Interesting article Chris Whitley

[mladendomic]

... here: http://www.innerviews.org/inner/chris-whitley.html

..."I think one of the most important things songwriters need to do is find an identity. It’s a rare thing for listeners to be able to answer questions like “Who is the person singing this?” and “Where are they coming from?” The answers are the things that make people want to listen to songwriters like Tom Waits, Neil Young, Nick Cave, and Bruce Springsteen. They’re truly articulating something of themselves in their music. They’ve attained something that’s the result of overlooking their limitations. Earlier in my career, I overlooked my technical clumsiness as a musician. When I started to accept my weirdness, it gave me more strength as a songwriter and musician. You have to trust your individuality."...

Maybe not applicable to kind of music Industry needs? Or even quite opposite?

[guitargurumike]

Always interesting when people talk about this.

On one hand, having an identity can be quite marketable since you, the artist, are the ONLY person who can deliver those particular goods.

On the other hand, what if you are true to yourself as an artist, but find that pursuit entirely non-marketable; i.e. nobody cares about who you are, or the kind of artist you want to be, but especially nobody wants the goods.

It's the toughest thing about deciding to be an artist/celebrity. Are YOU marketable?

[sansharbour]

Right On

If you try too hard you will never find it

D

[melodymessiah]

i think guitargurumike is onto something here. what's the point of having an "identity" if no one bothers to listen to your music? when it comes down to it, it's really about the song, even if you don't write it yourself. i'd much rather listen to a chart topper by rihanna (who, to my knowledge, doesn't write her own songs) than some weird, obscure singer/songwriter with an "identity" so strong he can't see past his own guitar strings. don't get lost trying to find your true voice or being to unique, you might end up in no mans land along with the thousands trying to find their true voice. how unique is that?

[sabalsounds]

Wow...what a fantastic website! Thanks for sharing that link. I really enjoy reading interviews with musical legends

[Paulie]

Interesting guy, interesting article. Not going to psychoanalyze the man, but to address this thread specifically I think he's blending the concepts of personal individuality and musical style, tone or voice. One of the best things you can tell a performing musician is "you sound like you, not someone else" or "you really have your own sound." That's musical individuality. Spingstien, Wait, Dylan, they have their own vocal qualities that make them sound unique, whether or not you are even listening to their lyrics. (The same is true about B.B. King, who Whitley said he couldn't listen to.).

I think it is important to strive for your own style and sound, but if you choose music as a career you have to remember that unless you are making a living selling your own sound you are an entertainer first, therefore you are working for those writing you the checks. Save your art for your personal time and be honest and true to the idioms you find yourself playing at paying gigs

Also, changing your music after your first successful album is most often a huge mistake. You've set the bar, and if you had average success you are going to confuse your audience by changing things up the second time around. If the first album is a huge success, the confusion caused by change on the second album will be even greater.

This thread could go in so many different directions.