A career in the creative arts, music in particular, is elusive and often fleeting. The term “One Hit Wonder” exists for a reason. The artists who have managed to remain a talking point throughout their career have made it their business to stay relevant.
And to evolve.
As musicians, one of our goals is to not remain stagnant when it comes to our music. By this, I mean not playing it safe and continuing to use a musical template that may have worked well when you initially started out.
Some solo artists and bands tend to favour a single genre of music and believe that by staying true to their “sound” it will not alienate their fan base. They may be right to an extent and once they are satisfied with their output, then what I think doesn’t matter.
I say: Don’t be afraid of exploring genres of music that don’t currently form the basis of your sound. Depending on the message of your material, elements of a different musical style may lend easily to communicating your music more effectively.
You may notice that mainstream artists tend to create “experimental” albums once they have solidified their place in the industry. They incorporate new styles and sounds that challenge prior musical assumptions. At this stage, artists may feel more secure from a financial and creative perspective to indulge musically.
Within musical exploration, you inevitably open yourself up to more scrutiny and criticism – whether good or bad. The key to dealing with critique is feeling confident and secure in what you create and that it accurately reflects what you intended.
I believe that your music should grow with you. As you experience the joys and pains of life and discover more of who you really are, your musical output becomes a natural extension. A mirror if you will.
Evolution happens in virtually every aspect of life and music is no stranger. As you change and evolve, so do your fans.
Your audience wants to experience music, not only listen to it. Through your music, your fans strive to not only connect with you but also with their self. Your music may serve to help them create new moments and evoke past memories in their life. This is why I always say that music is life. Music is a living entity that can impact the life of one who listens to it.
Music is a powerful tool and musicians need to be mindful of how we wield it.
