Time to time i get emails about people asking me how do they get started with their music. Even at interviews, when the questions pop up, i’d simply give a generic answer (doesn’t make it any less true tho)… “have a clear vision, determination and good ol fashion hardwork”. I’m not lying when i make the claims cause its really as simple as that. Its hard for me to give any more than that cause what someone envisions for themselves requires a different course of action for someone else’s.
Example, if you asprire to be a pop star it would take a whole different bunch of steps to get there in comparison to a songwriter’s route or an indie band sensation’s, a youtube star’s, mando-pop singer’s, a punk rock rebel’s, etc, it would all take different steps to get where you want. With that said i’d like to add a disclaimer here. If you’re someone that just wants to be famous. and i mean JUST famous. With no other desire to have any form of credibility in any given expertise… than i suggest (#1) to go do some soul-searching and (#2) at some point grow some integrity.
So.. what if you’re someone whose got your foundations pegged, your vision clear and your will affirmed? what would be the next step?
Well, this brings me to the main topic of this whole entry; No matter what route you’ve picked for yourself, you’d always find the need to be a part of a community.
#1) Huh? Community? Si me sai?
To begin with, community is a really interesting word. Beside the fact that sociologists are still debating over the definition of the word, the word derives from the Latin word, communitas. Which originally made of two words, munus & cum. Munus- which means the gift, while the word cum - means together or among each other. So the wordcommunity literally means to give among each other.
So its like a fellowship… but instead of taking The Ring to Mordor… the music community desires to take local music to greater heights. (or whatever other agenda you have in mind)
#2) What’s the point? I’m not here to make friends, i’m here to do my thang.
Okay mister solo warrior. In that case, life is probably a huge competition to you and hell yeah, its gonna be a very lonely race. So when the poo hits the fan.. you’re gonna find yourself growing bitter and jaded like an ugly expired prune.
so if you’re looking for longevity, solo ain’t for you.
#3) How can being a part of a community help/benefit?
Wow, I don’t even know where to begin on how it has helped me.
For starters; there has been instances (especially in the early stages of my music career) where i’ve gotten gigs, solely because my peers have recommended my band or me in their place or as another act on the bill. Besides, being part of a community has allowed me to meet people who have common taste, interest in music with me. I don’t think i would have met ALL my closest girlfriends (the echo girls) if i wasn’t plugged into the community. (how i met them all shall be for another time)
I got the chance to learn a lot from other (gear wise, music library wise), i got to understand the dilemmas they have and share mine with them. It makes it all the more interesting and all the more worth making music.
The music community still surprises me till date and i feel nothing but immense gratitude on how they’ve stood up for me, grow with me and laugh with me. And on top of that i would equally do the same for them too.
An interesting recent “case study” would be Caracal’s fundraiser for the Canadian Music Fest. All the bands on the bill were willing to pull out their expertise on a pro bono basis to aid in their cause. Even the managers (kittywu, agingyouth, wakemeup), music studios (snakeweed, thunderrock) all chipped in to aid the event. Some who weren’t physically there, helped promote it or did anything within their means to help. And not forgetting the local music junkies you see so often came down to lend their support. It was just like any normal gig with a cover charge.. what made it different was the cause and the people willing to support it. And THAT is something priceless.
You can rally for WHATEVER cause you want, but if you don’t have the community to back you up. It can get really tough.
#4) Communities within communities.
Commonly confused with cliques. But what i’m getting at is the various communities within the music community. Such as the music listening community, the online music community, the sound engineering community, musicians community, the music managers community and so on and so forth.
It doesn’t matter what community you’re in cause their all interconnected in someway. And nope you don’t have to be a part of all of them but it would make sense for you to be aware of them.
#5) What if i’m not someone that has very good networking skills/ what if i’m an introvert/ what if i’m uncomfortable about going all out to get to know people?
I’m not exactly the most friendliest person in my books. I’m more of an introvert and crowds tend to drain me instead of feeding me energy. i have never went out of my way to meet new people but at the same time i’ve never passed the opportunity when it presented itself either.
For example, in my very first band, Auburn’s Epiphany. One of the earliest gigs i did was this charity show at Plaza Singapura called, Somethingood 2005. On the bill was A Vacant Affair, Zhen and my band. After soundcheck, the bands were chilling at a corner, waiting for the show to start and we all just took the time to introduce ourselves. It was my first time meeting Matt, Josh & Rudi from AVA as well as Wendy Phua the crazy kick ass female bassist (but i doubt she remembers me tho ☹ ).
It all happened really naturally. Though i was really shy and probably didn’t talked much, it was really nice being able to just meet them. I mean who would have thought 5 years down the road we would still be sharing stages, with Josh fronting The Fire Fight & Matt + Rudi still being as cool as always.
Same goes for a lot of the other bands i know.
You don’t need to consciously tell yourself to network, cause when the opportunity comes it would be hard for you to deny it.
#6) Practical application.
So i’d really like to encourage people to plug yourself into your local music community and i mean start making the effort to go catch gigs or watch other bands. Or stop being so elitist about everything. You never know who you would meet and what you could learn (note: you don’t have to catch every single gig on your side of the planet but at least make an effort to the ones that intrigue you).
16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
- Matthew 7:16-20
As cheesy and unoriginal this may sound; i see my journey should sorta be like a tree. You get rooted with good foundations (skills, morals & beliefs), learn and grow together with community. And eventually bear fruits worth bearing, so that the cycle can go on and on and on. i desire to bear good fruits.
