I've been pondering a lot lately about the music business as a whole and whether musicians ever find true satisfaction within the depths of 'the biz.' It's true to say that one can spend years chasing 'the dream,' but when you actually sit down and think about it, do we have a clear view of what our dream actually is? Perhaps it's safe to say that we begin our musical journeys driven by dreams of fame, fortune and adoration but as we find our feet along the way and become settled in our various approaches to music, dreams change; and it's good from time to time to sit and asses how we are approaching what is going to be a lifetime of involvement in the music industry one way or another.
There are definitely two sides of the proverbial coin when it comes to the music industry. On one side you have the 'hit machine' that churns out tunes performed by people who have been produced with a fine toothed come. With gorgeous looks and no hair out of place, the auto-tuned performers deliver the songs being promoted by the mass media and thus hammered into the public's head until you can no longer think of anything but that addictive hook. It truly is a successful business bringing in millions of pounds/dollars every day. And the people who support this gigantic hit monster are all benefiting from it. That's not to say that the people involved (be it the singers/performers or industry folks) didn't set out for this in the first place. Perhaps it was their dream all along to to be 'rich and famous.' But I can't help but wonder if maybe, from a musical point of view, they long for something deeper and more meaningful. Something that means more than money.
On the opposite side of the coin, you have the more hippy-esque musicians and promoters who believe in a more 'old fashioned' approach to the music industry, which is simply this; write a brilliant song that comes from the depths of your soul and put it out there. Play it live and share the spiritual and emotional parts of yourself with people who might also feel the same. And if you're successful you can give up your day job pumping petrol at the garage and use the money you make from your music to fund a life where you can write and record more music to affect more lives. With the invent of the internet this has never been an easier method. You can write, record and release in virtually minutes and voila! You're in the industry. However, in this fast paced industry people are losing interest in investing in something that hasn't already been endorsed by the media. (And it is an investment.) Without anyone telling you how 'wonderful' the performer you are watching is, you have to watch and listen and decide for yourself. If the performer is playing original material, that makes your investment that much more important. So in taking this approach we have to ask ourselves, 'Are we happy with the inevitable up-hill struggle against the major labels who dominate the market? And if not, are we happy in the shadows of the limelight?
My reason for writing this is simply because I, as a musician, have started personally analyzing my place within the overpopulated music industry. The songs I write are incredibly personal and dear to me. I write because I always have. Nothing drove me to do it. I just picked up a pen when I was 9 and bang! The flood gates of my soul opened and if I tried to close them, I never could. Other songwriters will agree with me when I say that creating music truly is a spiritual experience.
My dream was to be that person bathed in stage light singing to the cheers of those who adore my songs. Throughout my teens (13-17) I was obsessed with everything musical and by the time I got my driving license I had already been gigging for two years, had a repertoire of hundreds of songs and had my future career pretty sussed out in my head. I had great family who supported me and when their finances allowed for it they'd buy me bits of gear until I had everything I needed to record myself and put together a band. It was all very amateur but those experiences were vital to the next step in my career which came out of nowhere.
Syren was the chance of a lifetime. Before me were two professional musicians with years of experience and a wealth of knowledge and I soaked it up like a sponge. It didn't take me long to get my act together, both literally and proverbially. I wrote, I rehearsed, recorded and I played live and I really honed my skills. But all this time and since I was 9, I was just driven by my dream. Now after having done all the things I ever wanted to, I'm here wondering what comes next. I have played to thousands of people, recorded albums that have been praised by fans and press, have earned royalties and have received emails and letters from people who have been deeply touched by the music I've written. And yet because I cannot stop writing, recording and producing music, I'm taking a moment to pause and reassess myself and my dream.
If I died today I would be content with everything I've achieved so far in my life. But to be perfectly honest there is that hunger somewhere within me that wants more; bigger productions, larger audiences, more record sales...There is a part of me which doesn't quite feel satisfied. What makes things slightly more confusing is that my musical ethics are sternly fixed on the aforementioned 'hippy-esque' approach to the music industry. Chances are if I were signed to a major label I would have to be tweaked in some way to become what they would consider to be a 'money spinner,' and I have always (and will always) refuse to exploit my music like that. Never mind myself. But surely any exposure is good for your over all goal right? I guess in a round about kind of way, the answer lies in me pushing myself every day in every way I can. Writing whenever I need to write, being myself and only being part of projects (pop, rock, rap or otherwise) that I believe in. I truly believe there are still people out there who want to invest in music that doesn't have electronic loops and enough keyboards to sink a ship. And for those of you who fall in that category, may I promise you that my 'hunger' is for you. I will always write for you and deliver unto you music which comes directly from my soul in hopes that it can touch yours.
Thanks for reading my thought processes.
All Love,
Erin Bennett
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