Art for a higher purpose

[squids]

I dunno......like Bill, I've been doin' it so long I can't really say if it's about art as much as it's about breathin'. Maybe it's a bit of what Deb is sayin', that I'm compelled to write. That said, I went back to school to go into counseling because, like my parents told me, "you can't make a livin' at music, get a real job." Also, I'm good at counseling and while I love writin' and producin', I have big azz issues with my voice and I really dislike the entanglements and narcissism that comes with performing sometimes (that I've seen all too often with musicians)......not you guys, natch! LOLI do live fo those moments of the beautiful cowrite, the perfectly expressed line, the nicely sung lyric, hearing from someone (or getting it signed) that says, "hey, you accomplished the goal there!"It's been a joy to cowrite with ya, chits, as well. Elser, I'm with you on what you said too! And Matt, ditto your last line. Oh, p.s. Deb: Respectfully, I think your comment "if you're not in it to make art, go get a job!" was a bit narrow. Not all musicians, even successful ones (by your definition) consider their work art. The best songwriters I've known who've made comfortable livings at it see their job AS a job, one they do to the best of their ability. Art is something they do on the side when they're able. Otherwise, they're makin' deadlines, doin' what others need them to do to help make the project successful, etc. Sounds jes like a job ta me too. Success is defined differently fo us all. And yes, in this culture and in this country, the label "amateur" is considered perjorative. We don't hire plumbers because they're amateurs. We don't get the best 'amateur' athletes to compete for the Olympics (although plenty do!). We respect professionals, not only fo their work ethic but also for their expertise. That said, plenty of guys who work at music as a sideline are jes as talented and skilled as guys who make a livin' at music. They simply define success by entirely different terms. Not all of us are out to write a hit song and frankly, fo me, that's quite a success, given 33 years doin' okay at music.

[jchitty]

Nov 14, 2008, 4:18pm, squids wrote:I dunno......like Bill, I've been doin' it so long I can't really say if it's about art as much as it's about breathin'. Maybe it's a bit of what Deb is sayin', that I'm compelled to write. That said, I went back to school to go into counseling because, like my parents told me, "you can't make a livin' at music, get a real job." Also, I'm good at counseling and while I love writin' and producin', I have big azz issues with my voice and I really dislike the entanglements and narcissism that comes with performing sometimes (that I've seen all too often with musicians)......not you guys, natch! LOLI do live fo those moments of the beautiful cowrite, the perfectly expressed line, the nicely sung lyric, hearing from someone (or getting it signed) that says, "hey, you accomplished the goal there!"It's been a joy to cowrite with ya, chits, as well. Elser, I'm with you on what you said too! And Matt, ditto your last line. Sniffle, I love you too, girl! You're absolutely one of my best co-writing experiences ever, Squiddy, and I'm so proud of 'Burbs....so proud to have it on my TAXI page. You know how I feel about your talent, lyric writing skills, vocals and production....you're the best. Matt...I hope one day your music gets out there front and center as well...you're a talented writer, and you sound like you're dedicated, so I know it's gonna happen for you. Okay, I got a little sappy, so I better quit while I'm ahead.

[matthoggard]

Quick!someone compose us a happy into the sunset kind of thing!!Im gonna have to listen to yalls cowrite. I bet its awesome.

[mojobone]

Although I have (as some of you may already have guessed) a fairly strong ego, it ain't so strong as to convince me that what I write is art, nor that the world at large would somehow be improved by hearing it. My highest purpose is the lowest sort of entertainment; my "art" can be found in dive bars populated with the downtrodden, the sick at heart, the lost souls desperate for one more good time; most of 'em aren't looking for the inspired moment of catharsis I try to produce, most nights it doesn't happen. When it does happen, it makes all those other nights worth the effort, and the life worth the effort as well. Those rare moments of musical communication when a roomful of strangers suddenly gets telepathic are my drug, and when I get well, I like bein' able to take a whole bunch of folks with me, even if they didn't come there to get healed.

[matthoggard]

We all come to get healed.For us songwriters and musicians and thinkers, we end up being the healers. And in turn weheal ourselves in some way.Great post Mojo. BTW when you gonna let us hear some of your stuff?

