I literally laughed out loud when I saw your "manifesting success" kitty-cat picture. Now that is Carre being accessible! A brilliant, hilarious, and thought-provoking post ... again!
Best advice I ever got on writing went something like this: "Writing is easy. You just sit down and open a vein."
Ah yes. Never give up. And hurry up, your time is running out. Why do so many people give themselves permission to say the latter to women as soon we’re not teenagers anymore? Blah.
I think I’ve received tons of terrible advice over the past decade working in a traditional office environment. The best is when I’m venting to my dad about my career - my dad, a man who notoriously has never kept his cool a day in his life until he finally had a heart attack - and his response is always “be cool.” He means it less in a “calm down” way and more in a “these people aren’t worth shit so don’t waste your time worrying about them” way. I mean it’s not terrible advice in the abstract. But considering the source I always chuckle.
As always, thank you for sharing! The bit about it not being a democracy rings true for a lot of things. Never thought about it that way before.
As I'm listening to some SWANS' first three records at mind-shearing volume at the moment...I'm going to tweak Roger's advice: "Being a real & true music fan is not a choice. It's a need."
As for helpful/unhelpful/funny advice I've ever gotten: way back in the prehistoric era of the 90's, my college roommate's grandmother was a lovely Eastern European woman who could barely speak English but when she tried in a very curmudgeon way, she dropped this gem on me & my roommate: "Too much is too much." That completely blew our minds at the time because we couldn't make sense of it and thought it was some lost in translation saying or maxim. Only years later & after maturing & dealing with all the curveballs that life has thrown & continues to, it made sense in its own weird way. It was her way of telling us to not try too hard & force things and let the universe & its plan unfold as it's intended to. At least that's how I've been interpreting and embracing it all these 30 years later after first being told it.
I am making music no matter what. It’s who I am. I don’t get a ton of engagement, who does anymore… we are under so much capitalistic pressure to produce that we all have less time to listen. But I feel great about creating anyway. And I love what I have made and put into the world. Maybe people will listen, maybe they won’t, but I left my handprint on the cave wall. I was here. I existed. I left something for others to experience, tucked away in a cave to be discovered or not.
When I lived in America, nearly every time I told someone outside of the entertainment ecosystem that I was a musician, they suggested I try out for American idol. When I would demur, they’d tell me I should believe in myself more. I loved the positivity and kindness of the suggestions but it also felt somewhat demoralising understanding that the kind of music I was driven/internally hardwired to make would not even get me past the first audition 😂
Omg, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten the American Idol suggestion! Hahaha. Oh you’re a woman musician? That must mean you sing! You should try out for American Idol! 😂
Loved this read. Big truths running through it. My favorite part was the end. I'm in my 3rd act and simply cannot and will not stop creating songs. Taking this part to heart, "Just make cool shit. Then make more. We’re all going to die someday and the art you leave behind will be more important than any number of likes or followers."
When I was a teenager in a band, a drunk bloke came up to me and my friend/bandmate in the pub and upon learning we were in a band, asked us two questions:
1) do you smoke wacky baccy
2) can you play a minor
He reassured us that if the answer to these questions was yes, we would be’aaalriiight
60’s Christian rocker Barry McGuire told me to smile when I play and to stand up straight so people could see my tits. I was eleven.
Second best was when I showed my indie rock band demo to my mom’s friend who “knew about music” when I was maybe 13.
He told me: if you can’t fuck to it, can’t dance to it, or it doesn’t make you want to get in the car and drive anywhere, it’s not rock n roll—it’s just shit.
Great piece 💕And if you ever see Scott Cohen tell him it’s f#ckin rude to buy up an artists masters without consulting her and then refuse ( along with the rest of his company ) to ever return any of her emails EVER , cause she doesn’t bring in enough money to make it worth your precious time 💕🎵💕
He’s no longer at the orchard, he sold it a long time ago. but I’m sorry to hear of your experience. I know what it’s like to be dismissed/ignored by the bigger machines. ♥️
I’m like why don’t you just give them back ? That said my publishing started paying out again a few years back , but thats Concord , who are great (at least I think they’re great , streaming / syncing statements all seem to be written in code . I need a class on how to interpret them
I literally laughed out loud when I saw your "manifesting success" kitty-cat picture. Now that is Carre being accessible! A brilliant, hilarious, and thought-provoking post ... again!
Best advice I ever got on writing went something like this: "Writing is easy. You just sit down and open a vein."
Did that advice come with a razor blade?
Ah yes. Never give up. And hurry up, your time is running out. Why do so many people give themselves permission to say the latter to women as soon we’re not teenagers anymore? Blah.
