Music artists are stereotyped as young boys who smoke too much cannabis, use too many expletives or slang terms when they speak, are rude to older people and think they’re the best, but is this true? As a trance music artist in the same generation as Armin Van Buuren, I would challenge this stereotype. I think it’s often wrong, and too many artists – especially rap and hip-hop- get a bad reputation because of this false image. In a recent video by Damian Keyes, he asks, “Are you too old to be a music artist?”
Are You Too Old to Be a Music Artist?
As Damian explains in the video, it is never too late to do anything you want to do in life. Therefore, you are never too old to be a music artist. Your later years could well be the best time for you to get started. In fact, I can only think of one reason why it may be too late.
Why Might You be Too Old?
The only reason you may be too old to be a music artist is that once you hit your 30s and 40s, you tend to lose some energy. As someone in his late-40s, I often wish I had the energy I had when I was a youth or a younger adult. I see myself now, and all I want to do is stay home, make music, put my feet up and forget the world. Everhald is even older than I am, and he feels the same. We want DJs to play our music in their sets. If we can do that, job done! We have done what we set out to do. We have had a good number of D.J.s play our music, so it would be great if you could join these people if you are a D.J.
Being the same age as Armin Van Buuren, I often wonder how he can do it. You get much older artists who go on tour too. Michael Jackson was always on tour until he died. I am very pro, Michael. I know he had some strange ideas, but I believe he was a good man in truth.
Why Are You Not Too Old to be a Music Artist?
Believe it or not, there are far more reasons why you are not too old to be a music artist. Here, I will explain some of the key reasons why you’re not over the hill – yet!
Social Media Doesn’t Have to Be For Children
I know what I said in my moaning and complaining post yesterday, but social media is not just for kids. We might only need one microblogging platform, but there are occasionally new aspects to social media that haven’t been seen before. I still don’t like Meta or Twitter, but microcontent such as videos on TikTok, YouTube Shorts and Instagram tend to do very well. I put out these kinds of microcontent videos daily, which work reasonably well for my music. So, I’m not quite that old and doddery just yet!
Older People Don’t Like A.I.
As an older artist, I see the difference technology has made since I was a teenager. From a time when a CD Rom showing me pictures of my home town would set you back 500 quid, a time when a video game took 30 minutes to load to a time when I just had to switch my computer on, on a desktop or mobile device, and when I could switch on a games console and get a game instantly, you see the rate of technology. It has grown so quickly over the years that it is scary to see where it will be in the next 10, 20 or 30 years. Many people are scared of A.I. Will it eventually take over and enslave humanity? There are plenty of YouTube videos on this subject.
I wouldn’t want to use A.I. in my music as an artist. It could speed up my production time and make my music sound ok, but at the same time, I believe it would take away the actual art. As an artist, I believe it should be the human who makes the music. Therefore, the human would decide on arrangement, effects, key, accompanying sounds, etc. The only area where I would like A.I. input would be EQing and mastering my music.
Be Your Own Boss
By this, I mean that you can run your career the way you want. Therefore, you can decide if you want to tour or not. Do you want to do gigs? If you don’t like the idea of constantly moving your gear, there is another way. You don’t have to move your gear at all if you use Stageit.com. You could keep your gear exactly where it is now and video yourself playing. Everhald and I aren’t performers, but this could be an option for you if you are.
You’re Not Too Old to be a Music Artist Now Because You’re More Open to Learning
Another reason you’re not too old to be a music artist is because you will have an aptitude to learn now that you didn’t when you were a youth. For me, I wouldn’t say I liked school. I didn’t do well. I didn’t want to be there, and I didn’t get on with the teachers. However, now, I have just got myself a Master’s Degree in Music Performance and am much more open to learning. I have learned the whole point of learning. If you know more, you can do more. If you can do more, you are more valuable to other people. Therefore, you can expect a higher wage packet, as well as enjoy a better life in every aspect.
You’re Not Too Old to Be a Music Artist Now Because You Have a Better Attitude
My attitude is much better than when I was 20. Back then, my life was all about chasing women, enjoying beer and cigarettes and getting stoned during my lunch hour. Fast forward to now, and I see my life as a music artist, blogger, YouTuber, Christian, husband, and father, as far more important than getting stoned at lunchtime. In fact, I think the effects of getting stoned at lunchtime were a wake-up call for me. I am much more careful these days, and I even have a beer very rarely now. When I have a beer, I have one or two and never more. I hate the feeling of having a hangover.
An Example of a Rapper Who Didn’t Class Himself As Too Old to Be a Music Artist
Back in the mid-90s, when I was doing all of the above, one guy stuck out as someone who wasn’t too old to be a music artist. His name was Skatman John, and he was a rapper. I know, a rapper! Rappers aren’t supposed to be old, but picture it for a second. If your grandad was a rapper, would you support him? I bet you would! Below, I am posting a video by Skatman John that will show you that it’s never too late and you’re never too old to be an artist.
Age is Just a Mindset
You can do whatever you want in life. You are never too old. If you wanted to rap in your 90s, do you think someone would stand in your way? I don’t think so. I know I would support anyone who wanted to do something positive like make music in their 90s…and why not?
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