[Mark Kaufman]

Hi Chits,Well, yes, from Day One I wrote songs hoping that they might outlive me. It's a little embarrassing to admit that--it immediately calls into question the value of my songs, as well as my own honesty--but that has always been the truth for me. There is a certain wild joy I get out of creating something out of nothing, and it makes me feel close to God.Do I feel like God?? Hell no! It's not an ego thing. I'm just saying that an act of creativity is a magical, spiritual endeavor, and it blows me away every time it happens...the very possibility of it amazes me every time. So I do it for the sake of doing it, for the sheer joy and astonishment it brings me. I never until recently tried to sell one, and I've never been able to look at it as strictly business. There's just too much joy in the act for me to worry too much about making it the focus of my income. Any income I make from my songs will be like a hilarious punchline to a cosmic joke--a great, wonderful gift...one that was never expected.If I die and my songs never go further than my daughters' shelves, that's fine. If even one of them ends up being recognized beyond my lifetime, expect my ghost to be cracking a smile. Because, yes, I would like to make a positive impact in the world somehow.

[feaker]

MarcMan that was well put and it is exactly the way I feel.I can make music 24/7 now. There are so many things I can't do anymore cause I getting up there. Music has not failed me yet. There is in fact much joy there.Great threadPaul

[ernstinen]

Chits,Your post put my "art" into its timeframe (I aplolgize if I've told this story before ) ---I moved to L.A. in the early 80's to be a "Rock Star!" The only problem was that I was an "artist," and I just COULDN'T do what the other "hair bands" were doing at that time.So I formed my own band, which was a rock/jazz/fusion style. It employed 3-part harmony, and was very unique. We ALMOST got signed to Epic Records around the early 90's, but the main A&R guy (who was the son of the president of Epic) sat down with me for hours. He finally said "Hey, your music sounds like I'm listening through a pane of glass. Don't you listen to the radio?"He obviously didn't get it.SO --- in the mid-90's, I moved my whole studio to a mountain cabin north of LA. No phone, no TV, no nothing. I was burned out on the "pop" scene of LA. I sat in silence for a couple weeks, just listening to the trees and birds.After a few weeks, I started looking at books of impressionistic art, and listened to classical music. This took a while to "sink in."Finally, a month later, I developed a "concept album" and began to work on it. From May to October, I spent all my time on my pop/rock recording. It was a magical time for me. --- The result was a solo record entitled "Listen," which I believe still stands the test of time.Upon moving back to LA, I took film scoring classes at UCLA. But I soon realized that the film scoring "biz" wasn't for me, so I took my orchestration lessons to heart and wrote "Symphony No. 1"Good choice! I followed my muse, as I learned in the mountains.The result has been "art for a higher purpose." --- I've had premieres of my pieces from Washington, D.C., to Los Angeles, and have had them recorded by the Bulgarian Philharmonic and the Czech Philharmonic.Granted, I haven't made a lot of $$ doing this, but SOMEONE'S gotta make music for "a higher purpose." I completely believe in following one's muse.Love to all,Ern

[jchitty]

Hey, Mojo, Mark, Paul and Ern....I really enjoyed reading all your wonderful posts here! Posts like these are what this community is all about!Matt, I love your words...'we all come to get healed.'

[mojobone]

Nov 15, 2008, 7:01pm, lyle wrote:Hi Chits,Well, yes, from Day One I wrote songs hoping that they might outlive me. It's a little embarrassing to admit that--it immediately calls into question the value of my songs, as well as my own honesty--but that has always been the truth for me. There is a certain wild joy I get out of creating something out of nothing, and it makes me feel close to God.Do I feel like God?? Hell no! It's not an ego thing. I'm just saying that an act of creativity is a magical, spiritual endeavor, and it blows me away every time it happens...the very possibility of it amazes me every time. So I do it for the sake of doing it, for the sheer joy and astonishment it brings me. I never until recently tried to sell one, and I've never been able to look at it as strictly business. There's just too much joy in the act for me to worry too much about making it the focus of my income. Any income I make from my songs will be like a hilarious punchline to a cosmic joke--a great, wonderful gift...one that was never expected.If I die and my songs never go further than my daughters' shelves, that's fine. If even one of them ends up being recognized beyond my lifetime, expect my ghost to be cracking a smile. Because, yes, I would like to make a positive impact in the world somehow.Mark, I've never met a bad person who made good music. If your music proves to be your greatest gift to the world, I'll celebrate with you, but don't overlook the positive impact you make by raising that other gift; your children. I mention this only in case you don't feel blessed enough...