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Yesterday, I read Brooke Fraser's blog. It changed my life and I'm not even exaggerating. Here is where I begin...
Two years ago, I went to Vanessa Carlton's concert in Seattle. Afterwards, I was determined to become a musician and accomplished artist. Everyday I would write down lyrics and even wrote a few songs on the piano and guitar. They weren't amazing or anything, but I always found inspiration and it was something I enjoyed. I made a transition between pop to electronica. Two completely different genres and yet, I was proud of myself for the goals I set and what I had accomplished from my experience in song writing.
I don't know what happened, but I stopped writing before my first semester of college and forgot about my passion of becoming a musician. Until today, I started writing songs again. Reading Brooke Fraser's blog has encouraged me to start where I left off.
Everyday I go to school and learn about life. It's actually quite fascinating, even though biology is a challenging subject. What I read is exactly what I've learned in biology. Every organism is a processor, what goes in is different than what comes out. It sounds like a silly concept, but it really isn't. There are many ways to go about thinking of processors. The work and efforts we put into whatever we're doing makes a huge difference in the end, cause and effect. It's all about hard work. After reading about Leonard Cohen and Charles Wesley, I was shocked and amazed. Nothing is ever random. Even the most seemingly simple things do not come about by chance. Life and art are emergent properties. And at all the same time, complex in every way. Even the greatest musicians of all time didn't create their music with magic. We would all like to take short cuts and easy ways around everything. Even creating art, we would like things to work instantly. I always look at people, friends around me that seem brilliant and born with talent. In biology I've learned that nobody, naturally has a talent unless they work for it. It's incredible how much work musicians have put into their songs. This is all evidence that music and life itself isn't a coincidence and didn't happen by chance.
The part where I read about "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen was more than just shock. I have heard the cover by Jeff Buckley many times and it is one of my favourite songs. The fact alone that there were 80 different verses until the final product of the song, is more than I could imagine. I've sang along to the lyrics and never knew how much history and energy was built in those words. It's unreal and simply amazing when you think about all of this.
Artists everywhere have put in so much of their time and hard work into what they do. In the end, every bit is worth it. Reading these blog entries have given me so much hope. Today I started writing music again. I've realized that I can do anything in life. I can accomplish anything if I put in all my hard work. So even if I never do become that musician I've always wanted to be, at least I can say I've become a better person and artist altogether. Whatever it may be that I do in the future, I know that I can overcome all things with honest efforts and hard work. For now, I'll continue carrying my thoughts, learning about life and different people, finding my inspiration, writing and doing things I love.
For some real hope and inspiration, read these blog entries. These are words of encouraging advice from one of the most humbling, heartfelt artists.
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