Your music is not for everyone. That’s a good thing.
A person’s taste in music is as unique and unpredictable as their favorite foods. Some people like sour, some like spicy, others like sweet. Some of us love classical and thrash metal; others love dark ambient and trip hop.The style of music you create may or may not mesh with what your family and friends love. Maybe you’re a rapper in Nashville. Maybe you’re a punk singer and your kids love bubblegum pop.
Maybe the songs you write are fantastic, but that’s still no guarantee that your music is something your immediate family and friends are able to appreciate. The reaction you get might range from polite applause to wrinkled foreheads.
If that’s your situation, try not to take it personally.There’s no magical way to appeal to everyone–instead of fretting over what your pals or your kids or your boyfriend think, concern yourself with the people who already understand and enjoy your chosen styles of music. Plug into that community.
The world is a beautifully diverse place. We want the people in our lives to love what we love, of course, we do. Especially early on, when songwriting’s still new, exciting, and scary. But the best part is, when done well, music has the power to capture any heart. It can heal you, encourage you and push you to do things. That’s the reason we have music as a medium for encouragement in events, advertisements, and movies. They are even prominent in the gaming industry. For instance, the offline and online games to play for money have one thing in common, that is, music. Music keeps up with the visual engagement of video games.
It’s not always in the cards, though–and that’s okay. Sometimes the people in your personal life are simply not your audience. Smile, accept this as best as you can, and keep making the strange beautiful music you were born to make.
I agree Mr. Tozier. We must follow our passions and be true to ourselves. Remember to listen to your sub conscience mind, it knows the way.
Keep up the good work.
Thanks Phil.
Hey, Nick…
Yeah , I have that problem sometimes. My wife is extremely proud of me but sometimes just doesn’t care for a song (or three), so I work through it. I perform every Friday night at our group’s Open Mic Night and they dig anything original… an easy audience to please. Maybe not the best for growing, but good for the ego!
See Ya… good post,
Doug
You make the comparison to cooking, but isn’t the point of making music, like the way a chef would, to prepare music in a way the world would enjoy? Certainly there’s nothing wrong with a cook making himself some bizarre dish for himself, but I think it would be obviously innapropriate in a restaurant setting.
Making music for yourself and only yourself is simply musical masturbation, and while there is nothing wrong with that, I prefer the idea of getting other people off with my music, as well as myself.