I just finished a new song called “Breath Divine”, which I’ll be sharing below. It’s one of the more personal, introspective songs I’ve written in quite awhile. It’s about, you could say, the search for divinity, the search for something pure, something beyond the day to day monotony of life. Perhaps you
could say it’s about the place “just beyond”.
I’m really excited about this song because I feel like I captured, or at least got a little closer to capturing, “that place” music has the potential to take you to. I put “that place” in quotes because I can’t fully put into words what I’m trying to say. I think that’s sort of the point of music, it allows you to express emotions and feelings that are beyond words and language. Music, you could say, transcends language.
It reminds me of a scene in the documentary about the band Phish called “Bittersweet Motel”. A Phish fan was asked why he goes to see Phish and prefers to see them sober and responds, “There’s less restriction to “that place” you need to go to appreciate music”. The interviewer asks, “What’s the place?”. The Phish fan responds, “The place? It’s in your soul. That place”.
Music takes you to "that place". As comical as this scene was to me when I first saw it, that about sums it up as well as I could. Music takes you to “that place” in your soul.
I spend a lot of time writing about and doing courses and podcasts about things like licensing, music streaming and music marketing. I tend to focus on how to make money from the music we create. I plan to continue doing this, because getting our music out into the world and marketing our music services a very practical, necessary purpose. We need, as professional musicians, to learn ways to monetize and promote our music. This is the practical and realistic side of being a
musician. We’ve got to pay those bills!
I have a real passion for sharing what I’ve learned about the music business and
helping other musicians get their music out there and make money from their passion. The world needs our music and if we as musicians don’t have the ability to earn a living from our craft, my fear is that fewer and fewer aspiring musicians are going to go into the music business in the first place, and fewer and fewer great songs are going to be shared with the world.
So, it’s an important mission to me, because in a sense, the future of music is at stake. And you could, somewhat easily, argue that we’re already seeing the result of a music industry that has become harder and harder to make a living in. Most people I know would agree, that at least the music that is making its way into the “mainstream” isn’t what it used to be. It’s somewhat subjective and if I had the time I could easily write a very lengthy book on this topic alone.
But let’s be honest, the mainstream music of today, compared to 20 or 30 years ago, it kind of sucks.
And that leads me to the point of this blog. Which is that even though
figuring out how to make money from music is an important part of the conversation, there’s an even more important element to all of this, that I sometimes don’t talk about as much as I’d like. I fear that there’s something that maybe gets a little lost in all of this talk about different ways to make money from music and the music business.
And that is, simply the music itself.
There’s a much more important side to music than just figuring out how to generate revenue from it. There’s a magical side. A mystical side. My guess if you’re drawn to making music, you sense this. You can feel it. There’s a reason we’re all so drawn to something that is in many way, a much more difficult and uncertain career path.
Music feeds the soul.
And I think we’re living in a time where the world needs great artists and creative types, perhaps more than ever. Let’s not forget that as we all continue forging our way “ahead” in the music business. Let’s not forget that our true mission as musicians is to touch people and move people in a way that only music has the ability to do.
And yes, people may seem a little less likely to be moved by music these days, but perhaps that’s only because they need it now more
than ever.
Let’s not forget that there’s a “place” beyond making money and paying bills, beyond the man-made system of currency, credit and debt. A place beyond the day to day grind. Let’s not forget that music transcends all of these concerns.
Don’t forget the power and magic of music. Don’t forget what it’s really about.
Check out my latest song, "Breath Divine", below.
[As always, a huge shout out to my producer Gary Gray for helping me bring my music to life. A great producer (like Gary), is like an extension of whatever band or project you’re in and he’s a huge part of helping me see my musical vision through and bringing my songs into the world.]
Without further adieu, here’s my latest track, Breath Divine.
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