Within ourselves, it’s all we can take
And I can’t take anymore
I came across your secrets
loosely scattered on the floor
How I happen on the broken
It comes my way so much
From what I want to turn away
Commands of me so much
Self and love were fated enemies
Just a village built unsound
Want gives way to more want
It’s what I want this time around
And it’s not that I am blinded
While the lifeboat’s at my side
It’s merely laziness I harbor
When it’s truly do. or. die.
~lme
The heart-shaped hash browns a lad from bongo made just for me 🙂
I read this recently right here. He’s right. You absolutely HAVE to latch onto something “too.” Too edgy, too different, too creative, too friendly. If we are not too something, we are not putting enough of ourselves into it. If we don’t invoke feelings in other people that compel them to act, perhaps we aren’t really standing for anything.
Ask my brother and sister- I’m highly impassioned and moved by experience, emotion and relationship. It’s in my DNA- maybe from both sides. Here are some things that I feel passionately about and move me in my musical pursuits.
~~Being a pioneer can be a lonely and uphill way at times. Don’t TELL me I can’t do it and don’t tell me that since it’s never been done, I should sit down and shut up. Because I won’t. I believe there are other good-seeking truth followers who wholeheartedly adore music and yet they do NOT want to spend their evenings playing places where they feel they must compromise who they are and what they stand for. If you’re out there, I want to meet you and shake your hand. And I want you in my network, because I appreciate you. I want to stand by my faith as well as stand with my music in hand and say- here are my talents and here is what I did with them. “Tis the gift to be simple, tis the gift to be free.” Lest we forget- the guy who buried his talent was scolded.
~~Why is it that people can’t get paid for their gifts they have spent valuable time honing? There have to be innovative ways to generate revenue in the music industry. It can’t be that I’ll finally make a living at my craft after I’m playing arenas and huge venues all around the world. Music industry crew- let’s stop being so narrowminded. Let’s stop listening to people that tell us there is one model of success and it’s name is Ke$ha or Beyonce. To follow that path is to be lazy. It’s already been done. So get to the books, the blogs, the influencers in your community, the events and start brainstorming.
~~I want to change the way people see art and music as a career. Because they are careers. So if you’re reading this and shaking your head, then do us both a favor and stop reading. My blog may not be for you, because you won’t like what I have to say. God is Creator. And he put that into us as lights in this world, which is one of the coolest things in which we see Him down here. I long for respect for spiritually minded people who pour their heart and soul into creating art, music, video, etc. And if you don’t believe that it is a valid and respectable career choice, then I want you to chunk your ipod and burn all your concert tickets and take all your books to goodwill, because that is what you are basically saying when you think such thoughts. To artists- If we don’t start treating ourselves with respect, others won’t as well. So buck up, hold your heart and head high and walk this path with me friend.
~~People always warn of the spiritual dangers in the creative fields- and rightfully so. But consider this- Wandering from God isn’t merely constricted to those in the creative industries- the pull to go with the flow and follow the Liar is seen in all career choices. But people rarely shake their heads in sympathy when someone’s future husband has high hopes of being a doctor or lawyer. Do they warn them like they’ve warned me? They should. Yes, “pursuance” can transform into “idol.” Yes, this can happen to all of us. Let’s just be fair across the board is what I ask. Though we be farmers, doctors, lawyers, musicians or teachers, we all have the ability to put something higher on the todem pole than God Himself.
What drives you in your creative endeavors? How have you worked toward marrying your faith and your talents? Feel free to let me know in the comment space below.
I appreciate comments people have made regarding my recent posts on reconciling faith and the creative industries. So, on this note, I wanted to share the little tidbits of knowledge I have regarding the music business, the pursuit of making music your career and striving for the higher things in life. Something to consider is the term ROI- return on investment. What is it truly doing for you in business?
4 points to ponder in this world of music:
Community art in Chattanooga
1. Open mics are good only if you don’t use them as an end goal. Should you be willing to try your stuff out on new audiences? Yes, of course. If you want to work on trying to hone your and calm your nerves in performance, can it be helpful. Yes! And it can also be great for meeting and gaining prospective contacts, booking people, band members and various talented people in the field with whom you should become acqainted. But here is where I begin to caution you. These “shows” should never be used as a landing pad. They should merely be launching pads to bigger and better things.
It would behoove a musician who “eagerly desires to make music a career path” to not play open mics 3 nights a week (even once a week might be a little too much, do you really write that much “new” material every week to test on new audiences?). My dad taught me an invaluable lesson this past week. If you want people to see what you do as having value, then you should be willing to put a price on it. I agree. I want people to take art seriously. For that to occur, I MUST TAKE ART SERIOUSLY, showing that it is a valid and necessary career choice. And here’s a side tip, maybe we should start telling people “Oh my real job is blah blah blah and I play music on the side.” Do you want to eventually make music your “real job?” Then treat it with a little respect.
