The dark problem with music production 😬

Howdy! There's something a bit sinister lurking in the background of the world of music production, and I think it's time we talk about it.
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#musician #musicproducer #mindset

[@VenusTheory]

Please algorithm gods, don't bury this one. I promise I'll be good 🙏 More videos like this? 🤔 The book ► amzn.to/3VDfMRA

[@bru9music]

yes please

[@alexringess]

The A God heared you. I found your video on my recommendations section ^^

[@evans_the_bard9234]

Yes! More like this will be appreciated!

[@CamiloGaetePuga]

YES!

[@updown5238]

Only if your next video hits 65K :)

[@SLATER_M]

David Bowie said the following in an interview 1997: "Never work for other people. Always remember that the reason you initially started working was that there was something inside yourself that you felt that if you could manifest it in some way you would understand more about yourself and how you co-exists with the rest of society. I think it's terribly dangerous for an artist to fulfill other peoples expactations."

[@GongMaster]

I have seen this interview and it is burned into my memory. Bowie knew and he lived it. His art was always unique and original - till the end.

[@invitia901]

I fully agree. But I also, at the same time, would like to share my music with other people. Not to be famous or rich, but because I think it’s as good as much of the rest of the music that is out there on the charts. But it’s not just music we are selling, it’s a pckage, an experience where the persona doing the music often is more important than the music itself.

[@SLATER_M]

@@invitia901 I totaly agree.

[@BigBankzSon]

I agree 💯 percent.

[@fablesofsilence]

I loved that interview. Absolutely one of the best!

[@Rustyboyyy1]

A few nights ago, I made a cool 140bpm 8bar loop. It had a couple of synth sounds and 2 drum samples, 1 of deep bongos the other a rthymic distorted bass drum. All done in maschine plus. I spent an hour or 2 tweaking settings as the loop went around and around. I finished my wee jam session, happy as Larry and went to bed. For that small time I was on top of the world. An ancient 48 year old being, thoroughly happy. Its all about the flow ........ it only happens now and then.....easy🤙🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@VenusTheory]

Can't remember where I read it but: "all things as they fall, in their own time" Creativity is about living in the moment of creating though 10000%. That's what we're all in it for.

[@MistyMusicStudio]

Happens more often when you can focus more on the music and less on the business :D

[@actualkevin]

But then some German conglomerate files a copyright claim on your generative creation and that’s the end of your creative freedom in that piece. “KZbin does not mediate copyright claims” they tell you but they do serve big corporations they obey their infallible pattern matching robots. Not bitter, ymmv.

[@cellardoreproductions]

It’s the trying to do something with music after youve made It that kills it for me. Luckily I’ve been able to work in sound and music and not have to worry about being a career producer/Dj anymore. But it’s not easy for most and it’s still not easy for me when between jobs like I am now.

[@peterrossiter5359]

I know what you mean. The last track I completed was weeks ago. Since then I have just had a misfire over and over. But I know I'll hit an idea then off I go again, feel good then back to misfire again.

[@allen394]

I am a 68 year old creative and have been to the dark places that many of you other commentators have been so open about. I remember my first day at art school where 200 students were addressed by the principal who started "Only 2 of you will make it in the fine arts industry", I just ignored him and went about my college life. During this time I roaded for DJ's and and bands. Learnt about live sound reinforcement and eventually started my own sound system, as well as carrying on with the fine arts. I had plenty of happiness but very often little financial gain. People often said they loved my work but never bought it. The Big Takeaway: Do what you love doing, but do it for yourself and be happy with all that you do, even if others criticise your work. Just be happy that you didn't give a damm about what the world and his brother thought or think.

[@unanimousarts]

Great advice!

[@erevigs7590]

"People often said they loved my work but never bought it." The feeling that people are just happy by giving support verbally but never financially is... part of the problem with many creative industries nowadays. I think I've purchased audio works for one music artist who definitely deserved it, and supported visual artists about a couple times. Certainly might be more than the majority of people who now pirate music or listen to it on Spotify, KZbin or SoundCloud, but it does make me a little sad for those artists.

[@vishwajeetbabbar7622]

@@erevigs7590 yes sir, u got it right! Bcoz of never getting good sales, many artists quit!! As of now i hv did a big budget movie of Bollywood, but as i didn't even get 50% of the payment for my work, i don't think i can pursue this career!

[@elan0054]

@@erevigs7590 everyone is broke now and getting broker. if I had disposable income i would support them, but gotta support yourself first.

[@erevigs7590]

@@elan0054Very wise choice. I'm also retracting some of my advertising spend and possibly even cutting SoundCloud Pro Unlimited in exchange for using that money to make other investments or support other artists or projects. @Vishwajeet Babbar You managed to do more than I can, I tried reaching out to other artists for collaborations but they always were either busy or "only if I make a profit". Just do it for fun if you still like it :3

[@gerardobarrera4956]

2 years ago I decided to quit music and everything related to it. I got a 9 to 5 job and ssuddenly inspiration came back. I've been constantly producing and releasing just for the sake of it. With minimal gear (being a migrant) and "no aspirations" whatsoever. I have been listening to you this past week during my 9-5 and I wanted to thank you. Thank you for your objectivity and your honesty. The path ahead as a "purposeless" creator suddenly feels less lonely.

[@TreeRegime]

Best of luck on your journey!

[@alphonsoacqua]

All the best brother.

[@JeffJacobsMusic]

My mother was a singer who committed suicide when I was a child. I still have so many questions that may never be answered about what she must have been feeling, both personally and artistically, leading up to her death. The reality was that it was likely a number of factors, but perhaps artistic starvation was one of them. Never let anyone tell you you have to “make it” in the music business. If you’re making music you enjoy making, you’ve already made it. And if I had one more day with you, Mom, we would sing. And whenever I sing today, I sing for you.

[@seanposner8884]

thank you for sharing this

[@vascohorta]

Creativity is the result of all our life experiences together. This means that when there is none left, one needs to STOP, have a break, go away and live life for a few months.. and when creativity comes back, it will strike again like a thunder.. it is critical that all us artists understand this, specially in this day and age, where most our lives are based on quick answers to everything at the push of buttons..

[@zacksguitarhacks6390]

Very well said and I'm sorry she's not in your life Jeff.

[@JeffJacobsMusic]

Thank you,@@zacksguitarhacks6390. It was a complicated death to process. I don’t judge her by her final act, but by how she lived her life, and that was with much selflessness and love.

[@markjiggens3051]

A beautiful sentiment, well put. I miss my mum.

[@cobraofearth]

Spot on. That fetishization of the suffering artist is a big one, I remember as a kid trying to fixate on depressing thoughts to write more "interesting" songs, or trying to convince myself I was bi-polar because I wanted to be like hendrix or cobain. It's seriously so stupid. Suffering does not make art any better, it's taken me years to realize what bs that is. Not to mention the obsession we have with celebrities is disgusting and unhealthy. With music I just try to remember the first time I hit a key on a piano and being captivated by the sound, in other words: I try to just enjoy the process with no thought of the outcome.

[@VenusTheory]

I'd REALLY love to dive into that sort of topic along with depression/s*icide rates of musicians/creatives but I don't think KZbin would take too kindly to that sort of thing. I think it's an extremely important topic though for that exact reason - there's almost a pressure to be miserable because that's 'the way it is' and I think that's bullshit.

[@MrMmcdaid9]

Conversely, I came up with a piece of music over a decade ago. It is easily the best bit of complete composing I had ever done. It stands alone partly because I play it on a Baritone acoustic guitar tuned to C-Major [it's expansive] - I've written a lot of songs and they come and go, sometimes re-emerging as something else. I felt compelled to plant some lyrics onto this piece just to get it noticed [this is where the insecurity comes in] but nothing seemed to connect [although some minority recognized the inherent beauty of it], enough to make me feel somewhat 'the embattled individualist' (?). Last week I was challenged to write a Christmas Song [for a Good Samaritan's charity do]. I don't do Christmas but I spent a week crafting the song to this music in question - a great cause, let them have it. The night was chaos and I never got to perform it [the book in the video, here comes to mind]. Just today, I looked at my video of it objectively. It's actually a good homage to Wintertime. AND I LIKE IT - This resolution feels so good to me. It's like it wrote itself to fit this bleak, rubato movement. It's a nice feeling of completing something that speaks - it's enough, you know?

