Budding Musicians Need Boldness, Confidence

After discovering the independent/alternative music artist Sufjan Stevens on AOL Radio and then exploring some of his works on YouTube, I felt that I had found something special. On his very long albums Michigan, Illinois, and The Avalanche, put out in a relatively short period from 2003 to 2005, song after song was a joy to listen to. And some like Casimir Pulaski Day, Pittsfield, Flint, and Detroit Lift Up Your Weary Head, have risen to all-time favorites of mine. Naturally, I wanted to hear his very first album A Sun Came, which he originally recorded back in 1998. Well, that debut album was a bit of a chore to listen through, to say the least. There were some pretty hideous songs on it (like Rice Pudding and Satan’s Saxophones) and some vulgar little tracks with Alvin-the-Chipmunk-like voices talking about people vomiting and the like. I’d say that, all in all, about half the album was a “throw away”, a quarter was reasonably listenable, and three tracks were pretty good. It was, to me, definitely his worst album. But that was O.K. because it was his FIRST, and in your first album you have to figure out what works and what doesn’t. And some of that analysis can’t come about until that first product is already out there for everyone to hear. What made this generally mediocre work stand out to me was the attitude that Sufjan Stevens stamped all over it, on every track, good or bad. An attitude of utter and complete boldness and confidence, bordering on (and at times crossing into) arrogance.

I have heard very talented, inspired musicians who have all the talent that it takes to become a major success. But they are too tentative and insecure, and they project that in their performances and recordings. Being bold and confident can cover up the weaknesses that everyone has in one form or another.

An artist has to foster the habit of producing works with the mind of satisfying personal standards and not those of others, be they friends, family, or the public-at-large. And then, once a work is produced, to have the courage (or gall) to let others in on it. While recognizing that there will always be a few (or more) who will thoroughly detest it.

Naturally, a creative musician usually collaborates with other musicians to produce recordings or give performances, and their feedback on the quality (or lack thereof) of that musician’s works can be either positive and nurturing or negative and destructive. It’s important that musical collaboration directs the artist to produce better works, but in the beginning I think the most important goal is to encourage and grow a strong sense of personal confidence that will be reflected in the product, even if that product contains some serious flaws.