The Difference Between Drive and Discretion
I know we all have those friends who seem to have something brand new going on. They get super hot about it. It’s all they talk about, and then it disappears forever into the ether.
Like my friend who’s always on some musical idea. He gets it out there on Facebook and beyond, and then it disappears, and then the associated shit is up for sale.
I’ve always wanted to one Saturday dig through his Facebook and see all the stuff and whatever, but that feels a little mean-spirited, especially since we are all like that.
I was riding around the lake today and a bunch of reggae music came on, and I said to myself, “JD, you should definitely get out there and play some reggae covers.”
It’s a really horrible idea.
Could I do it? Yes.
Would it be good? I don’t know.
It would probably take a few years of alchemy, and that’s not happening.
I don’t know why people are so out there with new ideas. I guess I’m way more reserved, and when they don’t happen, what do they feel? I’d rather keep that all to myself, and then things kind of have a way of working out.
But I will say this: as a musician, I think you’re tuned to showing the good stuff and throwing away the bad. It’s kind of like the thoughts in your head. They’re important until they’re not. The songs that make it are the ones you let people hear, and there’s no reason to let them hear the garbage stuff, right?
So I guess it’s a filter issue.
The greater point is that I think the people who are really successful have a great mixture of drive and discretion. If you can get those two things aligned, even if your music is not that great, you can find something to do musically, certainly to support yourself and beyond.
But if either of those is too much, or not enough, I think you’re toast.