You are more than an algorithmic response!
So... in case you didn't notice, I released a new album and a music video! Watch it below! I'm super excited about both, and there's actually a lot of other people that are into it too. Here's some of what people are saying:
"It sounds like Beck*, and I mean that as a compliment."
"Totally worth the wait!"
"Life changing! Keep up the good work."
A lot of people have given me this positive feedback in person, and it feels good to share work. I'm really thankful to have people listening. I get all histrionic; twenty-five years ago releasing an album meant a record deal and professional studio time and a promotion team and now... there's how many new songs uploaded to Spotify every day?
Anyway, I've been trying to play this music promotion game in the hour or less of time I have to myself each day. (Like right now, it's 5:40 in the morning. Ridge will wake up in an hour. We need baby wipes and horchata mix. What time does King Soopers open?) I don't really have a hypeman (or hype person) in my life. (My partner Ash usually fills this role, but she's in her first year of teaching.)
Two questions really rolling around in my head here:
How do I get people to give their positive feed back in the form of a comment?
What blocks might people have about leaving a comment?
In response to 1:
a. Ask people directly. The next time somebody tells me they like the album, I should ask them to leave a comment about it. Why do I care about comments? Well, when it comes to the algorithm of human thinking, it's a little bit binary: is this relevant or not? Seeing that other people liked it enough to write something and share makes it relevant, or at least more relevant than something with no comments. How do I make that ask? It feels uncomfortable at first. Like, you took the time to listen to my album, and now I'd like you to do more by leaving a comment. That comes off as ungrateful. I mean, I don't make comments on everything that I like.
Why don't I like commenting? Well, there's the whole corporate marketing component. For example, I do a lot of google searches on cellular biology and cancer in preparation for class. I'm not commenting anywhere - just a google search. I have received mail advertisements for local cancer screening clinics. "If you or someone you know has received a cancer diagnosis, there is hope." What are they going to send me when I comment on Toro y Moi's "Postman" video?
Maybe it also has to do with uncertainty about the value of one's own voice? Who am I to leave a comment? I guess what I'm really saying is that you do matter. You are more than an algorithmic response. Your voice impacts others. Use it.
Here's my new video. Leave a comment if you have a second.
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