Answering My YouTube Trolls.

[@danielap4074]

You know you that you are so much more as an artist in so many ways and you do all of the writing, singing, creating, filming, composing by yourself. You lift us up and give us a honest picture of you when you show us your inner demons. And in the end the demons turns into „vampires“. Vampires for all the people who really appreciate your music. Youre gold!

[@jimkroft]

Dear Daniela, so lovely to read! Yes its possible to feel stripped away of so much when you read this stuff randomly. It reminded me that in putting new stuff out, I need to keep robust and mentally healthy. It was strangely useful and brought up several questions - which then drove me to the studio where I am again tonight. Gladly taking in your warmth - and appreciative. Thank you always for being one of my rocks here! I hope you're having a lovely evening, Jim

[@rolymiller]

You Fucking legend, sir, you've laid your soul out for us, thank you for sharing the highs and the lows & the trolls. I can't wait to watch every one of your videos, I'm delighted for you that you are making music & videos for you & that we get to watch.

[@jimkroft]

Roly, thank you from my heart - I read this right after you wrote it - and was so uplifted - and moved, by both your and some other comments in support that I received here. It was a funny moment for the trolls to show up - right at this point when trying so hard to get the project going, get the music out, get the KZbin moving a little. But several good things happened as a result - one I will post in my next video. The other was that it made me glad that, despite the difficulty in gaining some traction on the channel, that its slow growth has led to the first feeling of community, and of making real connections here. It really really lifted me up to ready our comment. And I've enjoyed today jumping over to your channel and discovering more about you too - you have my subscription and my support! Incidentally, I wanted to connect you with @evenly_distributed who dropped in here recently, and there felt like a channel connection between us all. So thought it would be cool to put you on each other's radar. Thanks for being totally and utterly uplifting me with you spirit Roly - you picked me up but also the courage to keep on the path. Have a great evening pal, Jim

[@Zak-up]

You're not alone-so many of the greats faced inner demons and negativity. That noise can be fuel. With your determination, you can turn it into something powerful. And one day, you might even thank them for pushing you forward. Remember what Van Gogh said: 'If you hear a voice within you say you cannot paint, then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.' Keep proving those voices wrong.

[@jimkroft]

Beautiful words Zak. Uplifted once again by your reflections. Van Gogh sold one painting in his lifetime - just boggles the mind. Yes it was useful in a way - I have not addressed where the path is going - or not - in terms of playing live again. It has, for some reason, pushed me towards it. To feed from eternal yay and eternal yay - that is the goal! Thank you man. Jim

[@merula.esther]

I am so sorry to hear you are dealing with this, Jim! Please never stop making music or videos ❤! In my personal experience it is true that the most critical people often are very unhappy about their own lives, careers, relationships and bodies. Lately I have been trying to 💀 them with kindness. This has been effective in some cases, in other instances it has increased their toxicity, but at least then I know I have shown up being the bigger person 😉. I have enjoyed your content for a few years now and I hope you get the recognition you deserve soon! I am wishing you a lot of good fortune and inspiration in your career and the strength to deal with these people and demons.

[@jimkroft]

Dear Merula, I'm grateful for all the support the last couple of years. It was funny, I deleted the comments and then regretted - immediately tried to recover them but, alas, to no avail! It has actually been a helpful reminder about getting the mindset right - whether things go well or not - to find a steady-ness within it. Anyone who puts themselves out into the world is open its judgement - and sometimes it rears its nastier face. It provoked a conversation I was glad for - and reminded me that the journey is always about growing, even within confines of one's limitations. I've reflected about what is next - now that the album is done, a new door is opening. And many questions come with it. I'm glad to be in that conversation too! Have a lovely evening, grateful for you, Jim

[@eighteentw3lve]

It’s validation that you are on the right path of following your heart 🙌 People troll because they are either bored sociopaths or you’ve held a mirror up to their own unhappiness. Keep on keeping on, you’ve got something really special here! 😁

[@jimkroft]

Powerful words, insights and I appreciate the reflections - and support! It was a reminder that I need to be more robust as the channel grows. I'm so lucky with the small community and just loving knowing and recognising most people who comment. You last sentence was a really lift - very thankful! Have a lovely evening, Jim

[@imperfectzen6050]

There’s already an Adele…Jimi Hendrix has had his day…there is only one Jim Kroft, who sings and plays and sees the world in only the way he can 🩵 I want to say f*&k the trolls…but you nailed it. We should feel sadness for them…what pain they must feel. And those inner trolls…those inner balrogs…make getting across the bridge epic…the essence of life. Thanks for showing the rest of us the way 🦋

[@jimkroft]

Thank you jus so much dear Shell! Really picked me up when I read this right after posting it - and I love the idea of the troll as the Balrog - nice image (yikes!) Heartened, uplifted, grateful x

[@janicegobey9931]

You are amazing Jim, a real beacon of light for creatives, don't give up - the world is changing and there are new ways of doing things, you are showing us how you manage your creative life against adversity! There are people who will try to dim that light because you are touching something inside them! Keep doing Jim Kroft!

