Do any of you actually have any real musical talent?

[dj superflat]

i wasn't suggesting people were saying "i could easily be great," my apologies if i was unclear. i was suggesting that, just like the people who aren't smart enough or don't have enough drive to get all As, most musicians don't have the talent, let alone the drive, to be great, successful, whatever, by the definitions people seem to use these days.

which shouldn't be troubling. lots of folk love playing football (both kinds), but have no illusions they're going pro, or even semi-pro. and they also generally don't worry about whether they have the talent, but just haven't been recognized, because, for the most part, if you have talent in sports, it gets recognized.

i think music's very similar -- talent is pretty obvious and gets recognized -- even if a lot of people i've known seem invested in the notion that it's not like that (when they might be happier recognizing it's just a fantastic hobby, something that will bring them and others joy even if they don't change the world, create great music, etc.). some of this is in response to comments that seemed to question the very idea of talent, whether there really was any disinction between music ability/talent/whatever, or just the fickle hand of fate selecting certain lucky/hardworking few to rise, etc. some responded by saying "if you have to ask, etc." which i take as a sarcastic way of saying if you're asking, you don't have it. i pretty much agree, notable exceptions with doubts like kurt c. and others aside.

[forge]

a lot of the comments here are of the "i could've gotten straights A too, just didn't do the work variety." hate to be contrary but, in my experience, real talent rarely goes unrecognized. doesn't mean talent gets paid the most, works the most, etc. and real talent is often an impediment to making the junk much of the market wants. but i've known few truly talented musicians who didn't obtain recognition on some fairly significant level, and almost all were able to make it their job.
.

this is also something I see as a bit of a misconception - I think the ability to put in the hard work as well and succeed is part of the talent - or a talent in itself

like the straight A's if I'd done the work comment struck a chord with me because me entire school life was like that - every report the terachers wrote said "he's clearly bright but we cant mark him because he doesnt hand anything in" - but I think that is part of it

and not only that I'd have a tendency to just write a load of "intelligent" double-speak and bullshit in essays that had fuck all to do with the topic - so I did really shit at school except in music

my point is talent isnt just writing music or playing an instrument, it is also about being able to make it accessible

[dj superflat]

agree completely that, without the hardwork/desire ingredient, talent doesn't go that far (or even get developed in the first place).

[rasputin]

I often ask my self if I am just deceiving my self with delusions of grandeur in music production or do I actually have a tinge of talent. Some days I embarrass my self when I listen to my music and then say drop a track of somebody who s really inspiring.

SO I ask you in return, do you think in the long run you have any real talent?
do you actually add something to pop culture or are you the center of your universe when everybody else around you could not be bothered with the horrific garbage you call music that you produce?

food for thought......

Yes.

Actually it's good you posted this. The first year I worked with electronic music I thought I was creating something unique and special.

After that, I realized I'm doing it for my own pleasure and creative impulse. Fortunately I don't have to make a living doing it.

But of course, our mileages all vary...

[rasputin]

How the hell did this spiral so quickly from quite an interesting thread about peoples perceptions of talent and what it means to them to ikanhaz pics?
Not that I mind, I love cats almost as much as I love music, but was quite enjoying reading peoples thoughts on the subject...

New usenet meme: if a thread doesn't devolve into one person calling another a nazi, it will devolve into lolcats.

Seriously I'm enjoying this thread...

/(this is serious thread)
//(couldn't stop myself)

[rasputin]

I've been writing electronic music since the age of 13, i've always liked my music more than nearly everything out there, probably because it sounds like how i like music to sound, as for anyone else, who knows, if they dont like it then meh, if they do then fabulous. As long as you write the music you like thats enough. As long as you dont actually want to make any money. I dont make any money off my music but i hope i'm still using ableton live 56 when i'm old and grey to write whatever is in my head.

+100 on yez

I'm already doing that (making and liking my own stuff)

Yes, I do enjoy even my old stuff. I made it to sound like I wanted.

Not a lot of people stampeding to get copies, but that's OK.

But I'm getting tired of my current style now and am trying to break out of it. Live made it too easy?

[rasputin]

One thing to remember is that you will probably never ever get to experience your own music the way you experience other people's music.

That's sig-worthy.

Yes, but not 100%

Not having listened to it for a long time, lately I find I can listen to my stuff from 1995 - 1999 and appreciate it.

