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“Problems arise in that one has to find a balance between what people need from you and what you need for yourself.”
Jessye Norman
In David’s vlog, “Decisions, Decisions,” we heard him express his joy at finally having the freedom to make music in his own way and in his own time now that he is free of label constraints. Although we don’t have all the gory details on exactly what went down resulting in David opting not to renew his contract with JIVE, he’s made it clear that one overriding factor is having complete creative control of his music and the direction his career and his life will take.
I think there is much David wants to say to the world and music is the vehicle he has chosen to share those thoughts. Now that label and management are out of the picture for the moment, David is free to write, and write, and re-write, to assure himself that his thoughts are interpreted in a way that accurately expresses how he feels and who he is as an artist.
I’m looking forward with great anticipation to what David has in store for us musically. I can’t wait to hear the melodies he will create to go along with he messages he wants to share. But there are many things for him to consider during this time. Decisions will need to be made as to when the time is right to sign with new management and label, and whether to write completely on his own or if teaming up with good quality writers for some of the songs on his next project would be the right move. Also, in regards to time away from his fans and the public, how long is too long?
One of the most difficult things to do in the coming months may be for David to find balance. He does need time for a personal life and to write his music, but not necessarily to the exclusion of everything else. During this time, he could still make himself seen and heard, maintaining a presence in the fan community and in the music industry. There are ways that he can do this.
First: It would benefit him to get himself out there, on stage, performing from time to time. This will accomplish two goals.
1) It will feed his hungry fans by way of live performances, videos, photos, and anticipation of upcoming events.
2) I think it will also help to assure that when he releases new music there is still enough interest by the media that they will pick up on it and spread the word. The announcement of the Stadium of Fire performance indicates that he can indeed do concerts without a label. This is good news and my hope is that we will see more and more performances being announced.
Next: Staying in communication with fans. He recently tweeted about how “communication is key.” I hope he keeps that in mind in the months ahead. This will be crucial in keeping his fan base intact. Vlogs, blogs, and the occasional photo or video of him writing/recording will help to keep us informed about what he’s doing and keep us entertained while his creative juices are flowing. (Or even a leaked song, by the man himself! How cool would that be?) He would be keeping the excitement alive for his fans and maintain that connection. I admit this may be a purely selfish perspective on my part. We are a hungry lot and we have been spoiled.
If the time without label/management turns out to be an extended period, in the interim, he could also decide to put out an EP, or just a single. It would be wonderful for fans to have new music and it would be an opportunity for David to get some feedback on the direction he is taking with his new music. According to an article called “Using singles to build your fan base: The Incremental Album” from The DIY Musician, it could be done. See excerpt below:
“Music fans are getting more and more accustomed to instant gratification. They want to feel connected to the process and the progress – not JUST the finished product. Waiting a year or more to put out the “perfect collection of songs” all at once could actually be costing you. But with CD Baby’s new singles program, you can release songs one-at-a-time getting them up for sale right as you finish up with each track.
To read the rest of the article, go here:
David has many options on how to proceed from here. Whatever he decides to do, I’m sure he thought long and hard about the move to release himself from the constraints of having to satisfy a record label with every move he makes. I just hope he is able to find that balance between taking some much needed time to figure out where his life and his music are going and maintaining a public presence while he works it all out.
After all, it’s all about balance.
The Voice David Archuleta 