Sharing My Authentic Self

This writing process is becoming more and more interesting to me. Mostly because I am challenged by my perceptions about what should be written. I get to experience my resistance to self-exposure.

I do enjoy sharing my passion and experience but I realize that I also inevitably expose parts of myself that don’t allow me to control the perceptions other form about me. I now realize that in my daily life my writing says more about me than my music does.

With Prioritization and Focus You Will Get More Accomplished

The music business, as with most businesses, is changing rapidly. How does one keep up with all of the changes? How do you take in, analyze and apply all of the latest and greatest ways of doing business, make money and remain true to your art?

In this article I’m going to touch on two things which are extremely important and very basic: prioritization and focus. To prioritize means to arrange or schedule in order of importance, and, focus means to bring into focus or to concentrate.

Change, Adapt, Innovate Or Be Lost!

Let me set this up before I get into it. If you are prone to pessimism, this could cause you to give up on your dreams of making it big in the music business. Read on at the risk of shattered dreams. For everyone else, this can stimulate the type of thoughts which breakthroughs are made of. Let us begin.

This is not good or bad news; it’s just news. Actually, it’s not even really news because it’s common knowledge to anyone paying attention to the current state of the music industry.

Change, Change And More Change

Change is constant and, for the most part, only young children fail to notice change happening. I’m sure they perceive change, yet their ability to adapt to change seems easy. Outside of the occasional temper tantrum, which tend to be more about a possession (such as a toy) then resistance to something new, they are ever quick to adjust and move on to the next thing.

Do What You Do Every Day

Consistent creative output can be challenging even if you have an established process and habit. However, if you don’t have an established process and habit regarding creative output it becomes tougher.

Get Clarity in Writing

Over the years I’ve had to sign a lot of documents while doing business, plenty of contracts stipulating the details of particular agreements, duration of service and consequences in the event of contract breach.

Study the Great Writers and the Craft of Writing

In 1996 I was doing a hip hop compilation CD. There were 11 MCs and because I value the craft of lyric writing, during the album pre-production stage I decided that we, as a collective, would get together and critique the lyrical content of each song submitted for album consideration. I wanted to ensure quality in content.

Know Your Target Audience

This is no exaggeration; I have had this conversation more than 100 times with artists and groups I’ve worked with: who is your target audience?
Much can be said about people not wanting to be categorized; however, like it or not that’s how things work. Categorizing helps finding a particular thing easier; check the library and [...]

Start the Process As Soon As Possible

Everything takes time, often more than we expect. In 1988 I bought my first four-track recorder and started learning to produce songs. Very basic stuff, but I didn’t wait for the perfect time to start producing music.

I got busy as soon as I could afford the recorder; I didn’t wait until I had the skill to produce a song or an album before I started working on tracks. I sold my first song in 1990 and produced my first album in 1993.

Balance the Art and Business of Song Writing

Rarely is an artist objective about what they create. The creative process is pure, organic and should be free to unfold. (At least that’s what I think.) I have said, “I become one with my creation, not seeking perfection, just a clear sense that when it’s done, it’s done.” That makes sense to me. I love that about art.

When it’s just about art, I don’t care what other people think; I don’t do it with others in mind. Whether I’m making a track or writing a song, if it’s just about art then whatever comes is how it should be.

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