John Mayer seems to be one of those people who at first seems dysfunctional, but is so articulate and self-aware that he not only gets away with it, he makes it all seem okay. During yesterday’s keynote “I Create Music” interview with ASCAP’s Erik Philbrook, Mayer talked frankly about his insecurities - his obsessive need to prove himself, his constant search for external approval, his insatiable desire for challenge. At the end of the day it’s hard to believe that he’s still never quite satisfied with everything he’s done, but at the same time, it all makes perfect sense - if he were the type to sit back and congratulate himself with every step forward, he probably wouldn’t have gotten so far.
The interview focused on three major themes:
- Honest, insightful, and occasionally self-deprecating comments and stories
- More metaphors, similes and analogies than an emo teenage poet
- The constant need to create
It’s this last one that struck me the most about Mayer. Even with all of his success, he’s still hungry for the next thing. He describes himself as “a six or a seven (out of ten)” in all areas of creating, saying that it’s both a benefit that allows him to see the big picture and that it means he’s never quite as good at anything as he’d like. Apparently, Mayer’s been toying around with making beats for three years and still can’t find a way to put lyrics to them.
One of the other interesting things Mayer said was that the “bubble’s about to burst” in music. He said that we have a whole lot of everything going on and that nobody’s quite sure what they like anymore. Apparently, we’re on the brink of the next John Mayer, and Mayer feels the pressure to be that guy - to top himself and stay relevant and interesting.
Overall, John Mayer met my expectations in many ways, but also exceeded them. The major message I took from his interview is that you’re never done. An artist should always seek to learn - whether it’s from a mentor, research, or by taking a class - whatever. What’s special about John Mayer isn’t just that he’s funny and cocky and adorable (not that I have a crush on him or anything), but that he doesn’t always believe it about himself, and his constant need to prove himself drives him forward past complacency and through the roof of every conceivable boundary. The best is yet to come from Mayer, and that’s because he insists upon it without feeling entitled to it just because it happened yesterday.
I encourage all of you to take a little of that sentiment and apply it to your own life and work. Whether you are a songwriter, an agent, or a college freshman that kind of thinks they might be interested in x, y, or z…just go for it. Push yourself through the roof, push your boundaries, stretch your imagination, make amazing things happen for you, and refuse to give up on what you know you want. Ah, such an inspiring way to end the day.
--Victoria Marchiony
