It's so good to see what we all experience in our individual lives laid out so clearly here. How we want to stay connected to music but real life actually happens and we are bound to experience it. The feelings of fear, disappointment, and obsolescence resonate strongly. I'm always trying to shift my perspective to accept that the month you described IS part of song/music writing. There's the part where we experience life fully- paying attention to all the painful and glorious sensory detail and then the other part where we integrate that into music. So, GREAT JOB WRITING this month!
Thank you, for all of this. Yes exactly what you said, a combination of life getting in the way but also feeling despondent and it is just part of this existence isn’t it, we’re not little robots with limitless energy! X
My dear friend, so sorry for your loss, I feel you! About this hell called AI, I’m trying not to think about it, I think all this is a warning to let go the internet and to connect more with the real life and the people around us, nothing can replace human connection!
I fully agree. I really struggle with anything online at the moment, it just feels like an empty, vacuous addiction at this point? And the AI stuff is just insane. I do honestly wonder if we’re in some warped quantum realm because what the actual fuck. Seriously. Spotify is no allowing AI covers of its catalogue. It’s just endless non-human slop being churned out and played by bots too, it’s hopefully just eating itself now and all real humans will leave Spotify etc and go back to live music and buying art! Hopefully….?! Xx
So sorry to hear about your May, Natalie! I’ve had a crappy May too, with no music making whatsoever as my body took a turn for the worse. And I too am worried about the music Industry. Especially for film and TV as I have always seen that as my main direction (when I get well enough to start pitching). But I do think authentic music will be more valuable in the future… at least I hope so.
big hug natalie! what a month 😢 i'm so sorry about all of it. thank you for sharing. we don't talk about this stuff much and it makes it harder and lonelier when you're going through it - it's so kind of you to be open about it. it's not may anymore! wishing you a much much better june 🩵🩵🩵
Thanks for sharing such a personal story. Every day we can start over and refocus on what's important in that moment. You are doing the very thing you need to be doing!
Thank you Vivienne. I worry about oversharing but also, this is the reality of being a human right? We have things happen that send things sideways, and if I don’t talk about it I just shrink and disappear, which I’m trying super hard not to do!! Thank you for your kind words ❤️
Natalie, so sorry to hear about your grandmother. My mom is one of 6 and I am the eldest granddaughter to about the same amount of cousins (honestly, I’ve lost count), so that was a unique thing to find we have in common.
Appreciated this update from your life and your transparent thoughts. I think songwriting happens in the grief and life that is lived when we aren’t physically writing/creating.
Oh wow, yes a very lovely thing to have in common! It’s so funny because I never realised that having half a dozen aunts and uncles and double-digit number of cousins wasn’t totally normal until I was in secondary school and had friends who had two or three cousins or maybe were only children with no cousins! When I got married I needed about 70 invites just for my mums side of the family alone 🤣. She left a big family on earth to remember her for a long time, that’s for sure.
Thanks for your kind words. I actually have a song already released that I’ve been meaning to post about for about two months but it’s very raw now in the face of her death, maybe a new song will be birthed from all this soon too x
We humans are going to have to look out for one another. But your music will matter to the people who will still care, and thankfully I can see that people will still care.
This sounds like a brutal month. Glad to read that you’re starting to see the light again. And so sorry for the loss of your grandmother. She sounds so loved!
I find the notion of AI music pretty silly. Much like AI writing. An imitation that can sound indecipherable and technically perfect but that can never be a vehicle of soul-energy. I can’t help feeling AI will indeed wreck everything economically for everyone, maybe artists first, but maybe also catalyze new economic structures. UBI? Something else? That sounds so naive I know, but can you imagine if everyone had enough income to buy the basics what great things we would make!?
Thanks Molly, and I feel the same as you, AI music can sound really polished but it always feels….off? I think its the lack of soul. I also agree that life would be so creative and fulfilling if we could all simply pay our bills, and ‘exist’ more easily, which really shouldn’t be utopian but it somehow feels utopian these days?! Sending you love :-) x
What a beautiful REAL post dear Natalie. I related a lot to your thoughts about AI. The goal post / hologram line made me laugh out loud 🤣.
Ha ha glad I made you laugh. That’s how it bloody feels though right?! Gah! Xx
It's so good to see what we all experience in our individual lives laid out so clearly here. How we want to stay connected to music but real life actually happens and we are bound to experience it. The feelings of fear, disappointment, and obsolescence resonate strongly. I'm always trying to shift my perspective to accept that the month you described IS part of song/music writing. There's the part where we experience life fully- paying attention to all the painful and glorious sensory detail and then the other part where we integrate that into music. So, GREAT JOB WRITING this month!