I recently helped an artist friend get paid for her work designing for a band in town. Why? Because I believe very strongly that artists are not just some creative children roaming the streets. They are people who work desperately hard at what they do and deserve to be treated with respect (if they are fueling the same respect toward others in their industry and communities of course).
2. Work toward finding creative ways to generate revenue. I won’t go into a dissertation on how the music industry is a-changin’, and how record labels are going out of business. We know this, but what are we going to DO with this knowledge? Clearly you won’t pay your rent or even pay for upkeep on your instruments if you play 3 nights a week for free, waiting for your “big break!” Isn’t it ridiculous that we musicians have been taught to think this way. I myself have thought if I could only meet the right person or get Jack White to notice my music (which will happen because I have a brilliant plan to hatch) or whatnot, then I’d be set. Something quick and easy is all part of the American Dream baby. If it’s hard or requires days of creative brainstorming and years of having your nose, mind, blood, sweat and tears to the grindstone, we tend to walk away. Without sheer determination and innovation, though, we’d be sitting in dark homes without planes and trains and definitely with no blogs to read on laptops. I encourage you to take heart commit to never. giving. up. (Leah speaks to herself here).
3. Don’t spend copious amounts of time striving to please specific people in the music industry whether they wear the title of booking agent, venue owner, producer, or musicians who look at you blankly when you share your vision. If you have to dig a mole out of a hole and practically die in front of someone to attract their attention, maybe the return on that investment won’t be as great as you’d imagined. Let’s not forget the importance of growing an organic community of tribe. Do you sit at home and hope for a music career? No, but neither should you run yourself into the ground trying to prove to others and yourself that you belong in this creative realm.
Sit down, my friend. Look inside and realize that if you are truly what you profess, then nothing can diminish your role as an artist or whatever in both a small and larger community. Whether you sing to the trees in the forest or on a stage at Bonnaroo, you are still the same artist. Don’t let recognition become your destination. Rather, let it be something you accumulate in the form of blessings along your path.
4. Be confident in your music, branding and the story of your product. I truly am speaking to myself on this one. I listen to so much music that sometimes it’s hard to not compare myself to others. But I think that it is important to somewhat take a step back, say you can always improve on and hone your talents and then be confident that what you are creating is needed somewhere in the fabric of society. This isn’t easy, but by creating anything original, you’ll begin to develop your own voice in your corner of the market. People will then recognize that voice and eventually, people will come to want to hear that voice again and again.
It is never easy to “go confidently in the direction of your dreams.” But when you’re given encouragement along the way, it can take any hardship you’ve experienced thus far right out of your mind. I was definitely on some musical highs the past few days.
This weekend held various blessings for me. I had the privilege of being part of an old-time jam session at the Old Time Pickin’ Parlor down in Marathon Village. I love this place. The store, the vibe, everything just seems so good and enjoyable. I felt like I can look back someday and possibly say here’s where it began. I was meeting a banjo player, Brandon, on Saturday at said store. From videos he had sent, I could tell he was quite talented. We were able to jam together and with some new-found friends around the coffee table decorated with cigar-box guitars. I also had invited a fiddler to come out, and he (Travis) joined our party as well. It was exciting to hear encouraging words and also to be approached by the booking guy from Antique Archeology next door. Gigs here we come 🙂
On Sunday evening, I met with a talented gal from MTSU who currently co-writes with various people around town, and she herself writes and plays guitar and piano. Her style could be described in a Delta/ Civil Wars-esque vein. I think our sounds and styles will work amazingly well together, so here’s to a future of collaboration. It will be a whole new experience to actually work on harmonies with another gal!
Something I’ve learned in my short time on earth in regards to anything- music, pursuing passion, relationships- is that timing is everything. Sometimes we’re taught to be patient while sometimes we get a green light blessing. I’m not the holder of the future, but from where I’m sitting, it looks like some good opportunities are farther down the line. And for that, I am excited and hopeful. I also know I’m up against a lot. The continual questions- how will you make money? How will you uphold your faith? How will you not let it eat your soul? I don’t have specific answers to all this other than surrounding myself with positive influences, wise mentors, people who care about the eternal and making myself keep the right mindset when it comes to success or failure.
I’ll leave you with a picture from the fabulous Band of Heathens show at the Frist friday night.
“Hooray Hooray
I’m your silver lining
Hooray Hooray
But now I’m gold”
Life is unexpected and sometimes it’s a pleasant surprise like Jenny Lewis says. But on the other side of that coin, life is full of disappointments. Wait, hear me out please. Because these continual disappointments grow perspective. And perspective can work toward your character building. Believe me, I tire of the continual character-building, but these things all mixed to together ultimately puts us farther down the path to wisdom. And I don’t think any of us would part with wisdom if it were given to us. I am quite certain if you’re a human reading this, you’ve experienced some sense of disappointment in your life. Probably even within the last week or 24 hour span. It is a natural part of our world. People disappoint, situations disappoint, and at times, we become altogether disappointed in ourselves and our placement in this life. This is because we’re constricted here. Yes yes- we’re in a carnal straightjacket. And we’re dying to get it… pun intended. If you feel like sometimes your soul just needs to breathe, it’s because it does. And it will. In time.
