The Moderately Tortured Artist

For the final episode of the year we're going to explore five juicy life lessons singing has taught me.

The importance of doing the work to make magic, the beauty of vulnerability and the dance of fear and confidence make the cut as well as a couple of other gems.

And my Getcha Belt On Program lives here: https://thatsweetroar.com/getcha-belt-on

Have a beautiful end to 2019 and take care of yourself! x

I know I know, we're all hiding at least a little because the fear of being judged by other people is crippling.

But in this episode I ask the question "Is that at least partially influenced by the way we judge others?"

How do you cheerlead or chainsaw other artists with your words?

And can you see how all of this can either obliterate or perpetuate this notion that our industry is cut-throat, catty and competitive?

It's time to break out the honesty and discuss how we can tweak this completely human tendency and lean more into compassion.

One of the weird "rules" we have in huge parts of our society is "don't play unless you're fabulous".

You can't call yourself a singer unless you're at some elite level. You can't perform unless you can nail every note. You can't get out there and do the thing until it's EXTRAORDINARY.

Now I'm not saying don't work hard at honing your skills, I'm saying don't hide yourself and your art in the meantime.

Beginners have just as much of a right to share their music and their voice as anyone else.

In fact we should be sharing while we're learning and accepting performance as an often organic part of making music.

This is one of those "rules" we lean on as an excuse and I'm calling it out.

Money. Feeling awkward yet? Well you might wanna buckle up for this one because most people (let alone artists who are also carrying the weight of the "starving artist" mentality) have serious baggage around moolah.

If you've been buying into the "artists can't make money" or "only unicorns make money from music" stories, this podcast will challenge you.

If you're a musician defeated by your lack of funds, I'm going to ask you the tough questions (and admit where I made mistakes on this front).

Ever noticed that so many of your day to day moments and interactions are cloaked in a heaviness? Or seriousness?

We take everything so seriously, rush from one thing to the next and wonder why anxiety is such an epidemic.

What surprised me was how much I resisted doing the smallest things that could actually shift that and change my day for the better.

The idea that we "don't have enough time" to take two minutes to bring more calm, silliness or beauty into our lives is bonkers. And yet here we are.

So what can we do about it?

This is a plea. A request that you stop kissing the feet of the artists you love and lauding them as some kind of extraterrestrial being.

Adore their music, acknowledge their artists but please don't make them out to be a unicorn. It's doing you BOTH a disservice.

This episode explores why I think we might be better off admiring them at eye level.

I know, you're thinking, "How could Kim get the title of this podcast so wrong? I most certainly DO have stage fright!"

Hear me out. Because I want to talk about WHY your body goes into fight or flight mode the second you have to step on a stage.

And why all the meditating, deep breathing, hours of practicing and yelling at your brain might not be working.

Because unless we get brutally honest about what the problem really is, we can't start fixing it.

This is one of those kick-you-up-the-butt in a good way podcast episodes. Where I get you to take an honest look at how you're investing some of your most valuable resources - time, money and energy.

Empires and legacies and great art and serious impact do not happen by accident. They happen because someone decides that they are going to bet on themselves and they go ALL IN.

So will you run towards the goosebumps or shy away?

What can I do to build my confidence? How can I feel more confident on stage? How can I feel better about myself and my art?

All phenomenal questions I get asked on the regular. And A) I don't have all the answers, and B) the part of the answer I DO have is way more complicated than I can write in this blurb.

This episode dives into what I've learned about confidence, why it's born in the gutter (amongst all the grime you might be avoiding) and why it's worth climbing on in.

If there were ever a podcast episode for when someone has ripped apart your art or who you are as a person - this would be it.

This is a call to arms. Making a stand against harsh, unfair and unconstructive criticism.

A reminder for anyone who considers themselves a creative that nobody can rob you of your joy, your passion or your conviction unless you let them.

And a nod to how bloody hard it is to get back up again time and time again.

This episode is brought to you by chocolate chip cookies, tears and a glass of rosé. I hope it lifts you from the depths of despair and gets you back on the horse you belong on.