[dj superflat]

i go back to records from years past and enjoy them more now than i did now, but still hear things i wish i'd done differently. i'm not sure it's any less satisfying to be a consumer than a producer (speaking genericly). but i'd definitely rather play the show than be in the audience.

[nowtime]

It seems the question becomes " WHAT is it that is holding you back from success?"

In any given market, there are "successful" people. Classical pianists, Electronica Artist, Alt/Rock Band, Hiphop Artist, etc. etc. (preseuming, of course, that successful means financially; - "are they happy and fulfilled?" is another question. THERE are at least 5 elements that must be in place for success; When asked
"Are you willing to do WHATEVER it takes for this success", the answer is usually no. The sacrifice can be huge.

Of this group of "yessers" THEN you gotta have some talent (the more the better), you have to be in the right place at the right time (luck), you have to work very hard at your skill and be persistent, you usually have to have SOME financial support and emotional support.

Back to the question "are you willing to do what it takes"; For example, a good friend of mine would have made a bundle selling hiphop beats in L.A. But he despised how these young rapper kids were being treated, hated the whole energy, and at a certain point, bowed out because of moral issues. Gave up the bank for his beliefs.
For me, I am unwilling to subject my body and mind to the people and places I would need to be sell this love of mine, my musical/technical creativity. Hopefully I'll find or create a groovy market someday.

[audio.android]

I think the sacrifice one must make to become successful can be very draining and depressing. Hence, the reason there are so many depressed successful musicians. And then you have to ask yourself, are they really successful?

I don't think you've achieved success if you aren't happy.

[aisling]

One thing to remember is that you will probably never ever get to experience your own music the way you experience other people's music.

That's sig-worthy.

Yes, but not 100%

Not having listened to it for a long time, lately I find I can listen to my stuff from 1995 - 1999 and appreciate it.

I agree often older tracks of mine (especially in the days I was just a guitar player and had no idea i'd discover producing with computers) really get my creative confidence rolling as I get sucked into a flow like I'm hearing it for the first time, or my favorite artist made it.....

[aisling]

I think the sacrifice one must make to become successful can be very draining and depressing. Hence, the reason there are so many depressed successful musicians. And then you have to ask yourself, are they really successful?

I don't think you've achieved success if you aren't happy.

WORD!

[forge]

. (preseuming, of course, that successful means financially; .

that's it - I think the first step is getting it absolutely clear in your mind what you consider success to be - then make it happen

I think in the past musicians used to have this vague notion "I want to be rich and famous" and then went looking for some record company sugar daddy to make it happen

but these days especially, the chances are you already have the means available to you to achieve the "success" you want if you are clear on what that is

so you have to break it down - what part of rich and famous is it you want? is it being adored and chased by papparazzi? Is it the girls? is it just having the cash? why do you want the cash - is it to travel or buy more gear?

often there are other ways of generating those desires - like getting a sponsor to let you use their gear, or lining up gigs all over the world so you can travel

if you just want the money, then you can get right on to different ways of making that happen - it just might be in unexpected areas or mean branching out

I think when you break it all down into the individual compnents alot of us probably dont want what we thought we did

define success first, then make it happen

[silverlulu]

some responded by saying "if you have to ask, etc." which i take as a sarcastic way of saying if you're asking, you don't have it. i pretty much agree, notable exceptions with doubts like kurt c. and others aside.

sorry but that is so outrageously wrong that i find it hard to believe a musician wrote that. it is confidence in your ability which would lead you to ask yourself and others if you have talent. the desire for validation. to say, if you question your talent you don't have any is absolutely ludicrous. forget notable exceptions. all true artists will question themselves as it is through soul searching that you produce art.

you can't have one without the other. some are more confident outwardly, take for example liam gallagher or the artic monkeys but don't tell me that they didn't sit in bed at night (especially when they were aspiring to make it) and ask themselves what the point in trying is.

[nowtime]

. (preseuming, of course, that successful means financially; .

is it just having the cash? why do you want the cash - is it to travel or buy more gear?

GREAT QUESTION!!



if you just want the money, then you can get right on to different ways of making that happen - it just might be in unexpected areas or mean branching out

THIS THE QUESTION I'M MOST INTERESTED IN. DISCUSS and BRAINSTORM...