I’m getting kinda sick of hearing the word ‘Artist’ being thrown around Hollywood and other social media circles as though anyone who has a talent automatically qualifies as an ‘artist’. That is so not the case and in my opinion needs to be clarified.
I have had one too many coffees of late with people telling me that they have to get out of this job or that relationship because “they are an ‘artist’ and the situation they are in is stifling their ability to express themselves”. Somebody please give me a vomit bag! Talent does not equal art and talented people are not automatically artists. In order to call yourself an artist you have to earn that right and the way you do that is by doing what any real artist does….show the world the things that are affecting you when you feel inspired to do so.
An artists is someone who expresses what they are feeling, thinking and or observing about a situation they are experiencing or witnessing. The situation may have moved them, inspired them, angered them, whatever…..they have been affected by their experience and they choose to express that through their art. A real artist, when they have something to say, GETS OFF THEIR BUTT AND EXPRESSES WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY. They don’t wait for it to be cool, or profitable, or convenient, or trendy. They express because what they have to say about their lives is their truth and they can’t not express it. Their intention is not to make money or gain fame, but to move and provoke thought in the people that their art engages.
I am so over being asked “Can you show me how to “make it” as an independent artist?” by people that haven’t had the courage to say what they have to say. It’s not the artist in me that drives me to “make it”. It’s the business woman in me that is stimulated to “make it” and pioneer a path for other independent artists. The artist in me is not interested in the business side of things. She doesn’t need to “make it”. She’s not stimulated with money or cool shoes or amazing restaurants. The business woman in me is, and she makes no apologies for it. The artist in me only cares about stimulating conversation around the things that are affecting and moving my thoughts and feelings.
So to all you so called artists….the next time you hear yourself calling yourself an artist, please take a minute to reflect “Am I really an artist? Do I have something to say about the things that are affecting my life and am I actually saying them? Am I more focused on how to make money out of my talents than what I have to say as an artist?” After you’ve taken time to really think about these questions, ask yourself again…..”Have I really earned the right to call myself an artist?” If you’ve answered no, it doesn’t mean you never will. it just means that if you are going to call yourself an artist, you need to start bringing it!
Please comment and share your thoughts!
Lee Safar is an Independent Australian Singer/Songwriter now based in Los Angeles and building a successful music career globally. Having recently signed a major distribution deal in Japan after and being shortlisted for the Twilight Saga: New Moon Soundtrack, Lee is helping artists/bands all over the world build a global presence online gathering true fans and not hype! www.leesafar.com (to contact Lee for help on you’re social media presence in the music industry email lee@leesafar.com)