one my music business professors has said "he's a genius, he just hasn't been around long enough for people to recognize it". my music has been compared to philip glass and beethoven in one of my music classes. thats when you know they're bullshitting you. I mean, how are you supposed to live up to something like that?
The first professor wants me to produce better songs for him and the second professor gets a sense of self esteem by building his students up with encouragement. Either that or they genuinely mean it (to some degree). But to accept that means I have to live up to a certain frightening pedigree (genius, beethoven etc). I mean, thats a lot of ridiculous pressure, I'd rather assume they have other motivations for saying these things.
i suppose this might be similar to the problem hot chicks have with accepting they're hot. your ego gets in the way and it makes it difficult to see what the truth really is or if people want something from you.
__________________
when you look at it as human nature, the world isn't so complex anymore. you could explain things by citing the human motivation behind it. Thats all there is to the world.
Basic salesmanship psychology tells us that people in general have about 14 needs:
1. A sense of power or mastery
2. Ego-gratification, pride or importance
3. Financial success
4. Recognition
5. Social or group approval
6. Desire to win or be the first or to excel
7. A sense of belonging or roots
8. Creative expression
9. New Experiences
10. To do something worthwhile
11. Liberty and freedom
12. Self-Esteem, dignity or self-respect
13. Love
14. Emotional security.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Sunday, June 17, 2007
one of the issues i've had with writing lyrics is that you gotta reveal a little bit of yourself. they say write what you know, write what you know, and the problem with that is inevitably you have to share a bit about yourself (not to brag, but its all good shit). Sometimes its easier to be contrived and stale rather than spontaneous, direct, and honest. I used to have a hyper secretive personality.
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Thursday, May 3, 2007
notes on recent showcase concert
A lot of these guys were starting out. There are so many songs out there that you have to have some sort of purple cow in your songs. Something which gives something for people to talk about and makes it remarkable. Having the notes bend and reach maybe isn't enough anymore. The first 10 seconds has to pull you in these days. These guys were missing those hooks and those "purple cows." Some of the instrumentation was too basic on some of the songs - just guitar and vocals. The lyrics do not have a poetic quality about them - perhaps these songwriters have not read through a lot of poetry. Also, none of them announced a website or a place where you could buy their material. I saw a drummer who was technically good but he misses the expressive nuances - perhaps it is not fair to compare him with the other drummer I know. Some of them were not used to being on the stage and were not expressive with their faces. Some of the songs miss a type of structure or melodic curve that increases tension. It just misses that big climax point. Some of these songs do not much use tempo changes/dynamic changes/accents to create drama. Though drama is largely unneccessary in many kinds of music - maybe I'm just the over the top type of person. I don't like drama in daily life but when it comes to something performed onstage I think shakespeare go the right about drama into his art. I want to make my music pregnant with drama! But these criticisms are not bringing them down - they all have talent and positive things about their performances too. they're certainly above my current level.
What I learned was that - the second guy had a type of stage/interpersonal/dress well charisma. I liked the whole idea of gospel music though I don't listen to it - which is using art for a higher purpose than to just make art. The last act was terrific. Though they are a hip hop act I should probably seize my opportunity to work with them. I think they have a bright future. They did sufficient instrumentation to serve their songs right. Excellent use of tambourine / (bongos?) Overall ironically I learned a lot by sitting in the audience vs performing. I have many convictions about how I want music to be. I'm not saying I have convictions about how music SHOULD be. But I think a strong and distinct, nuanced sense of conviction about how you want art to be indicates the person has a little bit of - maturity when it comes to - creativity. which is what I'm searching for.
Lastly another problem was that it did not offend anyone or at least the older generation. NOT that I think someone should intentionally do this sort of trollish behavior. I believe that good music sometimes provokes emotion. Provoke should be in italics. Music sometimes should CHALLENGE, not just entertain. I also believe that music is a tool for separating the generations. It doesn't actually have to be different and revolutionary. The older generation just has to not like it. That was the whole thing about rock and roll back in the day. Music gives a form of generational identification. Though that generation grows up and realizes they weren't too different from their parents. Though that is ok. Music doesn't have to ACTUALLY BE that revolutionary and THAT different to serve the purpose of creating group or generational identification/separation, bla bla bla.
