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You’ve doubtless heard Kevin Griffin’s work, both by his work as frontman for the ’90s alt rockers Higher Than Ezra, or by different artists comparable to Sugarland, Practice, and Taylor Swift. Griffin’s résumé continues to overflow with excessive factors, however at his profession’s lowest second, if he had not accepted the necessity for change, the music might have stopped completely.
Greater than three a long time for the reason that New Orleans-based band’s seminal album, “Deluxe,” with Kevin Griffin’s simply identifiable voice belting out notable alternatives comparable to “Good,” “Rosealia,” and the band’s greatest hit, the 1996 traditional “Desperately Wanting,” the 54-year-old has unfold his leisure experience even wider than his vocal vary. Griffin has advanced into changing into a prolific songwriter, writing hit tunes together with Sugarland’s greatest hit, “Caught Like Glue,” and Practice’s “I Received You.” He has additionally co-founded an annual music competition in Tennessee, the Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Competition, which is heading towards its ninth season in September. As well as, the band’s hits have been re-recorded by numerous artists together with the 2010 rendition of “Breathless” by famous person Taylor Swift.
He has additionally develop into a extremely in-demand public speaker, sharing his tales of battle and success with Fortune 500 corporations comparable to Stay Nation, Disney, and Nike. His message is certainly one of evolution as a path in direction of profession longevity, a theme he says is price sharing with comparable artists who’ve struggled to maneuver on from a momentary style of glory. The one drawback is finding them.”I don’t see them anymore as a result of they’re not doing music anymore,” Griffin says. “Most of them have give up. However I’d say it’s not too late to benefit from the legacy you’ve. You simply should get on the market now. Have a look at my profession for example in the event you’re a musician or somebody my age.”
Kevin Griffin isn’t boasting about his present success; as a substitute, he’s lucky that his profession trajectory wasn’t heading towards changing into simply one other “No matter occurred to” rock’n’roll story, particularly after the band was dropped by Elektra Data in 2001.
So, with the intention to progress professionally, it meant that Griffin’s life-style needed to be modified drastically. “He gave up alcohol, began utilizing the Peloton, and surrounded himself with the folks essential to take his music profession in a brand new path.
“My whole profession has been a journey to evolve, and that each one occurred after we had been dropped,” Griffin says. “I used to be eager about leaving music as a profession. However I spotted, no, that is what I like to do, however I’ve to do one thing completely different now. So I started learning producers and songwriters.”
Griffin’s skilled path has led him to changing into an creator. An English main at LSU previously, Kevin Griffin simply launched “The Biggest Music: Spark Creativity, Ignite Your Profession, and Remodel Your Life,” a loosely primarily based self-help fiction that revolves round a Nashville-based singer—much like him—struggling to put in writing the proper tune till he’s taught “the tactic.” Griffin says his type was impressed by the works of Bob Dylan and Ben Gibbard from Dying Cab for Cutie. The transition from songwriter to guide creator was an extended model of the routine he had been performing for the reason that ’90s.
“A guide is much more work—it’s an prolonged tune that I simply needed to stand up and do each day,” Griffin says of the method. “It was about getting my ass up and changing into very regimented—the aim was to put in writing not less than 500 phrases a day. More often than not I did it, however there could be mornings I wouldn’t contact it. However being a songwriter ready me for what the guide could be about—it’s only a longer tune.”
Higher than Ezra is now again on tour, embarking on a U.S. tour with Practice that ought to have Kevin Griffin and firm performing all through the summer time months. He’s actually up for it. Having been sober for greater than a decade, his routine, whether or not on the highway or in his Franklin, TN, kitchen features a each day smoothie consisting of greens, apples, avocado, banana and a scoop of Bulletproof chocolate collagen protein.
Earlier than hitting the weights and getting in some cardio work, the constant life-style sample has paid off in all areas of his life. “After I’m dwelling a sure approach, taking good care of myself bodily and mentally, I appeal to different folks in my life who’re additionally that approach,” Kevin Griffin explains. “After I was dwelling one other approach—staying up partying or no matter—I’d appeal to these varieties of folks in my life. So, altering that a part of my life has introduced me new alternatives.”
