Well 2020 was quite the year! Crazy ride filled with ups and downs… New places, new faces, new friends, and lots of music and (of course) COVID. I’m really looking forward to when that word is as rare as the Spanish Flu. I mean seriously, it’s time we move on people… But I digress.
Anyways my scheduled release plan for music was set back due to the inability to promote via live shows, which is primarily how young artists in Nashville get their music heard. So after the release of Gypse Heart (which if you haven’t heard yet… Go listen!!! And if you have well then… Go listen again lol) I devoted a considerable amount of the time I had been focusing on networking and playing out to writing. So yeah, lots of new music that you all haven’t heard yet! *P.S if you follow my blog here you’ll get first access hehe* okay enough self-promotion…
As I’m looking at 2021 and trying to navigate this whole crazy music scene amid a post-COVID world and mindset I’ve realized that simply landing in the stream won’t get you to your destination. Sounds extemporaneous, I know, but let me explain. Since arriving in Nashville in the fall of 2019 it’s really easy to fall into the trap of simply being here… People, myself included at times, start to think that things are going to simply happen because of the fact that they have made it to the right town and are surrounded with the right people. But that’s not the case! Hard work is critical. But simply working hard without definite goals can be almost as useless as not working at all. For if the effort isn’t concentrated on distinguishable goals it’s much the same as trying to swim across an ocean by jumping in… But then just treading water hoping someone will throw you a rope. Now this may sound trivial to some, and indeed if you’ve already mastered the mantra:
If a man does not know to which port he is sailing
No wind is favorable…
Then you are already two steps ahead and I applaud you as well as encourage you to continue on. But to be fair this can be a hard concept for people to grasp. Especially when it comes to an industry such as music that seemingly does not have any definable milestones to latch onto as definite goals. The catch, though, is to create those goals. Study the lives and careers of those who have gone before and see their small successes as initial goals to emulate. Did they play small venues? Cover gigs? Writer’s rounds in Nashville? Start small and build. But don’t let the small wins become an anchor where you find yourself treading water… Forgetting that the goal is to swim across the ocean. Keep driving… Always looking for the opportunities to progress. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that the goal is just to survive until someone else lifts you out. No, drive. Progress. Build. Let 2021 be the year where you set definable goals towards a definite end. That end being a better version of you. Better music than you had before. Better lyrics than you’ve ever written. Yes, even playing bigger shows than you have previously. Excellent goals. But start now and set deadlines for accomplishing them. Aim for the stars… And you won’t find yourself crawling around in the dirt.
Whew! Okie dokie… that’s where I’m at on this January 26th, 2021! Trying to set definable goals and then act in accordance to accomplish them. By the way this is favorable in all walks of life. Not just music. So think about it and if you can add something to help here comment it below!!!
Cheers to you all! Hope your Holidays and New Years were fantastic and we’ll talk soon!
P.S Yes, I’m planning on releasing another single this year so stay tuned!!!