perseverence | Jay Mathes

I don’t do this – ever, but I thought it would be good for you all to hear, if you haven’t already read it in my latest newsletter… This is a cut and paste from the email I sent out to my music mailing list just a couple days ago, on August 26, 2011 (by the way, if you’re not already on it, please sign up for my mailing list at http://box5496.temp.domains/~jaymathe, filling out the mailing list form on the right side of the page, towards the top):

WHERE I’VE BEEN, WHERE I’M GOING

In just a few, short weeks, I will be the father of two, beautiful children. Having kids makes you think, and, paradoxically, gives you less time. Maybe what really happens is you just think better with what little time you have to think.

I’ve put in a lot of time – and money – into my music over the years. (I just realized that this past February marked the 10-year anniversary of the release of my album, Leave it All Behind.) Don’t worry. This isn’t a break-up letter.

I’m not losing steam – just trying to evaluate things. What I can say is that I’m even more inspired today by life than I ever have been. I can’t help but write and perform. And I’m also even more excited by what I call a genuine musical experience. What I long to see in other recording artists – and what I long to show to you – is a picture of who the artist really is – not some projected image – some amalgamation of marketing tactics and strategies.

In an effort to better show you who I am, I’m going to continue doing what I do: writing music that comes from my heart, my experiences, and reflects who I am and how I feel. I might blog less. I might tweet more. I might be on Facebook less. I will write more music. I will post that music online. I will beg and ask for your support of that music.

Music keeps me going. If I lost my hearing, I’d self-combust.

Thanks for your support, and come on out on 9/4 if you can!

-Jay

It might come to a surprise to some of you, but the majority of songwriters and music artists struggle to earn enough money to make ends meet. That means that the majority of songwriters often find themselves employed doing work completely unrelated to their music. And I think that’s okay – for a season.

For my own part, I’ve spent several hours this past week trying to drum up new business, new gigs (music- and non-music related), and I’ve come to one [I think] very important conclusion: wherever you work, and whatever you do, it has to be “work worth doing”:

“Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.”

– Theodore Roosevelt.

If your current job is just a job or just a way to pay the bills, I’d suggest seeking new employment. Why? Because jobs like that burn people out. These are positions that are a part of the modern corporate machine, but don’t really add value to our or any other peoples’ lives. Some might say, “Yeah, but these things have to be done by somebody.” And to that I say, “You’re right.” But why should it be done by you? Find something else where you *know* you are adding value to society – not just to your 401k.

Life is too short to be somebody’s tool. I want to be a tool for change.

Jay Mathes

Performing Songwriter

Category Archives: perseverence

Finding Significance in Your Work