What I learned was that - the second guy had a type of stage/interpersonal/dress well charisma. I liked the whole idea of gospel music though I don't listen to it - which is using art for a higher purpose than to just make art. The last act was terrific. Though they are a hip hop act I should probably seize my opportunity to work with them. I think they have a bright future. They did sufficient instrumentation to serve their songs right. Excellent use of tambourine / (bongos?) Overall ironically I learned a lot by sitting in the audience vs performing. I have many convictions about how I want music to be. I'm not saying I have convictions about how music SHOULD be. But I think a strong and distinct, nuanced sense of conviction about how you want art to be indicates the person has a little bit of - maturity when it comes to - creativity. which is what I'm searching for.
Lastly another problem was that it did not offend anyone or at least the older generation. NOT that I think someone should intentionally do this sort of trollish behavior. I believe that good music sometimes provokes emotion. Provoke should be in italics. Music sometimes should CHALLENGE, not just entertain. I also believe that music is a tool for separating the generations. It doesn't actually have to be different and revolutionary. The older generation just has to not like it. That was the whole thing about rock and roll back in the day. Music gives a form of generational identification. Though that generation grows up and realizes they weren't too different from their parents. Though that is ok. Music doesn't have to ACTUALLY BE that revolutionary and THAT different to serve the purpose of creating group or generational identification/separation, bla bla bla.
Friday, April 27, 2007
art and context
well, since this is my personal blog, and I haven't told much anyone about it - I can pretty much write about what I want.
I want to write about art and its context. Its the context that allows people to judge if art is amazing or a piece of crap. They did an experiment where a concert cellist that gets paid big bucks - play for dimes at a subway. The result was that no one paid attention - they just passed by, even though his instrument was worth millions (a rare stradivarius) and he was among the best in the world. And he was playing masterpiece of his genre. This is a guy that gets paid thousands just to perform one night! Concert cellist in a beautiful concert hall - great. The same concert cellist in a subway playing for dimes - bad.
So what i'm getting at is that....IS the internet/myspace a great place to prmote your art and music? Well, if you are serious about it, then your website or myspace better look good. If it looks good, people will judge the art by its context. The bad news is that most myspace pages are so displeasing, shitty looking, asymetrical, and unfunctional that most people would in turn consider your band to be displeasing, shitty, atonal, and unmusical. You can't listen to myspace songs while moving around (at least I don't know how) People don't got all day to sit there. Your stuff should at LEAST compare to the best in the genre (metallica, the beatles, bach, whatever) if you want people to actually sit there and actually listen to it. People have metallica and the beatles on their cds/ipods whatever...so what good reason do people have to listen to "just another myspace band"?
After a while you just don't want to browse myspace anymore for bands. Most of them aren't really worth hearing, and a lot of them have ugly myspace/website designs. Thats not being negative, Thats just being REAL. Of course there are great and upcoming bands on there, and I hope they don't get lost in the mix.
So my point is: the DIY philosophy is great. But only if you know what you're doing. Professionalism is better. There's an art to presentation too. Presentation counts. Get a web designer. A real fucking web designer. You won't get the best if you don't insist on it! I used to be an art major. People who say art is unpractical - THEY DON'T KNOW SHIT. In fact, I would go so far as to say - for all intents and purposes - A good product with shitty presentation is worse than a bad product with immaculate presentation. How are people going to appreciate art if its so discouraging for them to do so?
As machiavelli said - it doesn't neccessarily NEED to be a prince, it just needs to look like one.
I want to write about art and its context. Its the context that allows people to judge if art is amazing or a piece of crap. They did an experiment where a concert cellist that gets paid big bucks - play for dimes at a subway. The result was that no one paid attention - they just passed by, even though his instrument was worth millions (a rare stradivarius) and he was among the best in the world. And he was playing masterpiece of his genre. This is a guy that gets paid thousands just to perform one night! Concert cellist in a beautiful concert hall - great. The same concert cellist in a subway playing for dimes - bad.
