Question: What's your advice for young artists?
Moby: Well my advice to other musicians first and foremost would be to make music that they love. Because if you spend your life working on something that you love and you never have success with it, well … at least you spent your life doing something that you love. And by doing something that you love, you vastly improve the chances that you will have success with it. Because the worst case scenario is to give up your entire life to work on something that you don’t love and end up having no success with it. So then at the end of your life you look back and you say, “Oh. I compromised and had no success.” So basically make music that you love, and be open-minded in your approach to other people’s music. Because I think a lot of people … A lot of musicians – a lot of artists in general – tend to be very rigid when evaluating other … you know … other people’s music or other people’s art. And then simple things like word hard and be diligent. And don’t drink too much and don’t take too many drugs. And allow yourself to be influenced by interesting other … you know … other interesting musicians. And study the history of music, ‘cause I think a lot of contemporary musicians, their understanding of music goes back 20 years or 30 years. And that’s just sort of a shame because, you know, I think musicians do their best work … When you think of George Gershwin and “Rhapsody in Blue”, the inspiration for that and the influences for that are so diverse going back 50 to 100 years before he was actually writing it. And that’s one of the reasons that’s such a powerful piece of music.
Recorded on: 5/29/07
Discuss
Markus Massem on January 8, 2008, 9:47 AM
The first part of the video about love for your music is nothing new but certainly worth pointing out again. However, if you want to increase your chances of becoming a successful musician there is one of two things you have to do. You should either do something new that nobody has done before, or do something familiar better than anybody else before. I think that also ties in nicely with the last point he makes on knowing the history of music.
Markus Massem on January 8, 2008, 2:47 PM
The first part of the video about love for your music is nothing new but certainly worth pointing out again. However, if you want to increase your chances of becoming a successful musician there is one of two things you have to do. You should either do something new that nobody has done before, or do something familiar better than anybody else before. I think that also ties in nicely with the last point he makes on knowing the history of music.
Colin Burke on January 9, 2008, 7:40 AM
ordinary → extraordinary practice(*10)
Colin Burke on January 9, 2008, 7:44 AM
as a visual artists, I read things very closely, as a sound artist, I listen very closely: the question in the text reads "young artiss", the video says "other musicians".
try a venn diagram and see what you get.
Colin Burke on January 9, 2008, 12:40 PM
ordinary → extraordinary practice(*10)
Colin Burke on January 9, 2008, 12:44 PM
as a visual artists, I read things very closely, as a sound artist, I listen very closely: the question in the text reads “young artiss”, the video says “other musicians”.
try a venn diagram and see what you get.
Tom McCloughan on January 15, 2008, 8:04 PM
What you say is truth….so simple on the surface yet so difficult to do and unfamiliar with traditional upbringing. Most artists are borne from defiance, somewhere their breaking point of standard and traditional dogma and tribal uniformity was breached (the threshold varies)often for survival of their id they defined themselves against the standard and stood out and we were privy to that I believe we all quietly dream but too afraid to rise against.
Living within the limits of conformation and Pavlovian doctine it is difficult for most to step into the unknown……but I encourage all to try!
Tom McCloughan on January 16, 2008, 1:04 AM
What you say is truth….so simple on the surface yet so difficult to do and unfamiliar with traditional upbringing. Most artists are borne from defiance, somewhere their breaking point of standard and traditional dogma and tribal uniformity was breached (the threshold varies)often for survival of their id they defined themselves against the standard and stood out and we were privy to that I believe we all quietly dream but too afraid to rise against.
Living within the limits of conformation and Pavlovian doctine it is difficult for most to step into the unknown……but I encourage all to try!
hekko whatever on January 17, 2008, 5:58 AM
Basically what you are saying is: do as I do. But from what I see in this video is that you think a lot in terms of 'failure', 'success' and 'shame'. I would not want to live like that.
Having said that, I do agree that you should try to do what you love.
hekko whatever on January 17, 2008, 10:58 AM
Basically what you are saying is: do as I do. But from what I see in this video is that you think a lot in terms of ‘failure’, ‘success’ and ‘shame’. I would not want to live like that.
Having said that, I do agree that you should try to do what you love.
Michael Chapman on January 17, 2008, 9:02 PM
I have actually found that compromise is essential in music and life. Compromise has enriched my playing, my writing, and my understanding of the world as a whole.
Please young musicians DO COMPROMISE!
Do it wisely and with good reason, but do it or you'll suffer with out it.
jeff seitz on January 17, 2008, 10:04 PM
Compromise is an issue that depends on the goal of the individual artist. Commissioned composers are often given guidelines or a general framework to work within. i.e. film, video games, jingle house composers/artists.
The idea of music education and history is paramount. One must have an understanding of music to then be able to analytically study other composers or styles. Exposing yourself with an open mind to as many styles and composers is also good advice.
Michael Chapman on January 18, 2008, 2:02 AM
I have actually found that compromise is essential in music and life. Compromise has enriched my playing, my writing, and my understanding of the world as a whole.
Please young musicians DO COMPROMISE!
