Tonight I found a new female artist, JJ Heller. I'm still listening to her songs, but so far I'm quite intrigued. One in particular moved me enough for me to quote on Facebook.
I thought of a common statement musicians have: "I wish I had written that!" Most, not all, but most will say it about top hits. My prof just the other day wish he had created a chord progression that makes up "Price Tag." I thought, yeah, that'd be cool. But the songs I wish I had written are songs that move me. I don't care if I get on t.v. and get played at clubs. Sure, to change the world with music would be incredible, but my realistic dreams are pretty simple: to make music I want to make that moves me. I wish i had written "Love Me" by JJ Heller. It's so simple, yet it's beautiful.
That's the thing about success. We define it. I may be at a music school to learn all I can; I may have top teachers; and I may have all the tools required to be the next big thing.
But that's not what I'm looking for here. I'm just looking to do what pleases me. And if it so happens it pleases lots of others, fantastic! Everyone here asks me what I play, and I'm quiet for about 5 seconds. They're expecting some genre of music to get an idea. I've decided to just say "acoustic pop" for now. What I really want to say though, is, I play what I want to. Sometimes it's country.. sometimes it's hip-hop.. sometimes it can be anything! I'm in my own mindset right now. I'm not going to let someone make me categorize myself. It's not necessary.
Enough ramble. Folio is due in 3 weeks. That means I will have all my songs done. What I have coming for your ears: 2 originals, 2 original collaborations, and maybe a remix of a pop song. We'll see if it turns out or not. Ttfn!
A friend of mine once told me of a tidbit he learned while working in a record store. As a musician, he found the genre question quite troubling as well. His insight was that the classification known as genre, was a categorical tool designed purely so that a store would know where to put him on a shelf.
ReplyDeleteRecords, belong on shelves... Not you. Good luck, and let illusion trouble you not. :)
@Doctor Why: (whoever you are!)
ReplyDeleteThanks for that comment :) I liked that little story.