Why do you make music?

[Warmonger]

Assuming that you actually do make music and not just twiddle around what is your goal? I hadn't really thought about this question, so it took me by surprise when my roommate asked me, "What's the point?" I didn't have an answer for him, so I started to think about it.

For me, I think the ultimate goal is to make music that I want to listen to. In that sense, I haven't really succeeded with any of my songs.

I would think that for most people here, the goal isn't to make money or to get fame. I would be surprised if there are too many people who have the same reason as I do. So, why do you make music?

[Lunch Money]

Mostly, to impress my girlfriend.

So far, I've only twiddled a lot and never produced anything that impressed a girlfriend. My various raps and vulgar rock tunes haven't worked. Once upon a time I recorded "Wonderful Tonight" which went over well.

OK, while it's partly true, that's not entirely true. The girlfriend makes a convenient excuse to have a captive audience, but I've never actually set out to write and record a song for the express purpose of impressing her. I think for me it's like anything else. I like the challenge and I like learning new things. I don't personally feel it's necessary to have much of a 'goal' as long as I'm enjoying it in the meantime.

I'm rock-climbing, without any hopes of ever being competitive. I cycled across a big chunk of Canada, but I'm still not a cyclist. I did a pretty good painting or two (watercolour), but I'm still basically a hack. I play guitar decently enough... and the only thing I'm truly good at is the pure act of teaching. I'm not even the best 'teacher' (ie. the profession, not just the act of teaching) because my record-keeping could be improved, but I'm hella good at relating to a young person, sussing their learning style, and helping them to build knowledge of a concept.

Not to wander too far from the point, I do music strictly because it's fun and engages a part of my brain that I like exercised. Along the way, I like doing something that not just everybody does, and if I have a deeper goal I guess it's that ultimately I hope one day to record a song or two that capture a set of feelings or ideas more purely than mere words can do.

Greg

[CypherOne]

It's better than watching TV..

[Glassback]

Define 'twiddle around'.

[machinesworking]

I would think that for most people here, the goal isn't to make money or to get fame. I would be surprised if there are too many people who have the same reason as I do. So, why do you make music?

great question! I think if I was to look back on it, I would have to say I don't feel I have any choice? I'm compelled to write, I can''t really think of anything else I want to do? I don't watch TV, I'm not interested in sports, and I like music probably the best of any of the arts.
At some point growing up I realized I didn't want to just watch or listen to other people's recordings and performances, I wanted to be performing and recording.
I also realized a long time ago that I like music that was embryonic and raw, that other people found too much to deal with on some level or another. I like groups that other musicians like, but regular people find too much work to deal with.
So I realized a long time ago that it wasn't going to be about money or fame, that it was a personal thing, and if other people derived the kind of pleasure i get out of music from what I make, it really doesn't matter if it's only a very small audience that likes it.

I get a lot of pleasure from it, and don't really understand people who aren't creative on some level? I feel very sorry for them.

[maja sinner]

Its my passion to create music,altough its for my own satisfaction thats my GOAL! to please myself and go on.There's not much I am interested in,except making music,thats about it!!

[hlmst]

I guess it's because other ppl dun make music that would suit my taste

[AD80]

I make music so I dont have to sell dope.

[Glassback]

I make music so I dont have to sell dope.

I make dope cos I can't sell music.

[Warmonger]

Define 'twiddle around'.

For me, twiddling around is basically making sounds and not writing complete songs, and more importantly, having no intention of writing something full length. For me, this ends up being a 16-32 bar "mini-song", consisting of bass, a drum loop, and whatever other sounds I can come up with.

It's also messing around with your software just to see what it can do, or rather, what you can do with it.

[Glassback]

In that case I make music cos it's the best hobby in the world - nothing else comes close. Apart from sex. But even then when you've completed something you're really really happy with, it's a close call.

[jens]

I can't stop

for me it's both a mental and a physical need...

to bend guitar strings and to feel the keys of a piano give way to my fingers gives me some physical feeling that is hard to describe...

it's some kind of lust but I'm always wanting more not unlike f**king but it stimulates a completely different part of my body...


when I'm on holidays and I haven't played a guitar for two weeks I really start to long for it...

no shit&not pulling your legs

[Wopelka]

i MUST be creative, that's part of my nature,
i'm an artist, if it's not too snobbish to say that.

and music is, together with words, my favorite means of expression.

plus, making music is fun!

[fitch]

to make a living .. its a job

it's got to the point now.. that i'm so crap at anything else that i'd be skint if i didn't

[spaceman]

my brain tells me to..
it's also my only real hobby