"There is, in every madman, a misunderstood genius, whose idea, shining in his head, frightened people, and for whom delirium was the only solution to the strangulation that life had prepared for him."
So far, I’ve lost my mind 10 times over. Each day, a choice to continue forward, outside the lines. Those who've also chosen this side of the tracks know the feeling...those clocking in and out today, tomorrow, and the next, do not.
In September, it’ll be 7 years since we started Writer's Block Songwriters. I often remind myself that no one will ever remember the "numbers" guy...the guy who only sees in black and white, and is void of emotion and connection to anything special...to anything real.
Our goals for Writer's Block have remained the same over all these years — prove that there is undeniable talent within the cracks, and that the current industry model rejects that, or really just doesn't care anymore.
Writer's Block has never cared about checkmarks, followers, or streams...only art, and those in pursuit of it.
Act 1 was complete right before Covid came along…create a nationwide pipeline of artists + songwriters (currently 10,000 strong), and build a community of those in search of the same things we are…
Act 2 begins this summer…we've always known that Writer's Block will have to grow past the shows to leave any significant mark, and I'm excited to begin pursing that.
I’ve been watching a show on Paramount+ called “The Offer.” It details film producer Al Ruddy’s experience making 'The Godfather' in the late 60s, early 70s…a truly incredible story...a dude that knew nothing of an industry, and used his brain + balls + love of art & artists to bring greatness to fruition. He risked everything, even his life (the mob tries killing him) to create something amazing.
When Paramount (studio producing the film) said Pacino was a little puny dorky shy kid from Broadway, that would never make it in the film business, Ruddy trusted Francis Ford Coppola's vision to have him in a leading role….when the studio said Marlon Brando had just made 4 bad movies in a row and would never have a box office hit ever again, Ruddy still went to Brando's house with Coppola for a meeting because he was right for the part.
The Godfather went on to set box office records, and win best picture that year. Two years later, The Godfather II did the same thing. 9 oscars between the two films.
It was never what the "numbers guy" wanted, because it wasn’t black and white. It was a long shot, but it's what he got, because of a dreamer...a madman.
Today, the music industry tells you to spend more time on tik tok, worrying about your blue checkmark, release one song a week, show more skin, and basically be every version of yourself that isn't yourself...they'd tell you that this is the only way.
The latest Drake / Weeknd song made by robots (that garnered millions of streams, and a tweet from Universal Music shaming the person who released it) proves that if you make music that can be easily replicated to begin with, robots will undoubtedly replace you...and no one will give a single fuck.
But could AI replicate The Godfather? Why not?
Because the little things matter...the cast of those able to play a role within the larger story matter, each doing their job so flawlessly, you forget they were ever anyone else...sounds kinda like Fleetwood Mac, or Led Zeppelin, or any other great band that's ever existed....
Mic placement and snare drums and album art matter just as much as the 8 songs that were taken from a pool of 80, put together in a cohesive way that tells a story, and can speak to a generation of people. ai could never replicate this.
There’s a reason I spend most days listening to music that was made 50 years ago, and I don’t give a fuck. I know where the bar for greatness is, and I’ll spend my days trying to be a man that stands unwavering alongside his beliefs, despite the surroundings…believing in the visions of great artists, no matter how crazy or how against the grain it gets…
This is the only way we'll ever make great music again, that’s worth listening to 50 years from now.
long live rock n roll
never give up
- Lucas