Thinking about the difference between song writing as a craft and writing for yourself, as an artist. In the latter case It sometimes isn’t enough that the song is good, it’s almost more important that the song is lined up with your voice and your larger aesthetic perspective. Whether you wrote the song or not, as an artist, you have to believe what you are singing/saying and it has to feel natural. Otherwise it’s like wearing a nice suit that doesn’t fit— there’s just something silly about it.

I see so much stress and anxiety among artists around releasing music. I think that so much of it is caused by putting pressure on the song / music to achieve arbitrary goals. I think it can be good to take the pressure to achieve off of the music, and just let the music be itself.

Growing your career is a long term project that you can take on if you choose. If you put too much pressure on a song to do anything other than just be true and good—if you see the music as a means to an end rather than the end in itself- the creative process will get crushed under the weight of your expectations and you’ll begin to believe the music is failing you. Not good. I’ve been there.

If you set arbitrary goals and timelines, it just makes you more likely to feel like a failure, and it will take away from the pleasure of creating (and increase your chances or burnout). Pick a few persistent thoughts around putting out music that are making you miserable and let them go. See what takes their place.

Everyone, including myself is a perfectionist. And it really is not a good thing. 

How to hang in there for the long term.

I've found it's not so much about looking super hard for your voice as an artist. Maybe it's more about creating a little space so your voice can appear.

The importance of sending your creations into the world and moving on with your life. Don't be scared kids...