Tei Shi

"Creating music comes from a place of complete subjectivity, and that's the way it should be.  It starts from a place of having to be so in touch with yourself, your emotions, your perspective.  And there's a satisfaction that comes out of creating, which I think is selfish, but not in a negative way.  What you then do with the influence you may gain from putting that into the world is where you can really contribute to something beyond yourself."

— Tei Shi

for Creatives  |  creative process, create for YOURSELF, artist integrity, music, value the art, Tei Shi

"I see a lot of people who want the things that come along with being a musician or artist, but don't know what they actually want to represent.  When you don't have a vision for what you want to put out there, it can lead to being influenced by those around you.  Everyone is going to have an opinion and give you advice and tell you how to do things.  But if you really want to do your thing and be successful doing something that's unique to you, then you need to have a clear idea of what you want.  You will be influenced by others, but you should have the strongest sense of what you're putting out there."

— Tei Shi

for Creatives  |  create for YOURSELF, artist integrity, artists, music, the successful artist, reaching your audience, ideas, feedback/criticism/rejection, Tei Shi

"Making music and being an artist in any way, really, stems from an essentially self-centered place.  Some people will say that they make music or art to give something to the world, to share it with people, because they think people need to hear it.  I think most of that is bullshit.  You create things because they come from a place that is purely you.  It is very self-centered, which is not a bad thing—it is just the nature of creativity." 

— Tei Shi

for Creatives  |  create for YOURSELF, artist integrity, art, artists, creativity, music, reaching your audience, artist's voice, Tei Shi

"The biggest risk was initially sharing the music when I put my first song out.  When you put out something that's such a big part of you, it's emotionally exposing.  It was a huge personal and emotional risk.  It could have gone so many different ways, but, thankfully, it went the best way it could have."

— Tei Shi

for Creatives  |  creative fear, music, Tei Shi, TAKE RISKS, your 1st song

"Making yourself vulnerable and subjecting yourself to the judgment of others is a risk that you continue to take when you're creative."

— Tei Shi

for Creatives  |  creating isn't easy, feedback/criticism/rejection, the creative life, Tei Shi, TAKE RISKS

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