I'm a songwriter, producer and all around creative dude. I aim to spread wisdom and inspiration. I believe the creative spirit is a purifying force that will save the world.
The problem is, that the equation always balances in the same way: Fame = Money = Liberty to make whatever I will. The dark side is that this "Make whatever I will" in the hands of some stupid artists is simply sniffin coke from two siliconed breasts, driving Ferraris and buying mansions in Beverly Hills, and never investing in educate themselves, studying more music, trying to give a hand to new artists and so on.
This is a resignation to “Art for arts sake” and yes, will mean you are the ones left after everyone else has left through a realisation that music represents a lifetime of poverty. Enjoy your success.
“Everything in any way beautiful has its beauty of itself, inherent and self-sufficient: praise is no part of it. At any rate, praise does not make anything better or worse. This applies even to the popular conception of beauty, as in material things or works of art. So does the truly beautiful need anything beyond itself? No more than law, no more than truth, no more than kindness or integrity. Which of these things derives its beauty from praise, or withers under criticism? Does an emerald lose its quality if it is not praised? And what of gold, ivory, purple, a lyre, a dagger, a flower, a bush?” -Marcus Aurelius, Meditations A career in the arts is not for everyone. There is no possible way for everyone who tries to be an artist to make a living in the arts - there is just too many people trying to do it. In the music industry those who are geared towards making a salable product will tend to do better as those making more eclectic art that isn't deemed valuable by the market will tend to do worse - with few exceptions, that's the way it is and always will be. And there will be the dogged few who carve out a space for themselves through sheer determination and punk rock DIY persistence, but at the end of the day even they will have to be making music that's worth something to somebody. It is worth it to express yourself through artistic endeavors for the sake of it. We don't have to commodify and monetize everything and we don't have to die on the hill of being a martyr for art. The road of life is paved with resignations - don't let one of them be your creative spirit. Make art, f*** the noise.
@@jimiwmusic as long as people leave their work on the streaming services for free they are doing both themselves and everyone else a disservice, i have 24 albums, many meaningful, I don’t use or allow my work on streaming services and the way I figure if someone wants it and values it, they’ll pay the poultry amount for it. But if everyone has the attitude to give it away it for free it will impact the ability for even the most spiritual of us to produce as we have to prioritise life over the time we can give to our art, no matter how noble we may view it. If you wish to give your music for free that is up to you, but don’t think you’re serving music or anyone by doing it. You are degrading its value and reinforcing an entitlement.
Totally get where you are coming from. Speaking for myself, there is is no way I can compete in the market place without streaming (offering music for free) as it has become ubiquitous. I make money from playing live and from direct fan support when they buy my music on Bandcamp. I don't see how any artist can make a career without using the global reach of streaming services as a tool in their marketing toolbox. There are advantages and disadvantages for sure and the story is still being written. With between 20,000 and 60,000 songs a day being released and endless streams of art and content rolling by us at lightning speed at all times it makes me have to ask, "why bother making anything at all?" The answer for me is because I love it - the rest is outside of my control. BTW just checked out your music on your page --- absolutely gorgeous tunes my friend! 💪💪
You view is a bit utopean, but have some value that I agree for sure. But first of all there're 2 major problems in the art field nowadays, in any type of art, that we have to fix I don't know how: 1) Politics bullshit. The artists get really obssessed with politics instead of making art, with the ideological leanings of someone. Obssessed to cancel someone, and have some ideological purity. The problem is that way of thinking always hurt art, always. Art has to be free, free also to be hated, liked, offensive or not, because the opposite means that someday your time to be censored will come. 2) Globalization of profits and shareholders. This could sound silly, but the fact is, global tech services opened the infinity possibilities to share indie art, but theses places are companies that depends on investiments. So, these companies will do the possible to have the most friendly content as possible, the huge problem with that, is something that could be offensive here, couldn't be there and so on. I'll give you an example: Imagine that I live in a country that particular religion, or ideology are making some overall bad, and as an artist I wanted to share that, but when I go to some art service ( spotfy, webtooon, whatever ), my art piece go against the guidelines, 'cause these services views my content as hate speech. We see this problem nowadays, the result is a kind of standartization of art, like in anime that's everything is isekai, the whole conflits in many movies, or storytelling is almost fanfic nowadays, or some safe "woke" critic of society, that could fit on ESG demands. I'm talking that not as an ideological person, I had to change work to a particular company of boardgame, because they're afraid that the character in the box could make PETA sue the company. To me thats the challenges of art nowadays, how do art freely in the so global scenario. This isn't bullshit, you say that you have lots of brazilian fans. Imagine you make some song that we brazilians consider offensive to us, not even specific about us, but some of your personal beliefs could go against our beliefs. You have the right to do so, you don't have to suffer any shareholder pressure to make some apology to us, because this is a never ending problem, in another day you could offend ( without intention ) another people and son.
