Art for a higher purpose

[sgs4u]

my 2 higher purposes... one is selfish - to live in the magic and bliss of music, the other is to connect and feel connected to all that is.

[mojobone]

@squids: Nov 14, 2008, 4:18pm, squids wrote:I 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!"If it's what you live for, it's what you can't live without; I think you've just defined yourself as an artist with those words. I believe art has an intrinsically higher purpose; it uplifts our character and nourishes our souls. If your calling is music, small wonder if your avocation is counseling, difference is that music is usually done for groups and without speech, counseling is generally for individuals and with verbiage. Having heard your music and read your words, I'm sure you're an effective communicator either way...

[squids]

Nov 16, 2008, 10:54pm, mojobone wrote:@squids: Nov 14, 2008, 4:18pm, squids wrote:I 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!"If it's what you live for, it's what you can't live without; I think you've just defined yourself as an artist with those words. I believe art has an intrinsically higher purpose; it uplifts our character and nourishes our souls. If your calling is music, small wonder if your avocation is counseling, difference is that music is usually done for groups and without speech, counseling is generally for individuals and with verbiage. Having heard your music and read your words, I'm sure you're an effective communicator either way...Mojo.......if I wasn't married....... That said, I'd give an appendage to hop in on a club gig with ya.

[timothytitus]

Well I thought I'd make this my first forum entry since joining TAXI a few days ago! Hello all, nice to be a part of this!In the main, I write songs/music because i have to, like it's in my DNA. I have never asked for, or sat down and sought, an idea for a song; I don't know where they come from, and sometimes I wish they didn't javascript:add("%20::)")Roll Eyes . Since being born again as a Christian a few years ago, I have to believe Holy Spirit has been the inspiration for the music I've written since then.ERNSTINEN, I so identify with your position, sadly have not had the opportunity to emulate it. The one time I tried to "give up music" was to become serious about my first marriage. I nearly had a nervous breakdown (the doc. called it nervous exhaustion!), had to get back into music and songwriting in some way, started earning some extra money for my family - 18 months later, was divorced by my first wife for not behaving the way she expected! javascript:add("%20???")HuhI take a musical idea and try to follow it to it's inevitable conclusion, be it a quirky reggae piece of fluff or a big dramatic ballad ('Remember', on my home page). Does that mean it's art? Why does music have to be cutting edge, up front and in your face to be commercially successful? Much of my music is in a pop/rock vein - does that mean it ISN'T Art? I believe I'm destined to be a musician (the 'Christian' way of putting that is it's my calling, it's what God put me here for). How often I've pleaded with God for opportunities to get my work "out there" - perhaps this unexpected chance to work with/through TAXI is an answer to prayer. COACHDEBRA You say some very wise things - the Christian calling is to evangelise, so I want the Art which results in music to impact the world, bringing God's love, light, revelation and healing into a dark and broken world - sometimes in unexpected ways (who would expect Holy Spirit to inspire something like 'TranZMachine:Forever'?) One way and another, I've found developing music to try and earn some income from it a very frustrating process; there's no point in doing it less than 100%, do it 100% and you're accused of ignoring those around you!!Recently, I've had to write some music for a DVD about a charity event. I had a specification, a deadline and a budget of zero. And I found the inspiration to do it! I was hoping that people watching the DVD would say "Very moving, good film - and music's good too." To my embarrassment, they watch the DVD and say things like "The music's stunning, brilliant!" and "After 'Flower's by a Wall', the whole room was silent" - and it's the film maker bringing me these reports!!! So is this music art? Does maintaining integrity to one's musical DNA inevitably make it non-commercial?Well that's a bit of a rant out the way!! I believe my time with TAXI will be rewarding AND profitable.

[mojobone]

Nov 17, 2008, 11:21am, squids wrote:That said, I'd give an appendage to hop in on a club gig with ya. You'd be welcome, and I'd be thrilled.[tips hat, stifles quip about receiving an appendage]

[will]

I am a songwriter; it is who I am. I can do other things; but I am only one thing: a songwriter. Fear brings us to squelch what we love most? And to instill it in our children (those we love most)? I nearly committed suicide strangling my passion on the altar of survival fear that society perpetuates. Money? Yes; thank you, but how much is my life worth? Who empowered one to tell another that person cannot be? Or what they should be? Yet, these "hangmen" still step up cognizant of some deeply instilled duty ignorant to the responsibilty.Crazy artists of the past? Were they tortured by their passion, or saved by it? Many a doctor, lawyer, and bus exec also suffer . . . is it a shame? . . . are they allowed?Free yourself; be yourself, whoever that is. Healing and Love,Will

[wignelson]

Yeah, Chits, I have a higher calling. I've had one Dewar's already and I'm sure I can get higher. But seriously, I truly believe that I have been given gifts from my Lord that I am obligated to share. I sent you my book, didn't I? Yeah, I'd like to make money from my music, but I'm pretty realistic about the slim possibility of that. But will I stop writing? Certainly not.I (you) write because I (you) can't help it. Artist have no choice but to create art. Craftsmen can choose to do it or not. That's the way I feel about all the formula songs that define genres.Trend setters that came along and offered someone something outside the formulas ("the box") are the true artists throughout time.I'm thinking of Gershwin, Brubeck, Lennon you know, the guys that made the changes in the whirlygig.That is art. Whether or not it is commercial does not matter.Want to know where it comes from? Surprise, it's always been there. Artists are just the poor souls who see it and get frustrated trying to share it. If it doesn't fit into a nice round hole, the majority of people will pass it by. Their loss, Wig