In today’s digitised music industry, social media has become an indispensable tool for independent musicians. For Larry Goldings, an independent musician who plays the piano, the organ, and composes, social media serves not just as a platform to showcase his work but also as a vital channel for connecting with listeners and receiving their feedback. So how have these voices from social media affected his creativity and mindset?
Goldings’ musical journey has been one of discovery and innovation. His work spans a wide range of musical genres, including jazz, blues and pop, and with his exceptional musicianship, he has won the hearts of many fans around the globe.
With the digital age and the rise of social media, Goldings began posting his work on social media platforms. However, he is also coming to realise the double impact these platforms have had on him.
Firstly, social media provides Goldings with unprecedented opportunities to interact directly with its audience. The immediacy of being able to immediately see the reactions and comments of his audience as he releases a new piece of work provides him with great inspirational power. Goldings is deeply gratified when he receives private messages or messages from fans about how they have been touched by his music.
For him, the feedback is not just an endorsement of his music, but an important motivation to continue creating. “When you know your music has touched someone’s heart somewhere, it’s honestly the best feeling in the world.” Goldings said.
However, the immediacy of social media feedback comes with challenges, and Goldings admits that it’s sometimes frustrating to face the outspoken criticism. It’s inevitably frustrating, especially when he sees some negative comments after the release of his well-polished work.
The value of art doesn’t entirely depend on others’ approval, but on my own love and dedication to music.
Larry Goldings
Goldings knows that as an artist, he cannot please everyone, but should stick to his artistic philosophy.
In the world of social media, where creative freedom and listener expectations often form a delicate relationship, Goldings has gradually found a balance between the two.
On the one hand, he values the opinions of his fans and often draws inspiration from their feedback, even taking certain specific suggestions into account when composing; on the other hand, he firmly believes that music should first and foremost be an expression of the self, and Glodings creates the kind of music his fans have come to expect while remaining true to his beginnings.
Goldings talks about a creative experience when he received a request from some fans to return to the vintage style of his early days, and while he understands the emotional attachment of these fans, he was reluctant to completely rehash the past, choosing instead to keep the classic elements and add a new twist. This creative approach fulfils the expectations of his fans while continuing to keep his music fresh and creative.
Looking ahead, Goldings believes that social media will play an increasingly important role in music creation.
It’s not just a tool for distributing music, but may become part of the creative process, and may even spark a whole new model of creativity – musicians and listeners working together, a trend well demonstrated by the Duet feature on TikTok.
No matter how much technology advances, the heart of art should always be our own inner voice.
Larry Goldings
For Goldings, social media feedback has been both a gift and a test.
In this ever-changing digital age, he welcomes every comment and suggestion with an open mind, but at the same time, he is determined to follow his heart’s love for creating. This adherence to his art has enabled him to maintain his indie roots in the midst of a complicated social media landscape.
As Goldings says, “Music is my inner voice, not just the world’s expectations of me.” This belief will continue to lead him forward on his musical journey.
For more exciting content on all things music, follow me on Instagram: @losticm! I’ll be sharing behind-the-scenes stories, exclusive updates, and my personal insights on the world of music.
This website is part of a student project. While the information on this website has been verified to the best of our abilities, we cannot guarantee that there are no mistakes or errors.
The material on this site is given for general information only and does not constitute professional advice.
The views expressed through this site are those of the individual contributors and not those of the website owner. We are not responsible for the content of external sites.