My friend Isaac got to interview Sidney Gish for his music blog, Born Loser. I got to tag along with him because I’m the one with the camera and microphones. The whole interview is great. Isaac makes it funny and awkward and Gish is so well spoken.
One of my favorite moments is when Sidney Gish talks about making music just for herself and how that takes the risk out of the equation.
“If I make something that’s just for myself, then no one can be like ‘hey your production’s bad.’ And even if it is bad, and they’re right, then I can be like 'so what’s the worst that can happen? Like, who’s disappointed with me? You, because you wasted you time listening to my song?’”
What’s the worst that could happen? When you’re getting ready to start something new your imagination can run wild with all the worst case scenarios that are always way more severe than what could actually happen in real life. The world will not explode if you make a bad song, ugly painting, or stupid poem. You won’t get fired from your job. You won’t lose your home or get arrested (unless it’s REALLY bad).
It reminds me of what Conan O’Brien said on the Armchair Expert podcast: “you have less to lose than you think.”
That’s a great reminder anytime you’re starting something new.