My birthday is today, and my birthday always makes me feel nostalgic, so here’s a somewhat sentimental post….
Last week, I spent a lot of time alphabetizing my CD collection (well, what’s left of it after I got rid of thousands of CDs a few years back) I had them all boxed up in my basement, and I began missing them, because something about attending Bonnaroo last week, woke me up and made me want to see and touch them.
Many of my CD cases are still covered in soot from when I lost most of my home in a fire a few years back. My black fingers reminded me that I survived losing almost all of my material possessions, And it was then I discovered that I could survive anything.
So, What’s present for me now is: Music has been the main focal point of my entire adult life. It’s the heartbeat that propelled me to work hard to make a career in this business because I wanted to be around the people who make music and without it I would have been lost.
In the past few years, my focus shifted full time to my other passions social media and marketing. This, coupled with a failing relationship with a hyper-judgmental man who criticized virtually everything I put on the stereo, made me turn away from music and towards other outlets, where I could be unmolested.
I became unrecognizable to myself and for the first time in my life I uncharacteristically stopped listening to music.
But last week standing out in a field at Bonnaroo under a lightning storm, something shifted back into my body. The catalyst was Buffalo Springfield’s reunion and it was visceral. The kind of stunning that makes not only the hairs on the back of your neck stand up but also the kind of stunning that causes you to have an out-of-body experience…. That’s my base connection to music.
So, there I was in my basement, re-acquainting with each CD as if it were an old friend. Memories came flooding back as each CD connects me to a piece of my life. My first job working at a record store, standing at the top of Red Rocks and looking down and crying from the beauty of the place, Sunday morning jazz on weekends with friends, late night house parties, the 5 years I worked as the PR director for The Fox Theatre in Boulder and the thousands of shows I watched from her balcony.
Then there are the CDs I worked, the thousands of bubble envelopes I mailed with thoughtfully written press kits and For Immediate Releases and 8X10 photos attached with my business card clipped to the top, now it’s an antiquated irrelevant process… When I finished my life as a traditional publicist, my database records showed that I had mailed out over 11,500 CDs.
Then there are the CDs I will never get rid of because I was thanked in the liner notes for my contribution and hard work… And being honored for my efforts and work is a blessing.
And so,
Today, on my 40th birthday I’m in gratitude
for music
for the artists I know who make music
for my colleagues and friends who work in, for, and around music
for our community who are all trying to go forward and figure it out together.
When I look at the hundreds, if not thousands, of artists I know, it’s the ones who have not lost sight of what they are grateful for, even in times of reinvention and disruption in this business, who stay even-keeled and move forward despite the new rules and challenges
It’s you who help me to remain committed and inspired
Ariel, that was such a heartfelt blog…I sense you are entering a very important phase of your life…where you almost start to see things again with that child-like enthusiasm that leaves you breathless for the opportunity and momentum to embrace all life is holding out for you. This clarity can wash over you like a much needed rain shower and your life will be forever changed – for the better. Happy Birthday and appreciate you sharing your genuine thoughts…bringing a human component to business is what makes music artists and music lovers such a special breed of people. Lana Grant…xo
I really was exhausted from doing Artist Development stuff today but then I saw that you had posted this beautiful memoir of sorts and I had to read it a couple of times; grateful indeed that you sparked something in me to stay up, read & write in my journal. As I've said to Amanda Marie before, “you just don't meet Ariel; you experience her.” Mazel Tov on entering a new phase of womanhood – you will rock it through the 40's. thanks for sharing from your heart. warmly, esther
Happy Birthday, Ariel! I enjoy reading you on Twitter and this blog post is so personal and moving. It's amazing what effect people can have on people, good and bad. We “met” briefly in a bathroom during the Social Media Week earlier this year, you were speaking at a panel in SoHo and were fabulous! [You mentioned that you miss John Mayer's tweets and so do I.]In contrary to you, I decided to NOT do anything professionally with music because I love music too much. I'm also quite choosy and could not stand behind a lot of what's “popular” these days. So I rather do a social media job (for the last 15 years already!) for non-music services but I totally admire you that you make it work for you.All the very best for you professionally and personally.– Elke xo
Buffalo freakin Springfield!! That is so fantastic. One of my all-time favorite bands. Happy Birthday, Ariel! I'm grateful for you, your business, and music too!
