I'm going to start by being honest with myself. I am not a great songwriter and I am not a great guitarist. That's not to say that I think I'm a bad songwriter or guitarist. Let's just say that I know I have a lot of learning and growing to do. I am just like thousands of others out there. I don't have a band, nor a gig. My fan base consists of my girlfriend and that's about it. I write songs because I feel I can communicate some of my darker feelings that way and because I enjoy playing for other people. I have always dreamed of being a rock star but I've reached the age where I know that it probably will never happen. None the less, I do still want to get my music out there to be heard and I want people to listen to it.
We are living in a time where we have high expectations of everyone around us, especially when it comes to entertainment. Even the tiniest mistakes get criticized. No one appreciates the hard work put into the songs written. I know this to be true. Those who've heard me play one of my songs live enjoy listening. I don't have any recording equipment besides the memo feature on my MP3 player so those who've heard my recorded stuff have nothing to say about the songs, only that the sound quality sucks. That is how a musician is judged these days. Not by the quality of the music or the substance in the lyrics. It doesn't matter if a song is good or not. All that matters is the crispness of the sound. Ever listen to a recording made in the 1930s? No one ever had a problem with that music back then. The recording quality of the time wasn't as good as even the worst we can do today but people still listened because the music was good.
Another problem we have today is that it's every musician for themselves. I can understand why the big bands and labels would have this attitude but there is no support for the up and coming musicians out there. Popular music is the only art that doesn't have that support system. All arts are very competitive when you get to the top but in music, people forget that at the root is the love for music. All anyone wants anymore is to be the next big rock star and they have no problems if the local music scene dies as they climb.
Anyway, near no one listens to my music. I am ignored by local musicians on a local level, even those who are on the bottom of the totem pole. I have very little to almost no support, but I am going to keep writing, keep strumming and keep encouraging those who want to follow their dreams because I believe that it is important to keep at what you love. I believe that an artist community matters, and most of all I believe that everyone deserves a chance to be heard.
~Rune~
Friday, January 20, 2012
Monday, January 16, 2012
Being a musician
Being a musician is hard! You gotta get people to listen to your music. It's really difficult to get people to give you a little feedback. Lets not forget to mention the time and effort it takes to write and record your music.
Writing a good song isn't easy. For me it's a journey into my inner soul and dragging out the memories that I'd rather forget. You know the ones; a bad break up, family issues, feelings of loneliness, addictions. These are hard skeletons to dig out of your closet and stare in the face. I don't think people realise how much I expose myself when I write a song. Not only is it the lyrics but the music as well. For me it is easier to write the music than the lyrics but it is still hard to write the music. When it's all written than now you get to record it which is a challenge all in itself. I can't afford studio time so I use the memo feature on my MP3 player. Unless you are listening to one of my computerised compositions then you're hearing what that sounds like. Sub standard at best.
No one wants to give you a chance once you have your music out there to listen to. Believe me, I'm to the point where I have to harass my friends and family just to listen to what I've recorded. There's just so many choices of music out there that it's hard to get anyone else to even know you exist. Even just on a local level.
As hard as it is to get someone to listen to your music, it's near impossible to get any feedback on it. You have better luck asking someone to shove a pineapple up their ass than you do asking for feedback. An artist (and a musician and songwriter is an artist) needs that feedback as fuel. Even negative feedback is helpful if it's constructive. Don't like the song? Let the songwriter know what about it you don't like so he knows where he needs to improve A songwriter trying to improve without feedback is like a blind man dropped off at a random spot and told to find his way home.
Writing a good song isn't easy. For me it's a journey into my inner soul and dragging out the memories that I'd rather forget. You know the ones; a bad break up, family issues, feelings of loneliness, addictions. These are hard skeletons to dig out of your closet and stare in the face. I don't think people realise how much I expose myself when I write a song. Not only is it the lyrics but the music as well. For me it is easier to write the music than the lyrics but it is still hard to write the music. When it's all written than now you get to record it which is a challenge all in itself. I can't afford studio time so I use the memo feature on my MP3 player. Unless you are listening to one of my computerised compositions then you're hearing what that sounds like. Sub standard at best.
No one wants to give you a chance once you have your music out there to listen to. Believe me, I'm to the point where I have to harass my friends and family just to listen to what I've recorded. There's just so many choices of music out there that it's hard to get anyone else to even know you exist. Even just on a local level.
As hard as it is to get someone to listen to your music, it's near impossible to get any feedback on it. You have better luck asking someone to shove a pineapple up their ass than you do asking for feedback. An artist (and a musician and songwriter is an artist) needs that feedback as fuel. Even negative feedback is helpful if it's constructive. Don't like the song? Let the songwriter know what about it you don't like so he knows where he needs to improve A songwriter trying to improve without feedback is like a blind man dropped off at a random spot and told to find his way home.
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