If you were the only one who would hear your music

[Hink]

would you still make music? The one thing I have found throughout the music industry is just that, it's an industry.

I know I never judge a song of mine by the success of the song in the mind of others, but whether it achieved in me what I desired to achieve. As greed is not a part of my personality music really is quite personal too me.

I achieve a state of wholeness through music, and quite often when the song has served it's purpose (whether it gets completed or not) it never gets to the stage of releasing it.

On a similar note, I am not one of those guitarists that sees a guitar and has to play it for everybody. Nor was I one of those salesmen. I hate the "guitarist's stare", you know when someone grabs a guitar and starts playing and they're staring at you with that "aren't you impressed" look on their face.

I see so much commercialisation of music, and the whole "fame" thing...I just wonder, does anyone else feel like me. Can music be not commercial, but be personal and spiritual and still be successful?

A couple weeks ago I was real depressed, I was depressed over a song I wrote. I wrote it for my father and it meant more too me then any song I had written. When I presented it to my father he really loved it, but I was looking for more...I wanted to wow him. Instead I ended up feeling like a first grader giving my father a card I drew in class for father's day. I was quite hurt, it was a long fall at the time...I now realise I was being absurd. But at the time I called the song my biggest failure, though it seems to be well liked. But at the time it didn't hit the one person the way I wanted it to.

How utterly selfish of me, I wanted to define how my father would react. When I didn't see that I over-reacted and didn't see the obvious (a couple of good friends here Sickle and Bunny Boy helped to clear things up, thanx guys). Of course it turned out successful, dad loves it and wants me to put it on a VCR tape because my 90 year old aunt in Maine only has a vcr.

So I came to a conclusion, my music has to serve me and me only. I will say that I was also disappointed by a group (not KVR, lets make that clear) who I have always been there for, that in my opinion made no effort to be there for me after all the times I had been there for them.

So how do others feel?...I find if I base my music on the premise of getting validation from others I am setting myself up for disappointment. That's not a statement of my music not being "good enough", but it's unrealistic of me to expect others to get the same kick from my music that I do.

I wrote a song for my father, I wrote a song for my sisters memorial service (still yet to be posted and at this point it probably never will)...but from now on I go back to my music being about me and my feelings, though I do still believe sharing is a very important part (sharing means pride, pride means a job well done) and I hope you'll all listen to future songs, I'm not sure I'll ever write a song for someone again...just me.

Thanx for your time as I wanted to get it off my chest and I look forward to seeing how others feel...

[nuffink]

If?

[Hink]

If?

thanx nuffink..I think you just showed me how simple the answer is...

[Derek up North]

I've got a really simple answer - "yes".

So far nobody other than me has heard anything I've done. Partly this is because I don't regard anything I've done as "finished" and partly because for me the pleasure is in the creation and after that I lose interest.

If I were in a philosophical mood I'd say that a lot of my life is to do with gaining or receiving the approval of others (work and family (young children) respectively), whereas music is my release from that - I'm free to do what I want without worrying about whether or not anyone else likes it/cares about it/responds to it.

I actually find it quite liberating that I don't have an audience for my "creations" - if I did I'd probably think twice about that heavy metal/reggae hybrid tune and then the world would be a poorer place

Mind you, one day I might change my mind and unleash my latest Christmas novelty No. 1 single idea - then you'll see what you've been missing

Regards,

Derek.

[Stupid American Pig]

I find that my music is merely an excercise in artistic Masturbation too hink. But what do you do

[AndrewSimon]

Absolutely

I play for myself and enjoy every minute of it.
I have no dreams of making a living from music.
Of course it's nice to share your creation, especially if the feedback is positive but it's not a must.

[Hink]

I find that my music is merely an excercise in artistic Masturbation too hink. But what do you do

[o'malley]

It's not like I would have a choice. I have to play music no matter what!

And the 'music industry' is an indistry, but 'music' doesn't have to be an industry.

[1-2-Many]

I'm usually the only one to hear my music as well. It used to bother me - composing all these songs with no outlet or audience. Kinda like the tree falling in the woods, do they really exist if no one hears them? Was I just doing this for my own sake....simple answer YES, but it took me a bit to realize that the real question that troubled me was the first, "Does your work as an artist really live and breath if you alone experience it?". Simple answer NO. So if not for any other reason, that alone should compell you to get your work out there in some form. Bear in mind though, the desire for worldwide attention is a bit unrealistic.. sure we all want to be superstars . I recently did an entire CD and shared it with everyone I knew - some raved about it, some said they really liked it, and others gave no response....but at least now those songs LIVE.

Sure it mostly boils down to ego - everyone wants recognition and admiration, and when you're hours into a song you tend to get blinded by it and think it's the coolest thing ever. So you're pride in it, coupled with your basic human need for appreciation and recognition causes you to want to share it.

Your experience with your father resonates with some of my own.... You bring your special creation out into the light only to see it wither a bit, especially when other people don't "get it", and say things little, "That' not my style of music, sorry." (like my wife ).