Along with having a Successful Technique that contains shedding the ego and staying match, it’s also necessary to proceed to study and evolve. One instance Kevin Griffin provides is his shut buddy, NFL Corridor of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning, who wrote the testimonial banner for Griffin’s guide. He says the previous Tremendous Bowl-winning quarterback’s transition from the sector to a bunch of different alternatives is the blueprint for anybody wanting to reach the following chapter of their life.
“We now have each taught one another the identical factor: it’s about exhausting work and evolving. Have a look at how Peyton has gone from being a soccer participant to a spokesperson to a TV host. I’ve gone from being in a rock band within the 90s to beginning a music competition, publishing folks, and being an creator. It’s about realizing that you’ve the talent set already inside you; you simply have to make use of it.”
Kevin Griffin’s Successful Technique
1. Kevin Griffin Dropped His Ego on the Door
A number of my guide has this fixed chorus: With the intention to achieve success and get higher and extra artistic, you’ve acquired to examine your ego on the door. It’s the foundation of all of the unhealthy s*** that holds us again.
There’s a line within the guide that I used to be instructed years in the past, and it’s nice: My ego is just not my amigo. Ego is the factor that claims, I’m adequate, I’m higher than them—no matter they’re doing sucks. However, while you examine your ego, that’s while you say, “Wait a second: That’s an superior tune, an superior thought. How can I study from that to assist proceed my profession.”
For me, this wasn’t an in a single day course of—I fought it. It was the early 2000s Once more, I had gotten to a sure level the place it was it was simply me, and I spotted if I needed to go any additional I needed to get some humility. I fought collaborating with different folks. I positively wasn’t an individual who mentioned, “I must do this!” and simply swap. Finally, my first collaboration was with Meat Loaf. It was at a studio, he heard a tune as he was strolling, and his supervisor got here and requested if I needed to put in writing a tune. We collaborated [2003’ “Testify”], however I needed to first battle to let go of my ego in enterprise and in life.
That’s form of why I wrote the guide. It’s like, Hey, right here’s this guide on these completely different instruments you should use to remain profitable in enterprise and in life—I feel all the pieces’s linked. Now I’m at some extent in my life at age 54 wherein I need to mentor youthful artists. I like sharing my life story about issues that labored for me—and what hasn’t labored for me. After which after I went by the method of doing this, realized I actually wasn’t reinventing the wheel: The issues I’m speaking about are truths, whether or not you’re learning businesspeople, profitable songwriters, philosophies, you’re going to listen to the identical mantra again and again: Go away your ego on the door.
2. Collaborate in Order to Facilitate Success
Collaborate and work with different folks as a result of they’re gonna carry concepts and recent power into that session. Work with anyone you dig– that’ll aid you get out your concepts.
After I’m making an attempt to put in writing a tune that isn’t taking place, and I can’t write a melody to save lots of my life. I now have the presence of thoughts to say, take a break, go take heed to some music. Bear in mind what you like about music—so I’m at all times listening to new music as nicely.
If I’m hitting my head towards a wall, I’ll strategy the tune a special approach. Usually, I’ll write a tune on guitar, however generally it’s simply not taking place. So I’ll begin with a lyric. If that’s not working I’ll do a beat or I’ll take heed to a tune I really like and be like, “Nicely, what are the chords to that tune?” then I’ll reverse engineer the thought. So I actually have an arsenal of issues to assist me end the tune.
However bear in mind: That concept you’re searching for is at all times within the room. So what are the methods you can provide your self a greater likelihood at with the ability to seize it? For me, it’s like operating round a room with a butterfly internet—that tune or life altering thought is there. You simply should get it.
I used to be within the songwriting session in 2012. I used to be working with Shy Carter, a songwriter who labored on plenty of Nelly songs. I began taking part in guitar. On the time, Practice’s “Hey Soul Sister” Jason Mraz’ “I’m Yours” had been actually large. I used to be like, nicely, let’s do one thing like that. And I began taking part in a guitar half—it had form of a breezy, summer time really feel. Three hours later, we had nothing.
We took a break, and Shy mentioned, let’s put some Auto Tune on this. That was the factor that modified our angle and from we approached the tune from a special approach. Through the use of this know-how, inside half-hour, we had a success document.
I used to be like, “It is a f***ing hit tune.” I despatched it over to Jennifer Nettles from Sugarland. About 5 days later, they lower it. It’s their greatest tune—“Caught Like Glue.” And that was a tune I used to be able to give up on that day. However we simply saved at it, and we saved making an attempt completely different approaches to ending the tune.
