Hello, welcome back to my blog.
I have just come off the phone from a good friend of mine, due to the information I received during the call I decided to write today about the difficulties in attempting to take music forward and create something new.
I have talked about how seemingly impossible it is to make a sustainable income from music in a previous blog, but one thing I didn't mention was the invisible walls and barriers that exist preventing change and the pushing of the boundaries in contemporary music.
During my conversation with my friend, I learned how some of the well established Jazz/Soul/Blues venues in and around London are suffering financially, simply because they had made the decision to support musicians and bands creating new sounds. It has become apparent that people are reluctant to embrace change, ticket sales have fallen and the regulars are requesting the old favourites.
I am somewhat reluctant to say, as an artist within the Jazz/Soul/Blues genre, that this seems to be the case more so in my genre than other forms of music. As someone who enjoys all styles and genres in music, I have observed that other genres are more keen to embrace change and new music, especially in rock music. The audiences are hungry for the next movement and where the music will go next, and as a result the music is thriving.
Of course all music stems from individual or collective influences from music history, John Lennon said it best
"Once a thing has been done, it's been done, so why this nostalgia?. Looking backwards for inspiration, like to the sixties and seventies, copying the past, how is that rock and roll ?, do something of your own, start something new, you know, live your life now " - John Lennnon BBC 1968.
Some people use a term for people who prefer to stay in one place as far as making and performing music is concerned, they call them "purists". They follow a strict set of rules and boundaries in there chosen musical form, and anything outside those boundaries is rejected. The most relevant person I can think of who challenged these boundaries back in the 70's is Herbie Hancock, I know there are many more..but for this piece I will use Herbie. When he introduced his electronic sounds into his Jazz, it was instantly rejected..not as music, but as Jazz music. Thankfully Herbie also began to build support and fans and continued to make his music, and has influenced many many musicians, all keen to move forward..but unfortunately still rejected by the so called "purists".
This contributes to the point I made at the beginning about the venues struggling to support new music today.
The result of which is cheap tickets just to get people in the door, resulting in low wages for the working bands. I myself know all to well the struggle to earn money playing with a band, it is why so many simply cannot take there music to the live venues.
From my own perspective, it seems to be a battle to promote new music, with a very very low success rate for few. Indeed I know some well established music makers who cannot fill a venue, and struggle to sell tickets.
It could be argued that it could be because the music is not good enough, but I would argue against that. I believe it comes down to the reluctance of people to move forward and embrace creativity and new sounds. It is familiarity they seek, the chords and structures they recognise, again, the nostalgia.
I am about to release some new music in July, though it has influences from music history, it is mine and my producers vision for my songs..and I hope, new music. It remains to be seen what kind of response I receive..as I am breaking some of the "rules". But I must say, I look forward to it..even if I am a little nervous !
It comes down to this, you have to keep making the music that is inside you..and not conform..continue to believe in yourself. For me it is the only way you will stay true to your heart and soul..and you can always say you did it for you first, before others. Unfortunately we have no control over how people will respond.
I just say, don't let the "industry and business side of music dictate who you are.. good music is good music and people will love it !!
See you next time !