[@SAPscottpayer]

Good words, great thoughts. Thanks for sharing them.

[@cobraofearth]

@@VenusTheory Is just that there are certain words that brands don't like to hear i.e. "s*icide"? I'm just struggling to understand why youtube would care, as long as it's not porn or nazis, but I'm just a naive content consumer. Had no idea the censorship was on that level.

[@BRXKN99]

Just went through this myself bro, I love Chester Bennington and Kirk Cobain and felt like I couldn't write good material unless I had their problems. It's hard to take a step back and realize u don't have to be like your idols, you just have to be yourself

[@JoshGUITARofolo]

"Outsourcing love and acceptance is probably the easiest way to set yourself up to watch your life fall apart around you." Well said, man.

[@holgernaustmusic]

The mess and luck of being an artist really only becomes bearable when you manage to truly stop comparing yourself with others, thanks that you brought that topic up!

[@seanpatrick2052]

11:43 Indeed…. As the saying goes ‘Comparison is the thief of joy’ 😊

[@hardlines2635]

Comparison is the enemy of success. Many a time I’ve given up on guitar thinking I’ll never be as good as Knopfler, Clapton, or SRV. now I’m older I just love to play guitar.

[@holgernaustmusic]

@@hardlines2635 Gladly getting older can redefine your idea of success, among the good things about it!

[@wait_in_gold_ON_SPOTIFY]

Too true,.. one of the things I recently noticed is that my tendency to compare myself to others was making me a hater

[@holgernaustmusic]

@@wait_in_gold_ON_SPOTIFY yes, it's no easy thing to let go of and has the power to do some serious damage to one's well-being,- when the demons are always ready to clutch your neck. Becoming observant leads in a good direction I believe.

That was pretty spot on. With 19 monthly listeners on Spotify and 97 published songs I’m my own biggest fan. I really enjoy my music and think it’s great. Otherwise I wouldn’t have published it. I have listerners from all over the world. 1 in Peru, one in russia, two in the UK, 1 in the Netherlands, 1 in France, and a couple in the US. Not many but all over the world. That’s satisfying to me.

[@Junglesmells]

Music is the reward. Getting better is the other reward. That’s what matters.

[@Jvssvl]

I checked your Spotify. Lovely orchestral music. 👍🏻

@@Jvssvl Thanks you so much Jassal! I appreciate it 🙂

[@davidcaubergh5113]

checked it out on spotify as well, I liked it and immediately had remix ideas upon hearing it

@@davidcaubergh5113 Glad you liked it! As long as you credit me for the original you are free to do a remix 🙂

[@stabngab]

"Outsourcing love and acceptance is probably the easiest way to set yourself to watch your life fall apart around you." is a powerful line

[@ricardojmestre]

Brilliant too.

[@ricardojmestre]

It is an epiphany for me :)

[@prtclmusic]

This is so on point. Spotify will not be around forever, stop trying to please it and just please yourself. That's eternal. Great video, Cameron.

[@tilersun]

KZbin is generally a cynical, often contrived, semi-useful place, however this video, as a musician, was needed-to be said in this way with this authentic delivery. Well done and thank you.

[@masonash3477]

You’re like a therapist for musicians at this point, and we thank you for all that you do for us.

[@oscarcamacho]

Agree.

[@_aperfectblue]

haha perfectly said!

[@SoleSpiritMusic]

Yes. Well said.🎉👏🏻🎹

[@KROWNCHAKRA]

Factuals

[@davidpetersonharvey]

As a 45 year veteran musician, composer and audio engineer, I am surprised to see this actually put into words. Yes, you're absolutely right. I'll be 60 next year. I've been playing since I was 14 years old. I have a recording studio and a learning center and the pandemic hurt our business terribly. I've decided to not open the recording studio to the public again. Instead, I'll be doing what I want to do, including recording my own music and teaching others through video and remote lessons in addition to running the learning center. I'll retire from the latter but not the former. I love the music that I write and do. I'm constantly told it's very different. Even the things I do that I think are ordinary. I say, whatever your jam, put aside the business dream and embrace the dream of doing what you want. I gave up the idea of getting major label contracts when I realized how dirty and cutthroat the business is. That's no way to live. I deal with depression and anxiety, as do most creatives, but I've realized all of that comes with the business side of things and the expectations of it. I say live without it and find the people who will appreciate your work for what it is. Those of us who get it should trade ideas and work back and forth to help each other, perhaps. Peace, David

[@sergesolkatt]

I wanna check out your music! Where can I do that?

[@davidpetersonharvey]

@@sergesolkatt I only have some experimental synth music on KZbin at the moment. I haven't been able to do my singer/songwriter stuff for a while because Covid destroyed my voice among other things. Thanks to a wonderful voice teacher who teaches part time at our studio, I'm starting again this week. Feel free to subscribe and give me some time. I'll have songs coming soon.

[@JamesGrady2]

Beautiful outlook - I hope I can have a life like that 60 - honestly sounds like you’ve cracked the case man. Good luck to you

[@davidpetersonharvey]

@@JamesGrady2 thanks. Now if I can just get those darn kids to stay off my lawn ...

[@Aupperle_Music]

@@davidpetersonharvey 😂😂😂 yeah those darn kids! *shakes fist*

[@BlakeJarrell]

I was a successful world touring DJ for about 10 years. I kinda fell into that by accident when I was just having fun in the studio making bootleg remixes in 2006. Fast forward to 2012 and it was the great EDM boom. I suddenly started doubting and second guess everything I was making and either finished very little music or created things I myself didn’t like nor did anyone else. I then fell into alcoholism, depression, and ultimately had to given up the dream when I was diagnosed with cancer in 2017. I then went through a divorce, the pandemic, moved back home to New Orleans where I was hit by another bad hurricane, then moved to Orlando and remarried. I rebuilt my studio with only the intention of making whatever music I wanted and not expecting or looking for any success. I’m now happier than ever with the music I’m currently making. If I could share a few things I’ve learned along the way: 1. Making art should be INHERENT. It should be something you just DO. If you make art with some end goal in mind like fame/fortune etc, you’ve already entirely missed the point. 2. Put “horse-blinders” on. You are the only person in the race and the race has no ending and no final result. 3. “Feast or Famine” mentality is incredibly toxic. Someone else’s success does not take away anything from your own success. Learn to be happy for others or you will fail or self-sabotage. 4. Watch “Exit Through The Giftshop” so you can fully understand and appreciate why Banksy says at the end “I used to encourage everyone to make art, now I don’t do that so much anymore.” 5. Read “The War Of Art” by Steven Pressfield.

[@jk-qr4pr]

Love this! Way to stick with it (life) and keep on going. Thank you for posting this!!!

[@BaddBadger]

Your point number one is the main thing i try to tell younger people. So many people (and i admit i was the same at some point) only do something because of where they hope it will take them and what it might get them. But 50 years of playing guitar 8 hours a day is no guarantee that you'll end up on TV or whatever. You should just be playing that guitar because you can't put it down!

[@nopenada3449]

All good points! Have read The War Of Art. Great advice.

[@kintoriley]

This is one of the most philosophically great comments I've ever read on the entire absurd internet.

[@dwsel]

That's... quite a ride. Thank you for sharing your story with strands of the optimism. All the best to you 👍

[@MrDrumsplease]

I'm 44, playing music for 30 and putting records out for around 23 years now. I love playing, producing, mixing and above all listening to music but dedicating yourself to this beyond the relatively safe space of calling it a "hobby" comes at a hefty pricetag, with many amazingly creative people learning that they are "not cut out for it" the hard way. Thank you so much for condensing this difficult and uncomfortable topic into clear (and relatively few) words so well, I am sure I will come back to this during darker, more self doubting moments.

[@Thisbrucesmith]

I'm 63, and I second this assessment. Cameron, I hope you continue to fight the good fight for creatives of all ages and backgrounds.

