- HIGH END TIMES
- Posts
- There I was on my hands and knees...
Dirty dishes and a dream.
It’s 2009 and there I was on my hands and knees scrubbing some strangers toilet on the upper east side of NY in the dead of winter.
Just a few days earlier, I had come back from a 5-week tour with my band These Are Powers.
My profit from that tour?
$500 bucks and all of it wiped out after paying rent.
A friend suggested I help her clean apartments because it was quick cash and flexible hours (the most important part to me).
I won’t sugarcoat it…
Washing crusty dishes and vacuuming cat hair for strangers fucking sucked.
It didn’t feel great but I had chosen this life (or did it choose me?) and I knew that being money strapped was potentially part of it.
But you know what got me through it?
My music demos.
In between mysterious sticky counters and rotten food bits…
I’d listen to my demos in my headphones over and over.
Tracks and remixes I’d been working on that week usually.
Each listen became a mini-studio session in my head.
I’d make notes on:
• what could be improved
• new ideas to try
• which parts hit the best
After cleaning shifts, I’d always quickly head back to my home studio in Brooklyn.
Making music was a non-negotiable for me.
I believed that if I didn’t make time, I’d never get good enough to break through.
I knew I was meant for more and those demos kept me inspired and motivated during that low period in my life.
Those demos got me through it.
Ya boy in 2009
The lesson here?
Do what you have to do when you have to do it but ALWAYS make time for what counts.
Don’t stop dreaming.
I traded short term financial stability for long term creative pay offs.
And look…I understand that not everyone is always in a position to do that but it’s still worth asking the question:
“Am I putting in the time to get great at the thing I care most about?”
Protect your time and invest it in your future skills and dream life.
You won’t regret it I promise.
Brenmar
Sound Bites 🔉
• Jazz Popcorn Robot (what?) See for yourself.
• Field recordings from all over the world (cool free art project).
• David Lynch & electronic music. ❤️ Watch
BRENMAR REMIXES 🎶
ALL REMIXES ON BANDCAMP
ALL REMIXES ON SOUNDCLOUD
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