AN OPEN LETTER TO SUFJAN STEVENS
“I definitely feel like ‘What is the point? What’s the point of making music anymore?’ I feel that the album no longer has a stronghold or has any real bearing anymore. The physical format itself is obsolete; the CD is obsolete and the LP is kinda nostalgic. So, I think the album is suffering and that’s how I’ve always created — I work with these conceptual albums in the long-form. And I’m wondering, what’s the value of my work once these forms are obsolete and everyone’s just downloading music? And I’m starting to get sick of my conceptual ideas. I’m tired of these grand, epic endeavours and wanting to just make music for the joy of making music and having it be immediate and nothing to do with the industry itself, which, y’know is suffering right now of course.”
Sufjan,
In regards to what you said above. I’m totally fucking feeling you. Every time you do something and people are like, “That’s great, that’s great.” They’re really just saying, “Yeah that’s great but I need more of where that came from, I’m forgetting about that as we speak. What’s next”. Right on. Can’t make money off music? Welcome to my world. It’s hard just to get a creative gig of any kind. We know it. There’s always someone in control who doesn’t want to throw us a God damn bone cause it’s “risky”. Well, if we ever want to get anything done that’s what we’ll be up against.
In saying all that, I’ve got an idea. It’s something Bon Iver did and I think you should do it too. Come to LA, I know you hate it, but just hear me out. Come to LA and play a sunrise show at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Here’s how it works. You rest and get ready. We go to the cemetery at 12AM and we bring our blankets, pillows, wine, etc. We watch a film and then listen to some music you select and then about 5:40PM you play an hour and a half worth of your favorite songs and we wake up to the sounds of your voice and we’ll have a little dance and watch the mist roll over the tombs and the ponds and you might feel rejuvenated. I think you’d like it. Give it a go. I’ll be there. Most. Of. Us. Will. Be. There.
Signed,
Ertel
2 years ago