Who exactly are you trying to impress with your lyrics and music? A record label? The fans who liked your last album and want another just like it? The listening public at large? A certain demographic? The hit performer du jour who could turn your song into bags of money? A cute girl or boy?
There’s nothing wrong with any of that, but I think it’s important that you’re conscious of those influences on your art and evaluate how much of an impact you want them to have on you. All of us love validation and support, and all of us want others to be impressed by our work, but I think that if you’re really going to dig deep into yourself and write the songs that nobody else can write, it’s important to thicken your skin and push on ahead even when your new direction displeases some label gatekeeper or critic or audience.
Some artists are perfectly happy to adapt their music to the tastes of their listeners to increase sales or get the record deal or whatever the goal may be. Others take their artistic autonomy very seriously, and defend themselves against outside noise, choosing instead to grow and develop in the directions that challenge and excite them. Platforms like SoundCloud are really useful for this, allowing aspiring artists to share their own tracks without any corporate input. A lot of popular names started out on SoundCloud. It can be quite difficult to get your tracks to stand out from the crowd though, and for that, there are sites like UpYourPlays.com, which helps you increase your likes and plays on SoundCloud.
We’re all searching for satisfaction in this art of songwriting. Success is elusive for some, illusive to others. Maybe you consider “satisfaction” to be one notebook page that is good and true—or maybe you prefer a royalty check. Sometimes you can have both, but the two aren’t packaged together as often as we’d like.
What are you after? Why do you want it? What would happen if you got it? If you get clear about this now, you’ll save yourself a lot of future confusion and trouble.
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I feel a desire to be creative, making something is very fulfilling. And I want to express myself. I know precisely what kind of music I want to make, and I’m aware it’s nearly impossible to reach that level with my limited set of skills. But still I’m trying to improve myself musically and lyrically, it keeps my busy in a good way. It would be nice if I meet likeminded people in the process, or visit interesting places. Earning lots of money is certainly not my ambition.
Hey Rob, good to see you again! Sounds like you’re in it for the right reasons.
I’m with you on this one–to meet some cool people, travel to some interesting places, and make half a living would make me very, very happy. I’d be satisfied working very hard just for that much.
I definitely agree being aware of when you’re trying to impress someone with your writing is fundamental..That ‘need to be loved/validated by others’ is where so many lose their power…Its something i definitely wrestle with-but i’m aware of it..The main thing is if you’re writing and the main focus is to try and please someone you’re writing OUTSIDE yourself….How can you be the unique artist you are like that ?…Thats just being a salesman..Being in touch with your own love,passion,pain whatever is where the beautiful unique art you can create lies.Thats being a genuine artist..
Thanks for the perspective, Steve. I do have empathy for listeners, but for the most part so far I’ve found that the pieces that excite me most are also the ones that excite my audiences most. So maybe the debate is more complex and not so dualistic… I’ll have to experiment further.
I think i get (generally) excited by the ones that excite my audience most too Nicholas..I think-at THE TIME OF CREATION those songs were born from my love of the art-not trying to please an imaginary audience-or impress a particular friend.I doubt people would respond to them so positively if i’d done that as they wouldn’t’ve had the artistic energy in them people like.I’ve got empathy for my listeners too-We’re all listeners ourselves!
Well said, Steve.