Being a real musician

Probably ever since my sophomore year in high school, music judging shows have irritated me and made me sick. Shows like American Idol and the Voice and all the other (Insert country here) Idols/ Talents have made me cringe because they reject all the singers who have amazing talent and true vocal control and keep the ones that "might improve or might not". Why does some pompous Brit or some talentless singer have the right so judge what's considered good music and what sounds good? Post Hardcore sounds good to me, but it makes a few of my friends cover their ears in pain. My friend listens to Revocation, and although they are fantastic musicians, they aren't my cup of tea. That doesn't mean that they shouldn't make music, that just means I personally, in my own opinion, don't. The worst part is when people think they don't have enough talent to get on these T.V. Shows and get a record signing. They think that getting on these shows is the only way that they can get a label to recognize them. I recall a few months back seeing a quote from Bruce Dickinson that captivated this idea perfectly.

"I don't understand these kids auditioning for X-Factor claiming they 'Just wanna make music'. Cut the crap. Let me introduce you to the kid teaching himself how to play guitar...... the busker in the train station..... the guys and girls recording their own demos and playing the small venues..... the unpublished songwriter with countless books full of lyrics.... the people who just want to be heard, who want to express themselves, their creativity and their artistic worth. They are the ones who just want to make music! They are the real artists!
Anybody auditions for X Factor it's because they want to be famous! Period! Otherwise they'd already be out there 'Making Music'."

Bruce Dickinson, Frontman of Iron Maiden

           

Recently David Grohl had an interview where he too shared similar ideals as I do, as well as Dickinson. And it makes so much sense. People like different genres, styles, tones. They want what they will like, and they know what they want to hear. Not everyone wants to hear shitty pop music like One Direction or Justin Bieber or whoever who get 6 writers to help them write a song that has a chorus of one repeated phrase and shallow verse and a terrible bridge. People want to hear music that will touch them, that they can relate to, mosh to, dance to, sing to without caring who will hear them. I can confidently say that I can belt out half of the "Wasting Light" album by the Foo Fighters without caring who would hear me at my college. I just walk around singing "Rope" or "Arlandria" as best as I can in a talking voice, but that's another tale.

Musicians should write their own music, on their own, or with a band. They should put their blood, sweat and tears into their work and make it as real as they can. Never compromising or worrying about if their songs will get on the radio. In his keynote speech for the 2013 SXSW, David Grohl mentioned that musicians and artists should try to find their own voice. Finding the inner you, and putting a rhythm, a beat, a melody and harmony to it. Finding the right words to fit the mood, letting one's emotions and feelings take over themselves so that they can properly express how, or what they feel. That's finding your own voice, at least that's what it is to me. Musician's should book their own gigs and make it as far as their van or car or truck can take them. A local band in my area, Picture Perfect, play shows practically every weekend, and through their hard work and determination, they got two or three EP's out. They even partially toured the whole East Coast on many occasions. At the time, their youngest member was a sophomore in high school... Being in a band, getting signed, pumping out albums, it's a job. Therefore, the effort should be put into it. For me personally, it's something to do on the side until I get it fully up and running. I want to learn how to play drums so I can record a full band experience by myself. Who knows, if I can hone my voice, I might even do vocals. But no matter what I come up with, I know that I will have made it, not someone else. I wouldn't have paid someone $100 bucks to write a verse for me, because at that very moment, when I hand over the money, I know I will become another dispensable cog in the machine.