Specialized

When someone is specialized not only are they good at the function of their craft, but their superior skills are the over flow of years of experience, care, learning, refining, and endless problem solving within the field. They’ve cared about this for a long time.

Specialized people help us feel extra good about the output or performance. Not only is the performance great, but we have added confidence that no matter what happens the performance will continue to operate at a high level.

Someone who is simply talented but not specialized might come in and do the same job. But the deep waters aren’t there. They haven’t cared for this specific thing for years of their life. As long as things are going pretty good, they’re pretty good. But when it gets shaky, there’s not as much of a foundation to anchor to.

We can’t be specialized in everything and it pays to be talented at least a few things. Let’s be sure to make our promises accordingly.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

Almost The Same

First Monday of the month, new Hum Love playlist on Spotify and Apple. If you haven't listened to new music in a while, give this a shot. It might not end up being your favorite but it might be nice company on the way to the grocery store.

The mediocre songs sound so much like the good ones. A lot of the same instruments, similar structures, similar vocal ranges, similar mixing…but the good ones are just…better.

For every John Mayer there’s a million acoustic dudes whose songs sound almost exactly like his…but it’s stunning how quickly we recognize the difference…the razor thin but clearly discernible inferiority.

And that’s the risk most artists take. You’re probably not going to invent a new instrument, or a new sound, or a new musical scale. You’re going to end up using most of the same puzzle pieces as everyone else…but your songs just have to be better.

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Something Worth Hearing

Artists try so hard and for so long to get everyone to quiet down so they can be heard.

But then when everyone does quiet down it gets uncomfortable because the artist doesn’t have much practice at this step…having only practiced shushing the crowd.

An artist’s job is not to get heard or be heard…it’s to play something worth hearing.

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"I'm so glad I made it"

That is what making stuff is all about.

Too often we get caught up in all the stuff we hope comes after we make our thing.

But being glad you made something is a worthy enough reason to keep making.

»» The second you take your guitar outside of your bedroom, you’re engaging in a different game…a game far beyond simply being glad of what you’ve made. But the essence, the reality, the truth is that you’re just someone sitting there making something.

»» Shout out to Stella for this one

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Repetition

At the beginning that’s what it takes.

And when you’re having such a good time with it you don’t recognize it as repetition.

We’re good at this as kids. And culture gives kids time and space to live in this zone.

The enjoyment masks any burden of repetition.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

100 Year Old Song

You can’t write a song that is 100 years old.

You can’t sit in Nashville and get inspired by breathing the ocean air.

You can’t feel exactly what someone else is feeling in the exact same way.

You write songs in the time and place and head space you have. You can imagine otherwise but it will always come back through the lens of now. You can’t help it.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple