Grammy-winning artist St. Vincent shares her unconventional wisdom for aspiring musicians, emphasizing the need for an “unreasonable belief” in one’s ability to create meaningful music.

The Journey to Success

St. Vincent, whose real name is Annie Clark, believes that aspiring artists must endure a series of humbling and often humiliating experiences to improve their craft.

“In order to get good, you have to go through a series of humbling and humiliating experiences,” she explains. Despite these challenges, she emphasizes the importance of maintaining an unwavering belief in one’s music.

“You have to have this psychotic belief – an unreasonable belief, truly – that you are going to write songs and make music that is going to matter. And that’s a really crazy thought.”

Reflecting on her own career, St. Vincent reveals that this intense drive is accompanied by moments of self-doubt and self-criticism.

“I have that thought – with plenty of self-loathing and self-laceration – but I also have this [feeling], ‘If I don’t do this, I’m going to die.’”

This almost desperate attitude, she suggests, is crucial for achieving success in the music industry.

Realities and Challenges

The reality of the music industry is often stark. For most musicians, success doesn’t come easy.

St. Vincent’s insights reveal the importance of resilience and an almost irrational belief in one’s work.

She suggests that without this level of dedication and belief, many artists might not endure the numerous challenges they face.

Examples of Persistence

Take, for instance, the journey of indie artist Phoebe Bridgers. Despite her initial struggles, Bridgers’ persistence paid off with her critically acclaimed album “Punisher.”

Her success story is a testament to the importance of staying the course despite the odds.

Another example is Billie Eilish, who faced considerable skepticism early in her career.

Eilish’s unique sound and vision eventually garnered her international success, proving that a strong belief in one’s artistic vision can indeed lead to monumental achievements.

The Streaming Dilemma

St. Vincent also addresses the current state of the music industry, particularly the impact of streaming services.

She argues that the streaming model incentivizes music that can be consumed repeatedly, which may not always align with the nature of all music.

“If you are a big pop artist, streaming is fine,” she says.

“But there is some music that reaches you very deeply but isn’t music that you put on every single day. I’m not going to listen to John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme every day. It’s one of the most pivotal records of my life, but I’m not going to stream it over and over.”

She continues, “Streaming incentivizes songs to be consumable over and over again. Now, certainly there’s great music you want to consume like that – but there’s a lot of music that’s excellent and doesn’t fall into that category. And those artists, because of streaming, are wilting on the vine.”

Why This Matters

Understanding the significance of St. Vincent’s advice is crucial for music producers. It highlights the necessity of perseverance and a strong belief in one’s craft, regardless of the industry’s evolving landscape.

St. Vincent’s candid reflections serve as a powerful reminder of the passion and resilience required to succeed in the music world.

Her advice is not just for artists but for anyone involved in music production, reminding them of the importance of unwavering dedication and belief in the power of music.

For more insights, check out related articles on MusicTech.