[@thelouisbisson]

I’m 32, and I’ve noticed a rather unsettling pattern in my life as a creative. I get into something, I create relatively quality work, then I eventually stop creating because I place so much pressure on myself to create something amazing, that I find I’m paralyzed, and eventually I’m unable to create anymore. I did it with photography, I did it with drawing, and I’m scared it’ll happen with production. I can still go back and look at the pictures I’ve drawn and the photos I’ve snapped, and I really like them. I designed a pair of white vans for my partner, I loved the first one so much, that in my mind, I thought it was perfect, and it took me 4 years before I was able to finally finish the 2nd shoe. I loved doing the 1st one. The 2nd one was fraught with anxiety, that it wouldn’t be as good as the first one. I put out a track almost 2 years ago now. I haven’t put one out since. I realize I’m doing it again. I’m psyching myself out. I’m scared whatever I make won’t be perfect. Despite numerous 1-2 minute long songs I’ve made, I don’t finish them, because I start and they sound perfect to me, and I’m scared if I finish, it won’t be as good as what I started. I know part of it is the perfectionism that comes with ADHD, but I truly have no idea how to stop putting so much pressure on myself. As someone who has almost died from a suicide attempt, and someone who struggles with depression, I needed this video. I don’t yet know how I’ll apply it, but I need to hear this. Thank you.

[@Magic_carpet666]

As you mentioned this is a classic ADHD pattern, I have it as well. Hyperfocus onto something until you've reached a certain level, then move onto the next. Curiosity is what drives us, not materialistic rewards. Your brain just wants to figure stuff out and have the satisfaction to "master" it.

[@ivansoto9723]

@@Magic_carpet666 I'm actually happy that their are other people who get why I enjoy making music. It's not an emotional thing. It's not materialism. It's a pursuit of knowledge and perfecting the craft. Maybe that's why after about 7-8 years I've been wanting to pick up something else too like drawing or programming. You get to a point where your learning slows down a lot. I know the 'system' of music and how it works, now I want to know the system of visual arts. Perspective, color theory, anatomy etc.

[@kowloonbroadcast]

man, the thing is it won’t be perfect at any moment, there is no such thing as the perfect piece of artwork - it’s entirely subjective. it should be taken not as something pessimistic but just as the way it naturally is. besides that, you may even notice after some time that your piece is actually perfect for certain human condition or mood or ongoing events (+1 to the overall point of subjectivity) and odds for that are quite high, but to be able to witness it there should be a few finished pieces existing out there. as from practical side, it’s widely considered within music making community from producers to mentors, songwriters that it’s FAR quicker and more effective to get to the point when you are satisfied with your own work at bare minimum level to appreciate it by finishing “not perfect” (literally quoting here) songs at faster pace than to deliberately trying to craft a single or a couple ones by perfecting every possible aspect. think about it - it’s not even a realistic scenario to output a perfect song when you literally crafted 1-5 of them during your lifetime. just do some 10-ish that are “just fine”, this way you’re more likely reach the moment of your magnum opus in songwriting faster (or at all) than by frustratingly trying to craft one right away inevitably exhausting yourself and therefore dropping it several times in the process - this is not even a discussion at this point, but more like the 101 approach to mastering music production craft. and like I said, those some 10-ish that’re just fine at first glance really may turn as “perfect” in certain conditions eventually, so don’t under appreciate those as something not worth working for. it’s a long journey and has always been. a good thing for an ADHD person in this long journey is that there’s plenty of random inspiring creative mess that comes with it - each of those 10-ish songs can be approached from different starting points and be finished through completely different sets of tools or mindsets from one another. so if anything - there’s no necessary commitment to a boring routine unless you will frame yourself to one. though there’s a certain amount of discipline needed to make the finishing moves for each and every piece - a huge part of it is solely about letting go of the perfectionism closer to finish line. but it pays off. hope that helps in any way, man and good luck with the music bruh 🤘🏽

[@areality40]

It's so easy to fall into a slump of putting pressure on yourself as a creative. You ask yourself why you're doing this if you can't finish, and I have done this so many times... but remember, you're not trying to live up to anyone's standards... except you're own. And sometimes you can't even do that... and it's okay! Sometimes you have the creative energy and sometimes you don't. I have over 500 pieces of musical ideas - maybe 5-10% of which are finished, and even less than that for which I put on an album I made... But the thing I do is, I SAVE EVERYTHING. I am a project hoarder. And now I am spreadsheeting EVERYTHING so I can narrow down what I can and want to work on now the most and just going from there. I suffer from perfectionism too, but I have OCD, anxiety and depression. Listen, remember that sometimes it's okay to just take a break from the exact thing you're working on and dive into something else... sometimes, just watching a random KZbin video by someone else using different software can spark ideas... or sometimes listening to songs you have finished on your own time can help... or just a nap... it's a reset and it helps. I'm really glad you're still here, my friend. Turn the pressure into something positive... some sort of diversion and then go back to it when you've reset yourself. You may find you feel differently.

[@thelouisbisson]

@@Magic_carpet666 it really is crazy to be able to go around my house and see all of my different hyperfixations. Music has always stuck with me, I’ve always loved playing piano, and I’ve always wanted to make electronic. It’s always nice to encounter people that truly understand what’s like to have ADHD. It really is a burning curiosity to figure out how things work, and once I feel like I’ve figured it out, my brain loses interest. It’s that endless search for dopamine that we’re missing.

[@neek01]

That's the exact reason I started doing music 7-8 year ago. I've never released a single song because I've kept it simply as a way to cope with mental issues. It was only until last year when my now ex-gf pushed me to upload some of my music as she liked it a lot. I did, and a year later, I got exactly 15 plays on each of the tracks and 1 like in total. But I couldn't be happier about it. The fact that even just 1 person liked it enough, made it worth it for me. I still deal a lot with anxiety, even when putting my music out there, but I've learnt that music is my way of escaping it

[@KRAFTWERK2K6]

Same here. Unless you are one top tier youtuber, you are burried on every platform and only sometimes found by accident by someone. Perhaps only when someone clicked on your profile and saw your videos. I have a lot of recordings too that are not even online yet but even if it was online, barely anyone would even know it exists. 😮‍💨

[@hansvos5897]

Fantastic mentality!

[@HOLLASOUNDS]

When I started it took a cupple years to get something sounding good and finally after failing at almost everything, I found something that I can say "this is Me, this is what I do" I thought this would be My life as a successful musician but 16 years later, no following, no fans, and even My own family are detrimental and completely unsupportive of My music and think I'm lucky to have a minimum wage factory job, like that's all I'm good for. Thanks mum.

[@Junglesmells]

Please link it :)

[@NewWorldStoner]

Would love to hear it man!

[@danikogan3968]

This is very important topic! I think about this A LOT I am a Game Developer and there was this weird idea I felt that creating (games or anything) was basically sacrificing your own health for the creation of something truly meaning for others. I fully embraced that which led to insane burnout, depression and in the end became suicidal... I feel quite lucky to be writing this. The issue is we did made something extremely meaningful for a lot of people, but at an extremely high cost to our health making it... I remember having long discussions with fellow devs about the idea that you can create something truly meaning only through trauma or extreme states of mind This notion is exactly the fetishization of the depressed artist, on the thin line between insanity and genius, life and death, suffering and depression. I argue strongly against this idea as I realized in order to create on the highest caliber and highest level it is EXTERMELY important to be in the highest level in your mental and physical health. Meaning eat well, sleep well, Madidate, go to therapy, And yes STOP WORKING WHEN YOU ARE TIERD. Anything you need to keep yourself at the highest levels of your health if you want to operate as such high caliber. And practicing self love a long the process, which is the hardest part. For the self love I have a little trick that might be useful for anyone reading this Every time I look in the mirror. I smile to myself :) after a while it is a habit and it does help put a little smile in your heart and remind you that you are loved, by yourself. I rarely comment on videos but you hit really close to home. Thank you for raising this critical issue and for your amazing videos general. Cheers, Dani

[@OscarUnderdog]

Mate your videos are some of the best things I've ever seen. Please for the love of god keep doing what you're doing, you're expressing the most important things in the most eloquent way possible. ❤

[@VenusTheory]

Well hey if I'm getting props from you that means I'm doing something right haha - you're a massive inspiration my guy!

[@Sh0n0]

i would agree but his mustache is so dum!!1

[@fauxnaifmusic5708]

There is never a better moment than when you get it together, go for a walk and dance to your own tunes. Right there is the feedback loop.

[@noisetheorem]

Excellent content! Years ago, I was in a band. We were all pushing 40 and working in a very niche genre. The singer in our band still had these dreams of making it big and to that end wanted us to take vacation time to tour and treated us like we were his employees. I was having none of this and left the band to pursue my own work. So now, more than 10 years later, I’m pushing 50…I’ve popped a few albums up on bandcamp and Spotify and have really not gotten any sort of response to the weird shit I like to call music. But I’m also extremely happy because I’m doing what I like when I like and I answer to no one. Having zero fucks left is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.

[@hansvos5897]

Great!

[@fillhixx]

Yup

[@GPK033]

whats the name of the band you quit, and do you make money making music?

[@Junglesmells]

Link it bro

[@noisetheorem]

@@GPK033 I won’t name them as that would be bad form…they haven’t done much since I left. I don’t make money in any significant amount with my music. I simply enjoy it. Any bandcamp sale is a thrill.

[@DETHDealt]

Wow. Just wow. It is truly eye opening to see how many people there are out there with all the same feelings, experiences, thoughts, and issues as myself. I too am 4 decades into life, 3 of which have been mostly filled with music. I also suffer from a fair amount of mental illness and have spent my fair share of time in the hospital, and a ridiculous amount of medication just to be able to cope with living. Music has always been my passion, and always had the typical dream of “making it”. But those days have long passed. I now write and release more music than ever before, and am only doing it for myself. If someone else enjoys it, awesome. If not, at least I have cool songs to listen to myself. I think social media, and streaming have been a great way to share your art with the world, but I also have seen it destroy many lives and careers. Not worth measuring you success off other peoples opinions. I stand with you all as a fellow mental illness filled, unknown artist! Hang in there everyone! Life is too short as it is!

[@ShortP1089]

i get shivers when i hear the emotional parts in my music. i sometimes listen to a track i made on repeat over the course of a whole day. i know that most people will/would find my music odd or nothing the like whats in the charts, but i couldnt care less. An even bigger problem in our society is the need to somehow capitalize on what we create. Its okay to write songs nobody will ever hear. thanks for your video, i feel its being talked about waayyyy to little

[@sudomassive]

Isn't the whole reason we make music because we have an idea of what sounds good? (at least to ourselves)

[@malegria9641]

I do the same thing! I just put on my own SoundCloud or KZbin and just listen away 😅

[@onitodmusic]

ok, @shortpower1089 you know what the shivers are right? You've hit a resonance with your music. Every time you play/listen to it, you are healing everyone with the same resonance in you, in/over the whole world. Keep doing it! Not all impacts are seen, you are doing massive healing work, and have no idea.

[@randallharp7010]

Thumbs up for knowing the correct expression "couldn't care less". 🤣

[@onitodmusic]

@@randallharp7010 Thanks for that perspective!!

[@musicbyshadofox]

I suffer with anxiety and recently depression as well. I've been making music since what feels like 3 1/2 years and I have noticed the exact feelings you described in the video. I made a promise to myself that I'd never attempt to make something for the views or streams. I accidentally make a cover of Rude Buster that goes viral and my mind went to "oh gosh you gotta make some more undertale/deltarune content" and that's the only thing i could think about. I noticed very very quickly that I wasn't able to make something I enjoyed. Then recently I dug up an old project file of a song that I promised my dad I would finish before the end of the year. 2 weeks after I made said promise my dad passed away from a heart attack (this was in august of this year as of posting this comment). That seemed to give me a subtle push to actually finish that song and not make it something my subscribers would enjoy but something both me and my dad would enjoy. During the whole time I was producing that track I felt a peace that I hadn't actually felt before. Something that seemed to make my depression and anxiety melt away and not just for the moment but when I finished the drop for my song The Choice I didn't feel any depressed or anxious feelings for about a week. It was strange to me. I've yet to feel something similar but this video sorta explained it for me. I really appreciate all you do for the music producers of this world and thank you for inspiring me to keep making stuff that sounds good to me and not just other people no matter their opinion.

[@Stadsjaap]

"Outsourcing love and acceptance is probably the easiest way to watch your life fall apart around you." Powerful stuff!

[@hansvos5897]

`Yep!

[@kindredrivers4008]

Watched this a few days ago, and the whole conversation has been revolving around my head since. Im starting to consider myself a successful musician, because I KNOW that I have written some great music. Sure, it's a shame that I'll never earn anything from it, and the world will never hear it, but I'm proud to have honed my art, in my little smudge of existence, a drop in the ocean. It's fine :)

[@bronsonjohnson9019]

Back, many moons ago, I played a show for a nearly empty bar, hold for the staff, the other bands, their girlfriends, a dude, and his two friends. It was his first live show, he told us this before we went on stage. It was our best set. We played harder for this dude and his friends then we had for a crowd of around 30-80 which was the norm for us. I don’t think I’ve had more meaningful outward musical experience.

[@Modwaev]

It’s uncanny how personal this message felt, you just summarized my 20 year long journey to come to these realizations and self-appreciation. The adrenaline I get from my creations (during the process and enjoying them after) is what matters most. Definitely, I get a kick out of others getting moved by what I have created but that comes from a sense of shared appreciation as opposed to fuel for something resembling an ego. Great video, thanks for putting this into words so eloquently!

[@kwizo1]

This hits home on so many levels. I started my professional music career about 30 years ago. I've had some pretty soaring highs and some serious lows. The pandemic has pretty much wrecked much of my income because my main money maker is touring with an A-list artist that hasn't done a tour since the end of 2018. I also compose music for television and have a project studio that i run but clients have dwindled. i started teaching/tutoring music production/mixing online but even that isn't reliable and consistent income. My wife is also a popular background vocalist who yearns for a solo career but as you stated in this video, without an effective marketing campaign, know one pays enough attention. Although I love what I do, the past few years have made me seriously question my career path... This industry is not for the faint-hearted.

[@clappedoutmotor]

Big love to you and your wife

[@pilcaroo]

That's really challenging, and those are hard questions you can't really know the answers for... Hope it gets easier and best of luck to you and your wife, from a fellow musician.

[@kwizo1]

​@@pilcaroo Thank you.

[@kwizo1]

@@clappedoutmotor Thank you.

[@Orangeaveccamion]

good luck you will find a way.

[@nealisium8027]

Thank you for this, as a beginner music producer hobbyist, this video inspires me to continue this journey without relying the mainstream and dictating who you are. Thank you, this means a lot to me.

[@dammills]

A long time ago, I purchased a cd of “Go Hawaii” by Casino Versus Japan from Amazon. When the package arrived, along with it were a couple extra burned discs with unreleased albums/track. I went back to see who was the seller, and realized it was him. That gesture made me so happy, and it’s those little unheard connections that make me happy to stay a creative. He’s been one of my biggest influences, and maybe, I can do that for someone else someday. I appreciate you putting out this video, because it’s the TRUTH.

[@VenusTheory]

Dang that's super cool haha - hope you're able to to pay that idea forward someday as well, that's an awesome idea.

[@CuriousPassenger]

CVJ is one of the biggest names in the 'lo-fi idm' genre, love him too.

[@daeryxaqueryx]

Nice purchase. It’s a damn fine album from the way back.

[@jaydekaytv]

Wow that's cool.

[@BennJordan]

Lovely video. It feels like a poetic, well-researched version of what we complain about drinking coffee at a rural McDonald's. 😌

[@VenusTheory]

Haha more or less! Minus a few McPastries and plus a few lens changes and lighting rigs.

[@MathiasFritsche]

The life of a musician can be really hard.. but we can not give up, it‘s not possible - so we do what we love again and again. Don‘t look at the numbers and analytics every day and be proud of what you create! 🙂

[@nekow1785]

This is so true!🙌🏾

[@immusicallyaddicted226]

I've been having this issue recently where I felt like I had to start making lyrics that were less political and more family friendly to get more radio plays. But I couldn't bring myself to do it. It gave me writers/producers block for a solid month. (I couldn't do anything). I realized that it was because I was angry and the lyrics I've been writing the past few months have been about that. My anger and rage over the issues I was writing about. So I let go and was able to write two more songs. Your music should be for you, for the people you want to help, for the people you want to represent. It shouldn't ever be about making it big or going viral. There's no passion in that and it shows

[@lucianocastillo694]

Also at the same time, when writing/recording your vocals. I found out that the person I was one year ago could not write or sound like the person I am now. It’s very hard to write about something you can’t relate to, however, you can become the person that is allowed to write about these things. Either by picturing yourself in those shoes or even better, going out and becoming this person irl & making the experiences you can write about naturally.

