Music, Art, Struggle, Blockchain Breakthroughs: The Watering-Down, Dark Night, And Evolution Of Creativity in the 21st Century...

Music... what has it become...?

To each individual, it is something different... medicine for a grieiving or conflicted soul, the soundtrack to the dance of life, a pick-me-up that fills the day with joy, a reflection of the emotional journey its rhythms and harmonies can give voice to better than any words of our own...

With 7 billion people on this planet, each experiencing their own dimensions of love, hate, exploration, and self-discovery with the spectrums of musical sounds making their wavy ways to their ear drums, there is no single answer to the question. So to narrow the focus and limit the context - how has music and our relationship to it evolved culturally, over these last years and decades...?

And to provide a further clarification of context, hereforth is the perspective inspiring today's reflection, taken from this month's Mystic Mamma Full Moon astro report:

NOTE: this post, I apparently started back in December and let fall to the wayside… upon coming across it again, I decided to pick up on it. as such, it may turn out an interesting hybrid of perspectives - part from the past, part from how my outlook on the matters has evolved since. anyways, here we go…

“The Arts used to be healing tools for the collective psyche, unlike how they are seen today as a commodity.

“When we return the Arts to their archetypal purpose—to teach, to heal, to create, to enliven, to imagine, to share, to learn—they will lead the revolution just as John Lennon and the Beatles opened up the world to a new paradigm. Artists can bring the message home to the heart."

This outlook speaks deeply to one of the nost profoundly beautiful & magical aspects of music. And, it also shines light on the degree to which we've culturally disassociated from that higher spiritual purpose of/within music.

"The Commodotization Of Music..."

Unarguably, capitalistic culture has had its way with music. Turn on the radio for an hour, and few can deny that what's been being pushed out of the corporate record labels has become based on marketability to the lowest common denominator, far more than having anything to do with art and the touching effects can have on the spirit.

T'is what it is, sure. And as such, we've created a studio assembly line pumping out sugar-coated songs about tits, ass, drugs, money, rims, and all the materialistic things an underdeveloped ego is fuelled by in a superficial, capitalistic society.

No right, no wrong, no judgement. Market forces are at work, and where there is demand - manufactured/influenced by corporate strategic marketing agendas or not - supply will be created.

Yet...

What might we have been missing out on, traveling this path of commodotizing music to appeal to the base animalistic desires of under-educated populations, rather than reconnecting to the higher-vibrational purposes music has historically served?

Now, let's not float off into the airy-fairy idealisms of new-age crackpots, speaking of "higher vibrations" and "spiritual purpose." Such has its place - though we'll keep grounded and balanced here.

Recount the music from a few decades back...

The Beatles. Led Zeppelin. Rolling Stones. The Doors.

Miles Davis. John Coltrane. Billie Holiday. Frank Sinatra.

Or a bit further forward...

AC/DC. Guns 'n' Roses. Metallica. Motley Crue.

Mos Def. A Tribe Called Quest. Common. Fugees.

The lists could go on and on. These are only a handful of artists who've 'recently' made their mark on musical history by impacting millions through the art that's come through their hearts as a medium to spread a feeling & message, induce a passion, open minds, and transform the world by uplifting spirits with the energy condensed down into a piece of vinyl, tape, CD, or mp3.

Such heart, soul, passion... it's not even just that... there's a certain magic that's been absent from alot of the music released via the mainstream industry lately.

It's become generic. Watered-down. Sugar-coated. Mechanical. Commodotized. (Much of it.)

And of course, there are artists out there who've escaped the grasp of capitalistic influences and have let their artistic streaks shine through unapologetically. Yet, on the whole - the larger cultural sphere within which the majority of music has been produced and consumed has transformed to neither cultivate, support, nor reward innovative music rich in that magic that shaped and defined some of the greatest musical eras, trends, and albums of all time.

Now, while similar conversations on the topic may have been predictably characterized by judgements of "the system," the "unfairness" of the industry, and so forth - let's consider, for the sake of a differing persective, those arguments void.

