As a songwriter I am often insecure, over-critical of my own works, moody and sometimes even hopeless. There are so many songs, that you write, that come from your heart, that aim to express emotions and ideas in a way that´s honest and personal. On the other hand one often tries to write a big fat hit, a song people will love and remember and sing along to!
So, sometimes after the initial song idea is there, I start to build a bit around the core of it. I´ll try different harmonies, change the melody here and there and add certain elements that create more suspense. After hours and hours of working on a song like that, I start to feel a certain indifference towards the result I have gained. The song feels constructed, almost artificial and I will lack any connection to it.
I then realize that I sold the song´s soul. There is a fine line between bringing out the best in a song as opposed to deconstructing it completely only to build it up in a new way that´s mainly audience-driven. As a songwriter who wants to make a living of it, it might not matter, if you do not love the end result so much yourself. As an artist, it matters a lot!
I think you will always need to define what you wanna be in a certain moment: An artist, that expresses art authentically and sometimes even against the odds…(meaning that you play songs to an audience, even if you might lose fans…but staying true to your art), or an entertainer, who will adapt to the audience´s preferances, offering commercial songs, that will please everybody. Except maybe oneself.
What makes a true artist?
It is difficult to define what makes a true artist. There are many categories which need to be distinguished. You may be a performing artist, that doesn´t write their own songs, but manages to add depth to each song simply by working your voice beautifully or by changing arrangements etc., shedding light on angles that were hidden before. Or you may be the creating artist, that actually creates a piece of music…a songwriter! Both forms of art (which are often combined in one single human being) need to be highly cherished.
A pure entertainer on the other hand is more like a craftman to me. Someone who brought certain artistic techniques to a perfection by copying other masters, but who lacks the actual substance.
Think of someone copying van Gaugh paintings in a very identical way. That would be a great master of their craft. But would that be an artist that has a point? Now think of someone who copies a van Gogh painting, but changes all the colours and also changing the angle of certain objects. Do you consider that one an artist? I actually might!
In my opinion, art needs to be original. I think an artist is someone, that wants to bring across a message. That message might or might not always be pleasant to everybody. But that´s what art does. It looks beyond borders and habits we are used to. It points out new views, and brings us to new findings. It challenges the audience and makes us grow beyond ourselves.
Last not least, an artist is someone who doesnt depend on economic and social success. It´s someone courageous and someone who goes against the grains at times. You gotta learn to not be everybody´s darling. Bottom line. Art is about being genuine.
I personally love all art, that touches me emotionally. That moves me in whichever way.
Art is always beautiful, even if it is not always pretty.
You gotta decide where you wanna stand with each song you write, sing or sell!
Yours,
Katie
P.S. Of course writing an honest song, that´s a hit as well, is a perfect combination. And any artist may also write commercial songs to make a living. This is not a question of picking one of two options.