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Empty Promises, Broken Hearts
It starts with a novel idea. Then it builds into an overwhelming burning desire and drive to pursue one's passion. It's not easy, and all the sayings about the life of an artist are true. Part of the rites of passage, it seems, is to get the crap kicked out of you by the reality that there are more people out there doing what you do than there are spots in the limelight. But in the end, someone has to be in the limelight. Someone has to be the leader of the pack, either by default or by perseverance. Much like the saying goes, you have to be in it to win it.
In general, the bands we cover in Chord are in it to win it. They tell us the stories of how they overcame, how they got to where they are, and how they'll continue on regardless of the trauma they've gone through. There's no shortage of bands' ill fates to fill episode after episode of VH1's Behind the Music. Publishing Chord does not make our staff or me any sort of musician. Still, we show up to work with our passion and drive in much the same way bands get in their vans and hit the road. It's a creative process that many times involves sweat, tears, and blood. So why do we do it? Good question.
I recently watched an indie film called Danielson: A Family Movie. If you've not seen it and are interested in watching determination personified, add it to your Netflix. The movie in short is about an artist, Daniel Smith, aka Br. Danielson, who sets out to prove that art and music are one in the same, as well as to sing songs about God. For this he recruits his family in various incarnations, extended family member Sufjan Stevens included. At one point one of Daniel's sisters seems to unknowingly answer my question about why we do what we do. She says it's difficult at times, and they never know how a band of musicians/family members dressed in white nurse uniforms singing songs about Jesus will be received. In many cases they have to put the "turn the other cheek" tenet into practice. She talks about how at any given show they're mocked or made fun of, yet they still go out there and do their thing. Conversely, she says that at just about every show there's a smiling face of a fan that the Danielson Famile has touched, and that makes it all worth it. She goes on to say that they do it because they simply have to. I think that's the answer: We have to do it.
When I was fortunate enough to get tattooed by Kat Von D, she told me about how she got started in her profession. When she began tattooing at age 14 she didn't even know being a tattoo artist could be a job. She just wanted to tattoo. In other words, she had to. Even as the needle was piecing my arm, she was telling me how she just wants to get better at tattooing. She still has the drive and determination! Amazing. It inspired me so much that I wanted to put her on the cover. In other words, I had to.
This is an industry that will break your heart at the lowest of lows and raise you to the heavens at its highs. In the end, you need to do it because you have to. At Chord, I remind myself and we remind each other of this often. We love it. We live it. And just like Daniel's sister said, I hope that doing what we do reaches at least one person every issue. Thank you to those who've e-mailed me expressing that sentiment.
In the words of Jim Carroll, this one is for you, my brother (or sister)!
Gus
gus@chordmagazine.com
PS please join our tribe myspace.com/Chordmag
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