Amp up your bullshit detector

Personally I can smell bullshit like a shark smells blood in the water, so can my wife and she’s even sharper than I am at spotting fakery. If you want to make truly great music or anything for that matter, raise your game and only give your best.

I was recently handed a CD by a young guy trying to launch a small hip/hop label, he asked me what I thought of his material. The act was a fella by the name of Jay C… mmm what’s that I smell? Come on, you might as well launch an up and coming guitarist by the name of Cedric Clapton! While the backing tracks had been reasonably well put together, the vocals where awful. Now I’m not judging the rap and rhyme but the recording quality was dire. More crap, this time the lie was in the presentation. Do you love your art, are you doing anything less than what you are called to do. If you answer no to any of these question, you are more than likely doing it for fame or money. Stop now, you are poisoning the water hole and adding to the sea of pap that has become the popular music scene. Clearly this guy’s motives where questionable. He was either very naïve or … I don’t know what. What I do know is he will never achieve any success unless he starts loving his work.

Do you love your work? Have you considered what that means? Have you spent years, months, weeks, days, hours or minutes honing your craft? Back in the day we called this paying your dues, a concept that seems hard to grasp for Generation X Box. There is no substitute for time put in, either as a writer, a player, a singer, rapper or technician. This is the crucible in which great metal is formed. If you survive the process you will learn patience and wisdom, taste and restraint. You will also develop a keen sense of bullshit.

My advice to any aspiring artist is this.

1) Listen to as much music as possible; you’d be amazed how much goes in by osmosis.

2) Don’t just listen to the music you know you like, start to appreciate other genres.

3) Explore the history of the music you love and follow the historic breadcrumbs. Seeking your influences, influences can spark fresh thinking.

4) Don’t try to copy the styles of others. Find your own voice by creative cooking (e.g. a little of this… a little of that…)

5) Put as much time into you instrument as you can, only those that make it a priority will succeed.

6) Get knocked down 5 times get up 6. Never give up, never surrender.

7) Always, I mean always be truthful to your craft.