I’ve never really blogged or journaled before but it’s something that I’ve wanted to do for a while. I want to use this to share what I’m up to with anyone who’s interested and for myself to archive what’s been happening externally and what I’ve been feeling internally. I plan to do these monthly. Someone please keep me accountable. Here goes!
So.. 2023 is almost finished and I feel like I am giving everything that’s in the tank to reach the finish line. There have been a few points this year where I’ve felt close to burnout actually. It’s not surprising though when I consider what has been on my plate this year. Working full-time in this crazy turbulent creative venture whilst being a father to one year old twins and a three year old, all the while juggling all of the challenges and stresses that life throws at everyone everyday; cost of living crisis, existential dread over the state of the planet that my kids will be left to deal with, just to name a few.. Having said all that, I am as happy as I’ve ever been, I think?
This year has been about doubling down on what I love in music and life. I’ve worked on some of my favourite music that I’ve ever worked on. At the start of 2023 I read Rick Rubin’s book ‘The Creative Act’ and that really solidified a lot of sentiments that I had already felt were true. After hearing them affirmed by arguably the most successful record producer of all time, I felt a greater confidence to live by them (highly recommend reading it if you haven’t already). The book set me on a path to consider my approach to my work and question whether I was contributing to art In the best way I could. When I’ve worked for artists with bigger profiles or ones more successful than I am, I’ve often felt this feeling like they know better, about what is better. The truth is that everyone has a valuable perspective and everyone’s taste is as valuable as anyone else’s. Our own taste is THE best taste for us. So while I continually work on being open to other points of view, I have a stronger conviction now that my gut feeling on things is right for me. Not necessarily right for anyone else, but for me, it is correct. This doesn’t mean that we should always our opinions in the context of a collaboration or when helping someone else achieve their vision, but holding this idea close has very much helped me keep my bearings when things get confusing. ** I want to explore what the role of the producer/collaborator is from a philosophical point of view in a future blog. There’s a lot there to unpack**
This year has also been about learning how to set boundaries and keeping a clear perspective of where those boundaries are. In my work this can be knowing what my role is in each particular collaboration and communicating to the other partners what I expect of them in exchange for my time and energy (Crucial for preventing burnout!). I feared that if I set boundaries, I may lose work, and I did actually lose some work by doing this, but weirdly this has been my busiest year in the studio ever. I also feel like some of my best work has come as a result of acknowledging this. I think this is because I have consciously worked to align myself with people who share similar values – we don’t even need to have the same taste (sometimes it’s better when we don’t) but if there is a trust and respect for each other, I’m sure the partnership will fruit some great creative results at some point in the future. I’ve always had a hard time setting boundaries in my life and especially in this job because I’ve felt there is an expectation as a producer to go above and beyond what I’m being hired to do and entertain any sporadic idea that the artist has at any time of day. I totally relate to that impulsive nature of the artist when the creativity lightning is strikin- been there, done that to many a person! I now know that I have to be mindful to integrate this line of work into my family life in a healthy way.
This is getting long so I’m just going to list some things that come to mind that stand out as great achievements and things I’m proud of
- ‘Best song lyrics’ wins for ‘If God is a Man’ at the 2023 WAM awards
- Best single for ‘Cool kid’ 2023 WAM Awards
- Best Indie/alternative act Joan and the Giants 2023 WAM Awards
- Nomination ‘Breakthrough artist’ 2023 ARIA awards Grentperez
- Runner Up Song of the year 2023 WAM Song of the Year awards ‘ Cool kid’
- Winner Rock song of the year ‘Cool kid’ 2023 WAM Song of the Year
- Winner Outstanding Indigenous song of the year ‘ The Weekend’ WAM song of the year 2023
- Carmen and I put out a new Money War EP despite it being crazy hard to coordinate with our family
- I helped produce and mix one of my all time favourite songwriters’ new albums. New Jae Laffer coming 2024!
- I’ve helped raise three beautiful children that I love so much and am very proud of
So what am I looking forward to in 2024? I’m moving studio spaces in the new year to shake things up. I’ve also had a crazy creative burst in the last few weeks where I’ve felt these songs bubbling up and out of me. I wrote 6 songs in 4 days that are definitely for me. Maybe a new project to share my songs in a very pure and unadulterated expression of me? I’m not sure yet, but I know I have a huge desire to express myself. There’s lots of releases from work that I did in 2023 that I can’t wait to share with everyone too.
Wishing everyone a great Christmas and all the best for 2024. I am so grateful that I get to make music for a job and thankful to everyone that allows me into their creative world!
lots of love x