I typed up this little phrase that claims “The tune is at all times there.” It’s the concept in that room, the tune is at all times there. You simply should you persist at it and use completely different instruments to get that inspiration.
3. Kevin Griffin Knew When to Say When
I don’t drink anymore. I by no means was a heavy drinker, however now I don’t drink in any respect. Now it’s nearly treating my physique higher.
I’ve at all times stayed in form. However now, I’m an on a regular basis man. At 54 I’m not having the illnesses plenty of my friends are having. So I feel form of my mantra has form of at all times been consistency, not length.
I’m 6’4’’ and my metabolism has at all times been if I’m not figuring out, I’m shedding pounds. After I drank I’d shed weight—most individuals I feel achieve weight. So I’ve to eat and work out rather a lot, in any other case I form of waste away.
After I was youthful I used to be extra resilient, however as I acquired older the alcohol stopped working. I used to be in my early 40s, and I’d be hung over and having to do a present that evening. Lastly I acquired to the purpose wherein this was not attractive or cool. This has develop into lame. So I simply stopped.
Now, what I really like most is that each day I’m at 100%. I by no means have days wherein I’m hung over. I by no means have days the place I could also be there bodily, however some other place mentally or spiritually. Then I feel, take a look at the entire days I get again. So with regards to alcohol and partying, I’ve checked these packing containers. I’ve realized there have been too many cautionary tales in music, and no one is immune. And I used to be no exception.
4. Kevin Griffin Stays Match to Be a Rockstar
I feel consistency is the primary factor. I work out on a regular basis. My exercises aren’t all that lengthy, however I do them each day. This can be proper or fallacious, but it surely’s what works for me.
My routine is that I’ll run two miles or go for half-hour on the Peloton— I’ll do Peloton for my legs or I’ll do the arms intervals with Tunde [Oyeneyin]—she’s a beast.. Then I’ll go to my health club, the place I’ll do a pair rounds of incline bench presses, some Arnold presses, pullups, and a few battle ropes.
Pullups for me has been the important thing as a result of I feel most tall guys most individuals normally are actually, actually weak backs. Most adults can’t do pullups for that matter. I’ve at all times achieved pullups and I work on them. I’ll do three or 4 rounds of that circuit. And that’s it.
Then I simply hydrate. I’ll additionally make an awesome smoothie each day, and that’s my consistency.
What I discovered is that after I wasn’t per train, it was as a result of I dreaded it. There was a time after I was doing Iron Tribe or CrossFit, I’d be like, it’s gonna kick my ass, after which I’d cease doing it. But when I do know it’s not that a lot, however as a result of I’m doing it each day, all of it simply advertisements up
The final word solution to keep in form for musicians is relaxation, hydrate constantly, and do one thing each day. I discovered from scripting this guide each day, that in the event you simply do al ittle bit each day, every week later, a month later, six months, a 12 months, instantly you’ve achieved a s*** ton of labor, you realize? So whether or not it’s your physique or a guide you’re writing, I’m all about just a bit bit each day.
5. Maintain Studying and Will By no means Give Up
Educate your self concerning the music enterprise. There are such a lot of books, like Donald Passman’s “It’s the enterprise of music.” Take heed to podcasts, and know the enterprise of your small business. Comprehend it.
So many musicians go into the enterprise, they usually marvel why they’re not having success. It’s as a result of they don’t know what’s taking place of their enterprise. They don’t know who to get the tune to.
Do, nonetheless, write on a regular basis and do document your self.
As of late, your laptop computer laptop is a million-dollar recording studio. Utilizing Professional Instruments or Professional Logic or Ableton, you’ll be able to have a tune that sounds each bit pretty much as good as Billy Eilish and Finneas. Don’t wait for somebody to do it for you. And don’t simply sit round.
Do, exit and don’t give up. Simply don’t give up.
On the finish of the day, the individuals who have success within the music trade are the individuals who didn’t give up. They’re not at all times essentially the most gifted. They’re not at all times the neatest. They’re those who had slightly little bit of each, and the didn’t give up. They discovered concerning the enterprise, they hustled each day they usually stayed savvy. And so they had been in a position to know music and likewise the enterprise. They realized these will not be mutually unique. In order for you one, the opposite comes with it. it’s the music enterprise.
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