Recently, I finally got around to watching Mic The Snare's Deep Discog Dive for Stevie Wonder because while I've been aware of Stevie Wonder's legend status for years and loved so many of his songs growing up, I never delved into his full career in any real detail. I just casually put on the video thinking it would just be a fun background video but like with many DDD that Mic The Snare has made, I was deeply wrong and was fully captivated the whole time.
Something about watching a detailed examination of the entire career of Stevie Wonder, the amount of talent he had ever since he was a kid, and most importantly the amount of effort he was either forced to put in or pushed himself to put in from start to now was incredible. It kind of broke something within me. I have so many projects I still need to do yet keep putting off for now real reason other than I just don't want to start. I was watching youtube when I knew very well I could've done one small step towards any of them.
Hayley Williams, one of my favourite musicians of all time, has been on tour for her phenomenal solo album Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party and everything she does, from the album itself to the marketing and promotion to the rollout to the tour itself. I've been getting clips constantly of the tour, and watching her pour her heart out every night vocally in beautifully crafted outfits and stage setups did a similar thing. She's been such a big example of what it means to put 110% into what you do. Whether it's politically or musically she always goes above and beyond. Another wake up call.
Two very different examples but watching both side to side and acknowledging why im in awe of both really just made me realize how little is stopping me from at least trying to the same degree they do. Granted, both are musicians that have been highly skilled in musical ability from a young age which certainly helped and Stevie Wonder is literally Stevie Wonder, I don't think there's a universe where I come close to that, BUT I feel like now more than ever in the face of AI based fears and algorithmic taste making, putting effort to curate and craft your life and skills is underappreciated. If that even makes sense.
I've already been more motivated to actually learn more guitar, work on vocals, finish design projects, and start actual process on my video game passion project I've wanted to fully start on this summer. Effort goes a long way, and despite being severely mentally ill and neurodivergent and stuck in a suffocating house, I think I forget how much agency I still have over my own actions and output.
We'll see how long this lasts, but for now the future is bright!
- XOCD
