Sometimes, I listen to the radio at work and hear the worst shit excuses for music and I want to SCREAM! Who's with me here! I mean, COME ON!! "My Black and Yella" talking about how rich Im gonna be and everyones gonna think I'm 'Fly' and I'm gonna cruise around in my sexy diamond crusted car. WHAT?! I'm Sorry.... wait... or, "There's a place downtown where the freaks all hang around, its a hole in the wall its a dirty free for all.." Wait... and people are going there? What is it an orgy party? Are you singing a song about an orgy party? and little kids are singing this? They TOTALLY do! "Apple Bottom Jeans. Boots with the Fur." Since when did we need fur on our boots? So I shave my legs cause hair is gross, and then put on fur boots cause they're hott?! lol
I can appreciate the value of all styles of music. I am not a huge fan of a ton of Rap, but I definately know I couldn't spit that shit out at the drop of a hat like some of these guys. And the beats are fantastic when they're not stolen lol. Now..... Katy Perry? Who the hell is she and why is she wearing blue hair? Why do I care about her wedding in India to an English guy? Is this the music business now? Is this what you have to be? Katy Perry, Ke$ha (or Ke-dollarsign-ha as I like to say), Justin Beiber, T.I....that's Not a NAME! Why do I suddenly feel like I have to loose 50lbs, draw something obscure on my face, and dance around in tights? Does anyone care about music anymore?!
Or. Has it always been this way but with lesser means and I've just glamorized it all my life. There are so many good songs out there but so few REALLY stand the test of time. THAT is a true musician. These other shit eaters are just cashing a paycheck. Im sorry. I know a LOT of people love it and again, I can appreciate the value of parts of them, (More to keep myself from going nutso on some dumb bimbo singing something about her wearing shorts and a bikini on top) but I doubt that someday someone will say "Oh MAN! 'Unchained Melody', 'The Wall','Thriller', Crazy', and 'Teenage Dream' are some of the best songs ever!"
I want to go on the record here. I have loved music all my life. I have never been known for being a 'sexy woman', a 'crazy peformer', a 'pyrotechnic Extravaganza artist' but when I hit that high note, people turn. I have no need for this skimpy clothing to cause a wave, paint my face, act all wierd, shoot my boyfriend's ear off, get caught with a heroine needle in my arm, oops I failed another drug test attention whoring. If thats what it takes to be a musician, something has gone horribly awry. I know there are far more talented people than me out there, but I know we have the balls to go after this. We have been rejected for shows before, we have been declined from booking even. This means nothing. I picked up my guitar tonight after a stint away due to being sick and I felt that spark and I knew again. We are good. We get better all the time and we are different. We also have a long way to go. Everytime I want to be all BOO HOO, I think, 'Just because the bullshit is all packed in pretty packages and sold through the devil on MTV, doesn't mean we can't be something real. When I met Ty I told him, 'I will do this with or without you' and he said 'Ok. I'm in' It like was our verbal contract. :)
So, Next time you see us on stage, It will be the best show we have ever done. And then the NEXT time you see us again, It will be the best show we've ever done. And THEN, the NEXT time you see us, it will be THE BEST SHOW, we've EVER done, and so on. My point. Whether you like us or not. Whether we are your 'style of music' or not, whether I wear hot pants and Ty has an open fronted leotard or not, we are true musicians and damn proud of it. Someday, when we are touring and playing full time, we will build lasting relationships with the people we meet. We will have staying power because no matter how cool or sexy you are to a 13 year old for sliding around on the floor covered in naked men, she has nothing in common with you and she will remember people who were real to her. I've never heard anyone say anything like 'I STILL idolize Suzy Pepper, that CRAZY acrobatic singer from the 60's' (this is a made up person) Its the classics. The people who either sold their soul and made it work for them, or remained human....ish. Or died young and tragically. I'd prefer not the latter. ANYWHO.
I just wanted to tell you all how I feel about the music business. If I play my guitar and sing, then those who want to hear it will find me if I haven't found them first. But you have to keep playing no matter what cause the #1 cause of failure is giving up.
10/27/2010
10/15/2010
Finding Inspiration in a 9-5 World.
I feel very fortunte to have a job that I quite like. I work with super cool people in an environment far less frustrating and stressful than most. Don't get me wrong. We are super busy, but its not like the jobs I have had before. ANYWAY>
I feel music. I bleed it. My death will sound like a brilliant symphony if you know how to listen. I love music above anything else. (No offense Ty lol jk)
I wonder if musicians read this, and are trying to reach a point where they can just quit their jobs and be musicains full time. (I sure hope so) The thing is... Sometimes I have to remember that success never comes easily. Sometimes, I have to tell myself that it CAN be done.
This is when I look for more inspiration. Its like I have to conciously keep myself from being brainwashed of my former musical life and work the 9-5. Never gonna happen!
Here are the things I have to do to keep in touch with my dream.
*Listen consciously to music. I am a lyric person. I TOTALLY can't get over a real lyrical masterpiece. (What do you notice? Bass? Harmonies? Drums? What REALLT sets you off?)
*I teach myself the melodes and lyrics of random songs and find the pieces of the song that I am most moved by. I remember these. I sort of photograph them in my mind and then find a way to work something like it into a song. Somestimes I can, sometimes I can't.
*I watch for what everyone else is doing on Facebook, reverbnation, etc as often as I can. I like to see were everyone else is going because it creates drive.
*I like to see who people are performing with. Have I heard of them? Its alwasy fun to meet new musicians/friends.
*Listen to the Radio. You can listen to your CDs, iPod, etc, but when you listen to the radio, songs you wouldn't necessarily choose come on. It forces you to open your ears to something new. Anything new can be inpsiring.
