Hi and welcome back to the Songs with Substance podcast. I recently got to speak with Montreal-based artist, Conor Nickerson, a multi-facetted creative working in music, film, photography and graphic design.

We spoke about the pressure to specialize in one field despite have multiple interests, the challenge of monetizing your art without losing your passion, tackling the fear of being seen, wrestling with social media burnout and much more. Find the chapters that most peak your interest in the chapters below:

00:00:00: Intro

00:02:57 - About Conor, his art forms & Montreal as a hub for artists

00:05:10 - How to navigate having “too many” passions as a creative

00:13:57 - Do you have to “pick a lane” to make money?

00:16:57 - We’re all tired of social media

00:27:14 - Is authentic marketing possible on social media?

00:31:51 - Can introverts succeed in music today?

00:34:44 - The “1000 super-fan” economic theory & the value of creating small tribes online

00:40:34 - Art & capitalism: Do metrics matter?

00:44:56 - Performing vs writing: must we do both to be legitimate artists?

00:52:54 - Tackling the fear of being seen

00:55:34 - Is it your intuition or a trauma response?

00:59:46 - Would your art change if likes, views & streams weren’t publicly visible?

01:02:35 - Does living off your art blunt your passion?

01:08:59 - Do you have to quit your day job?

01:10:39 - Limiting beliefs around money as a creative

01:12:54 - How your self-image determines your future

01:17:41 - The trap of over-intellectualization & toxic self-help culture

01:27:47 - Conor’s new music!

01:40:11 - Conor’s social media links & where you can find him

Conor’s music

Conor’s IG

Conor’s website

All my links