So what i'm getting at is that....IS the internet/myspace a great place to prmote your art and music? Well, if you are serious about it, then your website or myspace better look good. If it looks good, people will judge the art by its context. The bad news is that most myspace pages are so displeasing, shitty looking, asymetrical, and unfunctional that most people would in turn consider your band to be displeasing, shitty, atonal, and unmusical. You can't listen to myspace songs while moving around (at least I don't know how) People don't got all day to sit there. Your stuff should at LEAST compare to the best in the genre (metallica, the beatles, bach, whatever) if you want people to actually sit there and actually listen to it. People have metallica and the beatles on their cds/ipods whatever...so what good reason do people have to listen to "just another myspace band"?
After a while you just don't want to browse myspace anymore for bands. Most of them aren't really worth hearing, and a lot of them have ugly myspace/website designs. Thats not being negative, Thats just being REAL. Of course there are great and upcoming bands on there, and I hope they don't get lost in the mix.
So my point is: the DIY philosophy is great. But only if you know what you're doing. Professionalism is better. There's an art to presentation too. Presentation counts. Get a web designer. A real fucking web designer. You won't get the best if you don't insist on it! I used to be an art major. People who say art is unpractical - THEY DON'T KNOW SHIT. In fact, I would go so far as to say - for all intents and purposes - A good product with shitty presentation is worse than a bad product with immaculate presentation. How are people going to appreciate art if its so discouraging for them to do so?
As machiavelli said - it doesn't neccessarily NEED to be a prince, it just needs to look like one.
Monday, April 16, 2007
joan baez
a lot of music these days don't have any depth.... the topics aren't serious enough for me at all. just bling bling and sex. which I admit, does fascinate me to a degree.
i've been watching clips of the young joan baez on youtube. I've been thinking...oh no...I can't have a crush on joan baez...cause in real life she's like 65! but god, the young joan baez, not only was she hot, but she was an activist for nonviolence, civil, and human rights. Human rights is something I really believe in.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiananmen_Square_protests_of_1989
i've been watching clips of the young joan baez on youtube. I've been thinking...oh no...I can't have a crush on joan baez...cause in real life she's like 65! but god, the young joan baez, not only was she hot, but she was an activist for nonviolence, civil, and human rights. Human rights is something I really believe in.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiananmen_Square_protests_of_1989
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
so....
so , this morning I had irish tea with coffee creamer instead of my usual tea with milk. It actually tastes alright with creamer!
I want to sing and play the guitar but my parents are asleep. Maybe its time to move out.
I want to sing and play the guitar but my parents are asleep. Maybe its time to move out.
Monday, March 19, 2007
Saturday, March 17, 2007
muahahahahahahaha ha.
i think some of my teachers are losers and I wish I had stronger people to look up to.
on another but slightly related note, i saw 300 and i loved it. Men should be fucking spartans, not the effemate new age man. We have been downsized by living in a modern feminist/consumerist society. Too much sitting on our butts on soft couches.
on another but slightly related note, i saw 300 and i loved it. Men should be fucking spartans, not the effemate new age man. We have been downsized by living in a modern feminist/consumerist society. Too much sitting on our butts on soft couches.
Monday, March 12, 2007
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
the problem with piano class
they design these books to teach the most information as efficient as possible. the problem with this design is that it isn't efficient. Cause human beings don't like dryness. cause its boring as hell.
if they made books to be as fun as possible, then that would be the most efficient way in the long run to teach piano. less people would get bored and quit. how many people do you know that start playing piano and then quit because it was too hard? well the real problem isn't that is too hard. the real problem is that it is hard but it is not fun. if it was hard, BUT it was fun, a lot more people would stick to it.
the other problem with piano books is that they think by making things easy, you won't get discouraged. BORING. its much more encouraging to be able to play something a bit difficult and not sugar coated and FUN instead.
