I started late picking up guitar. At some point I made a random low-bar pledge to make a record before I was 30. Well, I made it, at 28, then another at 29 (first Young Fresh Fellows LP!). Now it’s 40 years later and I feel like I’m making better music (or is it just more? - ha) than ever. It doesn’t matter who cares or doesn’t really. You’re a grown-ass gem, Spencer, and getting better and better. I’ll check back with you in 2053 - we’ll both still be awesome!
Who gives a fuck, indeed! The idea of peaking was likely invented by someone who wasn’t an artist or by someone who truly believed their better days were behind them. But as someone who is happier with his art as he moves further into middle age, I just don’t buy it. Our voice may change, our outlook may become different, but if you believe that art and YOUR art is worthwhile, you’ll always have something to say. And if the prevailing culture doesn’t like it? Oh well. There is still likely an audience for it that loves it deeply.
Happiest of birthdays to you and thank you for taking time to share your words and talents with others.
I’m a ripe 49 (haha) but don’t look it - I was always told I looked young which pissed me off as youngin (espesh after I turned 21), but now it’s a lovely thing given all the vices I got up to in the last 30 years. I guess all this to say, I enjoyed the post, you’re a wise one and a good egg. Also, just to note: both Dan Bejar and Sufjan Stevens (my age fellas) are making the best music of their long careers. So put that in your pipe and smoke it! You’re on your way, kid. ;) HBD!
I'm 47 now, and I've found myself over the years looking at people I grew up with and thinking they had clearly "peaked" many years ago. The measurable for that is completely arbitrary, and as I have come to realize, very superficial in some instances. But whatever the criteria for peaking is, I realized I never want to peak, until the day I die. I want every measurable passage of time to be generally better than the period before.
For someone who is an artist (I assume we all are in some way), a peak is generally only judged by other's reception of your work. If you only let yourself be judged by others, then you lose control of your desired peak. For me, I'm going to hold on to my goal of peaking only prior to perishing.
Welcome to being grown-ass! 28’s a good age to define as grown-ass. I got married and bought a house at that age. I was still too young to do the former. Live and learn. Anyway, it seems like artistic peaks are defined by popularity and sales. Fuck that. I’m trying to embrace that idea, too. It’s hard, but we make better stuff when we don’t think about it being a commodity.
You already know the answers to most of the hard questions here, which puts you decades ahead of most folks. You also know that knowing the answers doesn’t necessarily mean you feel the answers or put them into practice all the time. It is difficult to set aside expectations, judgments, fear, worry...all those things that in hindsight often seem destructive and ridiculous.
Everyone has a unique ebb and flow to their creative/productive lives. We shape it, or ride it, but we don’t always control it. But the “success” of it? That perception is yours alone, and what you value the most. Trust your gut, make and do things you love, surround yourself with wonderful people and pets = you win the jackpot.
Mountains: Lots of peaks in a range. Ranges go the distance. Some peaks have spectacular views, but they all help build perspective. Me: 54 and just wrote a song that I actually like and want to share.
Nels is for me, a perfect living example of the fine wine artist evolving, newly creating as time forges onward. Imagine if he tossed in the creative cards at age 28 and just did weddings and zep cover bands! At 63, I'm finally in a band that is aesthetically right where I need to be, even if we gig 4x a year and aging artists sparsely fill the performance space...keep creating, forever!
I think a person’s creative output is better measured by its transmission than by its reception. If you can find a satisfying conduit for your creative expression and you can keep that conduit open and flowing, you have won at life. It doesn’t matter when it happens. The reception of that creative flow only matters if your goal is to make money. Or if you need the approval of other people to feel validated. For me, my upbringing blocked my conduits and I’ve spent a lifetime trying to establish a flow. Your flow appears to me to be free and strong. 🌅❤️👍🏻
Thanks for sharing, Spencer, and happy belated birthday! :) I think I went through similar thoughts in my late 20s (32 now), but wasn’t able to put it into words so well. Looking back a couple of years, I think the main thing I stumbled upon was exactly that fear of a “peak;” the feeling that it all happened already, and that I missed out. I think no one else cared about my age, except me, and it numbed (and still numbs!) me more than it should. I’m trying to work against that. I decided that for now, 43 is my “grown-ass age”. I’ll have plenty of time before that.
I started late picking up guitar. At some point I made a random low-bar pledge to make a record before I was 30. Well, I made it, at 28, then another at 29 (first Young Fresh Fellows LP!). Now it’s 40 years later and I feel like I’m making better music (or is it just more? - ha) than ever. It doesn’t matter who cares or doesn’t really. You’re a grown-ass gem, Spencer, and getting better and better. I’ll check back with you in 2053 - we’ll both still be awesome!