Thank you, for all of this. Yes exactly what you said, a combination of life getting in the way but also feeling despondent and it is just part of this existence isn’t it, we’re not little robots with limitless energy! X
My dear friend, so sorry for your loss, I feel you! About this hell called AI, I’m trying not to think about it, I think all this is a warning to let go the internet and to connect more with the real life and the people around us, nothing can replace human connection!
I fully agree. I really struggle with anything online at the moment, it just feels like an empty, vacuous addiction at this point? And the AI stuff is just insane. I do honestly wonder if we’re in some warped quantum realm because what the actual fuck. Seriously. Spotify is no allowing AI covers of its catalogue. It’s just endless non-human slop being churned out and played by bots too, it’s hopefully just eating itself now and all real humans will leave Spotify etc and go back to live music and buying art! Hopefully….?! Xx
So sorry to hear about your May, Natalie! I’ve had a crappy May too, with no music making whatsoever as my body took a turn for the worse. And I too am worried about the music Industry. Especially for film and TV as I have always seen that as my main direction (when I get well enough to start pitching). But I do think authentic music will be more valuable in the future… at least I hope so.
I hope so too 🙏 sorry you’ve had pain flare ups too. It’s just exhausting. Xx
You really went through it in May, my goodness! All the best to you and every bit of strength, may June bring about much better things!
Hey Chris, thank you! It was a heavy, strange month for sure. June feels lighter already :-) same back to you!
Good, I hope it's as bright as the rays of summer for you from here on out! Thanks, I'm hoping for the same better luck. :)
big hug natalie! what a month 😢 i'm so sorry about all of it. thank you for sharing. we don't talk about this stuff much and it makes it harder and lonelier when you're going through it - it's so kind of you to be open about it. it's not may anymore! wishing you a much much better june 🩵🩵🩵
It’s not May anymore is definitely my vibe today 🤣🙌. Thanks for reading and your lovely words as always. I hope June is wonderful for you! Xx
Thanks for sharing such a personal story. Every day we can start over and refocus on what's important in that moment. You are doing the very thing you need to be doing!
Thank you Vivienne. I worry about oversharing but also, this is the reality of being a human right? We have things happen that send things sideways, and if I don’t talk about it I just shrink and disappear, which I’m trying super hard not to do!! Thank you for your kind words ❤️
Natalie, so sorry to hear about your grandmother. My mom is one of 6 and I am the eldest granddaughter to about the same amount of cousins (honestly, I’ve lost count), so that was a unique thing to find we have in common.
Appreciated this update from your life and your transparent thoughts. I think songwriting happens in the grief and life that is lived when we aren’t physically writing/creating.
Sending my love! 💗
Oh wow, yes a very lovely thing to have in common! It’s so funny because I never realised that having half a dozen aunts and uncles and double-digit number of cousins wasn’t totally normal until I was in secondary school and had friends who had two or three cousins or maybe were only children with no cousins! When I got married I needed about 70 invites just for my mums side of the family alone 🤣. She left a big family on earth to remember her for a long time, that’s for sure.
Thanks for your kind words. I actually have a song already released that I’ve been meaning to post about for about two months but it’s very raw now in the face of her death, maybe a new song will be birthed from all this soon too x
It is quite a unique family dynamic!!
Aw, I'd love to hear the song. What is it called? Let me know when you're ready to share. xo
It’s called Bloodlines, I have a half written song journal about it, I think now(ish) may be a good time to share it. Xx
We humans are going to have to look out for one another. But your music will matter to the people who will still care, and thankfully I can see that people will still care.
I hope June is much less painful for you.
Thank you, and yes I agree. We gotta stay human, in every way!
This sounds like a brutal month. Glad to read that you’re starting to see the light again. And so sorry for the loss of your grandmother. She sounds so loved!
I find the notion of AI music pretty silly. Much like AI writing. An imitation that can sound indecipherable and technically perfect but that can never be a vehicle of soul-energy. I can’t help feeling AI will indeed wreck everything economically for everyone, maybe artists first, but maybe also catalyze new economic structures. UBI? Something else? That sounds so naive I know, but can you imagine if everyone had enough income to buy the basics what great things we would make!?
Thanks Molly, and I feel the same as you, AI music can sound really polished but it always feels….off? I think its the lack of soul. I also agree that life would be so creative and fulfilling if we could all simply pay our bills, and ‘exist’ more easily, which really shouldn’t be utopian but it somehow feels utopian these days?! Sending you love :-) x
Wishing you a peaceful June, Natalie. AI doesn’t know what that means.
Thanks so much Jeff, and back at you! :-)
Thank you for your beautiful honesty and incredible strength
Hey Phil :-) Thanks as always for reading and your kind words.