It works for us first.
If you’re familiar with how plane rides went a couple years ago, (haven’t been on one lately), they tell you to put your mask on before assisting someone with theirs. Music works like this for me. It’s triage. I’ve got a 5/4 djembe pattern that’s keeping me going.
Basically, I know my music works because it works for me before you hear it. It might not work for you, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t worked before, and will again.
Do you have a Quality Assurance department?
Quality control comes in many forms in business. It’s usually hated on the inside along with HR. QA can be a b*tch. It’s my favorite part of music, though. It’s when Keri and I listen to one of our projects and think they’re cool. Unless we do that and feel that, they don’t get posted on BandCamp. I might show it to someone as something I tried to do once if it applies to conversation. But if it doesn’t work for us, we don’t want to try to make it work for you.
I like honest relationships. While I realize you can’t have a completely honest life online for safety reasons, I believe you can be honest about liking something you have helped on or made. Maybe it’s as honest as you can be. When I throw a song on BandCamp, I’m honestly saying, “this is good sh*t, in my opinion.” I am not selling songs, they’re all free. I’m just finding folks who agree with my taste in music. No big.
Distractions are a plenty.
Marketers will talk about brand and discipline. Folks talk about hustle. And all the metrics and numbers available to you if you’re trying to construct a high profile are literally insane. All that stuff is like a video game no one pays me to play that keeps me away from guitars. I think it’s bull sh*t. I choose the guitar.
Music isn’t brand name bands to me. It’s sustenance. I do it because I breathe. Music has helped me think, slow down, feel, and be distracted. It’s not just “valuable.” It’s vital. Especially now.
Ever heard of improvement? How much does that cost?
I also do music because I feel good at it and I like doing something I feel good at every day. Like watering a plant, it yields fruit. My understanding gets better, and I feel good about the time spent on it. A dr. told me in a mental hospital that I needed to do something I felt masterful in daily. I gravitated to songwriting. I eventually got better at it, shared it, did it with friends. “It” is me. I’ve used music to connect to folks post a lonely trucking career. I’ve managed to improve. It’s been pretty awesome.
Music isn’t cheap. It may not cost much, but if it makes you pull a 18 wheeler over on the side of the highway because you can’t see from crying so hard, (looking at you, Judy Garland)..it’s more precious than gold. Something in how it sounds and is delivered can trigger deep emotions. We all know this. It’s special. Why is it supposed to be cheap? 🤷
That’s a genuine question, by the way. Feel free to gimme’ an answer: [email protected].
Musicians have to learn things. It takes time, practice, dedication. Instruments are expensive. Computers, getting together, equipment, traveling, all costly. So how the f*ck is music supposed to cost nothin’? Don’t get it.
One time in therapy.
My therapist told me once that most musicians will spend thousands on gear before spending a single dollar on therapy. I believe this to be true. But then again, the same therapist told me most folks in therapy really need money. I thought about musicians again.
I don’t know what the answer is. But if music feels cheap to you, try making something expensive. See what that feels like.
I am working in a 5/4 beat with djembe today. F*ck Tool. I’ll do it myself.
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