I thought I would take a recent experience in the studio as an opportunity to encourage other artists/musicians out there. I’ve had the privilege of working with/producing some great artist and worship leaders over the past few years. My current inspiration comes from my friend, Steve Clark. As we’ve approached each song, we’ve found it necessary to get “under the hood” so to speak to find the emotional head and heart space for each performance. Steve has blown me away by continually embracing every challenge, doing what he’s needed to do to get it right and do the best job he can do. I think Bono penned it like this, “I stoop so low, to reach so high”.
This line can be taken one of two ways, someone doing something underhanded to get ahead, or someone taking the path of humility, risking loosing a little bit of current honor in order to get to something great! For me the latter has a lot of appeal and I’ve found it necessary to embrace some portion of humility in order to find the greater moments in music. I’ve also found this philosophy/value to be consistent with great musicians. I’ve been privileged to work with some of the greatest musicians alive today. Many of these players are the band members, or the studio musicians, behind much of what you hear on top 40 radio and grammy winning records in the last 20 years. I’ve found these players to be humble, accessible and ready and willing to serve any way they can. It’s probably how they got where they are.
Learning to get past yourself (no matter how great you are) and finding the greatness in the music is the secret to finding that moment we are all looking for. You know… the one when that really-special-something happens and God walks into the room?
I’d say the bottom line is this: Cool is overrated, but great music isn’t. Don’t get trapped into wasting energy on trying so hard to be cool, or fronting some kind of attitude. Not only do you stand in danger of missing your moment, you might isolate yourself from the very greatness you desire to rub up against. Instead, find a song, guitar riff, a recording artist or worship leader you can serve/support and lose yourself in making the music great!
Anthony Skinner
http://anthonyskinner.com
Be sure and go to iTunes today and download Rita’s new project, THE PLAYLIST! Rita is one of our all time favorites and these worship tunes are really fresh…your gonna love ‘em! I’m happy to finally have some more of her music in my ipod!
