Thoughtful and thought-provoking as always -- thanks for sharing, Chase. This hits me at a good time, as these days find me thinking often about how to work through a prolonged bout of feeling lonely artistically.
It's too long of a story for a comment -- the short version is that while I have musician friends and supporters here and elsewhere, a combination of age, experience, and style/genre leaves me feeling alone and apart. Typically, I respond to feelings like this by organizing gatherings as you're doing, but I've spent my whole life doing that and I want to spend more time writing and playing (especially as I'm the throes of transitioning from finishing a record to the business and design sides of a release). I don't have an answer yet -- your essay will stick with me as I continue to think through all of this.
Thanks so much for reading, Dave. I always love hearing your perspective. I'm sorry to hear about the feelings of artistic loneliness. I've also been sitting with the questions you're grappling with. Certainly, busyness does not equate with meaningfulness, and I'm mindful that it's easy to fill my calendar as a way to hide from doing the work I am most called to do – which, as for you, is composing and performing my own music. However, I also recognize that I've spent a lot of time working on my own projects over the past few years, so it feels nice to immerse myself in other folks' work right now (and it's certainly nice to have a reprieve from all of the business work involved in band-leading). Moreover, I'm increasingly feeling called to create moments of communion/community as an integral part of my practice.
I'm reminded of something I heard Ambrose Akinmusire say a few years ago, which is that musical work/activities often go in seasons – perhaps one season will be more filled with other people's projects, and one season will be focused on writing my own music. I'm with you – there are no answers, only the charge to (per Rilke) "live the questions."
Pardon my late reply. I read this at the time and was just reminded to come back to it as I played my drums for the first time in three weeks. Working on album artwork design, final mixes, and all of the other end-of-release stuff you're well acquainted with have been consuming my time. The concept of things going in seasons is especially helpful to me -- this business/season will come to an end soon and I'll get back to writing and playing.
Thoughtful and thought-provoking as always -- thanks for sharing, Chase. This hits me at a good time, as these days find me thinking often about how to work through a prolonged bout of feeling lonely artistically.
It's too long of a story for a comment -- the short version is that while I have musician friends and supporters here and elsewhere, a combination of age, experience, and style/genre leaves me feeling alone and apart. Typically, I respond to feelings like this by organizing gatherings as you're doing, but I've spent my whole life doing that and I want to spend more time writing and playing (especially as I'm the throes of transitioning from finishing a record to the business and design sides of a release). I don't have an answer yet -- your essay will stick with me as I continue to think through all of this.
Hope you're well!
Thanks so much for reading, Dave. I always love hearing your perspective. I'm sorry to hear about the feelings of artistic loneliness. I've also been sitting with the questions you're grappling with. Certainly, busyness does not equate with meaningfulness, and I'm mindful that it's easy to fill my calendar as a way to hide from doing the work I am most called to do – which, as for you, is composing and performing my own music. However, I also recognize that I've spent a lot of time working on my own projects over the past few years, so it feels nice to immerse myself in other folks' work right now (and it's certainly nice to have a reprieve from all of the business work involved in band-leading). Moreover, I'm increasingly feeling called to create moments of communion/community as an integral part of my practice.
I'm reminded of something I heard Ambrose Akinmusire say a few years ago, which is that musical work/activities often go in seasons – perhaps one season will be more filled with other people's projects, and one season will be focused on writing my own music. I'm with you – there are no answers, only the charge to (per Rilke) "live the questions."
Pardon my late reply. I read this at the time and was just reminded to come back to it as I played my drums for the first time in three weeks. Working on album artwork design, final mixes, and all of the other end-of-release stuff you're well acquainted with have been consuming my time. The concept of things going in seasons is especially helpful to me -- this business/season will come to an end soon and I'll get back to writing and playing.
Always great to hear from you. Take care!