"Through My Father's Eyes" (Official Music Video) - Christian Singer, Holly Starr
Holly Starr - "Through My Father's Eyes" is the official New Christian music video for the radio single "Through My Father's Eyes" from the Christian singer'...
Do we chase money, or love?
Been having some interesting discussions with some songwriter/producer friends of mine lately. These discussions are revolving around what seems to be a growing trend, and in my humble opinion, a good one. It seems that the business is changing SO much, and so many records are being made by committee rather than the basis of good songs, and the politics of the "biz" is so locked up tight, that a lot of creative types are throwing their hands up and giving up on "chasing the money", i.e. trying to get the next Rascal Flatts cut. (or Faith cut, or whatever...) What I like about this is, people are starting to make music they LOVE. Between iTunes, Napster, MySpace and whatever, the record companies are scrambling to figure things out, watching their profits drop, so THEY'RE scared to death and that leaves alot of would-be talent out in the cold. So most are just saying, "Hey, if I can't make money at it, I might as well just make music that makes ME happy and throw it up on MySpace!"
In my own world, I just did something I've talked about doing for over twenty years: I started a freakin' cover band! Of course, it's a dream band, with all heavyweight cats, which to me makes it special, but we're doing nothing but tunes we love to do. Interestingly enough, it is starting to create a sort of "buzz" that wasn't there before. Like it resonates with people.
In a related example, go online and check out a group called "Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings". It's really cool, authentic, old Stax or Motown sounding stuff. I first heard of them in 2003 and no one knew who they were. I just read about them in a trade magazine and in Rolling Stone as well. Everyone who hears them thinks they are some old obscure, undiscovered Stax group, but they are all just a bunch of Brooklynites who got together, pitched in and converted a house into a studio, and started making records. They bought an old MCI 8-track, and they record everything like the old days and mix down to mono. MONO!! It sounds KILLER. And you know what? You can tell they LOVE it.
I'm in Los Angeles as I write this, and 2 nights ago, I had a meeting with Randy Jackson (sorry...I'll sweep that up later) and he was playing his record that he is working on. It was very eclectic and cool and fun, and I commented that it all felt very "unfettered" by the whole concept of, "ummm, we just don't hear a single". HIs response was, "Well, it's MY record, MY money, and MY label....why not do what I want to do?". Good point. Here's a guy who can afford to do ANYTHING HE WANTS. What does he do? Something he loves.
What's weird is, it seems like all throughout the history of the music biz, the ones who have had "breakout" hits have been the ones who just weren't. chasing. money. They just did it cuz they "had" to, and lo and behold, here come de money. Go figure.
Talk amongst ya'selves.
In my own world, I just did something I've talked about doing for over twenty years: I started a freakin' cover band! Of course, it's a dream band, with all heavyweight cats, which to me makes it special, but we're doing nothing but tunes we love to do. Interestingly enough, it is starting to create a sort of "buzz" that wasn't there before. Like it resonates with people.
In a related example, go online and check out a group called "Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings". It's really cool, authentic, old Stax or Motown sounding stuff. I first heard of them in 2003 and no one knew who they were. I just read about them in a trade magazine and in Rolling Stone as well. Everyone who hears them thinks they are some old obscure, undiscovered Stax group, but they are all just a bunch of Brooklynites who got together, pitched in and converted a house into a studio, and started making records. They bought an old MCI 8-track, and they record everything like the old days and mix down to mono. MONO!! It sounds KILLER. And you know what? You can tell they LOVE it.
I'm in Los Angeles as I write this, and 2 nights ago, I had a meeting with Randy Jackson (sorry...I'll sweep that up later) and he was playing his record that he is working on. It was very eclectic and cool and fun, and I commented that it all felt very "unfettered" by the whole concept of, "ummm, we just don't hear a single". HIs response was, "Well, it's MY record, MY money, and MY label....why not do what I want to do?". Good point. Here's a guy who can afford to do ANYTHING HE WANTS. What does he do? Something he loves.
What's weird is, it seems like all throughout the history of the music biz, the ones who have had "breakout" hits have been the ones who just weren't. chasing. money. They just did it cuz they "had" to, and lo and behold, here come de money. Go figure.
Talk amongst ya'selves.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Calvin Turner on -
More important than that, is there anything better than a Sonic chocolate shake? I mean, they pretty much are the bomb, and cheap. So when you're doing all that crazy "doin it for love" nonsense jungle music cover band writing non-TOP 40 hits, you can eat there!! I love ya, Tim. You're also very insightful. Isn't it funny that we as people fall into the trap of not being able to follow our hearts until we have "enough money" to do it, but as you say, all of the titanic things that are eternal in the music industry seem to be when people forsake everything else except the welfare of the music they are making. Points to ponder...
