Surprise with Familiarity
Star Wars is a Space Western and more
“The surprise is that you continue to be surprised.”
― Jill A. Davis, Ask Again Later
Last week, I opened up about many of my insecurities. Yet, these insecurities aren't just obstacles; they fuel my motivation. They push me to strive for improvement, to refine my project until I'm truly content with it. I’d made me think of a book a read last year 'Hitmakers'. Its central question?
How can I make something so that my audience will share it with their audience.
I know, real artist make whatever they feel like making, as it allows them to remain authentic, which resonates with their audience. However, I like to view this question as a challenge, one that encourages me to elevate my music to new heights.
Why does an audience share your music?
They seek familiarity -a baseline they can connect with. They're listening for enjoyment, not duty. However, there’s a bottom line: when people think they can predict what’s already happening, they start to get bored. Hence, they need a surprising element.
This concept is everywhere in popular culture. Take ‘Star Wars’, for instance. It follows a typical story arc reminiscent of Westerns, with Han Solo embodying a classic Western character. However, the setting isn't the Wild West; it's outer space.
Try it for yourself!
Identify all the factors that define a movie or composition, then deliberately polarize one aspect completely. There you have your unique project.
True succes always comes from people that shift the baseline just a little further, but excessively. They surprise with familiarity. Now I’ll use this to get inspired. Maybe there are some areas I love which I did not consider implementing in my music yet.
Curious what your ideas are on this behalf and don’t forget to stream the album I released last week!
Thanks for listening and reading,