So where is the positive in all this? Perspective. We have the opportunity, and blessing if we make it, to gain new perspective every time we are riddled with disappointment. Disappointment teaches us 3 key things about ourselves:
1. Disappointment teaches us we are imperfect. We have never been and that is not easy to swallow. We want our looks, our style, our relationships to be so ideal. It’s pretty evident in the way we use facebook at times as a status symbol (how can we not?). We are such visual beings, and realization that disappointment brings is the lie that our lives are so much worse than someone else’s. This is a falsehood, told by the Father of them.
2. Disappointment humbles us. It shakes us up a bit and gives us a sampling of humble pie. If I’m not careful, it’s amazing how quickly I can become inflated with pride. When that bubble is burst, it makes it all the more deflating to my ego. One of my weaknesses is the desire to want people to like me. I think most of us do, but in the music world, this cannot control you. If you let it be your guide, it will ultimately guide you where it will. We must keep the humbling in our minds and remember that any praise or criticism should be weighed against the only One whose praise or criticism matters.
3. Disappointment shows us our need for each other. (Here’s a great song to demonstrate my point.) I can’t tell you the deepness of friendship that can grow from two parties realizing they have been in the same place. My best friend lives in Texas. We bonded over a similar experience with the same guy (albeit at different times:) What started out as a 4 hour conversation became a deeply rooted friendship. These moments laden with raw emotion that the world tries to cause us to suppress are actually like fertilizer for deep roots in a relationship. We all know that true friendship never rests in the superficial, but sometimes we lazily bob in the shallow end of the pool, afraid to delve into the unknown. I challenge you to push your comfort zone. Reach out to people you would not normally confront. Give to those who can’t ever repay you. And in your own circle, be willing to listen and possibly cultivate deeper and more meaningful friendships.
4. Disappointment causes us to realize we are not, and have never, been in control of this place where we currently reside. Like my own grapplings with faith and the pursuance of a life in music, I continually get hit with this truth. I’d like to be in control. I’d like to walk up to a producer, ask him to produce my work, walk up to my dream band members and have them say yes to playing with me for as long as we like and create music and lyrics that are so relatable that the world loves to sing my songs while being gladly willing to roadtrip and pay part of their hard-earned money to see our shows. I’m not saying that won’t happen, but I am saying that life doesn’t ever (ever) turn out the way you map it. There is uncharted territory. There are jungles. There are enchanted forests full of blessings you never imagined. There are even gifts bestowed that several years ago you would have never imagined or even knew you needed.
And along with all of this, there is disappointment. Strangely enough, by tempering the good with the disappointment, we come to find this healthy view of the reality enveloping us. And, we begin to see the good things in our life as immense blessings. Our thought process begins to be revamped by our new attitude of gratitude. From there, we can actually catch sight of little glimmers of peace and thankfulness and, as my dear friend said this week, the realization that we are right where we need to be.
Any creativity or realizations that have come from those times? As my mother told me “Good music comes from bad places.” I believe some of the greatest art can come from some of our darkest days. That being said, let’s look for the small hoorays even in the darker days. Keep it up kids 🙂
~lme
Beneath the bellow
We hear the sounds before we see her arrive in radiant glory. Nothing rivals sound for she is what she performs. The melodic chime and climb of a friend as well as a foe- who holds the power to crush us- if she deemed it best.
Beneath the bellow
You ride. I run alongside. You sit properly poised. I run in juxtaposition. I let nature run her jealously eager fingers through my ephemeral tresses. An outsider has arisen from the underground. Life gave it all to you, and yet she takes from me.
Beneath the bellow
Aspiration melts by the wayside and must be divided between buckets of sacrifice and sanctity. Lay your bucket down. Tradeoffs are the payoffs. And the conductor seems to blindly read braille, requiring a ticket of some kind. I’m no holy roller, but here’s a holy punch.
Beneath the bellow
High above the celebratory billowing smoke of the locomotive’s offering. He above and we below. Below the Bellow, yet He has risen up higher than the offering of our hands. He is above the bellow, our earthly bellow. For the groaning of our spirits rise in succession with the smoke of the stacks, the groan, the unintelligible utterings of a conflicted soul in pursuit of escape. He has placed the yearning in the firebox of the vessel- this vessel in harmony with your exhaling, transforming, suddenly appearing essence on the page of history which for now remains but soon will rise as we exit the station and fixate our hopes on an approaching destination.
Beneath the Bellow
All the frightened rabbits waiting
To interrupt lucid dreams
Caressed at night by hauntings
Unloose the seams
Running round, you made crop circles
Within the fleeing life
Pawing at the coffin for some answers
to the fear and flight
The landscape shaken out, like sheets
So desolate and vast
Lone tree rots from inside out
Mere façade of desert mast
Minions perform the dirty work
Unaware it’s never through and through
Vanity of a suppression
When your greatest fear
Is you.
The Blackland Ballad 