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Permalink Reply by Tim Akers on -
Well, I think I said in another post that we DO have to eat, so it's not like I'm being idealistic here, and in fact, I'm not sure what the answer is. I know that, 20 years ago, when I first wanted to start this cover band, I didn't have the luxury of doing it. I guess, IF I were advising a young upcoming player, I'd tell him, "take the money gigs, but BE SURE and take time out for yourself and creating something you love." You know, kinda like working on a marriage/romantic relationship, or spending time with your kids or something. I'm rambling.....
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Permalink Reply by Calvin Turner on
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I think another thing that is important for the younger generation to do, is to start making your mark on the scene as early as you can. There is something that is ultimately respectable in the chameleon musician, mostly because of the seemingly masterful way he can go from one genre to the other one. By the same token, the cats we consider titanic in this industry have all done so by having a unique sound, and not necessarily a playing style where one cannot detect who's playing. Think of it, all of the guys we respect beyond measure, we know them the moment a song they played on comes on. Steve Gadd has played on hundreds, probably thousands of records, yet you know his playing the moment "50 ways" comes on, or Jeff Porcaro when Rosanna kicks in, or Stevie Wonder the moment Living For The City comes on, or Chuck Rainey on Rocksteady....these are all "studio musicians", yet, they leave a STRONG mark on everything they do. This is what the young guys have to grab a hold of. Start breaking new ground as soon as you can. Learn as though you will live forever, and live like you'll die tomorrow!
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Permalink Reply by Bret Teegarden on -
Tim,
I really enjoyed reading that. I remember setting for hours in front of my stereo trying to learn the bass parts to every song on every record I, or my parents, had. I didn't get paid much for doing that, but it sure made me "love" everything about music. I just worry that we've fallen in love with chasing the money..... -
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Permalink Reply by Tim Akers on
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It's funny how I keep getting more insight into this thing. In regards to my cover band: I just read about producer/keyboard player Peter Wolf starting a band called Powerhaus in L.A. He said that all his friends and he just missed playing live, so they started this band that plays covers of all the hits the various members have been involved in. And for the record, those members are, in addition to Peter, Alphonso Johnson, Vinnie Colaiuta, Tim Pierce, Jerry Hey, Gary Grant, Bill Reichenbach, Wayne Bergeron, Tommy Funderburk, Richard Page, and Bobby Kimball. SHEESH......Even those guys, the royalty of session players, are feeling this.
Hey, y'know, at the end of the day, we all gotta eat. I'm a slave to it just like anyone else. So what's the answer? I'm starting to think maybe it's almost like a marriage. You know.....if we're not careful in a marriage, we end up going different directions, we don't communicate and we drift apart. By the same token, if we don't "make time" to do stuff we love, we end up becoming these cynical, jaded, bitter old cats that hate everything about the music biz. Wait a minute.....TOO LATE!!!! lol.....kidding. Actually, I'm feeling like a musical "new man" lately. Hope all y'all are too..... -
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Permalink Reply by Bret Teegarden on
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Preach on Brother Akers
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Permalink Reply by Glenn Meadows on -
Carefull, I represent that remark!!!!! (Bitter old cats)....
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Permalink Reply by Lynn Fuston on -
Kids. Music.
Just two days ago, I had the privilege of listening to my 10 year old son in the back seat of my car crooning "We all live in a Yellow Submarine...." while he had his headphones on listening to his iPod. It was a treat. -
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Permalink Reply by Tim Akers on
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I worked with Ben Kweller and Gabe Dixon both last year, and they are FANTASTIC. Not sure if you're aware (and apologies if you are) but Gabe lives right over in Bellevue. I love it....
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Permalink Reply by Calvin Turner on
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Tim, you know what's a funny thought to chew on is....All those cats you named in that L.A. band are SUPERHEAVYWEIGHTS in my eyes, and the funniest part about their setlist will be is that they probably actually PLAYED ON or ARRANGED or PRODUCED half if not most of the original recordings they are going to cover, and i would assume YOUR cover band would play that material as well Tim. Just to give you a state of affairs in the music industry as it has been in recent years, here's something to ponder; How many songs or performances or recordings have WE done as musicians of "recent times" (myself included), that we're SO proud of that would have us start a cover band in 20 years to resurrect OUR "hits and classics" for the world to hear again, or make someone else cover our material in 20 years? I know my list is very very thin....
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Permalink Reply by Tim Akers on
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Ooo....as Sammy Davis Jr. would say: "OUCH, babe...." I was TRYING to live in denial on that one. Thanks for outing me. ;-)
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Permalink Reply by Calvin Turner on
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Man, i know i gotta step my game up, it hurts to think about that kind of stuff. I mean, you want to feel like you're making a difference in this thing, but music has become so manufactured as of late that it's hard to break out...but that's all CHANGING MY BROTHER. WE'RE GOING TO LEAD THE CHARGE MY FRIEND!!!
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