The reason why some people don't do well or don't stay in the music space for too long is the motive they have. When I say motive, I mean the driving force that pushes them to do music. For many musicians, that driving force is money. But it's not just about money; it's also about doing music for selfish interests, material gain, recognition, or popularity. That's a wrong motive for music.
If you're driven by these motives, you'll find yourself begging for stages and opportunities. That's not a healthy approach to music. Another wrong motive is selfishness. When you know something and refuse to share it, you're being selfish with your talent. This won't take you far.
Lack of collaboration is another obstacle that can hold you back. If you refuse to work with others because they may not be as experienced or relevant, you're missing out on opportunities for growth. Instead, use your platform to lift others up.
Music is more than just entertainment; it's a healing balm, a transformation center, and a rehabilitation center. It's for the soul, and it's meant to educate, to fight for the helpless, and to give voice to those who can't speak for themselves. Music needs to be magnified.
Now, let's look at music from a different perspective. Consider the likes of Fela Kuti in Nigeria, an Afrobeat singer who used his music to fight for justice. Similarly, artists like Bob Marley, Lucky Dube, and Gregory Isaacs from Jamaica used their music to speak about spiritual themes, social issues, and criticize bad governance.
However, today, the music landscape has shifted. We now use music to peddle fantasies, focusing primarily on entertainment and fun. Unfortunately, much of the music on our stages today promotes immorality, rather than inspiring positive change.
Where are we heading as a society? As long as artists can gain popularity and financial success by promoting superficial content, it seems that the true purpose of music is being lost. Instead of using music as a powerful tool for social commentary, education, and inspiration, we're prioritizing personal gain.
This shift in focus is a wrong motive, driven by financial interests rather than a desire to create meaningful art that uplifts and transforms society. By prioritizing profit over purpose, we're diminishing the potential of music to make a positive impact on our world.
When we enter churches today, we often hear hype music, with people singing in a way that's more focused on emotional manipulation than true worship. We've lost sight of the traditional hymns that once filled our churches, songs like "Blessed Assurance," "Amazing Grace," and "It Is Well." These classic hymns were sung with passion and conviction because people understood the value of true worship.
But today, it seems like the focus has shifted. Instead of exalting God, many worship songs are designed to get people dancing and entertained. It's as if the goal is to impress others rather than to genuinely worship and connect with the divine.
As a singer, you're also a minister, and your music has the power to influence and inspire others. What message are you conveying to the younger generation? Where are we leading music? Is it truly an art form that brings people together and uplifts their spirits, or is it just a form of entertainment?
Music is often defined as the combination of sounds that please the ears. But if that's the case, shouldn't we be striving to create music that leaves a lasting impact, music that tells a story, and music that conveys a message? When we look back at the music of old, we can see that many of the greatest musicians were not necessarily wealthy or famous, but they left behind a legacy of music that continues to inspire and uplift people to this day.
Can we say the same about the music of today? How many songs from our current era will be remembered and passed down to future generations? It's worth asking ourselves what we're promoting through our music. Are we using our art form to bring people joy, comfort, and inspiration, or are we simply seeking to entertain ourselves?