June's theme on Drive...

Hello Friends,

What a week! The full moon seemed to shine its light on the strife and outrage we need to address if we're going to grow as a society. Mass protests have led to soul-searching, heated debates and changing policies. There are so many reasons to hope. And yet, with COVID still keeping us grounded and so much uncertainty about our futures as artists, emotions are volatile.

For many of you, June should have seen you on the road touring, on festival stages, in front of audiences. And you're at home, waiting. And some of you may even be thinking of giving up...

So, if ever there were a time to focus on "drive", this would be it! Drive is what keeps us moving forward. It's a good word to explore this month!


 

June Theme: DRIVE!

Drive (noun): determination and ambition to achieve something.

When anxiety about the future hits me, I've learned that the easiest way to quell it is to remind myself of my "what for" and then do something physical, any tangible task that fuels it. It calms me. And after a time, those tiny tasks do move the needle forward.
Next time you want to pull the curtains shut and roll back into bed, maybe try a 10-minute task before you pull the covers up?! Start with one and see how it feels?

 

It was a little bizarre to travel back to a time where we were packed together in rooms enjoying music. We realized though that a showcase's role of connecting artists to opportunities was still valid and that we needed to be ready for new ways of sharing new projects with industry professionals.

 

I reiterated my belief that while talent gets you to the door, drive opens it (and kindness keeps you in the room)!

There's so much talent out there (and a lot of that talent is the result of endless hours of practice on your craft). In observing many artists who've crossed my path, I believe what makes an artist stand out is drive - whether visible engagement or quiet determination. It delivers an energy...


 

Drive doesn't always wear the coat of commercial success with charting singles and growing fan bases. It's very easy to look at others and feel discouraged... It's easy to get down on yourself right now... I've been speaking to artists who tell me they feel they should be doing more and then I remind them of all of the things they HAVE done, and how they're doing better than they think. It's just that this weird Covid-protest-changing world atmosphere can play games with our sense of perspective.

Let's use this month to reconnect with our purpose and to complete one task at a time.

I will keep reminding you that you are #changingtheworldonesongatatime and that I've got your back!

I'll offer you #empowerment and #camaraderie as best I can...

 

xo

Nat K