Namaste, Dear Music Lover,

In the arts, as in life,
everything is possible
provided it is based on love.
—Marc Chagall

Every person attempting to build a career in creative endeavours [the arts] is (or perhaps should be) aware of this wisdom offered by modernist painter Marc Chagall (1887-1985).

Whether his was the lodestar of art insight or thought could be considered alongside Chagall’s many decades of life and work experiences, and his famous quote above is from 1973 when Chagall was in his mid-eighties. By then, his accomplishments were nearly legendary, and his work resided in prestigious galleries, museums and places of worship around the western world.

Although we could explore some of the expansive wit and wisdom (and legendary creativity) of Asia (in the west often termed the Orient), we’ll use Chagall’s quote as a reference point to underscore the importance of what we as artists use for our own motivations. For what human impulse is stronger or more compelling than love?

What other motive than love could have inspired Emperor Shah Jahan to imagine and construct the Taj Mahal to honour his great Earthly love?

The ancient Egyptian queen Cleopatra’s alliances and love affairs with both Roman emperors Mark Antony and Julius Caesar were key factors enabling Egypt to solidify its power for many decades. So it seems that men have had no monopoly on being driven to do good works in this world by love, whether it’s purely spiritual, altruistic, the quest for power (and perhaps implied immortality), or by dint of some merely physical attraction.

Our point here isn’t to compare the relative importance of art made by men vs. that offered by women. We’ll set aside the often undervalued work of motherhood, not to suggest it’s any less important than the life it brings and sustains, because here on AntaraMitra.com, our purpose is not to settle arguments or compare genders in any pseudo-scientific way.

On this planet, human artists for millennia have arrived and thrived in both genders, as well as certainly some whose genders are not binary or what some call “normal”. But anyway, whose views determine what is normal, and are their statuses fully determinative for all others? Could that way of thinking (via edicts from people somehow seated in high court judging merit somehow according to gender) even be “a thing”, and hence, should it matter in Chagall’s (and present) modernity?

As usual, rather than attempt to decisively state one view as best, we’ll let you consider that for yourself, Dear Music Lover. I’m of a mind that concludes we each have valid opinions. How valid? Maybe time will tell, and one theory (supported by the design of modern reality TV like the popular show which helped me to launch my Bollywood music career) is vaguely akin to the phrase from the 1500s:

• The cream always rises to the top.

or from the 1900s, maybe a trope of the previous phrase:

• Talent will [win] out.

One thing is certain: our mission on my web site is not to pepper visitors with sayings and theories about how the world works, and how we must fit into it, rather we want to offer some useful insights and ideas to give aspiring vocalists solid advice for their potential careers in music, whether they choose to pursue film music roles or not.

We have many types of and uses for music. The human voice is perhaps the original and most readily identified instrument (although the term musical instrument more often means some external/mechanical [or now, electronic] device that makes musical sounds). Much of what we advise here to build vocal music skills also applies to non-vocal instruments as well.

Countless books, essays, video tutorials, etc. have been published offering all sorts of techniques, theories and strategies to improve one’s ability to make music, solo or in concert (please forgive the easy pun) with others.

What we are sharing here is not the one and only “best” way for aspiring artists to pursue a creative career, Dear Music Lover. Each of us is unique, and to whatever extents we are gifted or talented, we must each strive to be prepared (which is why I so often say that practice and study are critical preparation for this type of work) for our challenges and for the growth we will have to endure via various experiences. The highs and lows of auditions, meetings with other creative types, facing rejection (and hopefully, facing adulation without becoming overly self-impressed and hence stagnant, leading to a decline on our career path).

All of this goes to show that, at least in the field of music specifically (and entertainment generally), how the people involved reach their own life’s decisions is likely to impact future opportunities and outcomes.