[@jimkroft]

Janice, thank you for being with me every step of the way. It matters so much to me that there are some people out there who really know the "inside" of the story behind the song - both in terms of its ideas, but were also there supporting me when I felt very cut of and isolated in the build up to writing it. A song can have a universe behind it - as does each human face. Thank you for being an ally for me - it gives me strength and faith more than you can possibly know! x Jim

[@lxrproductions]

Dude. Smokin white hot honesty. Y’know Jim despite this originally being a MUSIC VLOG or whatnot ~ it was not what spoke to me. There is no MUSIC. Music is just the extension reverberating from the demon-facing troll whisperer. That’s what I’ve received from you the whole time - the modern literary video voyage shared through the SIMULACRUM ! (Nailed that term btw) I know it’s false - in the sense that “I don’t know you, we don’t know YOU… we can’t really REALLY know you”. It’s not designed that way. AND YET ~ what reached me early on in your videos was that HUMAN STRUGGLE. The real one. The honest one. Dude … even including the aspect of performer and Leo and wanting to be in the spotlight (yes you have it !) is all shared and given a place to exist. Without pretending to be something it’s not (oh I’m sure you’re already well aware of whatever self pretensions you’ll be facing next !) everything in its right place, past failures, dark room demons and all. Your content is ripe for trolls because you’re being honest - too honest - for people who haven’t faced these spaces. Anyways you already know this… For me you’ve provided a rare and seminal flittering of hope and even direction within a continued intense year and counting of dark passage. Still feel like I’m losing everything I touch , with no sense of getting anything back - but the forward journey seems brighter when I know there’s a dude (who literally looks like my lost English brother ) plunging back into his music in his mid 40s and even choosing to document it all like this. It’s just inspiring and rare. Fucking cool. I’m 39 this year. Anyways dude happy to send some vibes today on the little email length comment threads we’ve shared. You’re still killin it man , you don’t need encouragement, you just need to keep going. And I’m curious where this all will take you. RESPECT 🫡

[@jimkroft]

Brother, I read this right after you posted it, and it struck me to the quick. It was one of those moments when you're in the vortex before really knowing where you land. I'd had a few person doubts the days before - just the normal modern stuff I guess - wondering if I really was an idiot to again go after music, and then to start going for it here on KZbin. The comments came right in the heart of that most recent questioning - which is why my guard was so down. I'd organised myself by the time I made this video, but was not yet on solid ground. However when I read your comment - and several others which came in in support - I was utterly humbled. And it made me realise that I am grateful that this channel has progressed slowly because its meant that I could form actual human connections (yes through the Simulacrum hahah) with the small but very strong community who have given me the blessing of - not just supporting the channel - but literally keeping me going. You covered so much in your message - and it has sunk in. And no - I didn't know all that already - and it means to me that you shared your thoughts like you did. I know, in addition, that this has been a very challenging time your end. Though I don't know all the details, it is in such a moments - when a stranger leaps out of the dark to lift up another in a time of need - that our character is expressed. I really do believe, that despite all the ways we - at times - feel like we're messing up our lives - I believe that that fundamental will to goodness and to decency - to rise up despite our own limitations, circumstances and limiting beliefs - lead the way forward. Sometimes life chooses to carry us - but we usually don't notice while it is happening. You were that for me this evening. Thank you for it. Keep the faith - and keep the faith in next, smallest move obvious thing. Though it seems invisible - even irrelevant sometimes - reinvesting in those moments - day after day -- does spiral your life upwards. Take care, thank you man, Jim

[@lxrproductions]

@@jimkroftyou know it buddy. Full power. You’ve always touted the chief principle that “life takes over, life is carrying..” etc and it’s been the most helpful reminder for me. So i respect this the most. There is a larger intelligence, a deity in the matrix, a ghost in the machine, a GOD here worth following … honest to that God , it’s the only thing I feel I still have left -- something is leading. Follow follow follow. Thanks man.

[@evenly_distributed]

Inspirational, Jim. Thanks for sharing. Keep going!

[@jimkroft]

Adam, so appreciate you taking the time to both watch and then comment - thank you man! Yes, a few pretty gaulling comments dropped in - I've been posting demos of songs because I'm really inspired by the coding community and the way they #buildinpublic, share open source and do it in this very open spirited way. So part of my resolution here has been over the last year to dare to be transparent about the process - which also means not polishing stuff, throwing out ideas, having the courage to test and "be bad" - but of course the flip side of opening stuff up is your armour goes down and a counter strike can land. That said, I have actually been energised by it and will go into that in a video next week. For now, I've got the first video of the new project dropping, dam, after a year at 7pm tomorrow! It's called "Vampires" I dropped in on your channel and was really moved about what you said about making peace with being a "remote friend" after your move. I really get it - have lived in Berlin for 17 years and the hum of what I miss from the UK never quite settles - but you do make peace with it. Subscribed! Wishing you all well in the year ahead, and thank you for your kindness, Jim

[@evenly_distributed]

@@jimkroft Appreciate this thoughtful reply and you dropping in on the channel. I've also been a #buildinpublic enthusiast for a long time and have only ever had good come from it. For every troll, there are a hundred others who appreciate your vulnerability and learn from your experiences. Thanks for doing what you do, sir.

[@jimkroft]

Appreciate your words man! Do you know the work of Justin Welsh? I've learnt a lot from him in terms of thinking like a Solopreneur. Funnily enough, i discovered him through someone who has become a friend - KP from The Build in Public podcast. It's a really cool episode if you want to check it ou: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h3-ZaKyLebOlkM0 Hope you're having a good week pal!

[@evenly_distributed]

@@jimkroft I do - I'm a sucker for solopreneuer content wherever I find it. I suppose I've always been entrepreneurial in some way, I'm just only now saying it out loud. Feels good to do that, eh?