Who gives a fuck, indeed! The idea of peaking was likely invented by someone who wasn’t an artist or by someone who truly believed their better days were behind them. But as someone who is happier with his art as he moves further into middle age, I just don’t buy it. Our voice may change, our outlook may become different, but if you believe that art and YOUR art is worthwhile, you’ll always have something to say. And if the prevailing culture doesn’t like it? Oh well. There is still likely an audience for it that loves it deeply.
Happiest of birthdays to you and thank you for taking time to share your words and talents with others.
I’m a ripe 49 (haha) but don’t look it - I was always told I looked young which pissed me off as youngin (espesh after I turned 21), but now it’s a lovely thing given all the vices I got up to in the last 30 years. I guess all this to say, I enjoyed the post, you’re a wise one and a good egg. Also, just to note: both Dan Bejar and Sufjan Stevens (my age fellas) are making the best music of their long careers. So put that in your pipe and smoke it! You’re on your way, kid. ;) HBD!
I'm 47 now, and I've found myself over the years looking at people I grew up with and thinking they had clearly "peaked" many years ago. The measurable for that is completely arbitrary, and as I have come to realize, very superficial in some instances. But whatever the criteria for peaking is, I realized I never want to peak, until the day I die. I want every measurable passage of time to be generally better than the period before.
For someone who is an artist (I assume we all are in some way), a peak is generally only judged by other's reception of your work. If you only let yourself be judged by others, then you lose control of your desired peak. For me, I'm going to hold on to my goal of peaking only prior to perishing.
Welcome to being grown-ass! 28’s a good age to define as grown-ass. I got married and bought a house at that age. I was still too young to do the former. Live and learn. Anyway, it seems like artistic peaks are defined by popularity and sales. Fuck that. I’m trying to embrace that idea, too. It’s hard, but we make better stuff when we don’t think about it being a commodity.
Happy birthday, you grown-ass man!
You already know the answers to most of the hard questions here, which puts you decades ahead of most folks. You also know that knowing the answers doesn’t necessarily mean you feel the answers or put them into practice all the time. It is difficult to set aside expectations, judgments, fear, worry...all those things that in hindsight often seem destructive and ridiculous.
Everyone has a unique ebb and flow to their creative/productive lives. We shape it, or ride it, but we don’t always control it. But the “success” of it? That perception is yours alone, and what you value the most. Trust your gut, make and do things you love, surround yourself with wonderful people and pets = you win the jackpot.
Happy birthday, Deputy Sprantler!
Happy birthday!
Wise beyond years. ✨☺️☮️
Happy birthday blondie and ill repeat after you "who gives a fuck"?
Enjoy your days, your opus will be around the corner.. you just have to walk there:)
Been thinking about stuff like this lately. Thanks for sharing!
Mountains: Lots of peaks in a range. Ranges go the distance. Some peaks have spectacular views, but they all help build perspective. Me: 54 and just wrote a song that I actually like and want to share.
Nels is for me, a perfect living example of the fine wine artist evolving, newly creating as time forges onward. Imagine if he tossed in the creative cards at age 28 and just did weddings and zep cover bands! At 63, I'm finally in a band that is aesthetically right where I need to be, even if we gig 4x a year and aging artists sparsely fill the performance space...keep creating, forever!
I think a person’s creative output is better measured by its transmission than by its reception. If you can find a satisfying conduit for your creative expression and you can keep that conduit open and flowing, you have won at life. It doesn’t matter when it happens. The reception of that creative flow only matters if your goal is to make money. Or if you need the approval of other people to feel validated. For me, my upbringing blocked my conduits and I’ve spent a lifetime trying to establish a flow. Your flow appears to me to be free and strong. 🌅❤️👍🏻
Thanks for sharing, Spencer, and happy belated birthday! :) I think I went through similar thoughts in my late 20s (32 now), but wasn’t able to put it into words so well. Looking back a couple of years, I think the main thing I stumbled upon was exactly that fear of a “peak;” the feeling that it all happened already, and that I missed out. I think no one else cared about my age, except me, and it numbed (and still numbs!) me more than it should. I’m trying to work against that. I decided that for now, 43 is my “grown-ass age”. I’ll have plenty of time before that.
You blew me away
Happy Birthday Spencer! You are definitely wise beyond your years so I believe that qualifies you as “grown-ass” now!