Listen "DOUBLE MAJORING with Michael Lowenstern"
Episode Synopsis
Michael Lowenstern has spent 15 years as a professional bass clarinetist specializing in avant garde jazz, and 15 years as a professional brand marketer specializing in data-driven creative strategy. Those journeys have two things in common: They are both niche corners of their respective markets, and they are both things that most people couldn't care less about. He's currently a Principal Creative Director for Amazon.QUOTES“After music school when I turned up in NY, I stared at the phone. It took about 7 years to establish myself and I was doing the work I always wanted with Steve Reich, John Zorn and Peter Sekin. But I wasn’t making much.“I always had ‘double majoring’ in life, it started as a temp and then worked in advertising.”“I was driving on the New Jersey turnpike at midnight, having an existential conversation. I just played Beethoven for the millionth time, I hadn’t seen my kid in 3 days because I also have a day job with night gigs. Would I rather play Beethoven and fulfil that destiny for the rest of my life or would I rather watch my kid grow up.” (2005)“Now I’m able to feel fulfilled as a musician and have a second job”“I landed in a great spot by dumb luck”“The critical thinking part is not about being a clarinet player (singer, pianist, composer) it’s about being a musical contributor. If you're not contributing, you're taking. And if you're not empathetic, you don't know how to give. And if you don't do that, then you're not part of the solution that's pushing music forward.”“if you’re successful at more than one thing, there’s precedent for that. Not to compare myself, but there are a lot of people in history who’ve been good at more than one thing.”LINKSFind Mike on the Earspasm website or on Youtube “How to deal with not doing music full time?” on EarspasmPODCAST TEAMProduction Support from Molly Jenkins Audio Engineering from Frazer RuddickTheme Music Composed by Danna YunTheme Music Performed by Jasper LyRECORDEDRecorded on 03 September 2021
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