"For the love of what you do"
As the days pass by it becomes clearer that the notion of having control over anything but my attitude and the person I choose to be is comical.
The one thing I have found that really strips me down to my last compound is music. Everyone has that thing... that thing that just sets the world right... it silences the demons or critics... and if you are serving that thing and not yourself, then the path is usually as clear as a bell.
Luckily music is something infinitely bigger than me and I will spend my life trying to unlock as many of its mysteries as I can. I will never master my voice or the guitar… and thank God. Because that would be like finding the end of the Universe or the last page of the Internet. Really, the more you learn the more you find how much you don't know!
As far as the rewards of that one thing… well I suppose it depends on your life's priorities. I wasted a lot of time in my younger days trying to be famous or clamoring for attention. I found myself living a very selfish life as I was always the first to take and the last to give. That will catch up with you at some point ,as I found out, and find you at your weakest moment. I guess that's what they call hitting rock bottom. From that came a profound adjustment of my priorities.
Now, the best I can hope for is a modest place out in the country with a porch, a guitar, a cold beer, a great dog and most of all family. This doesn't mean that I am going to stop trying to play to the biggest audience that wants to hear my music. Trust me, it is as big of a thrill for me as I hope it is for the listener. There is nothing quite like playing in a band and having the music really take over. No drug can touch that. The only thing that is bigger for me is love but they are certainly not mutually exclusive.
It seems everywhere you turn these days people with the wrong idea (young hollywood, corrupt politicians, the news media, etc….) are trying to grab our attention. They are blurring the line between black and white because that is their way to free us of our wallets and serve their selfish end… For me this just reinforces that retaining my integrity in this world of compromise is the reward. I don't mean to sit in an ivory tower or ride a high horse because life is full of give and take. However, I do think this is as fundamental as knowing the difference between right and wrong and making the right choice. As my mom always says… "Honey, if you can get up every morning and take a good look in the mirror then you've done good." Amen Mom…everyday I need to remind myself of this or that slippery slope just gets steeper and steeper.
Yeah I know I am rambling…. but I hope if you are reading this that you have found that one thing or are at least seeking it out. Because that one thing doesn't care how old you are, what color your skin is, what kind of car you drive, or your politics… it only cares that you love it!
Education
Hey,
BK here... I am in the stages of updating my Bio and background and realized that my current version is misleading and fails to mention that I did finally graduate with a degree in Economics from the University of North Texas. And - I think I am about 15 hours short of a music degree.
Granted I crammed four years into five because of playing and recording ;-) but I got it done. I am very proud to be a grad and hold education in the highest regard.
Just thought that needed to be made clear as alot of you folks who contact me are about to set sail for your late teens and early twenties.
Trust me - my college years I would not trade for anything in the world - and I mean anything. So if you have the opportunity to go - GO!!!
Rock on!
BK
Sending out an SOS...
It's funny, I will catch the flavor of the month song on the radio or the very rare music video on what used to be called "Music" Television and it never fails that I am always disappointed at what I see and hear. Our society has become obsessed with the empty promise of instant riches and celebrity at the expense of someone else. No one is ever to blame and they would say we are all just victims of circumstance. Once you wake up and see their intentions for what they really are you realize that you have to pick a side.
Who are they? Well to me they are the major record labels, MTV, sell out musicians, the majority of Hollywood, "Reality" TV producers and anyone else pedaling someone's misery or dirty laundry. No wonder the rest of the world views America with distrustful eyes. Our mass cultural export has become about as deep as the kiddie pool at the "Y" and about as evolved.
Now keep in mind that there are still huge inspirations abounding but you really have to dig very deep through the marketing noise to find the real gems. When I do find one I hold on tooth and nail and hope that the artist or source doesn't have to compromise too much to keep their vision true. The reality is that the arts cannot survive without sponsorship but the bigger and narrower media gets the more the message gets watered down to become background noise for their propaganda. I have had a taste of this world and I can't say it suits me at all.
What is true about real artists is that what they do speaks to people at a very primal / emotional level and that is real power (Bob Marley anyone!). The way a great song can stop you in your tracks during your finest hour or worst hour is what drew me into music. I was listening to the Black Crowes "Soul Singing" recently and man that tune just fills me up! "Angel" from Sarah McLachlan is another musical moment that always makes me stop whatever I am doing and listen. Who needs therapy when you have songs like this!
My point to all of this is that we have the power to vote with our head and hearts via our pocket books. Only the listener / viewer can send this real message to the sponsors giving real artists room to separate the oil and water that is music and commerce.