Really though, if no one else hears your music, does it really exist? I compare it to a painter, spending hours creating paintings only to stack them in the basement when finished...What's the point? All of art, to exist, must be shared and experienced by others. This urge to bring my music 'into existence' by sharing has caused me to post a few dittys here on KVR (monthly contest), to which I've gotten varied responses - I soon learned the moral to the adage of pleasing all the people all the time .... impossible ... this is an unrealistic expectation.

With all of art, there will always be the critic. In fact if you study the history of many famous artists (musicians, writers, sculptors, painters) you'll find that every one of them had their critics, and those who didn't "get it" Most people in my experience, have a natural tendency toward critical behavior, (in a vain attempt to force things to fit into their expectations or past experience), and it's the rare person who is able to admire and accept things that don't fit their preferences 'as they are'. Main point is - You should never let other people's negative reactions stop you - there will always be such.

That all said - I'd like to hear the song of which you speak.

[Hink]

It's not like I would have a choice. I have to play music no matter what!

And the 'music industry' is an indistry, but 'music' doesn't have to be an industry.

I agree, I've always contended that I didn't choose music, it chose me...

[tee boy]

I think I would yes. However, I believe all musicians have the capacity to show off a little. I all honesty I am no exception - if Im really please with something iv done, people (friends, family, colleagues etc) are going to hear about it!

[Meffy]

nuffink said it already and others have enforced it. I'll metoo.

Practically nobody else hears my music and that's as it should be. My mate must suffer through bits of it but that's one of the hazards of making house with an enthusiast. I try to be gentle.

In times past people -- not necessarily trained musicians -- often played music for themselves on the spur of the moment, for friends and family, for whoever happened to be passing by. There's a lot less of that these days, but I suspect lots of people are like me: not musicians per se but just folks who enjoy making music for the pleasure of doing so. For us, electronic and computer music are blessings for a number of reasons.

I'm just fair-to-middlin' at synths, but it sure beats my playing on tin whistle and bodhran. 'Specially at the same time.

Meffy

[FR3Qz]

U really said a MOUTH-full little bro,

(... where 2 start?) , well then, Ive written several piece'z without finish, or commercial effort,
(as I really care less wether anyone likez me stuff or not), piss on the Lot!!
As for meself , it therapy 4 me, ( ya know, keepz me off the flat roof topz, with a
full clip!!) ..... LOL!!!

Anywho, ive done the 80'z as a fairly popular metal band, had me own deal, did a good
leg on a us-coast 2 coast tour for quite a few years, ......soOOOoo, anyway.

music dosnt have to be commercial, (UNTIL .... at once, every-1 happenz to like your
compo, for whatever reason, all at the same time,) !!!!
then U become a 'sellout' because you went commercial!!?? / Hmmmm, go figure!! hehe.


Anyway, just write yer shit, becuz U ENJOY it , and wanna discover new ways of being
a musician and becomeing better at your craft!!!!

, ..... thatz really ALL music, composition, should really be about.... P E R I O D!!


njOY, and continue writting, and piss on all thew rest!!!



FR3Qz!!

[Hink]

I'm usually the only one to hear my music as well. It used to bother me - composing all these songs with no outlet or audience. Kinda like the tree falling in the woods, do they really exist if no one hears them? Was I just doing this for my own sake....simple answer YES, but it took me a bit to realize that the real question that troubled me was the first, "Does your work as an artist really live and breath if you alone experience it?". Simple answer NO. So if not for any other reason, that alone should compell you to get your work out there in some form. Bear in mind though, the desire for worldwide attention is a bit unrealistic.. sure we all want to be superstars . I recently did an entire CD and shared it with everyone I knew - some raved about it, some said they really liked it, and others gave no response....but at least now those songs LIVE.

Sure it mostly boils down to ego - everyone wants recognition and admiration, and when you're hours into a song you tend to get blinded by it and think it's the coolest thing ever. So you're pride in it, coupled with your basic human need for appreciation and recognition causes you to want to share it.

Your experience with your father resonates with some of my own.... You bring your special creation out into the light only to see it wither a bit, especially when other people don't "get it", and say things little, "That' not my style of music, sorry." (like my wife ).

Really though, if no one else hears your music, does it really exist? I compare it to a painter, spending hours creating paintings only to stack them in the basement when finished...What's the point? All of art, to exist, must be shared and experienced by others. This urge to bring my music 'into existence' by sharing has caused me to post a few dittys here on KVR (monthly contest), to which I've gotten varied responses - I soon learned the moral to the adage of pleasing all the people all the time .... impossible ... this is an unrealistic expectation.

With all of art, there will always be the critic. In fact if you study the history of many famous artists (musicians, writers, sculptors, painters) you'll find that every one of them had their critics, and those who didn't "get it" Most people in my experience, have a natural tendency toward critical behavior, (in a vain attempt to force things to fit into their expectations or past experience), and it's the rare person who is able to admire and accept things that don't fit their preferences 'as they are'. Main point is - You should never let other people's negative reactions stop you - there will always be such.

That all said - I'd like to hear the song of which you speak.

you can just click my signature (the top [art, hink' eminant domain will just add a step ), it's the song that starts my page, "The Whisper"...the lyrics and original poem are on the site as well...as I say I took a poem my father wrote in 1941 when he was 20 and composed this...

[Spe3D]

If you were the only one who would hear your music

Hey! thats me

Best regards,

Spe3d

:O)