la vida es un carnaval

Recently I’ve been listening to several young ‘up and coming’ artists who I believe, if the world has any sense, will become quite big. Elle Varner, Cris Cab, BJ the Chicago Kid and Kendrick Lamar are all incredibly talented individuals who are on the verge of spilling into the spectrum of the musical mainstream. This hopeful reality prompted me to think about the relationship between artist and fan, particularly if the fan finds the artist when they are still in their creative infancy. To discover an artist at this stage is like finding a new friend; it’s exciting, you can’t spend enough time together and you want nothing but the best for them.

The relationship between a fan and a music artist is incredibly intimate. The memories and emotions made and invoked by the music are powerful. The work of the artist is often present for major life moments and this is of no small importance. When you and the artist ‘find each other’ when you are both young, it is possible to grow old together. As your life and the work of the artist evolves, so does the relationship between artist and fan. My parents and the Beatles are proof of this, when John Lennon was shot my dad felt as though he’d lost a friend and to this day, December 8th is a very solemn day in our household. People in my generation grew up with Britney, who for all her flaws and artistic limitations, has always remained in part, that sparkling and vibrant girl in ‘Baby, One More Time’.

These relationships can have their faults and blind spots. I for one, avoided admitting how far gone Amy Winehouse was for a very long time, writing off the no-shows and drunken performances as youthful mistakes. But even with these faults, benefits far outweigh them. Through the years and mixtapes and concerts, albums and live sets, we as fans are able to see our lives through the songs of the artists we may never meet but know all too well.

-Jordan