In my free time, I browse the internet. The content I consume is quite specific – it mostly focuses on topics like music theory, playing instruments, music production, and the so-called music industry. Sometimes, I also check out profiles of my (former?) online friends who are also fighting for an extra pair of eyes on their work. The algorithm also throws new musicians my way… although sometimes I’m not entirely sure I can call them musicians.
These so-called ‘music marketing coaches,’ who are supposed to guarantee my success, talk about maintaining a certain regimen when it comes to managing social media. Post this many times, here and there, about this and that. What you write should be this percentage about your creations, and this percentage about who you are and what you stand for… yeah, right.
Everyone expects the musician to be an activist… preferably in the most dumb and stereotypical sense of the word. WE’RE SUPPOSED TO BE LEFTISTS. As you know, I’m the black sheep… as usual.
I see many musicians’ profiles focusing on a million things… activism, telling people how to live, self-promotion… there’s little of the most important thing – music. I wonder… when do they have time for that?
I’m speaking from my perspective – a progressive-metal musician, a one-person band, my own music producer and manager. When the HELL do they have time to play at being activists?
Let me tell you what my life looks like, as someone devoted to music. First, I work 7 hours a day at a full-time job, so I can have the money to live and continue my development. Then I write music and practice. I spend a lot of time learning… because I believe I have to. Not only do I lack formal music education (which is actually a plus for me), but I also take extra lessons – of course, everything is dedicated to music. Everything is centered around it. I hardly have time for anything else, which doesn’t bother me too much. Practically all of my friends are local musicians from the Tri-City area.
It makes me wonder when these so-called independent musicians, so active online, have the time for this? They have time to stick to the ‘posting regime’ and play the algorithm game on more than one social media platform. How are they able to devote so much time to ‘building their image,’ telling people how to live, and handling all of this? The ‘coaches’ would probably say I don’t care enough… but no! My day has only 24 hours, of which at least 8 are spent sleeping, and about 7 working for money. Everything is at the computer… just like composing and mixing. Practice also takes its time… And it’s not just music that one lives on. I have relationships in my life that matter to me. I also need to rest sometimes. But no… I must be lazy!
Or maybe, instead of focusing on my own image, stroking my ego, I’m concentrating on becoming the best musician I can be? I want to finally reach my potential. Isn’t that what this is all about? To express as much as possible through your craft?
Developing these skills is work. Is it wrong that I’m focused on it?
But the ‘coaches’ will still say that I’m not trying hard enough… if I were ‘serious’ I’d take my music career seriously and sell the last bits of my soul to the algorithm game.
But I say screw that…
Because I’d rather be an undiscovered treasure than a loud, attention-seeking internet whore, offering nothing of substance.
How many of these so-called ‘independent musicians’ don’t write their own lyrics and music? How many of them have little work to show for the fame they achieve? In my opinion, that’s not the way. I’m a musician… NOT an activist. It’s not my role to tell others how to live… that should be left to people with vast knowledge, not the whores of the internet. And I am not a whore. Sometimes I feel like this is more about satisfying their egos than about the music.
It’s sad but true… we let these kinds of people ‘win the race.’
It would be nice if Kotołak achieved success. However, if it doesn’t happen… I won’t cry. The sheer fact of growing and creating gives me satisfaction, and that’s what I want to focus on. That’s what a true musician dedicated to their craft should focus on… not trying to become a celebrity.
And yes, the first thing to be neglected is social media. ‘Coaches’ will ask ‘How dare you?’ I respond: there are things that are important and things that are more important. I know that. And I’ve chosen music and my friends over performing like a monkey on the internet. I post when I have time and feel like it. I couldn’t care less about algorithms. I’m excited by the visions of new albums and the studio. That’s what I live for, not numbers on social media accounts.
The world would be a better place if music mattered. It all depends on you, my dears. What you choose. This is what the algorithm games are based on. So choose wisely.