#75

Hey there @mattleaf, thanks for your kind spirited and thoughtful comments. The idea of a scene is always interesting although not hugely attractive personally. I have been lucky to travel a bit and there definitely seems to be places in the world where things happen and continue to happen. Personally, I’m fascinated by the human dynamics surrounding people like Sibelius, Laurie Spiegel, Arvo Part, Kaija Saariaho. That weaving of education, isolation, reflection, repetition etc. I live pretty remotely and have become more reliant on myself, my partner, my friends and family and nature for inspiration and thoughtfulness.

This is so consistently true, the “where-state” of the activity maybe is less important for example in the way that ideas can move and grow. I think also artists nearly always at some point in their process observe, without any particular orthodoxy: to consider one’s own work, the natural world, the output of others, politics, science. I knew someone once who used to say “thank goodness for other musicians, we would have got no where without each other”. Have a great week :mountain:

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#76

Thanks @visitjunes for starting the thread

I feel you on this. In my 20s did a little touring, a lot of gigging, etc., moved away and as my interests in music and art broadened greatly I found myself not pursuing being in a band and more just absorbing things, then a while later dove into modular and synths. Now (at 40), I’ve recorded a full track for the first time in about 10 years (whoa) with my partner and am wondering… do I post this somewhere? what am I doing? haha.

Not into the whole social media thing, and have typically had a hard time reaching out to others though being a little older realize the importance of this as @mattleaf points out

In the meantime, the act of just making has been rewarding enough but I do struggle with the nagging thought that I should be putting myself out there. Love hearing people’s thoughts on this.

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#77

Hi @addamm, I totally agree, you simply have to make things as best you can. Can be tricky though too.

Especially if your music isn’t so much a demonstration of ability but say something with an abstract intent or artistic intention. The pursuit of virtuosity gives some musicians a simple clarity to be able to grapple with, know thy enemy, am I the best etc.

Beyond that of course is such a rich world of music and experimentation. Even if it is a little tricky to plot your course, put things out etc. I think it’s clearly a richer path to pursue uncharted territory and to seek to create something compelling from your travels, no matter what medium, platform, streaming service you decide on etc. Thanks again :mountain:

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#78

I can relate to much of this as I am going through something similar. I’ve been making electronic music on my own for close to twenty years, but have yet to “release” anything. Tracks were made and even mastered, but they just sat on tape or hard drives. I have decided recently that I want to put out an album. However, I don’t know what that means. Do I just put it on bandcamp and be done with it? Do I attempt to promote it through social media (where I have no presence), do I reach out to labels? Is there a physical release? Spotify/Apple Music/Tidal? I’m also struggling with whether I should record all new stuff for this project or mine the archives, but that is a whole different question.

Also, beautiful track visitjunes.

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#79

Thanks @eblomquist I’m not sure my music is worthy that comparision but am nevertheless very happy and humbled for your kind words. New music is on the way btw.

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#80

You are most welcome.

All I know is that my inner ancestral Scandinavian resonates with the music in a way that I find deeply moving :pray:t2:

I look forward to hearing the latest when you release it!

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#81

Hey there @tehfizzle, hope you are safe and well during this strange time…

This is really relatable, having come from a music background where the process of putting out albums was fairly stressful, high investment, corporate etc. the idea of “putting out an album” is a bit distracting. I feel that the archive root is cool because maybe it doesn’t matter in the same way. I really relate to how composers work, that delayed judgement of work I think is really important. Thanks so much for chiming in and glad you liked my little track :mountain:

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#82

Hey there @1234, hope you are well, look forward to new music and really glad to have found a spot where people like yourself are making beautiful, compelling music, stay safe :mountain:

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#83

Hey y’all, just made an account to share that I also feel this very much. I’ve been learning how to make music in the past two years or so, and my main struggle has been finding people that share the same interests that I do. I’m not that concerned with having a social media presence, but having people to talk about more experimental music is hard to find, especially as most communities these days are about networking, which tends to push experimental stuff out of those spaces.

I’m new to the Lines community so I’m still checking the topics, the Process tag in particular (modular equipment is way too expensive here in South America for me to even think about dabbling in it). This seems like one of the spaces I’ve been looking for!

@visitjunes I loved your song, the strings are lovely.

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#84

Welcome!

You will find a wide range of gear users here, we’re not all modular heads by any means.

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#85

I’ve just recently started participating here and in my limited experience it is exactly what you are describing. Also, there are plenty of ways to achieve the modular spirit on a budget. There’s free software or diy physical modules etc. Or it could just be a new way of thinking about tools you already have.

Cheers.

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#86

every time I sit down to a musical instrument, I feel it is a game I play, with the instrument, with myself, and sometimes other players. I win the game if I enjoy it and the more I play, the better I understand the rules and tactics and the better and more subjectively artistic my play becomes. sometimes, like a video game posted to Twitch, my play becomes something I want to share with others who enjoy that sort of entertainment and go looking for it in the places you find it. it doesn’t seem to improve my playing if others see it, however, and I forget that and get a giant portion of my ego wrapped up in whether other people liked the way I played. but the feeling before anybody else knows, when only you know how well the game went, that is true satisfaction.

