After watching this video posted by bornach in our discord, my thought wheels were set in motion…
If someone wins a Grand Slam, it’s reasonable to say they’re the best at tennis in that moment in time? Or if they hold the number one ranking for a year?
Sure, there is some luck involved. But that’s part of the game, right? That luck includes being affluent enough to decicate the time and expense to becoming a professional.
In music, can we say the same thing? That if you sell the most digital copies of a recording, or you sell out the most stadium tour dates, then you categorically are the best?
Well, there is a distinction here. Because music exists outside the realm of the ‘industry’ - even if everyone stopped selling records, demolished all studios, ceased all airplay and streaming - within all of us there would be music. It was never invented by a bunch of rich bored Europeans.
So yes, we can say that artist is the best at the sport of music.
But can we meaningfully say anyone is the best at music in general, or even gain idea of what is ‘good’ or a certain standard in music?
We’ve talked about this before, I gave my personal definition of the emotional power of music being what is important to me.
So, for me to be ‘good at music’ is am I making an emotional impact on myself and others?
That’s it really.
We’ve also discussed how changing mindset from ‘failed musician’ to ‘failing musician’ is helpful. Which the video affirms.
It’s okay to have goals in what you make, even if it’s to win (or somehow succeed) in the sport of music. Or maybe it’s just to derive your own pleasure. Or maybe you want to develop in different ways and have an emotional impact. That’s what I’m aimimg for.
This leads onto another topic I’ve been thinking about recently.
We talk a lot about “energy YES quality NO” in the commumity. Which is brilliant.
The recent Switch Angel show in London made think more deeply about this though.
It was apparent that Jade, Jame, and Glossing all put a tremendous amount of work into what were very slickly produced acts. Which I am in no way critical of!
The event wasn’t billed as an algorave because the guidelines recommend “no headliners” which is something we would normally follow.
And I’m not sure how much those artists would agree with ‘quality NO’, though its safe to say they DID bring a lot of energy.
Could they have bought more energy? - by moving away from quality? Well that is something I don’t yet have an answer for.
I think it’s going to take a whole other blog post…