Our capitalistic systems have resulted in some pretty amazing benefits all of us take for granted - access to technologies, information, resources. So let's remain grateful for those, and accept that there are always bound to be some undesirable consequences of any socioeconomic development. "Corporate greed," as many have blamed as a cause for erosion of cultural values - such as could be brought into an analysis of this commodotization of music case - could be pegged as an influencial factor, yet pointing fingers at business entities does little to advance the discussion or situation.

Outside influences aside, the responsibility does fall back on the artists.

While getting music out into mainstream channels that doesn't click with pop tastes may pose challenges, none of those challenges present any excuse or validation for ceasing to pursue the path of mastering one's art to a degree that it shall inevitably spread virally due to the soul and magic that have gone into the years of practising & refining one's craft, vision, message, and strategic approach to putting it out to impact the world.

Sure, mainstream labels may have swayed the industry dynamics. But the internet has levelled the playing field by providing the platforms to compete for market attention - given the resolve to commit whole-heartedly in mastering the skillsets required (which are just as much entrepreneurial as artistic.)

Any any undertaking, success requires commitment - hustle, persistence, hours upon hours invested in learning, skill development, networking with those through whom leverage of one’s value is possible. No one is handed success on a silver platter. Ultimately, every artist is responsible for his/her own degree of success, based on how they manage their time and energy outside of working on their art/music alone.

“When we return the Arts to their archetypal purpose—to teach, to heal, to create, to enliven, to imagine, to share, to learn—they will lead the revolution just as John Lennon and the Beatles opened up the world to a new paradigm..."

Such achievements must be driven by an innate hunger, yearning, calling, passion, and sense of purpose - of such an intensity, that no systematic injustices, cultural bugs, nor external forces can squander. Those inner motivations and inspirations are themselves the source of that magic sauce. And while the world may provide countless challenges, obstructions, and temptations to submit to laziness, discouragement, or making excuses for not fully seeing out the vision those artistic urges may be drawing one towards - it is each artist's own responsibility to rise to fulfill their highest destiny in spite of all the reasons provided to settle for less.

Granted, there is a demand - outright declared in the marketplace or not - for such leadership and creative genius manifested through music that heals, inspires, moves, expands, and envigorates listeners in these ways. Yet, the elements that go into such alchemical sonic brews cannot be manufactured, commodotized, or repeatedly produced through some logical business formula. These are the qualities that can only come from the artist's personal soul journey and character development as they go through the process of transformation initiated and fuelled by the pursuit of the path.

The Dilemma And Road Forward...

We've touched on the angle of industry/cultural corruption as the culprit. And we've swung to the opposite end of the spectrum to place responsibility solely on the artists. Now, it's time to explore the middle ground.

While it does take an immeasurable amount of heart, commitment, and drive as an artist to ascend to the level of mastery at which that exceptional quality of music comes from, there is still a dilemma. And the good news is, blockchain is a potential solution to this dilemma which is being explored and implemented.

The infrastructure of the music industry has been shit.

It's worked semi-well for large record labels, who've been able to capitalize on top talent. Though not so great for artists who've had to rely on middlemen to break their music to the masses.

This section of the topic is well-beyond the scope of this single article. As such, check out this Music On The Blockchain: An Overview Of The Leading Developments Transforming The Industry as an entry point to that rabbit hole, should you be so inclined. Though, it's not necessary.*

Just as Steemit has been one of the first easily-accessible vehicles running on the blockchain by which content creators may be compensated for their value contributions to the community, so it's foreseeable that possibilities for evolving models of distribution platforms may enable musicians and other artists within specific niches to capitalize in similar ways - as the middlemen are removed from the equation and content is able to be directly inputted into a system wherein rights are retained via proof on a public ledger and the value of content to other users is easily measureable and able to be compensated automatically.

