Raising the bar!

So, last night, I had a meeting with a good friend/colleague of mine that has begun her journey in her creative career moving upward. I was so happy for her, I was moved to tears, the punk that I am. But it is a testimony to myself that I am growing into an even more open creative spirit. As an artist, I always have this innate competitive component that lives just behind my left ear that says: "thats good for her/him, but what are you doing...work harder, push more, get yours too." More consistently though, I am recognizing that that little voice is getting quieter, and I genuinely happy that my friends & my colleagues are enjoying such success and strides in their careers. Its that selfish self-centeredness that makes the artist say..."well, what about me?". That's dangerous, but necessary for our individual preservation. I am getting so closer to perfecting yet another tight-right act, walking b/t the two perspectives, and being cool with where I am at any given point and time. Note to self: who do I think I am...Oprah? AHAHAHAHAHA.
So, the other break-through last night was: I hung out with two mentors of mine in the "business", who happened to be 20+ year veterans. They have enjoyed alot of the Platinum days" of music, and now at this sweeping merger state, where there will be JUST ONE MAJOR RECORD LABEL..pretty soon; they offer alot of great informed perspectives. We meet up at an Angie Stone show for Von Dutch, speaking of..now that is a industry study. I have always liked Angie Stone and her records, always. But watching her smash an impromptu, a capella hour long set with cocktail in hand, well...kudos to her dammit! And there was a mixed crowd for sure, black, white, East Indian, Men, women, Soho jetset, Gay, straight...and hey were all singing the words to her songs. Even songs I didn't know. It was refreshing! It was good to meet her again and get her down home flavor. I would imagine its the only way to be in the smoke and mirrors business. Gotta' find a way to be solid...why not just be real.
So the zinger of the night...I was chatting about business to one of the mentors in Publishing, and he said to me "Not everyone that is Dope should be a star. Not everyone that can sing has that potential". So, of course I went on to defend my under-rated underground bretheren...with, "if you want polish and bling, it has to be paid for. Most of the dope underground artists spend their budget on dope ass music." And then, he shut me up with: Russell, if you were to never make another record, would you be missed? Maxwell and Sade are the only ones right now in "Urban Music" OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!. I couldn't answer that question. I remain proud of my freshman record, but I can't really say that folks would miss me. I had no rebuttal. But what I did do is write that quote down to post on my bedroom and studio walls, to remind me, that the next record has to be to that standard.
Here's to raising the bar...