The best part of making a record is knowing it’s out there.
Part of that is the joy of knowing you don’t have to work on it anymore. Because you could have worked on it forever. There are always more tweaks you could make.
But the point of music is to reach listeners, and so the record isn’t finished until other people are hearing it. And so knowing it’s out there in the world is incredibly uplifting. It makes the entire process worth it.
Today, I’ve been aided by Spotify, which can update me live on all-time streams of the new release, and tell me how many people are listening right now. It’s simply thrilling to know the music we made is being heard. More than anything else, this is the thing that makes the hours feel worthwhile. I think that 300 hours is a conservative estimate for how long I personally I spent working on the Aces’ sixth album, and they seem absolutely worth it when I know the music is having its intended impact.
I’ve also been aided by texts from colleagues, friends, parents, and students who have shared their appreciation for the record. That’s worth way more, to me, than any Spotify data. And it reminds me to take the time to listen and respond to the work my friends do.
I’m already thinking about the seventh Aces album….What will it be called? When will we finish it? What songs will be on it?
But I’m taking today to celebrate. Because it’s finally out there.
Listen to the Rockford Aces Camaraderie on all major streaming services including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, and many more!
