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Old 09-03-2013, 01:08 PM   #66
DaneMcCloud DaneMcCloud is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by patteeu View Post
Thanks for your insight.

What's your opinion of the proposition that starving (or otherwise distressed) artists make the best art, generally speaking? It seems like a lot of rock artists do their best work on their first record or two and fall off after that. No doubt they become better musicians as their career progresses, but I'm not sure whether or not most of them make better music.
This is an incredibly difficult question to answer, as there are so many variables. I could probably write a ten page essay in an attempt to cover this topic.

I don't think that money affects artistic output nor does it affect the ability to create.

But briefly speaking, I think there are two different types of scenarios in play here:

1. Brand new band has an huge debut record and poor follow up
2. Brand new band has a quiet debut, finds an audience and continues to ascend and create great album after great album.

In scenario one, it's most likely that the artist or band has a lifetime of songs written for their debut. That debut connects with an audience and sells millions of records, gaining fans and putting pressure on the artist or band to create a similar followup, generally within a year. What happens then is that the Artist/Band will often feel that pressure and not respond well to it, which negatively affects their songwriting, performance and album sales.

It's difficult to create even one hit single, let alone 20 years worth of hit singles.

In scenario two, the Band/Artist creates music that connects with an audience but doesn't feel the pressure to replicate prior success. That Band/Artist grows creatively, whether it's song structure, harmonies, arrangements and so on. "Staying True" creatively can lead to a long and fruitful career but even then, people tend to get burned out working with each other.

Keep in mind, it's also about the "driver" of the Artist/Band. Is it a collaborative effort, like The Beatles or Eagles or Aerosmith, Van Halen or Rolling Stones? Or does it rely on one person, like The Who and Pete Townsend, Tom Scholtz and Boston, Danny Elfman and Oingo Boingo, etc.?

There are just so many unique factors at play that it's really difficult to say with a broad stroke but I do not believe that "starving" equates to better art.
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