That is why they need to stop teaching the classical tradition to most people. Because most people have no interest in the classical tradition. Which is as dead as mozart. it is not fun for most people to learn the classical tradition even though the classical tradition is great. Because most people today are not originally inspired by the classical tradition. They are inspired by hip hop. They are inspired by the beatles. They are inspired by green day, or nirvana. They are inspired by rage against the machine. They might even by inspired by Justin timberlake.
I applaud teachers, because it is not an easy job. But some teachers teach music because they can not make enough money writing it. Because they are writing classical music or some way exotic shit. I've heard it before. This one guy plays music that sounds like you are being sucked into another dimension. Honestly no one is feeling that shit except for wacko music nuts like me. And even I would not want to listen to it more than once. For real. Who would want to be sucked into another dimension twice?
No one is feeling that neo classical stuff either except maybe a handful of DWM (Dead white males, yeah, i went there). Bach-Mozart-Beethoven-Stravinsky. And the only reason why these DWN like this whole classical tradition is because they invented it.
Point is, being fun, relevant, relatable, and adapting to "what is" is a lot more important than being bound tightly to a convention.
This is what is happening with hip hop today.
if they made books to be as fun as possible, then that would be the most efficient way in the long run to teach piano. less people would get bored and quit. how many people do you know that start playing piano and then quit because it was too hard? well the real problem isn't that is too hard. the real problem is that it is hard but it is not fun. if it was hard, BUT it was fun, a lot more people would stick to it.
the other problem with piano books is that they think by making things easy, you won't get discouraged. BORING. its much more encouraging to be able to play something a bit difficult and not sugar coated and FUN instead.
That is why they need to stop teaching the classical tradition to most people. Because most people have no interest in the classical tradition. Which is as dead as mozart. it is not fun for most people to learn the classical tradition even though the classical tradition is great. Because most people today are not originally inspired by the classical tradition. They are inspired by hip hop. They are inspired by the beatles. They are inspired by green day, or nirvana. They are inspired by rage against the machine. They might even by inspired by Justin timberlake.
I applaud teachers, because it is not an easy job. But some teachers teach music because they can not make enough money writing it. Because they are writing classical music or some way exotic shit. I've heard it before. This one guy plays music that sounds like you are being sucked into another dimension. Honestly no one is feeling that shit except for wacko music nuts like me. And even I would not want to listen to it more than once. For real. Who would want to be sucked into another dimension twice?
No one is feeling that neo classical stuff either except maybe a handful of DWM (Dead white males, yeah, i went there). Bach-Mozart-Beethoven-Stravinsky. And the only reason why these DWN like this whole classical tradition is because they invented it.
Point is, being fun, relevant, relatable, and adapting to "what is" is a lot more important than being bound tightly to a convention.
This is what is happening with hip hop today.
Monday, March 5, 2007
Saturday, March 3, 2007
6 degrees of elvis
actually it is only two. turns out my music composition teacher worked with him back in the day as his trombonist. he also worked with little richard, and frank sinatra. (small world)
Friday, March 2, 2007
note to self
buy the transcription books
to the beatle's entire catalog
radiohead - ok computer
any other suggestions?
to the beatle's entire catalog
radiohead - ok computer
any other suggestions?
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Sunday, February 25, 2007
You know the 6 degrees idea?
My patience is growing thin with some people but I remember that I should just let that go, as I could not control everything, or help out everybody...
On another topic I went out to a friends birthday party. After a bit of talking around, I get the feeling that everybody knows everybody. I don't mean just the group of people there. Then I realize, it is because they do. If anyone is only 6 degreees from everyone else in the world, then in houston everyone is only 2 or 3 degrees away from everyone else. The reason why you get the feeling that everybody knows everybody is because they do...everybody is either a friend of a friend of a friend or an enemy of an enemy of an enemy...
On another topic I went out to a friends birthday party. After a bit of talking around, I get the feeling that everybody knows everybody. I don't mean just the group of people there. Then I realize, it is because they do. If anyone is only 6 degreees from everyone else in the world, then in houston everyone is only 2 or 3 degrees away from everyone else. The reason why you get the feeling that everybody knows everybody is because they do...everybody is either a friend of a friend of a friend or an enemy of an enemy of an enemy...
