Indie Artist Getting Creative.
“The only person who is educated is the one who has learned how to learn and change.”
A lack of meaning at art is a common refrain among today’s artists. It is sad that there are several artists who have been feeling this way for years, even decades. They feel their music sucks, they want change, they hate where they live, and yet, life goes on. Some indie friends that I speak to, describe never-ending to-do lists, meaningless notes, pointless meetings with the publishers, new albums that seem destined for failure, unrelenting leg-pulling, lack of recognition of talent, a poor economy, weak prospects in the industry and unreasonable expectations from fans. All of this leads to boredom, fatigue, a lack of meaning and ultimately burnout. There are many reasons and justifications for remaining stuck to being indie, some completely valid and some just excuses.
If you feel the same, I am so sorry for the pain you are feeling and I admire your courage in moving forward every day. I understand it must be a challenging task and I encourage you to take heart. My experience with indie friends tells me that only in the rarest of situations must you remain stuck. Even small changes can bring a lot of thing to look forward to, especially in the music industry.
There is no magic bullet to solve your situation. But I do have some questions to ask you. This one is provocative and hard- When are you going to take yourself seriously? Because only when you understand and acknowledge your own worth, and that you are the one who has to create the life you want, will you make the hard and potentially difficult choices needed to change. You have to decide that finding meaning in your life is important and not a luxury reserved for a lucky few.
In my previous post, I have discussed some ways for indie artists to get over the feeling of being stuck. To bring small changes in their daily work routine to make a large difference in how they feel. Here are a few more tips!
New Genre
Get life from a completely different genre, when you are feeling stuck in your own. It can give you the spark you need to get moving again. You never know what unexpected combination of genre-jumping elements will spark an alchemy that will send your music to a new place.
New Instrument
If you find that your hands keep playing the same chords on the guitar time and time again, see what happens when you replace the guitar with mandolin or drums. If the drums aren’t speaking to you, find some time piano to see if something new sings out. You might just open new doors for your creativity by trying your hand on a new instrument. It might just lend a boost to your music and career.
New Hobby
If you’re a pianist, try taking origami, photography or painting class. Learn something new even if it may not ever directly overlap with your music-making. A new skill stretches us to naturally find inspiration. Your goal is not to get to a certain point and remain there. So, evolve!
Take a Break
It may seem counter-productive, but putting away work for a few days, weeks, or even months can ultimately be a good thing. When you get back to the instruments that you have always loved so much, it will be like falling in love once again. You will have new perspectives and ideas. A rest period from your music when you are feeling exhausted may be just what you need to come back ready to create again.
Be patient
Even the most brilliant and accomplished artists hit slow periods when it comes to creativity and career. Keep calm and keep making music. Your next sonic experiment could be the one to rocket you forward in ways you never could have expected.
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