D.I.Y.

I believe I can do anything. Truly. Let’s be clear. It could be my greatest strength, or it could be my toxic trait. Time will tell.

Take drums, for instance. I love the drums. I think they’re the coolest instrument. If I were to start all over, I would play the drums, a thousand times out of ten. Sometimes I go into the studio in our house and I play the same beat for about forty five minutes. I do the three fills I halfway know how to play and the same beat. Time of my life.

So I might love the drums, but I’ve always known someone better than me at playing them. When I was younger playing in Don’t Look Down it was Anthony and these days it’s Understanding. If they play the drums while I do a different thing that I’m better at - let’s saying singing for this example - then we can make a better song together, instead of the decent one I would make on my own. So I may bang on the drums for fun every now and then, but if we really want to get somewhere with the music, we use the best person for the job. That’s how we get the best song.

On top of that, now we have twice as many people involved, and so twice as manny circles with which we can share our art. So our community just doubled. Music is math.

The point is, it can be impressive when a person is able to do everything on their own. That’s undeniable. However, if you happen to be lucky enough to find yourself in the company of gifted people, and you figure out that your gifts are compatible, collaboration may take you further than you ever could’ve gone on your own, and it may get you there faster, too. At the end of the day, the choice is yours, just don’t let your pride get in the way of your progress. There’s room for everybody.

-J.P.