Fight The Vibe

I was talking with a friend the other day about what new music we were listening to.

We hashed through some cool stuff that had great vibes…songs that suck you into the zone.  It feels good.

But we both noticed that for all the new music we were talking about we were using words like: cool, vibe, interesting, great production, synthy, poppy.

(We weren’t saying things like: great, you need to hear this, oh man, SO good, when the chorus hits)

Over all we both felt a little under-excited about all this vibe.

These days its easy to focus on the vibe because there are so many tools, samples, plugins and patches that really help create that great vibe.  And it IS a great vibe, don’t get me wrong.

It’s true, the people making records in their bedrooms are finally getting good at it.  Technology (and it’s price point) finally is catching up with imagination.

Exciting.

But vibe isn’t the clincher.

Vibe, that synth pad, the stacked snare samples, the ins and outs of the chorus swells…you should do it all, but those things don’t bring the people to their knees.

The voice does.

The melody.

People want a chorus.  They want it to smack them. Choruses make people believers.

Fight the urge to slave over the vibe (even while it’s fun and going through your bank of triangle samples for the last chorus feels productive).  The vibe (and working on the vibe) is seductive…as well it should be.

But you/we need a vocal melody and lyric that shoots us into the stratosphere.

That’s the vibe.

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I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com

Losing The NBA Finals

The reason losing the NBA Finals sucks is because a lot of people see you not get something you really wanted. 

A definition of success (winning the championship) is so clearly understood by everyone watching…so much so that when that version of success doesn’t happen, you get stamped with the opposite.

Maybe not a stamp as  extreme as failure, but certainly everyone is aware you didn’t succeed.

So when you’re walking around the days, weeks, years after the fact…the people are very aware of your non-success.

When your desires are known by so many (millions of) people, you have to dig, search, plan, re-work, practice, lay it on the line in front of them.

And if it doesn’t work out, it hurts.  Not only because unfulfilled desires sting, but also because lots of people know you’ve been stung.

Making your desires known is vulnerable.

It’s also a great way to get a lot done. It’s a great way to put yourself on the hook.  It’s a great way to look fear in the eyes and see what you’ve got in the tank.  It’s a great way to build leadership, intentionality, assertiveness and power.

Or you can keep your desires to yourself.  You and everyone else will continually let you off the hook, you’ll get a few things done from time to time, fear will often turn into laziness, and you will not build anything substantial.

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I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com

Rigged

The music business isn’t rigged against you…it just doesn’t need that many bands and artists to keep itself going.

It’s not that there’s only room for so many superstars, it’s that it only requires so many.  As long as there’s a good girl, a bad girl, an angry guy, a pretty guy, one rock band, a plump-is-ok artist and a few others (what are you?), things just keep tick tocking along.

But while you’re not needed, there is absolutely room for you.

It’s not rigged.

No one’s rigging against you. No one is willing to take their own precious time to use it against you.  Everyone’s simply rigging for themselves.  So in a zero sum game, looking out for oneself is the the equivalent of being against another.

But it’s not zero sum.

You are welcome to blow up at any time.  No one and nothing is stopping you.

Write the great songs, hire the great team, make the great plan, sell out Wembley stadium. 

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I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com

Sunday CMA’s

A friend of mine had an extra ticket to CMA Fest this past Sunday night, so I went.  

I watched Little Big Town, Thomas Rhett and Brett Eldridge.

All three big acts with number 1’s and tons of songs on the charts.

And all three acts played hits.  All three acts have wildly successful careers in music.  Lots of people love each of the three acts.

Little Big Town was first of the three….and I’ll just skip to the end of the story…

Little Big Town understand something that Thomas Rhett and Brett Eldridge do not (yet).

There is a comfortability, confidence, and relaxed intentionality they had in their blood that Thomas and Brett very clearly didn’t possess.

And I don’t mean to poo-poo on Thomas and Brett.

I do mean to say Little Big Town highlighted the fact that there are levels of the THING. 

Just because you’re on the same stage doesn’t mean you’re on the same level. 

But just because your at your level doesn’t mean you have to stay there. 

p.s. What’s it going to take to move up?  I have some ideas. Lets get together.



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I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com

Things You Can Learn In A Band

An optimistic outlook fools the devil into leaving you alone.

Helping someone you’re angry at makes you less angry at them.

Eyes are the window to the soul…sunglasses make you look cool, but go ahead and take them off.

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I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com

Messy Bands And Forgiveness

Bands are just messy. 

Bands are the worst. And the best.

If you’re going to be in a band you’re going to have to learn to forgive.

And forgiveness isn’t about clearing up the differences, it’s about keeping going despite them. 

It’s not about making things right, but keeping going despite justice not being served this time. 

(Hopefully you can clear up differences and make things right more often than not…after all, you’re in a band.  But…)

Being in a band is great place to learn forgiveness, because you’ll get a lot of practice if you’re willing to practice.

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I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com