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!
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