Friday, February 23, 2007
Splitting up practice time: there is no "later"
Its really easy to get lazy and become an excuser when it comes to putting down time writing or practicing music. Even though writing music is fun and i'm passionate about it, its a lot of heady work. It takes a lot of focus to be creative for a sustained amount of time... numerous things will distract you. youtube. being tired. tv. the internet. thinking about your other issies is distracting. thinking about chicks is distracting.
The biggest mistake I used to make is saying "I'll do it later". Well the problem with that is, if I don't have the discipline to do it now I won't have the discipline to do it later. There is no "later" Plus the later in the day it is, the more tired I will become. Sometimes its all a bit easier to get started if you get momentum.
The second mistake I still am guilty of is getting distracted and not knowing that I am distracted. Such as watching that simpsons video on youtube. Or even looking at my laptop's screen could be distracting. The only cure is to refocus, and since its so hard to just go from one thing to another for some reason, if I get up to come go somewhere and come back the momentum allows me to refocus. I'm sleepy and I'm not certain if I am making sense. I also find it easier to write music and not get distracted if I get someone to collaborate...cause I'm just not gonna sit there and take a nap if I brought someone along to help me out with the music writing.
So here is how I need to divide my daily practice time to be successful (not be an excuser)
1. write for one hour
2. practice for voice lesson the next hour
3. practice the piano or guitar for one hour
luckily at school they have these private piano practice rooms where I could just camp out and just have quiet.
The biggest mistake I used to make is saying "I'll do it later". Well the problem with that is, if I don't have the discipline to do it now I won't have the discipline to do it later. There is no "later" Plus the later in the day it is, the more tired I will become. Sometimes its all a bit easier to get started if you get momentum.
The second mistake I still am guilty of is getting distracted and not knowing that I am distracted. Such as watching that simpsons video on youtube. Or even looking at my laptop's screen could be distracting. The only cure is to refocus, and since its so hard to just go from one thing to another for some reason, if I get up to come go somewhere and come back the momentum allows me to refocus. I'm sleepy and I'm not certain if I am making sense. I also find it easier to write music and not get distracted if I get someone to collaborate...cause I'm just not gonna sit there and take a nap if I brought someone along to help me out with the music writing.
So here is how I need to divide my daily practice time to be successful (not be an excuser)
1. write for one hour
2. practice for voice lesson the next hour
3. practice the piano or guitar for one hour
luckily at school they have these private piano practice rooms where I could just camp out and just have quiet.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Some people work in reverse
I always start a song with a drum line and then I build the chords and melody on top of that. I work bar by bar...
So I was surprised today that a drummer friend works backwards...and he likes to start with the melody and attach a feel to that. and everything is just jammed out.
So i'm going to start thinking...what is the opposite of the process I would usually do...what are all the other ways of doing something. people are aware that the opposite of their method exists but they don't really explore it to see what it really entails. see, you think something is simple because you do it everyday but really, when you break things down you'll see something else.
its like drawing faces...you see faces everyday but until you learn to draw them well, you actually don't truly know what you're looking at!
So I was surprised today that a drummer friend works backwards...and he likes to start with the melody and attach a feel to that. and everything is just jammed out.
So i'm going to start thinking...what is the opposite of the process I would usually do...what are all the other ways of doing something. people are aware that the opposite of their method exists but they don't really explore it to see what it really entails. see, you think something is simple because you do it everyday but really, when you break things down you'll see something else.
its like drawing faces...you see faces everyday but until you learn to draw them well, you actually don't truly know what you're looking at!
my mind is restless
as you have noticed i post a lot. I need to have a songwriting session that lasts an hour everyday. From now on I will commit to that regardless of anything else that is happening in my life. I'm commited to this. I'm also going to bring other people in to work with me since I like working with people.
hit me up if you want to collaborate.
hit me up if you want to collaborate.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
I am going to write a song about
direct. except people who don't know about direct, will think the song is simply about being straightforward. about not being wishy washy. About being a man and not playing any games about it.
once again paul mccartney has beat me to it:
Hey Jude
"Hey, Jude, don't be afraid
You were made to go out and get her
The minute you let her under your skin
Then you begin to make it better.
