Dress-Up is for kids, not musicians
Okay, so on Saturday I said today I would talk about how you can build your community in the offline world, by thinking like a music fan. I apologize, but something else came to mind and so I decided to save that post for Saturday.
In the meantime, I felt like this was what I wanted to say today.
Be who you are.
It sounds redundant, but it’s not. These days I see a lot of bands who claim to be passionate about their particular brand of uninspired pop music; I’ve seen songwriters claim to be able to write whatever genre is selling at the moment; I’ve seen musicians “re-invent their sound” so that it fits more readily with what’s currently “happening.” All these things are horrifying to me.
Music is a passionate art form, it’s not a way to achieve celebrity. You, as a musician, have got to believe with all your heart and soul in the art you create, and it needs to be 100% an extension of who you are. A personal statement that is so infused with your sense of being that it could not have been created by anyone else. And, conversely, that no matter what you try and do, this sound – and only this sound - could possibly be the sound that you create. Don’t try and guess what “the market” will want, don’t copy what’s already out there, and don’t try to fit your sound into someone else’s mold. In fact, don’t focus on what others are doing at all, focus on what you’re doing, and let the others focus on you.
Believe it, and live it. All day long, every day. If you’re making pop music, be a pop star, all the time. Don’t just “put it on” before you get on stage. Punk rocker, metal maniac, rapper, folk singer, indie-rocker, country boy/gal, crooner, whatever. Please be true to yourself, express your own voice, and mean what you say. Because while you can fool people for a short time, the masses catch on quickly, and the only way to achieve career longevity is to continually provide your fans with something real.
Be who you are, and do it emphatically.
Hey Chris, thanks for the comment, and thanks for reading! I checked out your site too and you guys are doing great stuff. Musically, and the blog itself. Keep on sharing!
Good post, and well put. Might well expand on this myself very shortly
Hey Shum! Good point! Thanks for reading and commenting! I’m glad you like the site.
very true. I’ve had that conversation before too! Nice one. I quite like Hypebot’s Daily DIY.
Along with be who you are is coming [url="http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2009/02/what-business-are-you-in.html"]be in the business you are[/url]
Great point and blog! Also, if I may add this, in this day and age, you can’t hide from your past. One way or another, people are gonna find out anyways, so you mind as well be upfront about it.