You've Got the Music in You

This post is me writing to figure out the exact details of my debut mixtape/album. The one thing I have wanted more than anything ever since I can remember is to sing. When I was younger, it was commonplace for me to learn a new song at school only to come home and sing to my family. I can remember when I first learned how to sing the national anthem in kindergarten. I was beyond excited to share this new song with my family. As soon as I got home, I raced up the stairs, climbed onto the mantle and took down an American Flag where my pops kept his Laker Pennants and started going at it...."Oooo Sayyy can You seee"...both my Mom and Dad were at home ( a rare occassion since Mom worked days and my Dad fished or Hunted at Night) and the applause was thunderous after. From then on I knew that's what I wanted to do. It was sometime later, around 2nd grade when I started to perfrom in talent shows and really hone my craft. Now, working on a Mixtape, I've found myself really reaching back to the core of why I started music. It was High School where I really wanted to begin pursuing music. I searched high and low for places that would allow me to perform. I formed several short lived harmony groups that showcased my talent and drive for stardom. Along the way I've had highs and lows. High: Meeting Mariah Carey, Colby O'Donis, Father MC & Performing for Jovenes Inc. lows: getting ripped off my Colby O' Donis' Father, missing an opportunity to share my demo and just lagging on the mixtape. I am now at a place where I can really stand back and ask myself, what it is that I want to do with my music. Do I want to get signed to a record label? Do I want to be an indie artist who sings at coffee shops? Do I want to simply perform for friends and family or do I want to be a world renown recording artis. I chose the latter. In choosing to want the whole enchilada, I've realized that certain steps need to be taken to accomplish this. I have put sooo much pressure on myself to release this debut on July 4 that I think instead of becoming motivating I allowed it to become depression. Isn't that all depression is, backwards motivation? The motivation to do nothing, instead of something? Don't get me wrong, I am not lounging on the couch drinking 40s and watching Juice over and over again (that was last week), I just felt a certain amount of negativity surrounding this release. Fuck that. The truth is, although I know that I am destined to sell 100 million records, have 10 #1 singles and etch my place in the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame...right now I just want to be heard. I keep wanting to determine whether or not this is a mixtape an album or a demo...Let me explain the differences: A Mixtape is a promotional tool primarily used by rappers ( & now R&B Singers) to showcase a wide range of material. Often these mixtapes incorporate instrumentals from popular songs, or samples of other songs and usually are free (to avoid paying for copyright & allow the artist to reach a wider fanbase). Mixtapes need not have a coherent theme and songs can be as diverse as the artist chooses. An album is a solid body of work where the artist decides to create a commonality among the pieces, themes often include love, money, where the artist is in his/her life or a satirical look at certain events. Albums can be played in their entirety and are usually packaged for commercial release (sold). A demo is a portfolio of sorts that artists use in order to showcase their earning potential to labels. A label will then choose to create a financiang package (read "DEAL") with an Artist to provide the proper budgeting in the hopes of a massive return. Here's what I want. A Demo that dares to be as creative as a mixtape while containing the coherence of an album. For the last week or so, I have been recording snippets of song ideas that I've been inspired to write...and they have been great. I haven't, however, finished ANY of them. With the release date 37 days away...I'm feeling the burn. Oh! I know I can create a schedule for myself that says how many songs I have to write each week and then I will have enough material to choose from when I record. I will write 30 songs and choose the 10 best to go on the Mixtape.