And any time you feel the pain, hey, Jude, refrain
Don't carry the world upon your shoulders
For well you know that its a fool who plays it cool
By making his world a little colder
Hey, Jude! Don't let her down
You have found her, now go and get her
Remember, to let her into your heart
Then you can start to make it better."
oh well, i'll just have to write another song about it. its not like any idea is entirely original anway.
p.s. that shit is a little too happy for my tatse.
once again paul mccartney has beat me to it:
Hey Jude
"Hey, Jude, don't be afraid
You were made to go out and get her
The minute you let her under your skin
Then you begin to make it better.
And any time you feel the pain, hey, Jude, refrain
Don't carry the world upon your shoulders
For well you know that its a fool who plays it cool
By making his world a little colder
Hey, Jude! Don't let her down
You have found her, now go and get her
Remember, to let her into your heart
Then you can start to make it better."
oh well, i'll just have to write another song about it. its not like any idea is entirely original anway.
p.s. that shit is a little too happy for my tatse.
Monday, February 19, 2007
diphthongs are sexy
Why is that red more of a surprise than a moon when you rise?
Why should you keep knives out when you have to mirror your run?
Why should I do that when making love with a vibrating robot is more fun?
Keep that yummy yummy in your tummy tummily and you'll be hummily bumbily!
Three blind dwarves get together in the trunk of a tree.
As mad as you are, 3 steps ahead of you love will arrive to where you're going.
A giant air conditioner will solve global warming
and the reason why she has a baby in her stomach is because she eats babies!
Why should you keep knives out when you have to mirror your run?
Why should I do that when making love with a vibrating robot is more fun?
Keep that yummy yummy in your tummy tummily and you'll be hummily bumbily!
Three blind dwarves get together in the trunk of a tree.
As mad as you are, 3 steps ahead of you love will arrive to where you're going.
A giant air conditioner will solve global warming
and the reason why she has a baby in her stomach is because she eats babies!
making a team
sure it is great to be independent when you need to be, but I don't believe in that hard core....people are screwing themselves over by being too independent when you could get things done much faster, more intelligently, and efficiently if you get a team. you can be both collaborative and individualistic, not either/or. anyway...what was I writing about?
ok I am looking for these people at this point:
1. collaborators - people who could write music or lyrics
2. a drummer to help me write
3. collaborators - people who don't write music - It helps just to have someone to talk to and bounce ideas off off.
i guess thats it at this point. Eventually I'm going to need management, business people and lawyers and web designers and all that hoopla. no use thinking about that now, thats seems so far ahead.
you know, songwriting is an art but being a musician is a business and i'm going to take the business side seriously.
ok I am looking for these people at this point:
1. collaborators - people who could write music or lyrics
2. a drummer to help me write
3. collaborators - people who don't write music - It helps just to have someone to talk to and bounce ideas off off.
i guess thats it at this point. Eventually I'm going to need management, business people and lawyers and web designers and all that hoopla. no use thinking about that now, thats seems so far ahead.
you know, songwriting is an art but being a musician is a business and i'm going to take the business side seriously.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Current recordings and ideas
I produced a song for a friend. By produced I mean wrote the music to his lyrics. Anyway, it being the first song I ever truly completed and recorded, sounds like a first attempt. I'm fine with it, the friend seems excited about it (so much so he cried to get into mood when we recorded it). I had a friend come in and do the drumming on it and he did an amazing job. A really good engineer is recording it so i'm excited to hear the results.
My whole point is that I'm going to need software that could print notation. That way I won't have to be there when they record. Cause hearing the same song you wrote over and over 50 times will drive you CRAZY. You know the song is not going to switch something up on you...that would be freaky.
It is absolutely SURREAL to watch your friends play the drums and sing the melody parts that you wrote on your little laptop...
