Alex G's #bones

Three-and-a-half years ago, there was this.

A month later, she snuck into this one.

And then came the moment where everyone actually fell in love with her.

Which brings us to today. Video number 100. The new single off of Alex G's very first full-length album.

I've had the pleasure of kinda being around to more-or-less witness the entirety of Alex's career. I've been fond of telling people lately that if the opportunity to play drums for her had been presented to me just a couple of years ago, I probably would have passed. At the time, she was still just sort of figuring things out and happy performing other people's music. People were noticing, sure, but nothing all that "artistic" was going on.

Then, God flipped the switch.

Somewheres in the there, Alex G the artist - not cover artist, not YouTube artist, but artist artist - began to emerge. And I remember when I noticed it, too. She was opening for T-Ward on one of our tours and it hit me like a truck while I was watching her solo acoustic set one night: "G's frickin' good."

And she just kept getting better.

Her Found EP in 2012 was a big hint. Artists sometimes take big steps forward, sure. This new album, though...

Well, I guess we'll all just have to wait and see, won't we?

So, congratulations, G. By the grace of God, you've done it, you're doing it, and you're gonna do it. It's been sort of wild for a guy who knew he wanted to be a musician 15 years ago to get to watch your journey from almost the very beginning and see how quickly you've grown into what you are today. And I can't say how excited I am to be a part (even just a little tiny part) of it.

#bones

Pressure.

There's an interesting element of Western sociology that goes something like this:

"Back in my day, we didn't have _____ and we had to _____ and you kids today are so _____ that you don't even know _____!"

I'm sure you've all heard some version of this.

What I found so thought-provoking upon hearing these kinds of statements last week (while watching a news discussion show) is that, here in America anyway, the entire narrative purpose given to people my own age by that of my parents' and grandparents' generations was that they did all that they did - working so hard and sacrificing so much - so that we could have a better life than they had and not have to deal with the same struggles.

Don't get me wrong: I love that. I love that our grandparents endured the Depression, fought World War II, and instituted a technological and industrial rise that launched America into the forefront of world prominence. I love that our parents continued the trend and worked hard to provide us, their kids, with a better life and more opportunity than 99% of the entire history of humankind has ever known. I am beyond thankful to be living in the times in which I find myself, having been the recipient of so much that I do not deserve.

But.

Endurance.

The media labels the winner of the gold medal at each Olympics' 100-meter dash event as "The World's Fastest Man".

This has always seemed a dubious title to me, as the winner of the 100-meter dash is clearly only the world's fastest man... when it comes to running the 100-meter dash.

What about all of the other, longer races? What about the marathons that take hours to complete? What about the endurance events that would no-doubt result with the sprinters (the "World's Fastest Man" among them) finishing at the back of the pack?

This world celebrates speed over endurance. It praises immediacy over perseverance. It looks to the here-and-now while trying to pretend like the long run isn't even a thing. 

The 1975 were together as a band for seven years before finally getting picked up by a label. Publishers passed on Stephen King's first novel 30 times. Bill Gates' first business was a total failure. Steven Spielberg was rejected by USC's film school. Twice.

The 100-meter dash is an impressive event, but it's also the one that's finished the soonest. The world celebrates young success and - in the name of "common sense" - encourages people to give up & change direction when things don't go right. But some of the most potent & accomplished artists, entrepreneurs, and success stories the world has ever known were born out out of adversity, rejection, and overcoming failure.

Endurance.
Diligence.
Persistance.
Perseverance.

These qualities are the unsung heroes of dreamers all over the world. Learn how to endure - how to be patient, how to wait while working hard, how to keep the faith - and your dreams will learn how to survive in the face of incredible adversity.

Let the sprinters have the 100-meter dash. Learn how to run the marathon.

Quincy Tells It Like It Is

Legendary producer and arranger Quincy Jones recently shared some insight on the modern music industry.

"Music has gone so far down lately because everyone is going after the money," he says. "People are making songs to sell all sorts of things such as tires, clothes and alcohol. When you go after the money, God walks out of the room, trust me. I never went out after the fame and money. I was just doing what I loved and the money came. You gotta do what you love and really believe in it because that is your truth. I plan to stay like that." 

Read and consider the rest of his thoughts on the industry, hip hop, techno, and the difference between contemporary and more... ahem... classic producers like Quincy himself here. I might respectfully suggest that such words from a living legend and a more-than-five-decade veteran of the music industry should carry some weight for those of us looking both to make music our living as well as for those who just enjoy being fans and listening.

Seems to me it might be time to reconsider a few things.

Somebody at Salon.com Gets It Right

I am, simply put, not a fan of salon.com. However, this article on David Foster Wallace and his prescient views on the effects of irony on art & culture contained the following brilliant excerpt:

'To make something new, to transcend, one must have an honest relationship with what is: history, context, form, tradition, oneself. Dishonesty is the biggest obstacle to making original, great art. Dishonesty undermines a work’s internal integrity — the only standard by which a work can succeed. If the work becomes a vehicle for one’s ego, personal or political agenda, self-image, desire for fame, adulation, fortune — human as these inclinations may be — the work will be limited accordingly.'

 Like I said, brilliant.