this is an important point, because right now there are a lot of anarchists and revolutionaries who think we live in times that are not rebellious at all, and hope for a "change of times" and wonder if that change ever comes; when they could incite this change by themselves! if a dozen artists get together, and they're clever enough, they could not only incite another 60s era, but a full scale utopian anarchist revolution without any problem.
Reversal Of Facts
the reversal of facts in our "modern times" can be seen in how time is truncated into certain "eras". for example: the era of the 60s was full of rebellion and social change, and this let certain authors and musicians thrive and they did the best work in that era. the truth is the other way round: before and in the 60s authors and artists created politically radical content and this led to the rebellion and uprising of the 60s.
this is an important point, because right now there are a lot of anarchists and revolutionaries who think we live in times that are not rebellious at all, and hope for a "change of times" and wonder if that change ever comes; when they could incite this change by themselves! if a dozen artists get together, and they're clever enough, they could not only incite another 60s era, but a full scale utopian anarchist revolution without any problem.
this is an important point, because right now there are a lot of anarchists and revolutionaries who think we live in times that are not rebellious at all, and hope for a "change of times" and wonder if that change ever comes; when they could incite this change by themselves! if a dozen artists get together, and they're clever enough, they could not only incite another 60s era, but a full scale utopian anarchist revolution without any problem.
Reach
Some people say social media makes it easier to reach people as an artist. But this is not true. To talk from my own experience. Before the days of social media and youtube etc. When I had my first vinyl out on Blut Records. That already put me on the map in the scene. A few weeks later I had my first gig at the Fuckparade, and was already approached by people who had heard it and asked me about it. I played it to Scud and Society Suckers and lots of other people. I don't say this to boast, but to make a point: would a first release by an artist on a netlabel posted on Facebook put him or her "on the map" in the Hardcore scene? It could happen. But it is very unlikely... It might just get ignored, or seen as just another release and passed by.
The truth about social networks is that it works for artists that build their position *outside* the social networks. There are two major groups for this: artists who had a "career" before the social media hype, and even better, before the internet spread. All those 80s and early 90s artists, maybe even 70s and 50s. These people *can* reach a lot of people with the social media. And artists that have the backing of big music industry, once again something that exists outside of Facebook and Instagram etc., all the Lady Gagas and Adeles etc.
To this day, half the feedback I get to my sound is based on my vinyl releases I did over 15 years ago, before the rise of social media. Even though I had hundreds of digital releases since then!
And I avoided Facebook for a long time. People told me I could spread my music on Facebook more easily. But the truth is that by spreading it outside of Facebook, I made it clear I'm not a "Facebook Artist" and that gave a boost to my output, so I reached much more people when I finally came onto Facebook than if I'd already been earlier. And the longer I'm on Facebook the less feedback positive and negative (and interest?) I get to my sound. Again, not to boast, but to make this point.
Social Media is a very two-edged sword especially for artists and it can be hard to walk this edge successfully.
The truth about social networks is that it works for artists that build their position *outside* the social networks. There are two major groups for this: artists who had a "career" before the social media hype, and even better, before the internet spread. All those 80s and early 90s artists, maybe even 70s and 50s. These people *can* reach a lot of people with the social media. And artists that have the backing of big music industry, once again something that exists outside of Facebook and Instagram etc., all the Lady Gagas and Adeles etc.
To this day, half the feedback I get to my sound is based on my vinyl releases I did over 15 years ago, before the rise of social media. Even though I had hundreds of digital releases since then!
And I avoided Facebook for a long time. People told me I could spread my music on Facebook more easily. But the truth is that by spreading it outside of Facebook, I made it clear I'm not a "Facebook Artist" and that gave a boost to my output, so I reached much more people when I finally came onto Facebook than if I'd already been earlier. And the longer I'm on Facebook the less feedback positive and negative (and interest?) I get to my sound. Again, not to boast, but to make this point.
Social Media is a very two-edged sword especially for artists and it can be hard to walk this edge successfully.
The Power Of Imagination
You can imagine that you are rich, or traveling the universe, or be the president of the world, or have a secret room full of gold, or whatever you wish and choose and desire. You can do this regardless of your life situation, at night, in prison, maybe even in daydreaming. So why should you ever be sad about something? No matter if you're sick or poor or lonely or in whatever trouble you are in, you can always imagine something wonderful and great, imagine yourself to experience something wonderful and great. Why ever complain, why ever feel not satisfied? You could imagine the perfect life.
The answer by many will be: 'because something that is imagined is not as strong, as powerful, as intense, has not the same impact on the mind and the senses, as something that is very much real'. 'Imagining yourself to be married to a pop idol is not the same as this being really the case'.
