I was 18 years old, broke, about to start college, and I was in an all-original band with my buddies called Maxwell Grant. I ended up with a Electra Strat copy and an old 30 watt Guyatone tube amp and a MXR MicroAmp pedal. No backup guitar. I got a Fender Rhodes and started playing keys and guitar in the band. Our drummer had a crappy kit with an 18 inch bass drum. He was able to get a really nice Yamaha drum set which definitely made us sound a ton better. But none of us had money. What we had was a hope/dream that we’d somehow “make it” as a band and maybe one day make a living at it.
In my mid-20s, my life got very complicated and I needed job stability. I couldn’t possibly have been in a non-profit band as a career, so I worked actual jobs. The band was gone by that time and I was writing music on the side, still hoping that one day it might “amount to something”, which I thought meant, well, money and fame. But I knew it was a pipe dream because I wasn’t ready to gamble my future on my ability to write songs that the public loved.
In my 30s I knew the “dream” was over, but I still kept trying to write music, not having a real goal in mind, and mostly not writing much music. I got depressed. I thought about music all the time but there didn’t seem a point to it.
In my 40s, the world had changed. We had the Internet, GarageBand, CDBaby, Logic Pro, virtual synths… and unlike my broke ass late teen years, I had money to spend on music stuff. I had played around with audio recording software, but it was GarageBand that made me really get back into it. It had reverb! It had delays! And it was super easy to use. I recorded a song I’d written called “Pieces on the Ground” and sent it to a friend of mine, and she freaked out. She gave me a lot of encouragement and I started recording more stuff, upgraded to Logic Pro, and because of technology I was able to write/record/release my first album, Florida Songs (titled because although I’d grown up in NY, I moved to Florida in my late 20s.)
People complain that “anyone can make an album these days.” To me that’s like saying “Anyone can go to a music store these days.” Well, yeah… it’s a GOOD thing. People complain the marketplace is flooded with bad albums people made at home. Of course it is! I love the concept that someone thinks they ought to control what other people do. The reason they’re complaining is that they feel they can’t get their music noticed because there’s so much music out there. That’s not the problem. The problem is that their music either isn’t good enough to find an audience, or they haven’t worked at finding an audience.
But back on track. For decades, making an album was for the young who were successful. You’re young, you’d want to put together a band and get a record contract and record and tour and make money. Once you’re out of your 20s, you think your window of opportunity had closed. You think of your music as “less than.” You think you “didn’t make it.” And an entire industry was there to back up those thoughts.
But that’s stupid.
Do you want to play in a band? Write your own songs? Put out an album? Do it! NOTHING is stopping you, unlike in the past. ESPECIALLY if you are older and have a career already that pays the bills. Compare me to a broke ass 18 year old. Who is in a better position to make and release an album? It’s not close. I’ve got about 35 years worth of experience playing guitar/keyboards/bass, singing, programming drums, recording music, putting music online, writing songs, performing, etc. AND I have way more money I can spend on it. And I’m smarter because I’ve been around for 55 years, and I have more ability to solve problems and work with other people. My career and life experiences are a massive advantage. And I’ve put out four albums, and gotten some music licensed.
I’m not bragging – there are tons of older guys like me who’ve been there/done that. And some of them gave up on music a long time ago and don’t see the point in trying to write songs because their window closed 30 years ago. They’re sad about it. I’m sad for them, but they’re not really paying attention. Now is the best time to do this stuff!
The 18 year old has one massive advantage, though – young people like popular music made by young people. So if you want to have an audience of young people, you need to be young. I can’t expect to get my music played on modern pop radio. I’m OK with that. But if my goal is to sell out arenas around the country, I’d better pick a genre where 55 year old dudes are already doing that. Soooooo should I do prog rock, or blues? I’m half-kidding. Fortunately that’s not my goal. My goal is to write and release the best music I can, because the whole entire process makes me feel good. THAT is doing music right.
