Stan Stewart is a New York-based multi-instrumentalist and an expert in spontaneous music composition–music made in the now. He has performed all over the world, including Australia, Scotland, Canada, and the United States.
Stan first became a musical improvisationalist as a member of WingIt! Performance Ensemble in Oakland, California, then moved to Alligator Mouth Improv Company in New York and later Anita Bondi and Company. He is a certified InterPlay leader and a student of improvisational-genius Rhiannon and the king of spontaneous composition, Bobby McFerrin.
Table of Contents
5:20 – If you had to describe yourself as a band, song or genre, what would it be?
9:09 – How did you get started in the music business?
16:47 – Looking back at your career, what stands out to you as your proudest moment?
22:56 – What’s been one of your biggest failures?
30:00 – Three things artists should be doing today to grow their fanbase and move their careers forward
If you had to describe yourself as a band, song or genre, what would it be?
A song title: “Balance Beam,” and I think the reason that resonates with me is that a lot of the things in my life have been about finding balance. I respect–and in some ways I’m a little jealous of the people that just do music.
But at the same time, early on I made a choice that I was going to have a day job. And 90% of the time, it works great, but it’s been a balancing act.
How did you get started in the music business?
Early on, my parents said, “don’t try and do music as a source of income.” They definitely were influential in terms of me getting started in music. Not the business of music, though. My Dad was a minister, and my Mom was very active in the church.
They both sang in the choir. My Dad would sometimes do a “sermon in song,” where instead of preaching verbally, he would sing the sermon while being accompanied by a piano. I was very influenced by that at an early age.
Looking back at your career, what stands out to you as your proudest moment?
I haven’t had my proudest moment yet, I’m actually in the process of creating that moment right now. A lot of times when I perform, I no longer have that feeling that it’s about pride. I feel very open to the present.
What’s been one of your biggest failures?
The moment when I thought, “I’m going to move to California and do nothing but music.” The picture that was in my head was of performers of the level of Sting or Lady Gaga. Performing in auditoriums to hundreds of thousands of people and every ticket is sold, every seat is sold out, and the fans are going crazy when they go on stage. That is the picture that I had of what it meant to do music and nothing else.
The reason I see that now as a kind of failure, obviously it was just maturing and learning process. If there is any failure in my music career, the reason that I would say it’s that, is that it took me ten years to unlearn that picture of what it means to be a musician.
Three things artists should be doing today to grow their fan-base and move their careers forward:
- Make real connections. I think the most important thing is connecting with people in the real world. You need to actually shake some hands.
- Build your online presence. That may mean social media, as part of a blog or podcast, just find a medium that works for you.
- Figure out what it is you want. It’s tricky, but incredible. The more you can discern what it is you want in your life, the easier it will be to get it.
The best ways to reach Stan:
On the web:
http://muz4now.com/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Music4theMoment
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/muz4now
Link to artist Katrina Morse and the 9 pieces of work referenced in the show:
http://playmusic.muz4now.com/album/painting-piano
Outro Music:
Lydian Waltz
Disappointment and Delight
Stan Stewart
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