But this is not true. It's like giving a child a bicycle and saying, if you ride this bicycle, you can get farther and easier ahead to destinations you might hardly reach by foot, and the child tries to ride the bicycle but falls down after a few meters and is hurt, and says, 'this is much worse than going by foot'. But this only happened because the kid did not know yet how to properly use a bicycle. It has to learn it.
And the same way goes for human imagination. You have to learn how to use your imagination. If you managed to do so, imagining yourself to be married to a pop star or being rich or a galactic traveler will not only feel as powerful and intense as wonderful as if this would really be the case, it will feel *better*, much much better and more intense than the real thing. So exercise your imagination, learn how to use it, spend time on it, a lot of time, and you will slowly get to this point. And then you will be free of whatever situation you are in in real life and you can always escape to your imagination wherever you are, however you feel, no matter what problems you are in.
Of course, the first step in learning how to imagine things properly is to believe that this is true, that human imagination is really stronger than any real world experience you could be in.
Artist of all ages, consciously or subconsciously always knew this. Do not songs, movies, books touch you in more profound and deeper ways that your everyday experience? This is because they aim at your imagination, not at your "real world". Is not a song about heartbreak much more pleasurable than real heartbreak? Can not a love song be more faithful and true than a romantic affair you experienced in real life? Of course this is so. And this is the power of imagination.
So who cares about sadness and trouble. Train your imagination, learn to imagine properly.
And you will become free.
The answer by many will be: 'because something that is imagined is not as strong, as powerful, as intense, has not the same impact on the mind and the senses, as something that is very much real'. 'Imagining yourself to be married to a pop idol is not the same as this being really the case'.
But this is not true. It's like giving a child a bicycle and saying, if you ride this bicycle, you can get farther and easier ahead to destinations you might hardly reach by foot, and the child tries to ride the bicycle but falls down after a few meters and is hurt, and says, 'this is much worse than going by foot'. But this only happened because the kid did not know yet how to properly use a bicycle. It has to learn it.
And the same way goes for human imagination. You have to learn how to use your imagination. If you managed to do so, imagining yourself to be married to a pop star or being rich or a galactic traveler will not only feel as powerful and intense as wonderful as if this would really be the case, it will feel *better*, much much better and more intense than the real thing. So exercise your imagination, learn how to use it, spend time on it, a lot of time, and you will slowly get to this point. And then you will be free of whatever situation you are in in real life and you can always escape to your imagination wherever you are, however you feel, no matter what problems you are in.
Of course, the first step in learning how to imagine things properly is to believe that this is true, that human imagination is really stronger than any real world experience you could be in.
Artist of all ages, consciously or subconsciously always knew this. Do not songs, movies, books touch you in more profound and deeper ways that your everyday experience? This is because they aim at your imagination, not at your "real world". Is not a song about heartbreak much more pleasurable than real heartbreak? Can not a love song be more faithful and true than a romantic affair you experienced in real life? Of course this is so. And this is the power of imagination.
So who cares about sadness and trouble. Train your imagination, learn to imagine properly.
And you will become free.
On Sharing
One of the reasons I give most of my music away for free is that this is one of the very few "basic and simple" things you can do against Capitalism. Sharing something for free - instead of selling something for money. Not making an economical calculation out of what you do, not "thinking economically" at all - just going with the flow. Of course some will say, 'but artists have to make a living', but seriously, which artist in Doomcore or Speedcore or Breakcore can make a living out of his meager "sales"? Maybe 5, maybe 6 persons.
While this is indeed a very simple tactic, it is nevertheless very effective. Because the outcry against any Anti-Capitalist tactics will always be: It won't work, you will end up helping the enemy or joining his force etc. And this is true. Say, an artist wants to spread a "riot image". And he succeeds with it! Then Capitalism can still very quickly hijack and use this for its own ends. Cash in on the riot image, make "riot wear clothes", sell "riot" music, make more TV shows about riots!
Capitalism still works even if everyone on Earth would wear "riot wear clothes".
But Capitalism will no longer exist if everyone shared for free.
While this is indeed a very simple tactic, it is nevertheless very effective. Because the outcry against any Anti-Capitalist tactics will always be: It won't work, you will end up helping the enemy or joining his force etc. And this is true. Say, an artist wants to spread a "riot image". And he succeeds with it! Then Capitalism can still very quickly hijack and use this for its own ends. Cash in on the riot image, make "riot wear clothes", sell "riot" music, make more TV shows about riots!
Capitalism still works even if everyone on Earth would wear "riot wear clothes".
But Capitalism will no longer exist if everyone shared for free.
Social Isolation
Due to my mental health problems, I lived some time in near total social isolation (minus internet and the online world). On the other hand, during the time I played gigs at Tresor etc. I lived a very tangible social life with plenty of friends and meetings and parties.
But looking back, the lenghty time alone was much better for me. It's when I did my best tracks and music. The social is just not "it".
But looking back, the lenghty time alone was much better for me. It's when I did my best tracks and music. The social is just not "it".
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