“It’s 3:29am, and I am in the middle of Shinjuku Tokyo, Japan trying to figure out my next move…”
It's 3:29am, and I am in the middle of Shinjuku Tokyo, Japan trying to figure out my next move…
Funny thing how life works. You spend most of it selfishly working on some unanimous goal and the rest of it trying to figure out what you are going to do next after you get there. At least that’s what I had been doing before I hit the wall.
That wall was a reminder, a reminder that “you” are not in control. It's sort of ironic that way. I hit a wall, realize I am not in control and then call myself “CharlesInCharge”. Now that is funny. That wall is where “Unprecedented” begins. Everything else is a backstory leading up to it. I decided that I wanted to do something different with my music. Traditionally, artist have created music in a meaningful space and time, but only share the music and not what lead to the music or the meaning/motivation behind it. Instead of leading the conversation, we as artist decided to leave it to the critics and audience to continue a conversation that starts with our music, feelings thoughts, and drive. I want to change that.
“Unfortunately, we are left with misunderstandings in real human connection based on the remnants of limited surface chats, tweets and post.”
I just want to start a conversation and invite anyone and everyone to it. Deep communication is our connection to understanding one another. It's our bridge, and in many ways we have burnt most of them down. In today’s world we have stopped communicating in a meaningful way. Unfortunately we are left with misunderstandings in real human connection based on the remnants of limited surface chats, tweets and post. Like Jay-Z said, “F*ck hashtags and retweets N*@gga, 140 characters in these streets N*@gga" - (Jay-Z lyrics from the song Tom Ford).
Unprecedented: Definitions is my verse, it is my contribution to the song in the "key of life".
“ My vision became abundantly clear and it was more evident that sharing my personal story through the music would serve as an invitation to others to share back.”
My time in Tokyo was planned, but the revelation I had while I was there, was not. I realized that I could not accomplish what I had been working on all this time by doing it alone. My vision became abundantly clear and it was more evident that sharing my personal story through the music would serve as an invitation to others to share back. I traveled to quite a few places around the world during the creative process and learned more through collaboration than I had working in my own lab.
Being a producer is the single greatest asset to being an artist, but the true gift comes from working with others. Especially if you are really committed to removing all egos, and searching for the greatest ideas. Ideas beyond your own that lead to the best results the best production, the best songs, and ultimately the best creative work.
“I learned to write and produce out of pure necessity. My resources were limited coming up in this game, but I wasn’t going to let that stop me.”
When I think of what happens after the music is released, I believe in applying the same philosophy I used to create it. You have to collaborate with the audience. Not just with the music itself, which should feel good and be relatable, but also in the discussion behind the art. This is the source of the collaboration thread between us as artist and those who appreciate what we do.
As I invite all of you to contribute as one of “The Unprecedented”, I only ask that you be thoughtful in your response. All perspectives are welcomed on the basis of love, intellect and good will. We do not have to agree, but we will celebrate differences and the distinction of ideas. Feel free to comment below. Let's continue the conversation.
- CharlesInCharge
