In January of 2021 I made a list of music goals for the year. That December I looked back and saw that – miraculously – every single goal had been accomplished. Hoping for the same outcome, today I’ll be making a 2022 list.
1) Create a presence as a singer-songwriter. In 2021 I did a lot of performing, and that was fantastic. What I didn’t do was write new songs, record new music, or choose a name for my project (I perform as Luke Smith, but that’s too common). I did these things for Late Night Luke, but this year I’d like to do it for my acoustic project, too.
2) Create a presence as a producer. I did this a lot in 2021, so I mostly want to continue what’s worked: making videos, releasing songs, and creating microcontent. I plan on releasing more hip hop, collaborating more, and continuing to build a body of work.
3) Clarify brand / consistency. I’ve always had a slight musical identity crisis. For the longest time I was a singer-songwriter who did electronic music on the side, but for the last two years I’ve been a producer who’s a singer-songwriter on the side. I need to clarify who I am and spend my time accordingly. I am a combination of both, but I need focus.
4) Build / join more communities. One of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had as a musician was booking and hosting a monthly songwriter showcase. I got to provide paid gigs to all my musician friends, meet new musician friends, and enjoy a great night of music. It was your classic win-win-win scenario. Unfortunately, it was axed due to covid, but I’d love to start it up again. I also want to host an open mic night and join or start a club for music producers.
Notably absent from this list is anything career related. It’s not that I don’t have career aspirations; I’m just focusing on one thing at a time. This year is about growth, connection, paying off debt, and learning as much as I can.
Alternative Student 