[@warrengently6418]

These are the things all creators struggle with in a time when being a creator has been devalued.

[@evans_the_bard9234]

Thank you so much for communicating these ideas out loud. The world needs more of this! As a member of the "more silver and experienced," I have to agree with you. Creating the art you love increases the longevity of your soul!

[@VenusTheory]

Absolutely - I guess even branching off that, learning to live 'authentically' to yourself seems to be one of the real secrets to a fulfilled life.

[@Bittamin]

I’m happy I hit this vibe now instead of 3 years from now. Making house music with spider man movie quips has been the most fun I’ve had making music so far, and even if I can share that passion with some oldschool house heads, I’ve done my part 😅

[@jaydekaytv]

Exactly

[@krmn]

As someone who is constantly creatively driven and driven to improve my art as both a visual designer and music artist, this really hits close to home. I have about 3 monthly Spotify listeners right now. I didn't start creating music because I wanted to make money, but because I really do enjoy the process and love seeing my creative thoughts come to life. It's only been over a year since I started writing songs and producing them, and it brings immense fulfillment. I do wish that others could enjoy what I've created as much as I have, and I wish other people could be as excited about what I will create next as I am. Although my art is far from being what I want, I do like it. This constant struggle being able to accept my own work is difficult, and even more so when I realise that no one will probably ever enjoy it the same, and no one will see me and think "hey, it's that guy whose music I listen to". It makes it all the more difficult to create when I feel set up for failure. But I need to find peace in the process, not the result.

[@joesimpson8098]

"It's not anyone else's job to love you." What a great line.

[@YMIR]

this hits hard man...I have to constantly remind myself that I want to write music that I want to listen to. The more I think of writing for others, the more I find myself reclusing. Just thinking about writing the next song always scares me as I think of the worth of it all, but videos like this give us a friendly nudge every now and then. Thankyou for ur stuff dude

[@VenusTheory]

Glad to be of service! Better go back and finish that next song now haha.

[@NotBenCoultry]

On the worth of it all - the process of creating it brings you joy. What do people say they want out of life other than to find happiness? Only other iterations of *ways to find happiness, so if you can generate that by making bleeps and bloops, you win. Imagine having to experience this life without access to the bleeps and bloops lmao, it would totally suck. 😆

[@zairemcdonald7342]

Hi

[@omniburn]

eeeeeeeeeeeey my boiiiiiiiiii i can't allow you to get depressed! you are literally my #1 artist since the day i've discovered you :D I aspire to become as good as you are, and have the honor to collab with you someday!

[@YMIR]

@@omniburn Omniii loool glad to see u follow Venus too!! And he'll yeah, I promise I'll do my best mentally and musically 🙏😤

[@zelenyy4960]

Ive been struggling with heavy depression over this last year and last night I had a discussion with my roommate about what steps I needed to take to get my mind straight and he told me to take a solid month to create and not give a fuck about anyones validation for my work. Simply create. I took that to heart and slept on it heavy. This morning I wake up and find this video and jesus, could it not come at a better time. Everything youve spoken about holds absolutely true and reinforces what my roommate told me. Thank you for this, Im invigorated and cant wait to commit all my efforts in creating within a field I have unbelievable passion for. Truly truly grateful thank you.

[@sandwich-breath]

Do it now. Create.

[@zelenyy4960]

@@sandwich-breath no more waiting, no more procrastinating. Thank you for your reply truly

[@sandwich-breath]

@@zelenyy4960 the only thing we can control is starting and staying with it. Send me links when you feel like sharing brother. Peace

[@markyazzigreen8082]

Power to you brother, get on it ❤️

[@RabbitRunway]

I’m number one on my own playlist. I decided a long time ago that was more important than setting something loose to be buried on the internet. I get so much joy from being my own favorite artist. Thank you so much for this video. You’re absolutely right, it’s no one else’s job to love me.

[@anjovimusic]

Keep them coming man! Love reflecting on more adaptive mindsets, so this is right up my alley!

[@robertcruse668]

Your a good man, VT. What you shared in this video was very reaffirming. At 65 years old and having pursued my passion of music for my entire adult life, there was a definitive point when I looked at myself in the mirror and said..."Hey, Bob...That train you wanted to catch?...It's left the station...you missed it". Thankfully, it didn't take me long to realized that I didn't lose out on anything, really. In fact, I had become very creative and improved my musical skills in so many ways through the years. I simply channeled my energy into creating new and (in my own humble opinion) wonderful music. I simply allowed myself the freedom to simply create...without ANY expectations. I no longer cared if anyone else liked it or not, or whether or not I would make any money with it. The ONLY thing that mattered to me now was to simply let my inner self express itself with the amazing tools at my disposal. I am at peace with "missing the train" and am so amazingly blessed to have music creation as an outlet for expressing my life, my feelings, my emotions, etc... . Thanks again, VT. Love your insights!

[@dammitdancanjam9536]

Oh Damn the train I'm at the bus station

[@NotBenCoultry]

Sounds like you were on the right train the entire time.

[@randomchannel323]

I'm 22 and I feel that quote (Not music related though) :sob

[@ingolf7411]

Fully agree (at nearly your age). It's just about fun, creativity and to learn over and over again. A new synth, maybe, but always an adventure to discover new sounds and sonic gems with existing gear 😉

[@gregmarshall1959]

Agree - I'm 63 and just played live solo electronica gig for first time in 38 years to a select paying crowd of ~30 people... Recently started uploading 40 plus years of stuff to bandcamp - amazingly I've sold some. Just trying to enjoy myself without pressure.

[@makeurowndontbitemine]

As a 20 year old, this video hits really hard. Music has followed me throughout my entire life, but I started taking it seriously a good 6 years ago. I think the most interesting part of the whole journey, is the fact that this anxiety & pressure only stems from having the dream & desire of being a well-known musician. Ever since I was a toddler, I wanted to be recognized for my work and have people in awe. But as time goes on, I'm slowly realizing how futile of an effort it is to keep chasing after this dream. As stated in the video, the chances of me actually moving anywhere past this current stage would need an insane amount of luck & promotional tools, which unfortunately I don't have. Another part of trying to transform a creative passion into a career, is the fact that unfortunately, the opinions of others will have no choice but to suffice for a great deal of your own sense of self-worth. Creative work is truly a selfless profession, and anyone who says it isn't is lying to you. There are countless musicians, artists, photographers, etc. that have had to change their aesthetic, appearance, & sometimes their personality just to be able to eat or pay the bills. For those who fall in love with the process, they see it as part of the learning curve. For others however, it is the beginning of the descent into the abyss of mental problems, for me, I went through both. It's hard trying to balance self love with the opinions of others, because I realize that there's more of them than there is of me. While I do agree that people do have a fascination with suffering, the morbid, & just drama in general, I also believe that this is a problem that goes deeper than just music. I don't know about anyone else, but when I was a child, in some ways more than others I was belittled for not having a lot of experience. I was seen as "less than" because I wasn't "suffering" or striving, trying to "make something of myself". I was called selfish, inconsiderate, and spoiled plenty of times throughout my young life, and since then, the words "maturity", "experience", "wisdom", etc. have become nothing more than buzzwords that live within my head, that I chase after, and can be seen as a direct link to the cause of my fascination with the dark side of this world. In some twisted fashion, I guess you can say that for a lot of people suffering = credibility. It's a source of growth, a form of currency, of social status, of familiarity, or in this case, of honor. It's synonymous with the way we look at dirt & filth. Something that we claim to despise, but somehow is the source of all life. As fucked up, and philosophical as that sounds, from what I've seen, it's the way it is. Not sure where I'm going with this... so I'll just end it here. But very thought provoking video nonetheless.

[@manuelgomes7132]

As a 20 year old I honestly am amazed by this comment, this video was something different, something needed, but this comment really resonates with me, not only that but I also see that those hardships in your life made you seek out the things you explain in the comment, you are mature brother/sister. Keep fighting

[@Keshanut]

I liked reading your comment. I think creativity in art / life doesn't have an age. You being alive an experiencing everything you have up to this point is enough. I'm amazed at the talent and knowledge of young people as much as those who have lived a long life. Everyone has something great to offer. I like the idea of not thinking about what others think and being happy with your own work. Somehow I think the idea of musicians from around the globe who are like minded like those making comments in this video would benefit from working together and exchanging ideas and supporting each other somehow. Anyway all I can say is You are not alone. Take care. PK

[@everaced]

I'm also in your shoes as someone of the same age who dreamed (and still dreams) of making it an artist. Even though the odds may be against us, I think it's still worth it to put our stuff out there while getting by through more conventional means. After all, no one truly knows what the future holds, and as naive as it may sound, faith in the 1% could take us far. If it doesn't work out in the end, we can still pass with a smile on our face because at the very least we gave everything we had to pursue something worthwhile.

[@absentmindstate]

@@everaced🤝

[@alexstone9099]

As a 20 year old that has gotten into music production only in the last couple years, I just wanna say that what you are talking about is something that I have had on my mind a lot and I have seen it in my closest friends and it seems to affect people from all walks of life. The idea that credibility is gained through struggle and suffering, that has caused so much pain to both me, and close friends and family, all for quite different reasons. It really does become a part of your identity that you are suffering and for me I get caught up in it often tryna take on every problem and you end up getting stuck in it and forget to try and just be happy. And I have similarly ended up having a weird obsession with the dark side of things and it has become a very big part of my life, as a history student it is a big part of my motivation for studying history and thankfully I have found that you can find positive things in your crafts, like studying history and obviously making music even if I originally went into it out of a morbid curiosity, but it does at times feel like I need to take on every hardship in the world to live a good and meaningful life when that so obviously isn't the case when you really look at it. Just thought I'd take my time to write a proper comment since what you said resonated with me, best of luck with your music and life in general.

[@ammoformyarsenal1]

First video I've seen from you and it is very inspiring!! Thank you for your time, effort, and motivating those of us that love to create!

[@bluesdawg8]

I'm 64. I did my first performance at age 6. Turned "pro" 14 years later. 30 years after that, I walked away from live gigs. I opened for The Vogues-the apex of my career-played 100 different venues, got on local TV a couple of times & made just enough money to starve to death . . . slowly. Those are my bona fides; here's my take: It's not about loving anyone; it's about the music. For me, it's about cranking up the speakers or putting the cans on, listening to a song I wrote & recorded half a lifetime ago & *still* loving what I hear. It's about being satisfied w/all the words, all the notes, all the production & even the memories. Applause is nice; tips are nicer & having someone offer to carry gear to the car after the gig is off-the-chart appreciated, but making something that leaves me w/a smile on my face every time I hear it is absolutely priceless. Any hurt feelings or depression from not being a "success" never stuck to me; I was, I am, too happy enjoying what I made. And I've still got a few more to get done before I die, so I'm still livin' the dream. YMMV

[@vtstories22]

Thanks Cameron, as a creative of a very gray, almost white , 75, and someone who taught creatives for forty years at college and was a therapist for even longer, I have no bright ideas to add to your thoughts. Truth is, I battle self doubt and anxiety every day, and depression too frequently. I have sat with too many students and clients who felt crushed by impossible expectations. The one positive I can offer is the research that says creatives who keep creating for at least 20 years tend to receive enough support from their communities to make a living wage. Then, there is the simple truth that creating brings joy and sometimes a network of great friends and colleagues.

[@quintinspina4270]

This is exactly why I think you should just make the music you love and do your best to find a couple thousand people who love it too and who will support you directly. Don't rely on the industry or the algorithm or getting lots of plays to support you or validate you. If you can find a handful of true fans that will help keep you afloat, that's success in my eyes! Best of luck, my fellow Buckaroonies!

[@TeslaCoilLab]

This is an amazing video bro, so glad someone stepped out from the crowd to bring this deep subject up and discuss it openly. And congratulations, your video just popped up in my recommendations list🎉

[@cheezeofelune]

That hit hard man. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts. Hopefully this will open the door for more people to find happiness within themselves.

[@fxdaly]

Excellent video. I’ve always believed that the act of creativity is it’s own reward. Getting financial reward and recognition for your work is a completely different issue.

[@VenusTheory]

Shame that it's constantly pounded in our head that the two are equal processes - makes you wonder what other art would be in the world nowadays without the age of social media.

[@fxdaly]

@@VenusTheory I have tried in the past, to make money from art, photography and writing while being supported by my IT business, but I was never successful and in all cases it made me produce items based on market demand rather than what I wanted to create. Once I’d decided that I’d just create what I liked and no longer had any desires to make money from it, I was much happier. Fortunately IT work has provided a decent income so art related creativity is for enjoyment and fulfilment.

[@ggandthemix]

@@fxdaly What you describe is my precise experience, right down to the IT business that makes the money (and satisfies the problem-solver affinity in me). Key: Make music, or any other creative endeavor for the joy of it. If you can make money from it, it's a bonus. In my opinion, waging to make money from a creative endeavor to make ends meet, is unwise. It adds pressure and leaves your destiny in the hands of others' judgement.

[@murphyia1980]

@@VenusTheory or without capitalism (or, to be less political, without the need to nearly kill yourself over and over just to survive).

[@Xenowave]

9:32 "Are you still gonna be happy with what you did?" this is EXACTLY why I take the sweetest of my time with my music making process, and the same reason why some friends are begging for me to release some stuff and I'm just like "No not yet" 💀💀💀 I'm not looking for perfection, just completion of my vision y'know? Love this question.

[@yousifaldailami4241]

Same lol😂😂 I have to make something worth uploading then upload that. But they want money and views which is another whole dimension that is unlikely to reach, and I can't tell them "nah i am just having fun" cus I am also trying to be successful too, without it being the purpose of making music.

[@Xenowave]

@@yousifaldailami4241 Yeah it's a balance I have no idea how to do 😭😭

[@yousifaldailami4241]

@@Xenowave I think I can balance but I doubt that my friends would understand my intentions 😪

[@Xenowave]

@@yousifaldailami4241 Good thing this is your journey and not your friend's journeys 💃💃💃

[@quasiwipeout]

Excellent commentary & expose about what it's like to be a musical artist today. Thank you so much for discussing this super relevant topic that we all face! Love your channel & the discussions about these topics, keep it up! Happy Holiday's & Best Wishes for a better 2023 for everyone! Cheers!

[@Naafun]

Lots of relatable points! Thanks for shining a light on this for artists!

[@myturningpoint]

I adore this video and the message within as it intensely resonates with me as a 48 yr old singer/songwriter who's been playing since the age of 15, but 12 years ago just walked away from music completely, sold my instruments, everything. Suffered my entire life with crushing imposter syndrome, depression (only came to realise that last year), self-worth issues etc etc (the proto-typical tortured soul creative type) I always had a dysfunctional relationship with creating/playing music. I cared little for playing live and always preferred the creative act of creating a song or rehearsing a song and making it sound really tight in rehearsal. The insecure, low self-worth part of my pysche craved praise, applause, compliments, and yet, whenever anyone would compliment my playing or singing after a gig I would physically shrink from it and not know how to process it or deal with it. So after a painful divorce in 2008 and 6 months of therapy I left my home town, moved away and sold everything musical related and focused on my other hobby which was cycling which is a purely objective, numbers/data driven thing for me. but then lockdown and covid happened and my competitive cycling stopped overnight. no more racing, no more competing and I went through what can only be described as an existential crisis. I lost my identity and went to a really dark place. A couple of things happened after that, The Scrubs Podcast 'Fake Doctors, Real Friends' (I'm a massive scrubs fan and the music is a massive component to that) and I went back into therapy. I bought an acoustic guitar during lockdown as a desire to play again came back after re-watching Scrubs for like the 10th time, and as part of my therapy I had to write a letter to myself which would then be posted to me at an undermined amount of time after the course had finished. In that letter I basically said to myself two things: 1. Just do something. Doesn't matter whether its 5 minutes or even 1 minute, just do something every day. 2. Post 1 video to KZbin of you playing a song and do it for yourself, not for anyone else. By the time the letter had arrived through my letter box, I had posted approx 30 video's to KZbin and my channel is for me, I dont push it and beg for likes and subscribes, I just do the songs i want to do and if people like it and sub, then its just an added bonus and an organic growing of the channel. I'm writing and recording orignal material as well for release in 2023 and its my music and my style and what I want to write with no compromises and its for me. If other people enjoy it and listen to it and it makes me even a tiny bit of revenue via the streaming services then its just a bonus (I have a well paid, full time job, a family and a cat and a dog, life is good and I have no desire to play live at all, I'll quite happily be a bedroom artist and youTube video maker) tl;dr not gonna happen, if you're too lazy to read the above, I'm not gonna feed your laziness. I wrote this for Venus theory not for random likes from people I don't know on the youTubes

[@Keshanut]

I like your story as it is inspiring for others including myself. I haven't posted any of my work as I thought it was sub standard for public consumption. Now i don't care, and started to post some of my own work which has been sitting in my computer for years. Thanks for your post.

