I mean, shit. I guess I kind of didn't. I started this blog with all kinds of pomp and circumstance, claiming that I would have all sorts of NEW material for you and I would stay active on here and yada yada yada. And in some ways, I did. I put out an album. I made some music videos. I did a bunch of shows. I started getting some press. I even have an instagram now! But then I got distracted with the ten billion other ways in which I am expected to spill my soul out for fans, friends and family alike. Oh and also keep a job and feed myself and try to get hotter with age.
These are the perfectly reasonable sentiments of the greater purchasing-community of the pop world. At least that's what it feels like to me. So I made a decision: Leave.
Before you go tweeting that KT quit music and gave up on her dreams... let me explain myself. I'm not leaving music. I will never leave music. I honestly don't think I could if I tried. I'm just leaving the place in music where I judge myself endlessly based on what other people think of me and what I am doing. The place where I think Miley Cyrus is my legitimate "competition..." and in fact the place where I consider ANY other musician competition. This is not a contest, this is art. And we are not against each other, we are family. Or at least we should be.
Recently, I entered a music "contest" hosted by NPR Tiny Desk Concerts. Which is actually pretty damn cool... each band that entered was asked to record a video of themselves performing an original tune at a desk- any desk- the way they would if they were given the chance to perform at the prestigious NPR Tiny Desk. Thousands of unknown artists came out of the woodwork with incredible songs that so deserve to be heard. Seriously- just go on YouTube and look up "NPR Tiny Desk Contest." Your socks? They will be knocked off.
My musical soul mate (and band mate) Donny was the one who first pointed out to me the magic of what NPR had actually done. First of all, they treated the artists with respect. No one was asked to tweet their entry, or make their friend's vote for them every day or make a fool of themselves in any other way that might help this already successful company spread some hashtag that will only matter for a week or two in the world's several-billion year memory. None of that. Second, they inspired a LOT of artists to pull their shit together and create a video. Even if it is not selected, these videos are fantastic content for any artist, and I think we can all admit it is sometimes hard to find the inspiration to create something like that. Third, they posted a bunch of them on their Tumblr, offering free advertising and an NPR stamp of approval.
But most importantly? They just connected an entire generation of serious, driven indie musicians into an easily accessible network, country wide. So now, if I want to play a show in say, Seattle... I can go look on YouTube for Seattle bands that contributed. When I find one I like, I can reach out to them via their social media and links online. Then I can email them and see if they want to maybe trade shows, knowing that we are in a similar place in our careers. THAT IS FUCKING GENIUS, NPR. Already I have begun a list of people I would absolutely love to play with, or even open for. And when I am ready to book my tour, I am most certainly NOT going to do it based on the venues, or the paychecks, or a manager, or any of that other crap that takes me away from creating art. I am going to do it based on the artists. Because they are the reason those venues and paychecks and other bullshit exist. They are the reason there is a "music scene" anywhere. They ARE the music scene. And I am so looking forward to visiting all of these magical scenes.
Well done, NPR. Well done. And kudos to my "competitors." You are all mind-blowingly talented and inspiring.
Until next time and with love,
xo KT
