Uncertainty is a fierce mistress. She may sound casual on a surface level, but her lingering presence turns creative people cold. Her whispers rouse minds overnight, spread fears like a contagion, and make it seem like there’s nothing ahead, nor anyone to hear what you’ve created. But that’s just not true.
Uncertainty isn’t all she makes herself out to be. She’s mist-like, cloud-like. She’s a temporary fog that makes it hard to see anything else beyond her. It’s easy to try to push positivity in a “This is fine” kind of approach, but when you’re wandering aimlessly in her monochromatic landscape, this is a constant effort. The fuel to keep the optimism motor running runs out soon enough.
But what else is there? What else is there but the internal oomph to say “Just keep going” while blindly staggering in the thick mist of uncertainty?
I feel it comes back to finding something to be with in that uncertainty. Something that’s a warm hand-holding presence instead of the cold unknown. And something far more reliable than a fellow human being.
It’s:
Music.
In contrast to uncertainty, music is a stronger force to be reckoned with. She’s multifaceted – and maybe you see her in your own way, that’s cool – but she’s alive and breathing, excited and curious, and one of the greatest companions there is.
One can be contained in a mist that seems endless while simultaneously being transfixed by the beauty or emotive storytelling of music. The suffocating mist is transmuted to the point of being erased when music runs through your veins and freedom and joy are returned. The pull to move with it, the vine-like strands that entwine and delight. In those moments, there’s nothing else.
And guess what, musician? You’ve created this. You’ve created this doorway for someone. You’ve created this escape for me. You’ve made the mist into a deep-feeling adventure or a nu-metal bounce break or an excuse to throw fists wildly to the heftiest breakdown ever.
Sometimes this aliveness fills a band room and your bond with music creates bouncing waves of bodies in response to your creation – but that just can’t happen right now.
Uncertainty is temporary, music is forever.
Music is alive and the most passionate lover and the most unwavering friend. Music fills ears while in quarantine, wafts through cars going through drive-through lanes (while still open), sets a scene via earbuds while walking in isolation. Music is immune to infectious diseases.
And we’re so enraptured with some creations that we wear them on our bodies, whether in the form of cotton or ink, and we covet collections of songs pressed to flat vinyl plates or iridescent discs. Some of us are so enraptured that we devote energy and heart into creating music ourselves or creating in some other way response to it. We hold up our camera lenses, soundboards, keyboards, light panels as our window into the heart of music. The bond is strong between us and music. We are firm friends, and global events don’t affect this.
While your tour has been cancelled and your band may seem to almost be on a hiatus of sorts, and there’s no money, no immediate prospects, no nothing… there are people in metaphorical misty landscapes using what you’ve created to see them through. What you’ve created is a lifeline, an alternate universe, an escape, a living dream. This matters greatly, and we thank you.
And when the mist of uncertainty lifts, we’ll show you in person as we join like-minded people and bounce and dance in the bars, bandrooms, halls, and arenas. It’s only a matter of time. And though the mistiness may make it seem otherwise, we’ll be back in full force.
Keep close to music, keep working alongside her, keep your focus upon her.
Uncertainty is temporary, music is forever.