Beautiful. I had an experience like what you describe after crisis three years ago. I was at a Big Head Todd concert at the Paradise in Boston and it was like meeting myself for the first time in years. One of those “remember this” moments which marks transformation. I know you know. Having been blessed enough to witness you in action over the last (almost) 20 years, I can truly say that you are inspiration, light, generosity. Your spirit in the world is its own music. I am so blessed and grateful to know you. susan
this crazy industry is a better place because you're in it. thank you ariel. great post. so well said. happy birthday! here's to nostalgia and gratitude 🙂
I've had this post opened in a tab for days now, finally took the time today to read it properly. You've hit the mark again. I think anyone who is pursuing a goal loses faith at various points, but it's those who can stop and reflect on where they've come from that eventually reach their destination. For all of us artists that you support, it's about switching off the computer regularly and play/sing just for ourselves, to remind us of why we spend countless hours online. It's that feeling, the same that you felt when Buffalo Springfield took the stage, that we want to share with the world. You're whole focus is about teaching, or re-teaching perhaps, artists how to connect with others, and you lead by example. I'm sure there's a little Ariel in the back of all our heads reminding us to blog, tweet, post, connect every morning when we arise from sleep. Or is that just me? 😉
Once again, happy birthday, and thanks on behalf of everyone.
Wow! the Power of Bonnaroo is IMMENSE! It's not just for wet-skinned hippies!
I am so glad that you reconnected with yourself…I almost married “man” who did the same thing to me, only it was directed towards the music I was making. I am so thankful for all the people like you that made me realize that what we create DOES have value…
My birthday is today, and my birthday always makes me feel nostalgic, so here’s a somewhat sentimental post….
Ariel, that was such a heartfelt blog…I sense you are entering a very important phase of your life…where you almost start to see things again with that child-like enthusiasm that leaves you breathless for the opportunity and momentum to embrace all life is holding out for you. This clarity can wash over you like a much needed rain shower and your life will be forever changed – for the better. Happy Birthday and appreciate you sharing your genuine thoughts…bringing a human component to business is what makes music artists and music lovers such a special breed of people. Lana Grant…xo
I really was exhausted from doing Artist Development stuff today but then I saw that you had posted this beautiful memoir of sorts and I had to read it a couple of times; grateful indeed that you sparked something in me to stay up, read & write in my journal. As I've said to Amanda Marie before, “you just don't meet Ariel; you experience her.” Mazel Tov on entering a new phase of womanhood – you will rock it through the 40's. thanks for sharing from your heart. warmly, esther
Happy birthday Ariel! Beautiful post. Best wishes for your next decade.
Beautiful… and kudos to you for all the hard work you've done – and continue to do – on behalf of those artists. xoxo
Happy Birthday, Ariel!
I enjoy reading you on Twitter and this blog post is so personal and moving. It's amazing what effect people can have on people, good and bad. We “met” briefly in a bathroom during the Social Media Week earlier this year, you were speaking at a panel in SoHo and were fabulous! [You mentioned that you miss John Mayer's tweets and so do I.]In contrary to you, I decided to NOT do anything professionally with music because I love music too much. I'm also quite choosy and could not stand behind a lot of what's “popular” these days. So I rather do a social media job (for the last 15 years already!) for non-music services but I totally admire you that you make it work for you.All the very best for you professionally and personally.– Elke xo
happy birthday ariel! i'd like to thank YOU for putting so much information out there for musicians and artists to learn from 🙂
xo
Buffalo freakin Springfield!! That is so fantastic. One of my all-time favorite bands. Happy Birthday, Ariel! I'm grateful for you, your business, and music too!
Beautiful. I had an experience like what you describe after crisis three years ago. I was at a Big Head Todd concert at the Paradise in Boston and it was like meeting myself for the first time in years. One of those “remember this” moments which marks transformation. I know you know. Having been blessed enough to witness you in action over the last (almost) 20 years, I can truly say that you are inspiration, light, generosity. Your spirit in the world is its own music. I am so blessed and grateful to know you. susan
Love it!
Beautiful. So wonderful to get back in touch with those powerful things. Happy Birthday, sounds like a great start to the year ahead!
this crazy industry is a better place because you're in it. thank you ariel. great post. so well said. happy birthday! here's to nostalgia and gratitude 🙂
Thanks so much Joseph! 🙂
Happy Birthday Ariel – loved reading your post. Onwards and Upwards!
Adrian
I've had this post opened in a tab for days now, finally took the time today to read it properly. You've hit the mark again. I think anyone who is pursuing a goal loses faith at various points, but it's those who can stop and reflect on where they've come from that eventually reach their destination. For all of us artists that you support, it's about switching off the computer regularly and play/sing just for ourselves, to remind us of why we spend countless hours online. It's that feeling, the same that you felt when Buffalo Springfield took the stage, that we want to share with the world. You're whole focus is about teaching, or re-teaching perhaps, artists how to connect with others, and you lead by example. I'm sure there's a little Ariel in the back of all our heads reminding us to blog, tweet, post, connect every morning when we arise from sleep. Or is that just me? 😉
Once again, happy birthday, and thanks on behalf of everyone.
Thanks my doll!
Awesome blog! :o)
Wow! the Power of Bonnaroo is IMMENSE! It's not just for wet-skinned hippies!
I am so glad that you reconnected with yourself…I almost married “man” who did the same thing to me, only it was directed towards the music I was making. I am so thankful for all the people like you that made me realize that what we create DOES have value…
thank you for sharing.