I thought deeply about Raison d’etre. Raison D’Être helps to define your reason for being. This gives the concept of what the artist journey is like. Do you know yours?
Right now is the time to be attached to purpose, our Raison D’Être
Richard Lawson, 2020
Some of us find it at a very young age and are attached to purpose. There are lot of journeys that artists lead, how do you know which works for you?
For artist Braxton Cook, he was still very young when he started, a thing we can admire here at Artisan CTEC. He discovered the path that he needed to stay on to realise* his dream.
He creates a classic scene for the brimming crowd at jazz club, Le Duc Des Lombards. The Juillard sophomore, artist performer also brings a band quartet.
Most enjoyable is the warm tribute he gives to jazz .There were moments where he gave sound knowledge of the important parts to jazz history- touching on everything from philosophy, faith, culture, music and politics. Visibly stoked to see the band members in full swing, he and fellow players beautifully mark a canvas with rich tones. On a Parisian night, he leaves a poignant solo performance MB for Ma’Khia Bryant before the full charge. Julius Rodriguez sets an engaging rhythm on the keys often supporting the ‘voice’. Lucas Kadish delivered soul in the guitar with deeply emotional tones and riffs that the crowd could feel from the front to the back. Brian Richburg, of the band New Legaxy gives a distinct character to each song- often drum & bass, percussion, hip hop and afrobeat.
‘Don’t forget where you are and where you’ve been.’
Glenn Lewis, Don’t You Forget It, World Outsiide My Window 2001
You have to know how to assess your weakness and figure out the best way to improve. Sometimes that’s a matter of just hanging around musicians better than you, and sometimes it’s a matter of research and information that you can find online or in the real world. I’ve always tried to surround myself with musicians that are better than me and that helps to push and keep me on my toes musically! The same goes for my learning how to improve my singing, songwriting and production skills. I’m frequently doing studio sessions with amazing producers, engineers and writers in LA that I can work with and learn from. You’ve always got be a student. Being a student of the world is very important. And when you can also give back by sharing the information and lessons that you’ve acquired that’s completes the loop. I learn so much from others and then I share what I know to the next person. That’s always been the tradition of this music and to me, that is the natural order of things.
I heard Braxton mention something of ‘completing the loop’ which is interesting:
It’s as though you’re working through areas that are vital for you to succeed in making and then emulating it to others. There’s methods used as a musician; learning, research, and being a student of the world. I’m hearing from you that you work to round out the things that make you the artist- frequently working with quality producers and being pushed to realise the gift in you. You’re inquisitive about the art, and surround yourself with interesting subjects to learn. Earlier you mentioned a feedback loop.
Braxton, I see your balance between practice & sharing your community- are these both valuable to stay creative?
I’ve always viewed my album creation process and my presence in social media as space to create; Document my journey and share that with my community. I’m not seeking perfection when I create, I’m merely trying to capture snapshots of my life and experience at moments where I have something to say. And I try to express that through music as clearly and as honestly as I can. I try not to overthink these things. Then I share them to hopefully inspire others and help heal people the same way the music heals me.
On, “finding things that feel familiar”: Is it interesting recreating moments for your listeners?
That’s an interesting way of putting it, but that’s it- I’m taking moments and things that impact me; that hit me emotionally and I try and decode it, I guess. Maybe study it to some degree but, more so I emulate and embody it. I recapitulate in my own way to other people. I listen to sounds that are familiar, that are digestible, that I love personally. It makes sense that people like the sound [my music] cause, I’m pulling from things that people already kind of like!
Artist, producer, songwriter, saxophonist, soul. Braxton Cook goes on to direct a class at the Jazz Conservatory in France, tour on the Olympic Year and conclude his European show this March. He prepares to receive a NAACP Image award on March16.
*Realise, realisation – the achievement of something desired or anticipated; awareness; understanding