[@helengren9349]

🙏 Please kindly look up quantum healing with Tena and Karen. They can help You with Your healthsituation, as thoughts and all happened to You that affect You in Your life now.. Blessings with health & luck 🙏🌟✨🕊️

[@bipolrbear9932]

I havent opened my computer to work on music in literally three days and this video spoke directly to me.. I was just thinking the other day how much I love my first album and how Im struggling to get beack into that creative mindset again, and I think that you are right.. Ive been trying to create music that sells. This video kinda opened my eyes to all of that and I really appreciate you posting this.

[@NDSOart]

Great points man! I've always been a creator and haven't had any big success so this is definitely something I think about a lot. Enjoying the process, the time you spend with other creatives working on projects, and being able to appreciate what you've made are really the most important things.

[@CraigAllenMusic]

Thanks for talking about this. We definitely need more of this kind of conversation to be happening around creative pursuits.

[@MaiWhisper]

I help out on a small horse farm. All the frustration, depression, envy, and rage pour out of me the second I hug an animal whether it's a horse, a goat, or a dog (the llama won't let me hug him 🙁). Also your videos have been very helpful to me both technically and spiritually. You and Benn be careful during those reverb quests!

[@vladrileynavilys]

Always the damn llama...

[@ncapone87]

I'm not a subscriber to your channel, but this came up in my recommended feed. Perfect timing, as this is something that I'm really feeling today. Two years ago, I deleted my music Instagram and my personal Facebook and I only used my music Facebook to market myself. I deleted most of my other social media because I spent so much time devoting my spare time to getting myself out there, with little luck. Today I decided to delete my music Facebook page and go without the help of social media. I'm not sure where to go with it but I'm going to try. I have a day job so I don't "need" to be successful with it, but it would be nice. Thanks for this video, I'm a subscriber now! I have a renewed motivation to get back to it!

[@KaelAlden]

Every day I feel like I should walk away from social media. Congrats to you for pulling it off. I think the world could use a detox.

[@ncapone87]

@@KaelAlden you should do it, it's liberating!

[@kinadabambino6872]

Thank you, this was much needed for me❤

[@athomesongwriting]

You put into words what I have been thinking for awhile as well. I shared this video with my Facebook group. Going into the new year I want musicians and artists to really focus on doing work that makes them feel fulfilled. I truly think success is a feeling that comes from inside of us. Keep making great REAL videos!

[@Reberhead]

I needed to hear this! It really helped me process a lot of things that I was feeling. What I got out of it most is that is important for me, the individual, to love myself and appreciate my art as it is a reflection of who I am, and to love who I am. There is a big difference to me between narcissistic arrogance and having inconsideration for others compared to the beauty of someone being content and grateful for who they are. Thanks to those who are passing this video around right now!!!

[@danielattali]

It was nice to see this video during spotify wrapped time of the year. I can definitely say that seeing my analytics over the passed year made me feel like crap, even though I put out an album for the first time this year that i'm super proud of. Then I see another producer friend of mine really happy to see his stats because he surpassed his goals for the year... ugh the jealousy all because of those stupid numbers. Anyways, this video and the wonderful comment section reminded me that I do really love my productions regardless of their stream count. Specifically reading @noisetheorem's comment about not giving a fuck was heartwarming hehe. For me what helps the most is taking the time and effort to find REAL people to share your passion with, whether it be family or friends in person, or friends you make online through a discord server or something. Even finding people that make you feel loved completely unrelated to music is good because now you feel more secure about your music by association. I learn time and time again that getting those comments from random people on a promo post is miles below having a close friend or family member tell you that they like it. Sooooo... Go out there and make some friends people!!!

[@KingOvGaleria]

Just checked out your song Olive Branch, I love your vocal melodies! Very creative and exotic sounding

[@danielattali]

@@KingOvGaleria OH thank you so much!! I appreciate it brother ❤️

[@danielattali]

@@KingOvGaleria OH thank you so much!! I appreciate it brother ❤️

[@treyhudson73]

Don't remember who said it, but I hear Joe Rogan repeat it all the time. "Jealousy is the thief of joy." I enjoyed reading your comment!

[@kylewarner7817]

I absolutely love this video, thank you for posting. This is the first of yours I’ve seen and it’s extremely on point. Just subscribed 🤙 Much Appreciated

[@radfilms5227]

Thanks for making this; I really appreciate the time you put into a topic like this.

[@dani_salguero]

Honestly, "no one is obligated to love you" thats so accurate, but the thing is, I don't wanna be famous, I want to be recognized, even by a few, 150K or less in the future, this videos always give me strength to affront the reality that I cannot give all my time to music as my main and only job, but I will have it when the shows are more often, thanks Venus ❤

[@VenusTheory]

Hard pill to swallow but important life lesson for sure. Even if you do 'make it' to whatever degree, eventually that fades out at a certain point. Important to remember that the only person you need to impress is yourself.

[@dani_salguero]

@@VenusTheory the only thing to make us be loved, are influences, not us, big industries, but the only thing I want, is make my money by music even if it's not millions :)

[@yousifaldailami4241]

Same, i want just a few bunch of people (among these 150k or so) to be truly amazed by my music. I want to be making music as a hobby that kind of pays me eventually without taking ALL my time and brain cells.

[@BRXKN99]

Same here bro, and the worst part for me is when you try hard to market yourself, make an aesthetic, make the music, and people either don't care or they shit on you.

[@ericktellez7632]

I dont care about none of that i just want to pay the bills my guy

[@Jeffmylife]

This video could not have appeared at a better time for me. I’ve been going through it. My 80s pop album project has been in the works for just about a year now and we’ve been hitting hitches since day one. On top of that, I’ve lost my house, my job, and my car since we started. We’ve done so much amazing work (my producer friend and I) so I feel awful about having invasive “is it even worth it” thoughts. I know we’ll finish it, and it will be very special, but boy… life only gotten harder since I decided to pursue this. Thanks for this video, I needed it 👍

[@jamesbackwardz]

Drop your Spotify

[@housepartyllc]

Loved this video!!Honestly I’m at a point where making the music is what makes me happiest. I haven’t released music in a while due to the fear of failure on the release but after watching this video, I realized I’ve never considered that I have already succeeded by expressing myself as an artist, even if the release tanks - I still made that song.

[@riloh58]

This is the best video I’ve watched on YT this hear (and quite possibly for several years). Thank you for compiling your thoughts into such a coherent and impactful form. I hope this message reaches a lot more people.

[@Thassodar]

When I first started two years ago I took the mindset "I like it, if you don't, it wasn't for you." That really helped me jump over the anxiety of putting what I thought sounded good out into the world. Once I had friends and family listening consistently the anxiety of putting music out was a little bit higher, especially if a track didn't get as many listens as the one put out before it. Overall, though, I'd like to make money producing music, but expressing myself creatively through music is something I've wanted to do since 5th grade. Even if I don't get paid, I'm still going to do it.

[@remixedcat]

Just started music 2.5yrs ago too !!

[@Thassodar]

@@remixedcat Hey I just listened to your stuff and it was pretty good! Question: who does your art or animations for your music? If you did it yourself is there a guide you used? Thanks for any help you provide!

[@remixedcat]

@@Thassodar I do everything myself!!! Thanks for checking meowt and there's a few phone apps I use.. can't mention names here cuz for some reason youtube deletes my comments when I do.. follow my socials and you can dm there

[@carlosp.1846]

The thing is simple, in the past I tried to do something else but I’m always back to the music, had no other choice than getting full into it, no matter what, because this is what I am and what makes me happy. With 1 or 1000 listeners, I do it for myself first.

