I sit listening to the rough versions of the songs for my debut solo album and marvel at how far I’ve got; how pleased I am, and it’s not even finished! I never thought I’d see this day. My experiences up to this point haven’t been purely academic. It’s been a long journey, some 15 years in the making, and a whole lot of life reshaping the initial naïve, youthful ambitions. I have deliberated for months on how to get the ball moving with my blog, what aspects of myself I want to show, and what I want to keep in my private life. I thought it was best to dedicate the first ever installment to the imminent completion of the album. It’s one of the single most important things I will do, and this is because my road hasn’t been a smooth one. I fought against all the odds to make this happen, through inescapable circumstances, tragedies and illness. Whether the album is commercially successful is redundant to me. It’s already achieved its goal.
A few years back I decided to ride the wave of the burgeoning digital distribution, coupled by a change in ethos in the music industry as a whole. I took the initiative to start becoming an independent recording artist. Others like me saw the changing playing field and the opportunity to create and release music the way they wanted; without having the rights to their works taken off them. It was a liberation of sorts from a strangle hold that left many frustrated and dejected. I count myself one of those. For me the new era of music distribution solved the perpetual ‘snake biting its own tail’ scenario, by giving the power directly to the artists. It hasn’t been an easy road needless-to-say, but it’s more rewarding to be in control of your own destiny; or bang your head against a door that won’t open no matter how hard you yell!
Being an independent recording artist is daunting at times, as the sheer scope of what you must accomplish as a single person will occasionally shake even the most stoic individual. I’ve felt like a 40 trick pony with fireworks stuck up my ass! I’ve had to take on the roles of the performer, composer and lyricist, arranger, producer, executive producer, manager, promoter, advertiser and financier. This is to name a few! I’m sure as time goes by there will be more balls for me to juggle. Unfortunately, money is a big issue with the fall or rise of the independent. It’s usually what stops most in their tracks, but the moment I decided to pursue this path, I started to save every penny I could. Compared to ‘signed’ artists it would seem a small sum to work with, but I feel I’ve resourcefully used my funds to their optimum capacity. I truly believe sometimes limits can be used to your advantage.
I haven’t done this all alone either. My co-collaborator Barry Dallman, teacher and friend has contributed invaluably to this project, kept me musically grounded and helped me make my good songs become great songs in my eyes! I would publicly like to thank him for all his help so far. I couldn’t have done it without you!
The road isn’t quite over yet! There’s still a few more nail biting moments, laughs and insecurity trips to get through, but it’s in sights. Keep laughing, it’s the best defense you’ve got!
SJ
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