Do it wisely and with good reason, but do it or you’ll suffer with out it.
jeff seitz on January 18, 2008, 3:04 AM
Compromise is an issue that depends on the goal of the individual artist. Commissioned composers are often given guidelines or a general framework to work within. i.e. film, video games, jingle house composers/artists.
The idea of music education and history is paramount. One must have an understanding of music to then be able to analytically study other composers or styles. Exposing yourself with an open mind to as many styles and composers is also good advice.
soul soul on January 18, 2008, 4:13 AM
I think it's important to play music you love also because I believe that music is one of the only two things we can take to the next world (whatever you believe that to be). The other being the conversations we have with people and how we treat one another.
soul soul on January 18, 2008, 9:13 AM
I think it’s important to play music you love also because I believe that music is one of the only two things we can take to the next world (whatever you believe that to be). The other being the conversations we have with people and how we treat one another.
jessica baker on January 20, 2008, 1:30 PM
For a young artist my adivice would be practise, practise and more practise. And when you reach a stage where you are happy with the artist you are then leave it this way.
Work on you knowledge it always help.
The thing is with music you cant reach a stage where you know everything , there is always more to learn. You can be good at playing music but you still havnt reached playing the best or very well . You can play very well but no matter what you will always still learn.
So who ever you come across ears open as you can learn something from everyone. :):)
jessica baker on January 20, 2008, 6:30 PM
For a young artist my adivice would be practise, practise and more practise. And when you reach a stage where you are happy with the artist you are then leave it this way.
Work on you knowledge it always help.
The thing is with music you cant reach a stage where you know everything , there is always more to learn. You can be good at playing music but you still havnt reached playing the best or very well . You can play very well but no matter what you will always still learn.
So who ever you come across ears open as you can learn something from everyone. :):)
Ben Waxman on January 20, 2008, 8:12 PM
Hey just wondering where Moby gets off giving advice to young artists when his career is completely down the toilet and he was never on top. Now his only claim to fame is on this website that is flopping just like his career? We would be better seeking advice from Whitney Houston. Sure we would end up as drug addicts but she has had a much better Music career than Moby.
pokój! on January 23, 2008, 4:29 PM
advice is advice, listen to it or not. if you don't agree say why. part of his point was not directed at making a career but making music you enjoy listening to and making, not necessarily to sell and be successful. its titled advice to young artists not advice to make it rich in the music industry
pokój! on January 23, 2008, 9:29 PM
advice is advice, listen to it or not. if you don’t agree say why. part of his point was not directed at making a career but making music you enjoy listening to and making, not necessarily to sell and be successful. its titled advice to young artists not advice to make it rich in the music industry
Jeffrey Bowers on January 26, 2008, 8:25 AM
although i'm not a huge fan of moby, i have to agree with what he says here. as far as all you people who keep reiterating how his 'career is in the toilet', i'd like to ask you exactly where your career is… and why we'd listen to your advice over an artist most people recognize.
Jeffrey Bowers on January 26, 2008, 1:25 PM
although i’m not a huge fan of moby, i have to agree with what he says here. as far as all you people who keep reiterating how his ‘career is in the toilet’, i’d like to ask you exactly where your career is… and why we’d listen to your advice over an artist most people recognize.
Zachary Wolk on February 2, 2008, 2:09 AM
Everybody that feels this strongly, read Life without Principle – Thoreau, thanks Moby!
Zachary Wolk on February 2, 2008, 7:09 AM
Everybody that feels this strongly, read Life without Principle – Thoreau, thanks Moby!
tfly katapult on March 4, 2008, 11:48 AM
i totally agree… i mean too many ppl go thru life wishing they had a better one…we only get one, if ure not happy with it change it, do sumthing u love….
tfly katapult
www.welcometocrapville.blogspot.com
tfly katapult on March 4, 2008, 4:48 PM
i totally agree… i mean too many ppl go thru life wishing they had a better one…we only get one, if ure not happy with it change it, do sumthing u love….
tfly katapult
www.welcometocrapville.blogspot.com
Jamie Tyroler on May 1, 2008, 7:19 PM
One of the great things about "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" and "The Colbert Report" is how well they expose hypocrisy in American politics and the news.
How did we get to an interracial child of a single mother being the "elitist"?
I guess I should avoid politics because the pastor of my church while growing up was a member of the Hitler Youth. I haven't seen or heard from him in over 30 years, but apparently we now judge someone's ability to lead a nation is based on thier former pastor, priest, rabbi, imam, etc.
If George W. Bush is such a Christian, how come we never hear about the church he attends?
Jamie Tyroler on May 1, 2008, 11:19 PM
One of the great things about “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” and “The Colbert Report” is how well they expose hypocrisy in American politics and the news.
How did we get to an interracial child of a single mother being the “elitist”?
I guess I should avoid politics because the pastor of my church while growing up was a member of the Hitler Youth. I haven’t seen or heard from him in over 30 years, but apparently we now judge someone’s ability to lead a nation is based on thier former pastor, priest, rabbi, imam, etc.
If George W. Bush is such a Christian, how come we never hear about the church he attends?
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