Pick A Lane.

Back when I started writing, I had this idea ingrained that I should pick a lane and stick to it, and I think that's what turned me off it until I became a late enough bloomer to not be bothered by it.

People regularly point out how eclectic Loading is, but anyone who knows me says it sounds like .... me.

Some people find their 'sound' earlier on but either have specific influences they model themselves on that drive them to write in the first place, or are surrounded by formative advice that gives them more inspirations than inhibitions.

I do love rock music but also showtunes, jazz, metal, grunge, classic, surf, blues, yacht rock, grunge, new wave, glam, off the wall kinda stuff, and literally anything that makes me go "ooh what's that"!! I just can't pick a lane and stick to it without getting bored. If I had to pick the West Side Story soundtrack over a Rolling Stones greatest hits LP, I'll have no choice but to concede whatever rock and roll street cred I have left.

Then I realised you know what? I'm not actually yearning to become #1 in the charts. Would it be nice? Yes!! But it's probably unlikely anyway. Would I be fulfilled?? Likely NO. We have this idea that the industry wants everything to be polished, but the average listeners around me love the human touch and actively hate masquerading and overprocessing as much as me.

I think a lot of fledgling writers feel too much unnecessary pressure to pigeonhole themselves to appease the unlikely pipe dream of a market that apparently requires that. Certain people saying "wow that song" is enough for me personally, and I'm validated enough to die happy but moreso to live to see what more I make.

Now you. Wanna write a show tune? Write one. Wanna write a rock song? Write one. Wanna put in a chord that's "too musical"? It's your prerogative. Your band members can't play that chord? Let them Google it!!

Ultimately music's about expression, and if people like it, it's a "win win" in itself. I'd rather an average joe like my songs than someone with a typical billionaire's morals.

I'm never gonna write another Clone Zone or Colin's Car or Another Guy, but Album 2 has songs that are their own entities, perhaps stronger... and I'll never recreate them either!!

There's still some CD's left for Loading, and I'm powering through album #2 which is even broader. Sonically I'm less "ahh is this allowed" and more "you know what, it's my prerogative". And if you've heard Loading you know I'm speaking volumes x

📸 Nancy Dean Pictures