SPOTLIGHT 12/23/23 - BRADEN ROSS, DIGILOGUE
!!! MENTIONS OF SUICIDE !!!
This one is a bit personal. I really enjoy Braden's ep.
Digilogue and the Art in Creativity
Braden Ross's newest piece "digilogue" is a concentrated perspective on the act of creation in the age of social media, and the fight for individualism that comes within it.
Doused in twinkly guitars, the whole piece radiates a cacophony of warm tones juxtaposed by concerning lyrics. On first impressions, the ep could be considered "edgy". I think that it's so much deeper than that.
The thought of suicide is tossed around so much that the midwest emo inspiration seems like less of a musical choice and more of a way of life for Ross. A big piece of this world he has created through this soundscape. In a way, suicide feels idolized, romanticized and chased. Mentions of it are abrupt and fast paced. Even Braden wants to run past them, but he can't help but mention them in passing. These are thoughts he can't shake. Could these thoughts be exaggerated for his art's sake? Yes. But either way, they're still apart of him.
He is a creator, and part of these ideas have to come from somewhere. Through this art, you are seeing a part of him. Just like you are seeing a part of me through reading this article.
Can you ever care too much for your art?
Braden asks this question multiple times throughout this ep, albeit indirectly. Audience retention from social media is shown to be a driving standard for his art.
Social media has created a hungry motivation for acceptance, and in some cases, fame. As soon as you start to create art for money, I believe it loses its spark. I've seen so many cases of artists starting to create for corporations and clients, and then they lose their creativity. Their creations no longer become their own. Their creations have no part of the creator in them anymore. If someone doesn't create for themselves, how can someone stay motivated if no one cares enough to see their art?
Art for an audience vs Art for an individual.
Similar feelings have crossed my mind in a different light. Yesterday, I had this exact conversation with my friend Freya Langley.
I had come to her showing doubts in my writing. Imposter syndrome had come and I wasn't sure if I even deserved-- let alone should have praise for my work.
She had comforted me by stating: "i think you think too hard, it’s not about being better than the rest, it’s about being you, unique and individualistic. that’s what attracts people who care"
I would say I write for myself in most cases, it's something that i'm passionate about for myself. I do creative writing mostly, however when I do it, I usually share it to only close friends. It's a personal pursuit. Ironically, these articles are the only way other people see my work.
For the 2 years I have been writing, I've perceived it as a race. A set of rivalries between me and my friends, That's what writing was for me. In certain circles, it still is. I think rivalries are healthy. Something something about how people pushing each other to be the best they can be or whatever... I pushed this idea to the extreme. Rivalry in between my friends turned into a rivalry against myself. I felt creativity was more of a race between me and my idealized self. If I'm not perfect, then it's a failure. There is no "best it can be". I was me, But the idea of me is so much better. I am my own audience.
Art for ME is about a journey of self discovery. It all depends on your purpose.
When you make a work of art, You may do it to make a statement. You may do it to spread ideas, you may do it because you feel the need to. When you add extrinsic motivation to that, the focus is skewed. Whether it's money, fame, social media numbers, all of it dissolves the act of creation into something less than it actually is.
Not to state that art for money is a bad thing. Artists SHOULD be paid for their work. It's all a personal choice FOR the artist. The best thing about art is that it's so broad. If you choose to be paid for your work, go right ahead. I don't blame you. Art is awesome. As long as you create, you're doing something that's worth it.
I'm going to send this off by adding another dm by my friend Freya Langley:
"we innately don’t like ourselves so we are working to always shape into something that will be perfect, but idk i think the things we like, enjoy, think are perfect etc…are always gonna feel perfect comparing to ourselves. what i’m trying to say is you chase the sun with perfection"
Perfectionism is horrible. Just have fun, as long as you care about your work, it'll come out as perfect as it should be.
This ep helped me realized what it means to create art. A lesson I forgot about. Thank you Braden Ross. I hope that I've done this ep enough justice, even with my little tangent and rants.
Thank you for reading.
-- elysian
LISTEN TO: "digilogue" by Braden Ross here:
