Trazalca
06-05-2006, 12:25 PM
Sometimes surfing the net can yield nuggets of wisdom learned by
others more experienced. And what started as a simple interest in a person
ended up making me take serious stock into how I believe in myself
(from a creative perspective).
For the last year or so, the name of Rick Rubin has been popping up as the
mastermind producer for several of the rock songs flooding the airwaves
as of late (Nine Inch Nails, Red Hot Chili Peppers, AudioSlave, etc...).
I decided to read up on any interviews online I could find on the guy,
and I found two that he gave over the last few years.
Of those two, I found myself reading wisdom that could be applied to
any artistic endeavor. Whether it be music, writing, art, or filmmaking.
What I've compiled he said between the two interviews, and it amazes
me just how well they fit together, even though the two interviews were
given a few years apart.
Rick Rubin -
"There are certain artists that I’ve worked with that I would probably not work with again, just because it seemed like we were on too far different pages. It wasn’t that much fun, for them or for me. Usually, it also has to do with a band’s confidence. Interestingly, the more confident a band or an artist is, the easier they are to work with.
The more insecure they are, the more they tend to hold onto things that don’t really matter. Before Roy Orbison died, I did a track with him, and he was willing to try anything. Because he knew, no matter what I had him do, it wasn’t going to take away from him being Roy Orbison. Sometimes young artists, or insecure artists, hold onto things that don’t matter because they feel, “This is what makes me ‘me.’” They have this image that some little thing they do makes them what they are. But it doesn’t.
I’ll give you a good example, when I started working with the Chili Peppers the first time, which was on the Blood- SugarSexMagik album. Up until that time, Flea’s bass playing was a particular style. He was famous for it, considered one of the best bass players in the world because of it. But when we started working together, that bass playing that made him one of the best didn’t necessarily serve the songs in the best way. It was more about the bass being great. And, the song is more important than the bass.
I think, starting with that record, he changed the way he played. Not that it was so different stylistically, but it was more about playing the parts that supported the song. Instead of playing the parts that he liked the best or that were the coolest.
It was a very interesting part of the change in the Chili Peppers’ sound, from being a, let’s say, “traditional” funk band to being more of a songwriting band.
Anthony [Kiedis] had shown me the lyrics when we were looking through his lyric book. I said, “Oh, what’s this?” and he said, “It’s a song I wrote, but it’s not Chili Peppers.” He sang it to me and I thought it was beautiful. But he was emphatic: “No, this isn’t what we do!” I said, “It’s you, though, and what you, Anthony and the Chili Peppers band create is what you do. It doesn’t have to be limited to funk jams; you are allowed to do different things. It’s just a question of ‘Do you love the song?’”
Really, the key to it is doing what you believe in, as opposed to what you think is going to work. There were never any plans to make anything happen. I just did what I liked and believed in it, and luckily it all worked out. You just have to do what you want to do and be good at what you do. Be good at your craft. I do what I like, and I believe what I like will work. I don't put barriers up. [Yes, you have to have that belief in yourself. And it's the same way with the artists.]
One hundred percent. You know, artists come in all the time [and ask us] "What are you looking for?" It doesn't matter what we're looking for. You do what you do, and if you do it well, people will like it. And if they don't like it, you should be pumping gas. That's just the way it is. It's either right or wrong, and if it's right, it will happen."
And after reading this, it made me take a good hard look at myself,
and in the dreams I've had for some time regarding things I've wanted
to create. Do I believe in those dreams enough to live them?
Do I have that courage? Do I have the kind of security in my craft to put
out something I can believe in, regardless of who likes it or not?
For me, it was a jolt in my brain that has stayed with me for several days since reading this.
And I thought it a good idea to share.
Note: my apologies if this belongs in the music forum.
I just felt that the words shared transcended beyond just music.
others more experienced. And what started as a simple interest in a person
ended up making me take serious stock into how I believe in myself
(from a creative perspective).
For the last year or so, the name of Rick Rubin has been popping up as the
mastermind producer for several of the rock songs flooding the airwaves
as of late (Nine Inch Nails, Red Hot Chili Peppers, AudioSlave, etc...).
I decided to read up on any interviews online I could find on the guy,
and I found two that he gave over the last few years.
Of those two, I found myself reading wisdom that could be applied to
any artistic endeavor. Whether it be music, writing, art, or filmmaking.
What I've compiled he said between the two interviews, and it amazes
me just how well they fit together, even though the two interviews were
given a few years apart.
Rick Rubin -
"There are certain artists that I’ve worked with that I would probably not work with again, just because it seemed like we were on too far different pages. It wasn’t that much fun, for them or for me. Usually, it also has to do with a band’s confidence. Interestingly, the more confident a band or an artist is, the easier they are to work with.
The more insecure they are, the more they tend to hold onto things that don’t really matter. Before Roy Orbison died, I did a track with him, and he was willing to try anything. Because he knew, no matter what I had him do, it wasn’t going to take away from him being Roy Orbison. Sometimes young artists, or insecure artists, hold onto things that don’t matter because they feel, “This is what makes me ‘me.’” They have this image that some little thing they do makes them what they are. But it doesn’t.
I’ll give you a good example, when I started working with the Chili Peppers the first time, which was on the Blood- SugarSexMagik album. Up until that time, Flea’s bass playing was a particular style. He was famous for it, considered one of the best bass players in the world because of it. But when we started working together, that bass playing that made him one of the best didn’t necessarily serve the songs in the best way. It was more about the bass being great. And, the song is more important than the bass.
I think, starting with that record, he changed the way he played. Not that it was so different stylistically, but it was more about playing the parts that supported the song. Instead of playing the parts that he liked the best or that were the coolest.
It was a very interesting part of the change in the Chili Peppers’ sound, from being a, let’s say, “traditional” funk band to being more of a songwriting band.
Anthony [Kiedis] had shown me the lyrics when we were looking through his lyric book. I said, “Oh, what’s this?” and he said, “It’s a song I wrote, but it’s not Chili Peppers.” He sang it to me and I thought it was beautiful. But he was emphatic: “No, this isn’t what we do!” I said, “It’s you, though, and what you, Anthony and the Chili Peppers band create is what you do. It doesn’t have to be limited to funk jams; you are allowed to do different things. It’s just a question of ‘Do you love the song?’”
Really, the key to it is doing what you believe in, as opposed to what you think is going to work. There were never any plans to make anything happen. I just did what I liked and believed in it, and luckily it all worked out. You just have to do what you want to do and be good at what you do. Be good at your craft. I do what I like, and I believe what I like will work. I don't put barriers up. [Yes, you have to have that belief in yourself. And it's the same way with the artists.]
One hundred percent. You know, artists come in all the time [and ask us] "What are you looking for?" It doesn't matter what we're looking for. You do what you do, and if you do it well, people will like it. And if they don't like it, you should be pumping gas. That's just the way it is. It's either right or wrong, and if it's right, it will happen."
And after reading this, it made me take a good hard look at myself,
and in the dreams I've had for some time regarding things I've wanted
to create. Do I believe in those dreams enough to live them?
Do I have that courage? Do I have the kind of security in my craft to put
out something I can believe in, regardless of who likes it or not?
For me, it was a jolt in my brain that has stayed with me for several days since reading this.
And I thought it a good idea to share.
Note: my apologies if this belongs in the music forum.
I just felt that the words shared transcended beyond just music.