What the World Actually Needs from Your Art (Hint: Not Approval)
If you’ve read my posts about Michael Shrieve’s 25-year journey making Drums of Compassion or my Bumberdrum performance at Bumbershoot, you already know how much his mentorship has shaped me as a musician and a human.
In a recent conversation, I asked Michael what he’d say to his younger self.
He paused for a moment, then said:
“Don’t doubt yourself. You’re already fearless. Don’t question it. Trust yourself more.”
Watch the Full Interview: Jump to 13:25 for the segment referenced in this article.
The Artist's Job: Bringing Back the Evidence
He explains, “I already had enough experience and my instincts were going in a certain way anyway.
If you’re gonna do it, do it hard.
I worked at a record company for a while, and one of the things I learned was this:
If artists only knew that they shouldn’t care at all about the record company.
What they should do is the work to dig deep inside themselves, make something they really feel great about, and do that hard. That’s all that matters.
“What the world doesn’t need is you trying to impress somebody else or get their approval. What the world needs is evidence that somebody has gone on a journey inside themselves, gone all the way down there, and come back out the other side with something to offer you so you don’t have to go there. But you still have to go to your own place. Your job as an artist—and really for a lot of people—is to go there, to your place, and bring something back.
UPDATE: To learn more from Michael’s deep wisdom and unique life experience, check out his
UPDATE: To learn more from Michael’s deep wisdom and unique life experience, check out his
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