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#87

Hey there @fourhoarder, although I am not a gamer or anything I totally understand, I have often had this feeling when I was younger learning to play different instruments, there is such a joy in those break throughs and you often can’t share them with many people. They still count though and carry forward onto to the next bit of burst of joy and progress :mountain:

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#88

Hi @celofanes, hope you are safe and well out there.

I totally agree with what you have said and love that Lines is about something different, thanks for your comment about my little track, Workington more just now, try and do a little better every time, stay safe :mountain:

1 Like
#89

the act of just making has been rewarding enough but I do struggle with the nagging thought that I should be putting myself out there.

Hi @addamm, i’ve been mulling over similar thoughts recently, and trying to work out why the need to be ‘seen’ is important in this. I’d like to think it was related to something morally virtuous, i.e.,. perhaps the sounds I make will create a positive dynamic in someone else’s life, similar to my experiences with music… but deep down I think it’s just validation I’m after (which feels like a bad thing in and of itself, but is it?)

please let me know if you sus out any answers to this one!

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#90

I should mention my nagging feeling comes from a place of guilt as much as anything (ie. how can I spend SO MUCH time and money on bleeps and bloops and screeches that mostly I only ever even hear and certainly only enjoy :sweat_smile:). As for putting myself out there that desire, I think, comes from a somewhat recent realization hinted at before that art + community amplifies others and itself, even if the art isn’t the very! best! ever! There is already such an incredible amount of incredible music available to listen to, it feels silly to try to be heard over it or something but doesn’t feel silly to be involved almost for the sake of being involved and… fortifying? That is not the right word word but hopefully you catch my meaning. Sometimes the effort can inspire as much or more than the finished work. Anyway, that’s my moralistic justification :wink:

I don’t think I can answer that (which I realize is probably rhetorical) but the fact that you are interrogating this points to good intentions. I might be wrong but I’m going to assume when you say validation you, in some way, are talking about a realized hope that your music is creating “a positive dynamic in someone else’s life” which is about a good a goal as I can think of. If by validation you mean money and, I dunno, a large, faceless internet following then… I am merely a stranger whose opinion does not matter!

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#91

I think it’s important to discern what type of validation it is, since I don’t believe wanting to be validated is an inherently bad thing. While I have enjoyed the process and spent a lot of time alone practicing, I still wanna connect with other people and share stuff - even if it’s not at a large/famous scale. Even if we are making music alone, it’s still a communal act in some ways, since we are building off of the works of so many people before us. I think it’s natural to want to take a part in it too, to connect with people who also feel the same way that you do about the same thing. Doesn’t even have to be about making an impact in someone else, just getting to know people and what they are into, share , etc. that sort of stuff.

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#92

Hey there @parallel.streams, hope you are safe and well out there…

I always think these kinds of feelings are natural and normal and what changes sour understanding of them. In a way, I think very rarely people that for example I need people to like my music because if not I am a loser, maybe one feel like that in which case I think there are things outside of music that will likely be more important terms of helping life along.

However, personally anyways, I find it helpful to understand that my own feelings about music, the “right-fullness” of it, it’s beauty and power is something I really feel the needful others to recognise and in a way the act of creation is to try to take possession of that so you can advocate for it.

However of course then enters into the ring the most difficult of all subjects, our own abilities. Especially in the context of our ambitions, this can be quite difficult. However, I think the best demonstration of this possible line of thought and feeling at play is in the mentality of the DJ. Here is someone putting forth music they are passionate, putting their name on the poster, putting what ever talent they have into just bringing forth music they love. In a way is that not the same reason we make music, to find, stumble across, improvise, create something which chimes with our experiences of other people’s music, music which has inspired us? Maybe that is just a small part of the picture…

Same here, let me know :slight_smile: :mountain:

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#93

Hey there @celofanes, totally agree with this, music has a listener, has someone somewhere to enjoy it, it feels pretty clear that the idea of listening to and loving music is really a pretty significant part of why people make music in the first place, and they goodness they do :slight_smile: :mountain:

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#94

Hi,

I’m reading this thread with interest so I’m chiming in.

I’m not saying it is all it has to be, but in general I think, or at least for me, it makes sense to see culture, arts and music as communication. So, while I’m fine creating on my own, there really is a joy in getting my music out there. Especially playing live, or in a setting where I can offer something of value (I recently played at a funeral).

Good communication is a dialogue. Getting our music out there is a chance to make things happen. Not necessarily monetary rewards, but connections, peers, friendship, mutual inspiration and even admiration.

What I have seen, from friends, is that social media (Instagram etc) makes it very easy to reach out and build connections with people you appreciate – simply by making an appreciative comment. Suddenly, you’re friends (or at least followed) with people you used to admire from a distance.

In the way social media connects us with peers (worldwide) I believe it allows for what Brian Eno calls a Scenius, in contrast to the myth of genius - the lonely creator. Not competition, but letting us make connections so that we all can thrive. Thus, validation - seems fine to me. I’m not that familiar with psychology and behavioural science but like many animals humans have a need for belonging to a group.

Finding your group, your peers is what artist’s have always done right? I’d like to think of it as a community thing, of being stronger together, supporting each other.

Oh well, just some thoughts./C

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