Luke: some songs are never finished. Even when they’re on the radio! Some get done in 10-15 minutes. It’s all timing, preparation, luck, happenstance, coincidence, and being open to inspiration. Sometimes a song writes itself and you will feel like a translator or medium. Every song is different in inspiration, completion, origin, and success.
Dear Randy — I’m an independent musician in the process of releasing my first album. I’m a naturally shy person, but everywhere I turn, I’m bombarded with the hustle and grind of social media. Honestly, keeping up with that and trying to claw my way to the top of the heap is my personal nightmare. Taking videos of me playing in my living room and tossing it into the digital wind? Monologuing into my phone and putting it on the internet for the world to see? Terrifying! I’m worried that if I can’t tackle this side of things, it’s going to put me at a disadvantage, and that could be demoralizing. But I’ve already created an album – do I need to create digital content, too? Do you have any advice for a shy musician in this overwhelming dystopian hellscape? Is there a way out, or do I just need to get over myself, shrug my shoulders, say, “oh well”, and get on board?
Silver: Sounds like you’re in the wrong business. People these days are lucky to get into the digital world and get instant feedback on what they’re doing right or wrong. The sooner you know the better. I my start up days it meant going a 2-3 month road trip several times a year and visiting radio stations, clubs, hootenanny’s, song fests etc. AND THEN finding out you struck out. Now you can find that out much earlier and save a lot of time.
If you suck, you suck. If you’re good, you’re good. Just keep on keepin’ on and doing what you love and and love doing it because it never gets easier. BUT it does get more comfortable, because the more you do your thing, the better you get, and those who quit fall away while you keep going. Sooner or later they’re paying to see you perform and maybe you’re paying them to fix your car. We are all good at certain things. Find your thing and don’t look back.
Dear Randy — I’m a songwriter, producer, and guitarist who, like you, has played in many bands in addition to pursuing a solo project. I find that my solo music allows me to express all of myself without compromise, especially because I’ve challenged myself to be the sole songwriter, producer, and musician on all of my tracks. However, the bands I’ve been part of allow me to create music I otherwise wouldn’t be able to thanks to the uniqueness of all of the creative/musical minds involved.
Do you feel that your solo work and your work in amazing bands such as The Guess Who and Bachman Turner Overdrive have allowed you to express different parts of your artistry? Do you find there have been any creative limitations you’ve experienced in certain bands that you can fulfill in others? I also just wanted to say that so much of your music reminds me of a beautiful, carefree Summer’s day, and I love it. Big fan!
Ayla: One of the hardest things I ever faced was leaving the Guess Who in 1970 with a number one album and single. I then lost the group backing and a song collaborator. But I dug into myself and said “F” this, I can do it on my own. I started a solo career that evolved into a very unsuccessful band that evolved into an OK band that evolved into a band with another #1 album and single. Bachman-Turner Overdrive was the result of overcoming many years of turn downs, bad breaks and misfortune. The one thing that mattered is I DID NOT GIVE UP. Plan B was….stick to Plan A. work and work and work and of course get better and better and better. Whether solo or with a band, I love it all.
The three most important days of anybody’s life is:
- The day you were born.
- The day you know WHY you were born. (You’re purpose in life) .
- Today cos you’re still doing number 2. Your purpose in life. Doctor, lawyer, teacher, musician, athlete, whatever. In the end we all either entertain, service or help each other have better lives.
Dear Randy — I’m interested in the relationship between structure/accountability and building a sustainable, lifelong process as a songwriter. Do you have a regimented writing practice, or do you write more fluidly whenever inspiration hits? And if you’ve experimented with both over your career, what tends to work better for you?
Michaela: Unless you live in Nashville where a publisher will advance royalties to pay you to write and cowrite with others…..get a day job. Bill Withers still had a job with Boeing Aircraft after writing “Ain’t No Sunshine” and “Lean On Me.” He only quit his day job after his third hit.