The internet began levelling the playing field by allowing artists the means to reach a global audience without assistance. Though there was still alot of friction in setting everything up such that they could get paid for their work - and the hurdle of, 'why pay when can download for free?' Even the rise of streaming services poses a hinderance to the fair flow of artists' income - though even there, blockchain solutions are being implemented by cats like Stem, or Spotify's acquisition of Mediachain, to ensure increased accountability in ensuring timely payment to artists through these services - whereas before, it was all just kind of a mess.

It's early on in this shift, and none of us may know exactly what the future will look like. However, there is a growing consensus that this is the future...

Why I see all this tech as key...

It's difficult to focus on pouring one's energy into creating the best art one can when struggling to pay bills.

And while some artists may be amazing at their craft, they might not be so amazing at playing society's rat race games to earn its monopoly money required to free themselves of the fiat obligations essential to eating and having a roof over their heads. I speak from experience.

Whether it's a Steemit-like platform that enables artists to get rewarded, or whatever the model shall turn out as - it's probably unlikely that most will become hit superstars and millionaires as a result. But, even if something were to evolve to provide some sort of universal basic income model that'd allow artists to pursue their craft without worry about paying their rent and having food on the table... what could the effect be...?

I could be wrong - though, personally I see the potential for a wave of creative output with a richness in substance, soul, and all those juicy qualities Mystic Mamma highlights above.

I see the possibility for a fresh generation of artists who no longer feel a need to divert their creative expressions according to the taste of mainstream standards as imposed by record execs systematically architecting consumer trends - who no longer need to bend to impress labels in hope of pleasing corporate decision-makers in order to get a break - who have enough opportunity via these new blockchain-driven platforms to earn a decent living making the type of art they want to make.

Case in point...

I've recently been getting into Kendrick Lamar. And in my opinion, he's one of the best rappers that's been around in a while.

And, he's also been known to struggling with some serious depression.

I'm no psychologist. Though, I'm pretty sure that at least one contributing factor to his depression is that he's bent to meet the mainstream demands that while has brought him to fame - has curbed the extent of his full self-expression.

There is depth in some of his lyrics. Like, real fucking brilliance.

And, it kinda gets buried under the "money, cash, drugs, hoes" mantras layered on top that have been what he's needed to shout to keep the attention of the execs supporting his rise. He hasn't been able to let loose the fullness of creative genius, playing in that environment. No doubt, that suppression has been eating at his spirit. And unfortunately, it's also deprived world audiences of the radiant leadership potential lying within him.

Guaranteed, there are hundreds of kids in the same boat - overflowing with passion and potential to make an impact through their voice, speaking truths that can change minds, touch hearts, and uplift spirits. But there isn't really room for that in the industry, if they wanna make it. And there isn't really all that much opportunity to pay bills outside of that industry, as it stands with all the flawed infrastructure of the current systematic design.

But, times are changing.

Coming around full-circle, to finish this off, 5 months later...

Well, I can't recall totally where I was going with this when I started. And, my outlook on some of it has changed since.

My horizons have broadened further from where I was at, then. And, I do see some of these changes in effect. Not just in the arena of music - but projects like SingularDTV and their quest to reinvest film & TV distribution represent some significant steps forward in these positive directions, as do the varying range of blockchain projects inching towards greater decentralization and increased wealth through new systems conducive to the exploration, creation, and rewarding of new value through collaborative models.

Yada yada yada.

Here we stand, at the forefront of many a revolution.

Some of us may be writing the battle cries on Ableton on a bedroom floor, others on Github, and perhaps us here on Steemit - each in our own, contributing to a movement for the advancement of freedom, prosperity, and expanding creative possibilities.

So it is. And it is awesome.

Whatever your creative outlet - keep at it. The world needs and appreciates it. And as we keep plugging away at these innovative systems, in due time we will reap the rewards.

And in the meantime, feel free to check some new dope tunes here, should your day do well with a fresh soundtrack or two:

Transcendent Beats: Five Other-Worldly Musical Artists That'll Take You To New Dimensions...