One of the best and transparent videos in YT. Thanks for sharing, you are speaking for a lot of us.

[@Turbo852]

This is a great reminder to focus on what's really important. Great message! For me, at my stage, I'm still learning so I consider everything I'm making to be just for me and although it would be cool to make music that others could also appreciate, as long as I like it, that's good enough. But I'm still getting there.

I've been making music for about 8/10 years now. At the beginning I always felt kind of pressured into making something that could get noticed, and get me some money, and it never worked. Now I make the type of music I like, and don't really care about views or money. I'm so much happier now. I still post my work online but the most important thing that I''ve learned (and that you also mentioned) is loving the work that you've done. Being happy with it and feeling proud. Love your vids, keep it up

[@scary5455]

Why

@@scary5455 Because

[@samson4272]

Thank you for this. We’re doing the work, y’all! 🙏🏼

[@worldscalephotography]

You are amazing. Thank you so much for this video, it really changed my thinking process

[@nealstucki]

Reading through these comments, I feel so inspired by all the other amazing creatives out there who I find I actually have a lot in common with! These videos are honestly therapeutic and I hope you keep making more like them!

[@zachhowie2917]

I have nothing else to say other than this is one of the best KZbin videos I've seen in ages. I'm tired of the toxic positivity around how "easy" things are now. Love yourself and you've already made it.

[@necripto]

Es algo que vengo pensando hace años, y acá hablaste prácticamente de todo. De todo lo que me genera incomodidad en esta nueva industria. Siempre la música que he hecho viene desde mis gustos y de querer compartirlos. Cada día me interesa menos querer compartir sí hay que competir o prácticamente obligar a las personas que te escuchen.

[@TheReal_E.IRIZARRY]

Haga lo que ama ud. ESo es lo mas importante. Chau, companeros.

[@Makkerc]

Man, ty for this,just what I needed to see rn⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡

[@sgoogz]

Thank youuuuuu!!! This was really needed. 💙

[@raysubject]

i’m so glad i decided long time ago that music always stay just my hobby and income stuff will come just from my job (coding).. so i doesn’t need to take a care about clicks plays shares hearts and stuff like that :-)) I do it for fun of creation process, and when i put result online it ends here for me - don’t care if get 0 or 100 views 😂 Great article anyway, thanks !

[@fxdaly]

I couldn’t agree more and I’ve had a similar attitude. (See my comment above)

[@VenusTheory]

That's the way to do it a lot of the time I think - once it becomes work, a lot of the fun goes out the window and the insane pressure of expectation is constantly soul-crushing haha.

[@martindiehl155]

Well, same here. A long time ago I made my hobby (coding) successfully into a job. And I lost my hobby. This should not happen again with my hobby 'music production'. And for me, it is enough to have only one big fan of my music ... Me! 😀

[@raysubject]

@@VenusTheory yeah i can imagine it .. i always have mad respect to creative ppl who are capable to do it also as job..

[@PetrolMediaInc]

I whole heartedly agree with you. It’s taken a while for me to take the plunge back into music and though I’m creating better than before learning the metrics game has been annoying. To the point I started to realize the same thing. Just do you, love what you do, and be happy with your progress. That way you can grow.

[@VenusTheory]

Exactly - if you want to move forward, you have to use yourself as the baseline. If you're better than you were a week ago, you're winning.

[@actualkevin]

1% better per iteration is where to get.

[@PetrolMediaInc]

@@VenusTheory yep. I started producing music in 1998. I landed a gold record with defjam in 2006. And tons of tv placements. But the industry has changed so much that it’s more important to forge your path rather than fit into the model of someone else’s. Please continue to showcase content I’m working on my channel but man yours is very inspiring.

[@3h57film8]

Hi, thank you so much and congratulations for making this video summarizing what every creative had, is or will be experiencing once or forever in his professional creative journey so wisely. I’m 54, French filmmaker, you’re 29, I’m impressed. I’m gonna watch it again and share it. Peace love and whatever you deserve, Sir.

[@gacelasheladas]

I needed this, much love

[@vkm.official]

Performing for 35 years, producing for 20 years… “known” for 0 years. 😅 Excellent video. I’ve been warning people about this for many years, but, alas, I have few “followers.” Glad that you’ve laid it out in such clear words. I learned to just make my work and not care anymore… but it still would have been nice to have the spotlight for a moment. ⭐️

[@ASOTFAN16]

I actually would like to see more videos on topics like this. They're indeed not gonna please KZbin-kun but they might help people realise that they don't have to get validation from anyone but themselves. And for those that are already kind of at that stage, a little reminder doesn't hurt. In the end, music is art. And art is in the eye of the beholder as they say.

[@azazelren]

Thanks for putting this type of content out there bro! At the end of the day we all need to release what we love and not what other people/platforms might love.

[@wvailant]

As an artist starting out on the song journey, I really appreciate the reflection you brought on! Keep up the good work 😃

[@3rd_ear]

if you still like your track a year after creating, it is already good enough and there is no more need to question anything. 50 people likes the track/album = great, you have a proof that it's so not only in your mind. this is success, you are on the right way. and it's better to be on this right way than already at the whatever destination, which is main contributor to all that dark crap. you move=you live.

[@VenusTheory]

Definitely - making the music YOU want to hear is infinitely more important (both personally and in the sense of art as a whole) than making shit to fluff out people's playlist.

[@jaydekaytv]

Yep 👍

[@BorisG13]

Brilliant! I’m so grateful KZbin recommended this to me! So well said and structured and with no cheesy “believe in urself” type of bullcrap lines… I myself had come up with a few of the things that you said in the video in order to get over he goal of getting external approval. Even when I made something I like and how I wanted it to be, I wasn’t sure if it’s good because I didn’t trust myself. I told myself that the beauty is in the eye (in this case the ear) of the beholder and that it’s subjective. But as with many things hearing something from someone else makes it sink in much better. The same way external criticism can affect us so deeply, such encouraging and consolatory words from someone else can do the same. Your “It’s not anyone else’s job to love you… or even like you.” really made it sink in for me haha. There aren’t enough people like you saying it so straight and honestly. And so many people need to hear something like this because they don’t believe in their capabilities… I personally thought of perfecting my technical skills a bit more and then releasing music just to see what others think and while I might still do that, it definitely won’t affect me as much as it would have. I literally said earlier today to someone on Reddit that nowadays music feels like a consumable product and not art. Everything sounds and is structured the same, the catchy melody and beat, the shallow lyrics and you listen to it a few times, then when you’re done you never listen to it again and you’d rather not remember it, and that’s not art. I’ll be sure to follow what you have to offer on KZbin from now on!

[@NoahLifMusic]

This is a beautiful video, man. Thank you for speaking up about reality here, from the failings of marketing to the difficulty of being an artist. People coming up in music NEED to see things like this. I've been an arguably successful composer and producer for a while now, and the struggles you speak about are real -- the shiny candy that people use for marketing or simply to get attention are a failing enterprise in the key ways that you mention.

[@monstersaint]

What an awesome video. Thanks for sharing these ideas, so incredibly insightful and needed.

[@lessefrost]

This is my attitude about music. First and foremost my music is written for me. If others like it and my stuff is able to net a livable payckeck overall then sure I'd be over the moon and give it a shot, but chasing a paycheck with stuff that isn't me is how I set myself up for failure. I'd rather have a small following that was dependable and fulfilling to engage with than a large fluctuating one regardless. It feels like the better strategy for long term success in the industry, especially in the internet age.

[@VenusTheory]

Absolutely. Better to have one good friend than 10 acquaintances, and more realistic and survivable to have 1,000 real fans than 100,000 people who loosely care.

[@tonylacy5723]

At around 8:40 the tears started to flow here. I'm an old guy dabbling in music and enjoying it. Occasionally, a few people say they like it. Bonus! Thank you Cameron for your honesty, saying it like it is and validating what I do. It's MY music, screw the likes.

[@fawltytenor]

Keep at it! One of the worst things I did was stepping away from music for about 10 years.

[@PULSEMusicGroup]

Ok I love the transparency of this video and the facts of it all is honestly how I have felt even as a creator myself. Thanks so much for this Venus! This is a blessing!

[@willemvissermusic]

Thank you. This is exactly what I needed to hear at this moment 🙏