Measuring music - An artist's rambling on worth, and how to feel worthy

Dear Patrons,

How was your Easter weekend? I hope you like the attached photo, it's a flashback to the "Spit" music video we did back in 2017, of me recovering in a field somewhere in Stamner Park, Brighton. 

It's been yet another Easter bank holiday weekend in the UK and I have to say I've barely noticed. The weeks are passing me by so quickly, with so many things going on in the news (the continuing saga of Brexit, the environmental protests in London and a bunch of other quite disturbing events going on across the world) that I've barely had time to breathe.

I've been feeling quite detached from it all to be honest, avoiding social media for an unusually long time and just immersing myself into music. Despite feeling a bit non-communicative I think I'm doing ok. How are you?

I'm writing songs again after a very long break... which can only mean one thing. The album is nearly done. It's nearly time to stretch my creative muscles and get my brain back into production mode. 

I have so many ideas - but which ones to execute first? The Klezmer Kickstarter album? My new solo album project (I finally have a title but shh not yet), or my classical piano duet album with Kat Downs? I'm lucky to have projects coming out of my ears right now and it's a beautiful place to be in. I can't wait to share all these future things with you.

Before I get on to the awesome "things" I'll be sharing with you this month I just want to have a small bitch about this beautiful but sometimes cruel industry that is music. I hope that's ok, and believe me when I say that I love what I do, and I certainly don't do it for the money.

I feel like I don't really enjoy talking about the financial side of things in BEB, as I'm always worried I might come across as moaning, or ungrateful, so I rarely blog about it. But it's very hard not to be emotionally affected by these things, this industry does things to your head, and I do think it's important to share my thoughts, and to make you aware of how much I appreciate what we have here.

So here goes... right now the music industry seems to go from fragile to worse to broken. Each year the actual value of songs decline, the amount of people attending gigs is dropping, venues are closing down and as an artist I'm often feeling nervous about the state of my band's future. We've had our fair share of financial struggles, and I'm fortunate and relieved that we've still been able to make it work (mostly thanks to you guys right here). I feel like it's an almost impossible task to make a living doing original music. 

I get paid far more money to play covers at parties, or teach pop music to kids, than I do to anything else, and while I really don't mind as I've had far worse jobs I do think it's just a bit sad. There are a lot of BEB fans out there supporting and playing our music on YouTube, Spotify, etc - and for the most part we just don't get paid for it. A patron on Facebook recently posted this:

To be honest, I just try not to focus on it. I write music because I think it's my sole purpose in life, and I'd do it even if I earned nothing. But, just sometimes it does bother me. The unfairness of working so that these companies can make money from your art is kind of soul-destroying. I'm hoping for a day when things will change. I just don't think it can go on like this. It's not right.

Aside from all that negative stuff, I feel like Patreon has been the saving grace, I mean, finally a platform that the fans can give what they choose to, directly to us, in exchange for art. It couldn't be more perfect! When I look back at our last few years we've released almost everything on Patreon only and for me it's working GREAT. And, it's not just me that feels that way. I'm happy to see many musician/art friends of mine using it as a platform to support their work and absolutely smashing it.

Phew. Ok sorry for my bitching. What I'm really trying to say is THANK YOU for giving me hope in an industry that doesn't value my work. You value my work and that's all that matters. And I truly, truly value you. This small group of people that I've come to know so well. Some of you I've stayed with, played music in your houses, drank with, skyped, written letters to, laughed and cried with. The Patreon journey is a beautiful one I am fully part of. Hope you'll stick around for the next chapter...

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...speaking of which, who would like some new songs this month??? Here we go with alllllll the thiiiiiiiiings....

$1+ BAD BLOOD - a new song, another concept. This will be one of the more angry songs from The World Conspires. It's like "Part of Me" grew legs and arms and very large teeth.

$3+ LOOK AWAY - another new song featuring... wait for it... A HURDY GURDY! This will be the final track on the record, it's definitely a weirdo.

$5+ BONUS FOLDER - lots and lots of pics including the finished versions of my ACCORDION BABE photoshoot! Fuck yeh.

$15+ VLOG - this will be me rambling and recording and singing and playing, Garry and Hana will probably make an appearance

$25+ LIVESTREAM - me and Hana are busting our arses finishing the strings for the new record, plus learning a whole classical repertoire. We're rehearsing lots this month so make sure you're watching here.

$50+ A HAND-WRITTEN SCORE - your choice of song. I will hand-notate it, make it arty, sign it and send it. Let me know your songs asap as scoring takes time :)

$70+ A COVER... we've gone electronic for this month's cover, it's a version of Hello Earth by Kate Bush. You are in for an audio treat.

$100+ All of the below rewards plus if you fancy skyping... let me know, I'm always down for a chat.

LOVE TO THE FLOCK. Thank you for supporting us.

X Mishkin X