Anyway, as soon as I get over my blocker of singing in front of people I am going to be wrecking. Where the heck am I going to find my next source of inspiration? I'm going to start a relationship by saying I need a source of inspiration for my songwriting. Then tease the girl that maybe I'm going to have to write hate songs about her, instead of love songs. Maybe that is too harsh.
My whole point is that I'm going to need software that could print notation. That way I won't have to be there when they record. Cause hearing the same song you wrote over and over 50 times will drive you CRAZY. You know the song is not going to switch something up on you...that would be freaky.
It is absolutely SURREAL to watch your friends play the drums and sing the melody parts that you wrote on your little laptop...
Anyway, as soon as I get over my blocker of singing in front of people I am going to be wrecking. Where the heck am I going to find my next source of inspiration? I'm going to start a relationship by saying I need a source of inspiration for my songwriting. Then tease the girl that maybe I'm going to have to write hate songs about her, instead of love songs. Maybe that is too harsh.
My goals and plans
The short version: my goal is to become a songwriter that is both artistically and commercially successful. Write great songs, stay off of drugs and out of courtney love. (bad joke)
I hated the music and entertainment industry for long time. It is filled with phonies and dicks, maybe I am wrong. But I have always loved art and I've always wanted to be an artist and a composer. Except I don't want to be the poor starving artist stereotype. My idols are not elliott smith and kurt cobain but they are 50 Cent and Jay Z. It doesn't have anything to do with rap or rock; it has to do with mental attittude.
50 Cent and Jay Z aren't only successful artists and musicians but they are successful businessmen. They aren't thugs, they're warrior-ceos. They ain't the soft she-man stereotype. I can't fucking stand the soft she man. As much I love elliott smith's music I want to slap him around and tell him to grow some fucking man balls.
Anyway, my point is that I believe art is supposed to be both beautiful, neccessary and practical. I think the starving artist is really just a bad one that is out of touch with the world. I think great art and music must both be artistically great and commercially viable. Both/and. NOT either/or. You can write a great 50 minute art song in your basement with abstract noise added, but nobody is feeling that shit.
The second thing I have to say is that I get the feeling some people get into the entertainment industry because they want to be "big stars". I really hate that crap. I don't hate people who want to be stars: that is their business and I have nothing to do with it. I'm fine with them wanting it. But my own value system is that I'm all about the music and the art, and I don't want to become a successful songwriter because I want to be famous or something. Honestly the money and wealth, I want. The women I want. The art and creativity I want. But I don't need or want fame, and I don't want anything in ridiculous proportions. I'm all about the art, not the ego.
I hated the music and entertainment industry for long time. It is filled with phonies and dicks, maybe I am wrong. But I have always loved art and I've always wanted to be an artist and a composer. Except I don't want to be the poor starving artist stereotype. My idols are not elliott smith and kurt cobain but they are 50 Cent and Jay Z. It doesn't have anything to do with rap or rock; it has to do with mental attittude.
50 Cent and Jay Z aren't only successful artists and musicians but they are successful businessmen. They aren't thugs, they're warrior-ceos. They ain't the soft she-man stereotype. I can't fucking stand the soft she man. As much I love elliott smith's music I want to slap him around and tell him to grow some fucking man balls.
Anyway, my point is that I believe art is supposed to be both beautiful, neccessary and practical. I think the starving artist is really just a bad one that is out of touch with the world. I think great art and music must both be artistically great and commercially viable. Both/and. NOT either/or. You can write a great 50 minute art song in your basement with abstract noise added, but nobody is feeling that shit.
The second thing I have to say is that I get the feeling some people get into the entertainment industry because they want to be "big stars". I really hate that crap. I don't hate people who want to be stars: that is their business and I have nothing to do with it. I'm fine with them wanting it. But my own value system is that I'm all about the music and the art, and I don't want to become a successful songwriter because I want to be famous or something. Honestly the money and wealth, I want. The women I want. The art and creativity I want. But I don't need or want fame, and I don't want anything in ridiculous proportions. I'm all about the art, not the ego.
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