In other words, if you’re “very open-minded” and that leads to an impulsive decision to join up with others whose ultimate interests aren’t in alignment with yours, then at some point it’s possible that some degree of regret or resentment will come into play. When such feelings occur, it may difficult or even impossible for you to do your best work. One well-worn version of such stories is the oppressive boss who is quick with demands and slow with appreciation or remuneration. Each of us will face problems. The sage wisdom with regard to facing challenges and problems is this: it’s not about being knocked down, it’s about getting back up and not letting a defeat or other bad experience define you. You define you. No one else can do it! If you’re waiting for external validation, you could wait forever and find yourself not only bereft of the usual rewards for work, but also in a state of mind that is not conducive to future employment. I’ve said it before, however it bears repeating: the work in nearly all creative endeavours (unless some other way is determinative, like a long-term employment agreement is made ensuring it) is basically self-employment… in other words it means that little or nothing is guaranteed in terms of continuing employment.

Let’s take this thread a bit farther to note that as a creative person, it’s very likely that you will need to engage in what is generally termed as outreach.

Actors seeking work in mass media (TV/film, etc.) often prepare their “reels” to share with casting agents and directors as examples of how versatile and talented they are in making their characters seem convincing or appealing.

Singers have options beyond reality TV, and before it became an available path to work in the industry, there were various other ways that for example musical people found each other to form performing groups (such as being prior members in school groups like choirs, chanting at temples either as part of the congregation, or perhaps as a cleric who specialises in it, or casual meetings at retail music shoppes like (here we are showing our age a bit) record stores aka “music outlets” where, for example two music lovers await their moment to buy concert tickets for a show that they both eagerly anticipate.

So music not only “hath charms to soothe a savage breast” per Shakespeare, it’s very likely also powerful for gathering people of similar tastes to enjoy a performance by artists whom they admire or fancy.

Not every serious fan of Bollywood films is going to become a force in the movie industry. In fact, not every great director is destined for endless success in Bollywood. By noting this, we’re not being negative or fatalistic.

We’re simply pointing out that in terms of random encounters with similarly-minded fans of creative work that we enjoy, the probability that it will lead to long-term friendship or fruitful work relationships certainly exists; but, just as conventional advice for people looking to meet attractive others often points to such mundane venues as grocery stores where people are often simply “doing their usual shopping routines”, unpredictable’random encounters’ may actually bear fruit (oh dear, we couldn’t resist that pun, lol, sorry) in the Produce section! Given that it’s become a popular choice to “shop around”, the markets may be becoming less-ideal for exciting meetings with potential new friends or colleagues.

Which avenues have the most potential for good random encounters seems like the sort of decision best left to chance, unless the sly among us have specific intelligence that someone we are determined to meet yet who is otherwise perhaps not inclined to welcome our overtures as a potential work partner via the formal channels… let’s say they notice a lively scarf you’re wearing and are curious where you found it. That could lead to another chance to discuss career ambitions in a less-stressful environment than a typical casting call or music audition.

How you personally should decide to seek group-building or find theatrical work leads is certainly up to you. No one (other than perhaps your theatrical agent) can tell you where best to look for work. It is obvious, however, that if you’re able to pass an audition or two leading to doing well in a talent competition (and in case you missed it, I wasn’t the topper on Indian Idol 2, but I did reach the Finals, which showed that I had talent, versatility and perseverance under pressure—all required for a Bollywood career), it could lead you somewhere that you might want to reach.

So again, there’s no single path leading to really, any career anywhere. The pursuit of excellence is in some sense its own reward as a character-building process, if nothing else! In every instance, many choices that we make in life will impact our future lives, and if you feel stuck on your life path, then you have some decision-making ahead of you.

So to summarise and conclude this post with, as we seek to present here on AntaraMitra.com for you, Dear Music Lover, perhaps some sage advice expressed poetically in the Beatles song “Hey Jude” will offer you good insight. We share our own wisdom that, along Google AI’s succinct take, albeit perhaps not quite as poetic as Lennon-McCartney’s, is still succinct and insightful:

The power to change is already within you; use it to turn your pain into progress.

Who can confidently dismiss that bit of wisdom? Or, put even more succinctly:

• Don’t just endure; evolve.
• The solution is you.
• Turn tragedy into triumph.

Make good choices, because you’ll have to live with them! If I’d let my own negative self-talk prevent me from waiting in a long line to audition for a reality TV show, my own options for work as a musical artist might not have materialised in the fairly surprising ways they have. Don’t you be afraid to take a step toward that spotlight (if you feel ready)!

Namaste,

♫ AM ♫