It’s kind of ironic, especially for a musician, to find yourself at a time when there is such dire need for independent music.  Independent from what?  Everything in the business seems pretty dependent on a multitude of things if you want your idea to go anywhere past a good conversation or a late night jam in your buddy‘s basement.  People are a definitely a necessary part of the equation, whether they‘re studio engineers, club owners, promoters, or more importantly, your audience.  No band is an island, as they say.  However, this need for independence has long been embedded in the pop-American mindset, you might say we’re still running off of our forefather’s initial high when they first found the joint.  That independence is way too reminiscent of cigarettes, leather jackets and cruisers roaring off into a desert sunset, but that’s not independence, it’s just good marketing for Harleys.  Actual independence stems from an ethic, a moral need to remove ourselves from that which we no longer identify with.  This day and age it’s more important than ever to keep your perspective, taking into consideration that surely everything in an ecosystem or eco-nomic system is completely interdependent with all that sustains it.  When we talk about making indie music or art or films surely we can not omit all the things we are a part of, so what is it that we want to be independent from?  I’d say that’s entirely up to us, which is the cool part.  A friend of mine who was taking an anthropology class told me something his teacher said, to paraphrase: “Evolution is not necessarily a process or a progression, it doesn‘t have to be time dependent; it’s happening right now, it is the on-going change and how we deal with it.”  With that being said, understand the role you are playing when you create, when you actualize something into existence, and take care in doing so.  As you shape the art in front you, you are also shaping the life around you so stay awake and keep your eyes on the future.

By Author: Steve Owen

Steve Owen currently attends VCU School of Music, formerly a classical guitar major also with some studies in jazz.  Since moving to Richmond in 2001 he has played with several bands from different styles including: The Rising Sons (now Duchess of York), Identity, and Th!nk.  Since starting his own band in 2007, he writes, sings and plays bass for local electronic/funk/rock group The Silo Effect.  He enjoys water, air, deep conversation (about anything), and all green things and doesn't really like the man at all.

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