Music career triple insight

Mount Aspiring College year 13 pupil Connor Moore interviews three experienced musicians about the music world, career pathways, good music and whether music is a realistic career for a young person.

So what are you going to do next year?

It's the question on every school leaver's mind at the moment.

Do I answer it honestly?

I want to make music.

Or do I answer with what they want to hear?

A master plan, the steps that will lead to a successful and financially secure career.

What I do know is that every day, music unconsciously seeps into my thoughts, my words, my movements.

It's an intrinsic part of who I am.

Music to me is more than a job or a career.

It allows me to let go.

It's a release, an escape from an artificial world.

Music is therapeutic; a cure for the mess that fills my mind.

So surely it makes sense to study music, right?

In my quest to find out the next steps to take as I leave school and head into the ''real world'', I asked three inspiring Kiwi musicians for some advice on the music scene and how to make inroads.

Founding member of Split Enz and Citizen Band, former APRA director, present Play It Strange chief executive, musician and mentor Mike Chunn says you need to be prepared for the hardest, self-motivated effort you are ever going to make.

''Making a career out of being a musician is as realistic as being a professional sportsperson.

''It requires ambition, dedication, an understanding of the huge effort required, and a commitment to endurance, to slaving away.

''It requires you to be someone who knows how to get on with people. It is a people game. You can't be a loner.

''To make it in the music industry 20 years ago, you had to be signed by a record company, you had to have radio and TV exposure and you had to build up a live following.

''To do really well, you had to achieve success overseas to some degree.

''Today, you can have recordings available, you can have those tracks online for anyone in the world to hear and (as of old) you have to find places to perform.

''What this means is that there are thousands and thousands of artists with recordings all vying for the ears of the world.

''So you have to be really, really, really good in all aspects: recording, performance, songs, merchandising and image. It all counts!''

The only support from the New Zealand music industry comes from New Zealand On Air, and to some degree, Creative New Zealand.

''In the end, the artist must come up with everything so that there isn't someone having too much effect on the fortunes of an artist.

''When looking for talent, you need to believe that the artist has great original songs (they don't have to be written by the artist but they need to be written for the artist); excellent musicianship; a fierce ambition; stamina; a stable personality; not tied down by family or boy/girl friends. That's a good start.''

Former Mt Aspiring College head of music and present Rippon Music Festival founder/director, Sounz Forza workshops director and YAMI Sounds Summit founder Lynne Christie says for some musicians, it's enough to tour occasionally, to release an album/EP/single occasionally and have a great fan base in a cool village in eastern Europe.

''Music is definitely a realistic career option as long as the musician is realistic about the time and commitment needed.

''Even then, they may need to alter their vision of making it big.

''I've always been influenced by New Zealand music, and being told I couldn't do something always made me want to find some way to do it. Any strong females along the way became my mentors, as well as principals, Rock Quest directors and of course my folks!''

It's always been tough to make it in the music industry.

At least now the access to global markets is more achievable at an independent level.

''Willingness and openness to collaboration is essential. Arts funding never seems to be enough but I guess every sector says that - health, education, police, and tourism.

''New Zealand On Air, the New Zealand Music Commission, Play It Strange, APRA, Outward Sound, and Recorded Music NZ are all doing their best for New Zealand music, but there is definitely room for improvement.

''Innovation - being a leader, not a follower, is key.

''My ears are constantly armed and ready for sounds which stop me in my tracks and want to shout, `What is that song? Who is it by? Where are they from? Play it again!'

''So I guess I'm on the lookout for sounds that are different, striking, authentic and lyrically/melodically satisfying; from anywhere in the world, but especially exciting when you find the song is from a Kiwi.''

Founding member of Trinity Roots, former member of Fat Freddy's Drop and present leader of Little Bushman Quartet Warren Maxwell says we could think of the web as a musical rugby field.

''Instead of 15 a side, you have 100 a side. Does it make it harder?''

I'm not sure.

But at least independent artists have the potential to get on the field.

''The music industry was a different climate 20 years ago. Not necessarily harder.

''I do wonder if the online instant accessibility to music has diluted the market. But on a positive note, it has introduced us all to more influences.

''Making a career out of being a musician is totally realistic. The key in my humble opinion, is being passionate about music.

''This drives you to work 20-hour days and live on noodles for five years.

''It's important to think about strategising and analysing the environment. This demonstrates your self-awareness and position in the market.

''And you need to be unique. This is achieved by knowing who you are as a person, not following trends, but setting them.

''My personal process of detecting the X-factor in a musician is a visceral thing.

''I generally know instantly whether I like something or not, that doesn't necessarily follow a trend.

''I listen for creative production, I listen for a `no-fear' attitude in compositions, I listen for integrity and I listen for something different.

''Is there a right pathway? Yes, but no one pathway fits all kind of thing.

''You need to make your own pathway, create your own sound, market and promote yourself your own way.

''I believe it's tough out there in all fields: medicine, law, accounting, engineering, film and literature - so you may as well be doing something you love.''

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