chasing serendipity
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Autopilot Antidotes
Art isn’t just about nice moments, drama, and dopamine hits; that’s the entertainment industry. An artist’s job, really, is to help us see. To become conscious of what we’re rushing past, and that which is getting lost in the tide of mindless living. To be an antidote to autopilot. The Thoughts of Others “It’s always…
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Tapping Out
Whoever they are, it’s in their interests for most new artists to tap out. It means they can monetise the hope in the short term, but don’t have to change their own behaviours and systems too frequently in the long run. Like most important change, good art is more likely when an artist is both…
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Aphorism 30
Insecurities feed on a steady diet of reassurance. The Thoughts of Others “Whatever you’re meant to do, do it now. The conditions are always impossible.” – Doris Lessing
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Living Like a Genius
In Ray Davies’s Americana autobiography, he relays the story of a woman who wanted to join him on the road to see how he ‘does it’ – ‘it’ mainly relating to his writing of songs. In an attempt to discourage, he had to explain how boring that would be for her in reality. It’s likely…
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On Having Been Conditioned
We’re in a culture that has conditioned us to steal attention. One of our fundamental responsibilities as artists is to avoid the bear trap. Easier said than done. Last weekend I shared my blog on my Instagram and Facebook accounts for the very first time since I started it a year and half ago. Of…
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No Perfect Launch
On a creative front, there are few things more debilitating than the notion of a ‘perfect launch’. Resisting the idea that everything must be flawless from the get-go not only allows us to get out of heads, but it gives us permission to evolve. Here are three examples of some successful things that weren’t perfect on ‘day…
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The Popularity Seeking Complex
Harry Belafonte said, “It is the artists who reveal a society to itself.” The problem is, the more we’re focused on ourselves and our own PR – whether that be in the form of social media posts or simply second guessing how our work will be received – the less likely an artist is to…
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Optimising for Nostalgia
How many of the activities that we indulge, as well as paths we pursue, are driven by what we find ourselves nostalgic for? If we don’t guard against the seductions of nostalgia, we risk letting our decisions get directed by a desire to re-create feelings that were the product of a unique and non-repeatable experience.…
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In Pursuit of Conciseness
Conciseness requires effort. Effort up front to filter out the extraneous. To separate signal from noise. If done well, it may become as much a service to others as it is a benefit to oneself. Every word beyond the core information increases the chances that we’ll be misunderstood. It also increases the amount of cognitive…
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The Art of Pacing
Pacing implies control, and it applies to more than running or racing. Perhaps not quite its opposite, but certainly an ugly relative, is rushing. Rushing implies a lack of control. Being at the mercy of the environment, so that we see the world with less clarity and expose ourselves to risk. When we’re rushing, even…