Is it still worth releasing music for DIY/independent artists?

[nixtrove@ohai.social]

@elifyalvac Very cool discussion you started here, reading a lot of great takes on it. I think creative people should always create, sometimes they must in order to survive. The internet digital concatenation network broadcasting channel is a bit of a separate topic, like what is even "content" and what should even be "consumed" when you are online. It's cool that for people here for the most part, it's independent music, that's more than enough reason I would say to keep at it

[ben@s.djehuti.com]

@elifyalvac I think it depends what you mean by "release". If you mean putting together a package with artwork and liner notes, IMHO no. If you mean sharing your tracks on a faircamp or funkwhale instance, absolutely yes.

[attksthdrknss@sunny.garden]

@elifyalvac @alisynthesis I’ve taken a similar perspective on releasing music. I try to not worry about absolute perfection and once something feels good I can consider it done and ready.
Plus, remember that no one can make the music you would make. We all have our own perspective of the world around us and the music we make is created through that. That makes any act of creation unique and worth sharing.

[c_reider@sonomu.club]

@elifyalvac it can be.

making music is a way of relating to the universe, and sharing it is a way of relating to community. both have risks and rewards.

[elifyalvac@tldr.nettime.org]

@attksthdrknss really good point. there was a time when I had a stalker copycat and I was extremely worried about someone stealing my ideas constantly but this was ages ago, like 15 years ago when I was more naive and in initial steps of my self-care and being an adult journey. One of the best learnings for me has been what you have just written here: we all have our own perspective, and any creation will be unique. Even if someone copies the idea or even when there are others doing the same stuff, which there inevitably are, it’s not wrong or it wouldn’t cause a harm because we have tons of other things and side that add a unique touch to whatever we do. Thanks! @alisynthesis ps: not like the edison vs. tesla ideas though—that goes into a whole patent law and legal topics

[elifyalvac@tldr.nettime.org]

@Nixtrove Didn’t guess it would generate so many nice insights. Happy if it helps others as well. And I agree.

[elifyalvac@tldr.nettime.org]

@GuyBirkin @grahamdunning @c_reider it can be for your very own archival purposes, one of the insights I got from the responses here. Documenting your ideas and artistic journey as they may give you insights when you look back at them. The work in question you shared is this? https://guybirkin.bandcamp.com/album/sars-cov-2-lr757995-2b

[unattributed@gotosocial.social]

@elifyalvac I believe that the reason for making art of any kind is for the benefit of others, and they won't benefit from it if they can't find it.

I'm more of a writer, and dabble in audio sculpture (or something like that).

I've written ~350 pages so far this year. These are rough stories. They are me experimenting and looking for perspectives, themes, etc. I'm playing with all the constructs and tools I have at my disposal for the best way to communicate to others the underlying meanings within those stories. Not just the immediate, surface level plot.

If the ideas and thoughts contained within those rough pages aren't seen by others, then they are wasted.

[elifyalvac@tldr.nettime.org]

@c_reider my connection with you is an example for this: I mean, there are other things ofc, some of what you post here immediately clicked with me. but when I Looked up the music that clicking got bigger. And yes, seeing it like relating to the universe is a good factual/realistic point: recognising that there are both risks and rewards creates a calm adult standpoint rather than falling into victim despair or exaggerating the rewardy part. Instead, appreciation of rewards and recognising the risks. I’m writing these down but ofc, it is easier said than done at times

[attksthdrknss@sunny.garden]

@elifyalvac @alisynthesis I’m glad you have that stalker copy cat behind you. It’s like when there are many artists working in a particular genre. Inevitably some of it will be similar, but it’s all unique to that person and their place in time. At least, that has worked for me.

[elifyalvac@tldr.nettime.org]

@attksthdrknss @alisynthesis Cheers! That was from the past. I hope they stopped it now as it was a bit creepy!

[elifyalvac@tldr.nettime.org]

@unattributed A different perspective for me. I don’t think they would be wasted necessarily especially if it benefits you and informs your practice and how you write the next parts or how you update things. But I get the point

[guybirkin@post.lurk.org]

@elifyalvac
indeed, that's good point.

yes, that's the album. that was the original one intended for Superpang, but I think (and the sales and feedback also suggest) that the better album is the first one on the label, which only happened by chance just because SP couldn't put out EVOL's album first (for technical reasons relating to Bandcamp upload limits based on sales), so I was asked if I could provide something to plug the gap. funny how things turn out.

@grahamdunning @c_reider

[grahamdunning@post.lurk.org]

@GuyBirkin @c_reider @elifyalvac isn't that often the balance with sound art / experimental music / conceptual stuff - making something that's enjoyable / interesting / engaging might not be the main priority anyway. Sometimes the outcome is listenable, sometimes not, but that needn't detract from it's value as an artwork.

[guybirkin@post.lurk.org]

@grahamdunning
absolutely. and it's because I think it's important to stay true to yourself and do the things that interest you - as opposed to trying to please other people - that I will continue to do these nerdy process-based music things that probably interest me more than others. I am also influenced by the approaches of musicians like Éliane Radigue, Mark Fell and EVOL who test/explore the limits of people's patience with their music.

(that's not to say that I don't heed the feedback, nor that I don't hope that other people will actually enjoy listening to it.)

but at the same time, the music should be able to stand by itself, without a bunch of conceptual text to justify / contextualise it. I think that's where that particular album of mine failed.

@c_reider @elifyalvac

[emenel@post.lurk.org]

@GuyBirkin @grahamdunning @c_reider @elifyalvac yeah, "releasing" is just sharing ... i'm not sure how it would ever be not worth doing ... music is part of being human, it doesn't need a purpose or an audience to be worth sharing.

[grahamdunning@post.lurk.org]

@GuyBirkin @c_reider @elifyalvac yes, makes sense. I think that's the balance I'm thinking of.
Also incredibly difficult to know how any listener will experience/receive your work. I wouldn't judge a release on one bit of feedback, however accurate a critique it might seem from your own perspective.