Poetry. Beautiful message. 👊🏼 I find it hard to stick to the idea that art and creativity are important and necessary to mankind. You remind me that there’s more to us than just skin and bones.
The true value of a song is witnessed in community gatherings where it sets the tone and provides depth for the memories experienced during those precious moments of human connection. Songwriters are the magicians of moments and memories. I consider myself a musician who also amplifies the songs of others through my participation in orchestrating arrangements of a song. Can you share your experience of being in a wedding band and your perspective on the work to create arrangements and performances of songs?
For those who prioritize being a unique artist, it's important to trust your individuality, providing the person knows what that is. Also, don't be discouraged by those who compare you to other artists / entertainers. If you compromise yourself to be loved, it will no longer be you that they love.
Really good. I think many creative people think as you do. Egoism, capialism, and many other ism's can and do, and seemingly always have been destructive to creativity. It's such a shame to watch a creative person make beautiful art only to "sell out". Good stuff man....
Yes stats do matter. It's what you show to investors that you have a fanbase. But you focused on it too much, not focusing on your fans, future plans, and money management skills were poor
lol --- I'm not sure what about this video leads you to conclude we didn't focus on fans, have future plans and stay cash solvent in our business ventures, but thanks for the completely de-constructive criticism. What wonderful vibes you are spreading to fellow independent artists, good luck with your music career friend !
That was amazing Jimi thank you so much. I didn't know what I was going to get when I clicked this but it happened to be exactly what I needed to hear. Great message. Subscribed!
Playing for 20 years and writing for 13. Hardly even getting started it feels like. If we are determined to play the long game and know deep down what it's all about, so much time growing up is spent playing out distractions, addictions and the systems conditioning that makes us think from a young age it's about fame and money. The greatest adventures lie ahead.
Dude. Thank you for speaking from the heart. I think like this but isolate so I start to think the way I think is crazy and doubt the reason behind why I write music. I start to think when people say that my music saved their life or it means something to them that it's some kind of fallacy and that maybe i should stop because why i do it is crazy. To hear someone else say the exact same philosophy behind why I write has really made me realize that it's not crazy and I just lack discipline and belief and faith in the bigger picture of why artist do this.
“…if you want to write deeply, you ought to observe the world deeply, and consider what you see deeply…” Hearing that made my heart go plop… I feel like I’ve spent so much of my life skimming the surface of life like a speed boat, only going deep enough to keep propelling myself forward at a break neck pace, never stopping long enough to make honest observations, never stopping to truly consider what I’ve seen… I can see this in my art… my writing and my music… it’s a mirror reflection of myself.
I needed to hear this today. Literally resonated my own philosophies back on me and reminded me that I'm not as alone in my thoughts and passions as I may feel some days.
Good video, but lingering questions, first and foremost: How is this change that you speak of going to restore value to an art form that has become completely devalued? This is essential for the future survival of the art.
I don't know how these little groups of notes come to mind, assemble and associate with emotions that bring me to my knees. And sometimes their strength urges me to bring the thing out to maturity. The little things just keep coming to mind, maybe because I agreed to serve, that perhaps in processing I realize what I am. But I know that whoever is supplying is the real musician.
Well said~ Observe, be present, Orchetrate our vibe, disregard the mosquitos, planes and smart phones, and alchemize life's (plain) many experiences... Time to focus and evolve into a more effective song writer. Thanks for sharing, m8!
