording mess turned my indie view around.
I always said DIY recording was the only true path for indie bands. It kept costs low and felt honest. Last winter, my group tracked songs in a friend's damp cellar. The echo ruined every guitar note and vocal line. Our demo came out fuzzy, almost unlistenable. A local booker heard it and immediately said no to a gig. That rejection flipped my whole belief. Now I tell everyone, don't skimp on basic sound gear. It saves your music from getting lost in the noise.