As an artist, the most important metric is difficult to measure
When you decide to release your art, you will start measuring data.
How many people clicked the play button? How many folks visited that Medium article? How many people attended the art exhibition? Where are my fans located? How many wrote a comment, clicked like, shared a tweet?
Data’s an important thing to have, but there is one powerful number that’s difficult to measure: How many people were changed by my art?
We don’t always know. We aren’t always told.
Sometimes, someone will tell you how a song changed their life, how an idea led them to a new pathway; but usually we don’t often share that compliment.
I’ve told Frances Luke Accord how “In the Water” got me through some lonely drives on tour; but at a house concert in February, one of their college roommates told me how that song was so important to him. I wonder if he’s shared that with the songwriters?
I’ve never told Brian Vander Ark how much “Someone Like You”, and most of his first solo record, got me through difficult semesters during college. I had that record on repeat while driving through West Michigan, learning to craft my own songs between essays and classes and parties and breakups and my first shows. The record changed me. He has no idea.
So set your art free. Hope it affects people. Trust it might; but don’t get too caught up in the data, unless is helps you make more art.
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Here are some Michigan-made songs that might change you:
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