"Such Bliss Breeds Obliviousness"

Constantly, I read these biographies on these up and coming artists, "New & Next Up to Bat!", and I always read the same statement made by the artist "...next thing I knew, I was signed to such n such!" Am I the only one that sees something wrong with that picture? Imagine just walking into a room, and "suddenly, there you are, your big break!" Pah-lease...

OK so allow me to explain... These artists that hunt for their "big break" are the same artists that get BROKEN just a few months or couple of years later! It boggles my mind to think of how many artists know absolutely nothing about the business side of music, or their craft period. They still truly believe that every suit is genuinely in touch with their love of the artform, and the artist is so flattered and so ready to plotz that they don't see that the music business is a BUSINESS!

Non-music associated friends of mine are always asking me "Oh, have you gotten your 'big break' yet? Or they'll say "Hey, maybe this will be your 'big break'!" Guess what... surprise, surprise, I'm not LOOKING for a big break! Every amazing thing that has progressed my career has never been viewed by me as a "big break", and especially never viewed at as "suddenly I was there at his studio recording the reference for so n so!" I can recall every step that I have CONSCIOUSLY made to get me where I am today. Patience is truly a virtue, but as painstaking as it can be to take the right path, it is 100% NECESSARY to make those mistakes, to learn from them, and to grow! I have done that throughout my entire career, and continue to do so. I've learned to keep the kind of company around me that will lift me up and be there for me when I need advice, and have weeded out the people that just tried to cause damage to my hopes and dreams.

G-d has (or "The Universe" to whom it may concern) always presented me with opportunities at precisely the exact moment that I was ready for them, and has always blessed me by putting people I need in my path along the way. Fear thrives from ignorance, and I have learned this from the opportunities that G-d presented me with just so I could realize it was something I needed to learn more about. And guess what? Once I learned what I needed to know, I was presented with that opportunity again. I have full trust that as long as I stay committed, my career will keep thriving, and for THE LONG RUN, and I will never look back and say "Suddenly I landed on Planet Success!", because I will be the one flying that ship and planting my flag on the surface.

Throwback Article: Women in the Industry

This is from an old article a friend was writing on the journey women endure in the music industry. These are my responses to his questions.

Have you ever been approached by another artist/producer/musician/label head to do something unprofessional/sexual in order to work with them?

Absolutely, but it was in disguise. I was alone at an industry event years ago (when I was still developing my scent for bull(&(*), and someone outside of the VIP area approached me asking what it is that I do exactly. When I asked him the same question, he name dropped a lot of people and told me he manages their marketing. I asked him several questions to try and determine if he was being truthful or not, including why wasn't he in the VIP section if he knew so many people in it.. each time he had an answer, for example, he wasn't in VIP b/c he's tired of how people in VIP act around eachother, and would prefer hanging with the regular crowd. He persuaded me to go with him for a drink so we could further discuss my career, and I have no idea why, but I went.

I thought we were going somewhere local, but our cab headed all the way to Brooklyn, without me ever saying a word, too concerned that it would be rude and unprofessional to accuse someone of potentially taking advantage of me. We did get drinks, but immediately after, he said he wanted to stop at his place to get something, which conveniently was located across the street from the bar. Once in his apartment, I stood as close to the doorway as possible, but soon after he invited me to have a seat ON HIS BED I realized he was only interested in "talking" about my career and "doing" other things b/c "after all, he is a man, and I am a woman." I ended up having to pay $100 to get home that night b/c it was too late by then to catch any buses back to jersey. Lesson learned.. definitely, learned..

What's the craziest thing you've seen or heard people do in the music business, whether for work, fame, gigs, etc?

Anything you ever hear is rumor-mill and can almost never be verified b/c both parties are too scared to admit that anything ever happened. The one in position of power is scared to be accused of rape, and the one desperate for fame is too desperate to smear someone's name. Sex happens all the time in this industry, but no one ever talks about it or admits to it.

Do you feel like the music industry is harder for women to get in to/favors men?

From taking on a female artist, to promising her that her dreams will come true, to deal negotiations, women are thought of to be vulnerable at every corner of this game. For example, I started my myspace music page this past year to finally expose some people to my music. Almost immediately I had "fans" calling me "ma, sexy, baby, sugar, hon, etc." AND contacting me not only for a collab, but also so they could get to know "the real me".. and all that from the same sender! They don't realize that's as if you fill out a job application and write in the "additional comments" portion "I'd also like to sleep with you while we work together. After all, I'm a man, and you're a woman." I had spoken to Spinderella years ago, and asked her if she had any advice for me as a woman in this industry. She told me to learn EVERYTHING I possibly could about the industry including the business side. Women have a shadow of connotation that we're incapable of knowing anything about our business, that we're only in control of our creative process. Successful women in this game only reach success when they stay focused on the goal at hand, don't let anyone sweet talk them (literally) into doing anything that their gut tells them isn't right, and when they gain as much knowledge about their field of interest as they can possibly fit in their mind.