I think I’ve received tons of terrible advice over the past decade working in a traditional office environment. The best is when I’m venting to my dad about my career - my dad, a man who notoriously has never kept his cool a day in his life until he finally had a heart attack - and his response is always “be cool.” He means it less in a “calm down” way and more in a “these people aren’t worth shit so don’t waste your time worrying about them” way. I mean it’s not terrible advice in the abstract. But considering the source I always chuckle.
As always, thank you for sharing! The bit about it not being a democracy rings true for a lot of things. Never thought about it that way before.
Just because your dad may not be able to practice what he preaches, doesn’t mean he’s wrong. I like the guy. Sounds like my kind of dude.
As I'm listening to some SWANS' first three records at mind-shearing volume at the moment...I'm going to tweak Roger's advice: "Being a real & true music fan is not a choice. It's a need."
As for helpful/unhelpful/funny advice I've ever gotten: way back in the prehistoric era of the 90's, my college roommate's grandmother was a lovely Eastern European woman who could barely speak English but when she tried in a very curmudgeon way, she dropped this gem on me & my roommate: "Too much is too much." That completely blew our minds at the time because we couldn't make sense of it and thought it was some lost in translation saying or maxim. Only years later & after maturing & dealing with all the curveballs that life has thrown & continues to, it made sense in its own weird way. It was her way of telling us to not try too hard & force things and let the universe & its plan unfold as it's intended to. At least that's how I've been interpreting and embracing it all these 30 years later after first being told it.
Seeing Swans on their upcoming tour? Are they going to play Florida? I saw them twice the last time around. They are so powerful.
I wish! No FL dates. If I want to see them I may have to travel. And greatly considering it.
This is great advice!
I am making music no matter what. It’s who I am. I don’t get a ton of engagement, who does anymore… we are under so much capitalistic pressure to produce that we all have less time to listen. But I feel great about creating anyway. And I love what I have made and put into the world. Maybe people will listen, maybe they won’t, but I left my handprint on the cave wall. I was here. I existed. I left something for others to experience, tucked away in a cave to be discovered or not.
"Keep making cool shit"
For the past two days I've spent about 10 hours staring a blank word doc; needed to hear this.
When I lived in America, nearly every time I told someone outside of the entertainment ecosystem that I was a musician, they suggested I try out for American idol. When I would demur, they’d tell me I should believe in myself more. I loved the positivity and kindness of the suggestions but it also felt somewhat demoralising understanding that the kind of music I was driven/internally hardwired to make would not even get me past the first audition 😂
Omg, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten the American Idol suggestion! Hahaha. Oh you’re a woman musician? That must mean you sing! You should try out for American Idol! 😂
The American Dream!
Loved this read. Big truths running through it. My favorite part was the end. I'm in my 3rd act and simply cannot and will not stop creating songs. Taking this part to heart, "Just make cool shit. Then make more. We’re all going to die someday and the art you leave behind will be more important than any number of likes or followers."
Best advice of all! If he for the giggles and know your fans (like me) appreciate your work!
When I was a teenager in a band, a drunk bloke came up to me and my friend/bandmate in the pub and upon learning we were in a band, asked us two questions:
1) do you smoke wacky baccy
2) can you play a minor
He reassured us that if the answer to these questions was yes, we would be’aaalriiight
Now I see why things haven’t turned out aaalriiight for me!
thanks for sharing, both the pieces of advice and your commentary around them.
Glad your back. Let's fucking go go go!!!!
60’s Christian rocker Barry McGuire told me to smile when I play and to stand up straight so people could see my tits. I was eleven.
Second best was when I showed my indie rock band demo to my mom’s friend who “knew about music” when I was maybe 13.
He told me: if you can’t fuck to it, can’t dance to it, or it doesn’t make you want to get in the car and drive anywhere, it’s not rock n roll—it’s just shit.
Men are so cool.
Totalitarian bands > Democratic bands
"Marry an anesthesiologist or a corporate lawyer." Only advice an indie musician needs.
"If someone complains about the cost of your product, then they are not your customer."
That's the best advice I got as an artist was from a hairstylist who worked with some of the greatest fashion designers.
Don't lower your price just to make a sale, the right customer/fan/believer won't question the price because they value what you create.
Great piece 💕And if you ever see Scott Cohen tell him it’s f#ckin rude to buy up an artists masters without consulting her and then refuse ( along with the rest of his company ) to ever return any of her emails EVER , cause she doesn’t bring in enough money to make it worth your precious time 💕🎵💕
He’s no longer at the orchard, he sold it a long time ago. but I’m sorry to hear of your experience. I know what it’s like to be dismissed/ignored by the bigger machines. ♥️
I’m like why don’t you just give them back ? That said my publishing started paying out again a few years back , but thats Concord , who are great (at least I think they’re great , streaming / syncing statements all seem to be written in code . I need a class on how to interpret them