I’m writing a blog in 2025. No, this is not a joke. Yes, I’m over a quarter century late to the party, but it’s not like I had anything interesting to say twenty-five years ago anyway—I was only ten.
The problem is that it actually is the year 2025. We’re glued to our phones with our 10-second attention spans, chasing dopamine hits on social media. Remember that NPR April Fool’s article, “Why Doesn’t America Read Anymore?”—the one designed to catch people who comment on headlines without reading the article? It worked a little too well. That’s not exactly a promising sign for those of us who, you know, write articles.
Still, regardless of who may or may not be reading, I feel compelled to chronicle my experience as a musician and composer in the 21st century.
But why?
It’s a tough question. On one hand, this vocation is profoundly rewarding. I’m unable to find the words to describe just how meaningful music is to those who dedicate themselves to it. Let’s just say that once music gets ahold of you, it doesn’t let go easily.
Yet for all the reward, there’s also a chasm of difficulty: doubt, failure, rejection, financial insecurity—many of the typical hardships of an artist. We juggle day jobs alongside personal relationships and are constantly trying to improve our musicianship. We fight to be heard in an industry that’s oversaturated and undervalued (Spotify pays somewhere between $0.003 and $0.005 per stream, in case you were wondering). Throw in the looming threat of AI, and the future for musicians feels as uncertain as ever.
Which leads me here.
Since 2015, I’ve been trying to create a full-time music career that works on my terms. I didn’t always know that was what I was searching for, but eventually, somewhere along the way, I realized that was what I wanted. It was never about money or fame or working on AAA projects; it was about being able to spend my time thinking about music and getting paid a living wage to do it, without working an exhausting number of hours.
Does such a career even exist?
I don’t know.
What I do know is that things have been trending in the right direction since 2020. The demand for my composing and piano playing have steadily increased year over year. In 2024 I landed 4 commissions, including another game score and my first short film.
I’ve also learned that every individual forges their own path in this industry. There is no standard way to achieve success, however you may define that for yourself. For some, that may be playing in
But there’s a big difference between picking up a handful of commissions and gigs each year and reaching a critical mass that could support me financially. There have been long stretches without a gig materializing. Sometimes I’ll write what I think is an amazing demo track, only to hear, “No thanks” instead of landing the job.
Nonetheless, I need a place to process these challenges—to organize my thoughts about what’s working, what isn’t, and how to navigate this complex dance that is a music career. A blog seems as good a way as any to sort through the chaos and share what has—or hasn’t—worked for me. Maybe someone out there can glean something useful from all of this.
So if you’re reading this, thank you for coming along for the ride. I hope you’ll stick around; there’s plenty more to talk about, and I promise it won’t be too serious…at least not all the time.