The Song Doesn’t, Actually, Remain the Same

Well, it’s been a long time smooshing around in the chrysalis. I’ve been churning and recording and writing and stewing and planning and getting excited and feeling frustrated and working my ass off and I think I have a plan. First of all, this is going to become a private blog, available by invitation only. I should say, this is eventually going to become a private blog! Fact is, the point of doing that would mean having a private area on ianrhett.com, which I plan on having for the i-Team and friends and family. I’ve been sharing a lot of private stuff in a rather public forum, and I’ve learned already how easy it is to misunderstand/misinterpret things, and I think I’d prefer to know who was getting to see an inside glimpse into my life. I’ve always been attracted to living a life online – but in point of fact, i’ve learned that I actually DO value my privacy.

The second reason for doing this is to provide some focus to the blogging. I’m really interested in taking people along for the journey of becoming an artist, a writer and a performer. So the blog’s going to focused more on the process of planning, writing, recording, performing, inspirations and pointers to my latest work.

One of the things that’s really been hammered home for me is “get it out there”. I’m often reminded, sometimes painfully, that it’s not about me (Ian Rhett), either. I keep wanting to be impressive with my voice (’cause I’m excited about being able to actually sing, I’m eager to keep pushing the limits of my range and control) – I have this aspiration that I want to be a soul singer. But really, what’s underneath all of it is the desire to plant a seed in the new terrain that is this connected consciousness – to get a message out, to promote positive change, to do everything I can do to make a difference in the world. ‘Cause my point of view suggests that things aren’t as rosy as they seem to be on TV.

So the new blog is going to have new, rough hewn music, which I’ll be releasing with increasing frequency this year. I’ll be honest, I’m really reluctant to put out work that isn’t 100% finished and perfect. I want my art to be exemplary and perfected. I want to master the process of writing and producing music. And… I have a LONG way to go. I keep forgetting that I just started. (Actually, I’m reminded every time I listen to a recording of my voice)

But I’m also interested in trying something different. The web has become our marketplace – our commons. And the old rules of commerce, especially with respect to music are in flux, to put it lightly.

On the one hand, I don’t have a choice. I’m clear this is my path and an inalienable part of my being. I will be writing music until I can’t breathe anymore. So in that sense, the “economics’ of all this don’t really matter. I have a deal with the Deity that I’ll just concentrate on doing my job, and let the rest happen as it is meant to. I’ve never starved or found myself on the streets yet, so I’m just gonna keep on truckin, so to speak.

On the other, I want to do this (make music) all the time. I just can’t afford to, yet. I think the new market for music is going to continue to have its megastars and its smash hits – any company (like Viacom, Fox, etc) that has reach across television, film, radio, print, outdoor, etc… will be manufacturing stars like Brittney Spears and N’Sync forever.

But I also believe that there is a whole new music reality emerging online. More people are connected, able to share their discoveries with social networks, direct distribution to fans gives any artist an unprecedented opportunity to make a living making music. Or so I believe.

This might be like a speech before one of those old-time movies of people strapping on their flying contraptions and plummeting into obscurity. And, maybe it’s the start of something big. Time will tell.