*Write lyrics in a notepad on your desktop or with a pen and paper when they come to you. I don't mean songs. You could get in trouble for the time you'd put into that, unless you write songs fast or you are just in it and it just flows. Sometimes, you'll write something and never use it. Sometimes you'll write your favorite songs.
*Never let anyone make you feel bad for your dream. My last job had a few supportive co-workers, but there were definately a few that asked 'How our little thing was' in a very 'Im laughing at you on the inside' sort of way. NEVER LET THOSE PEOPLE GET TO YOU! Ever! Those are the people who have no dreams of their own and do not understand these things we call "Dreams". YOU should feel bad for THEM! lol (This all sounds so mean! It's just my view)
*Write what you feel. Forget if it sounds like the last song you wrote. Forget if the lyrics and melody are good. They'll get better with time and practice. Just keep writing what you feel. If I can deeply feel sad that I found a roach in my soup I COULD write a song about it. It would TOTALLY suck, but I could. The thing that matters is that if I did that, and you could feel the emotion in my song, it doesn't really matter what it's about. I mean....Look at 'MacArther Park' by Richard Harris
"MacArthur's Park is melting in the dark
All the sweet, green icing flowing down...
Someone left the cake out in the rain
I don't think that I can take it
'cause it took so long to bake it
And I'll never have that recipe again
Oh, no!"
I swear, that's part of a real song.
What's more? This song was a top 10 song for weeks in the 60's. Must have been all the drugs.
My point: Feel it. Forget what anyone else will think. And if it sucks realllllllly bad, play it anyway. Just once. Just to see what people think. I have songs I hate that everyone else LOVES! Advice on carrying that one will take too long lol.
There are more things I do, but these are the essentials for me. Just never give up. Never listen to anyone else. Dream your dreams the way YOU want to because you have to live with them later on. If someone talks you down and you look back thinking, 'Shit Why did I do it THAT way!?' it will ruin the whole experience. You never know what you can offer others. Don't sell yourself short. Its worth it, and you know it or you wouldn't still be dreaming it.
We play at The Fifth in Bountiful tonight with Peter Harvey and I am so excited! If you haven't seen them you should! Hope to see you at a show soon!
I feel music. I bleed it. My death will sound like a brilliant symphony if you know how to listen. I love music above anything else. (No offense Ty lol jk)
I wonder if musicians read this, and are trying to reach a point where they can just quit their jobs and be musicains full time. (I sure hope so) The thing is... Sometimes I have to remember that success never comes easily. Sometimes, I have to tell myself that it CAN be done.
This is when I look for more inspiration. Its like I have to conciously keep myself from being brainwashed of my former musical life and work the 9-5. Never gonna happen!
Here are the things I have to do to keep in touch with my dream.
*Listen consciously to music. I am a lyric person. I TOTALLY can't get over a real lyrical masterpiece. (What do you notice? Bass? Harmonies? Drums? What REALLT sets you off?)
*I teach myself the melodes and lyrics of random songs and find the pieces of the song that I am most moved by. I remember these. I sort of photograph them in my mind and then find a way to work something like it into a song. Somestimes I can, sometimes I can't.
*I watch for what everyone else is doing on Facebook, reverbnation, etc as often as I can. I like to see were everyone else is going because it creates drive.
*I like to see who people are performing with. Have I heard of them? Its alwasy fun to meet new musicians/friends.
*Listen to the Radio. You can listen to your CDs, iPod, etc, but when you listen to the radio, songs you wouldn't necessarily choose come on. It forces you to open your ears to something new. Anything new can be inpsiring.
*Write lyrics in a notepad on your desktop or with a pen and paper when they come to you. I don't mean songs. You could get in trouble for the time you'd put into that, unless you write songs fast or you are just in it and it just flows. Sometimes, you'll write something and never use it. Sometimes you'll write your favorite songs.
*Never let anyone make you feel bad for your dream. My last job had a few supportive co-workers, but there were definately a few that asked 'How our little thing was' in a very 'Im laughing at you on the inside' sort of way. NEVER LET THOSE PEOPLE GET TO YOU! Ever! Those are the people who have no dreams of their own and do not understand these things we call "Dreams". YOU should feel bad for THEM! lol (This all sounds so mean! It's just my view)
*Write what you feel. Forget if it sounds like the last song you wrote. Forget if the lyrics and melody are good. They'll get better with time and practice. Just keep writing what you feel. If I can deeply feel sad that I found a roach in my soup I COULD write a song about it. It would TOTALLY suck, but I could. The thing that matters is that if I did that, and you could feel the emotion in my song, it doesn't really matter what it's about. I mean....Look at 'MacArther Park' by Richard Harris
"MacArthur's Park is melting in the dark
All the sweet, green icing flowing down...
Someone left the cake out in the rain
I don't think that I can take it
'cause it took so long to bake it
And I'll never have that recipe again
Oh, no!"
I swear, that's part of a real song.
What's more? This song was a top 10 song for weeks in the 60's. Must have been all the drugs.
My point: Feel it. Forget what anyone else will think. And if it sucks realllllllly bad, play it anyway. Just once. Just to see what people think. I have songs I hate that everyone else LOVES! Advice on carrying that one will take too long lol.
There are more things I do, but these are the essentials for me. Just never give up. Never listen to anyone else. Dream your dreams the way YOU want to because you have to live with them later on. If someone talks you down and you look back thinking, 'Shit Why did I do it THAT way!?' it will ruin the whole experience. You never know what you can offer others. Don't sell yourself short. Its worth it, and you know it or you wouldn't still be dreaming it.
We play at The Fifth in Bountiful tonight with Peter Harvey and I am so excited! If you haven't seen them you should! Hope to see you at a show soon!
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