Just minted Day 64 on @basepaint_xyz! Hundreds of pixel artists made this together on the blockchain. Minting is open only for 24h
Produced by Dutchyyy
For my first drop on Lens, I wanted to provide something uplifting with optimistic and an organic vibe.
Sentiments across the ecosystem the past few weeks pertaining to sustainability, purpose and overall vibe has seemed pretty low from an observational point of view. A by product of having access to so many rapid thoughts daily. What some might call bear market blues, I'd call proper realignment on expectations and intentions. Many pivoted into releasing / collecting music on-chain due to the marketing of "Financial Freedom For Artists" which sounds like Utopia and I would love to see that happen and who knows, one day that might be a reality. I think the current reality of building micro communities mainly comprised of Artists in new ecosystem that has a very finite amount of Collectors who aren't Artists themselves or builders is going to be a bit turbulent when the entry and end goal is Financial Freedom. The ecosystem is still new and small compared to traditional ecosystems, but new artists enter daily at a pace faster than new collectors do. So building communities and culture with eyes on the prize without being realistic is eventually going to reach the reality check phase.
Everyone is a different stages of their Artistic journeys. Every Artist want's to feel valued and seen regardless what stage of that journey they are on.
I've been releasing music consistently on a large scale for 3 decades. Was reality checked and shafted by Major Labels multiple times since. Been through every shift and medium and never once was knocked off balance in terms of losing any momentum in my love and need to create and express daily. I purposely rebelled against DSP's since 2016 (something in hindsight I regret a bit, since everyone looks to streaming numbers to gauge an artist's worth these days) When I learned about smart contracts, there was no way I was making the same mistake. So in Feb 2021, I released my first MusicNFT on Rarible. Then paused and observed. I really resonated the idea of 1/1's and How Catalog Works viewed Music. So I patiently waited until I was finally onboarded end of March 2022. I utilized Catalog as a Forever Library for my back Catalog of Music. The Idea of being able to tie your backstory, credits or any info to the Music and that Data can never been separated is why I entered into the ecosystem. Financial Freedom never was the motivation, and I never mint a song with expectations of it being collected. The win for me personally, is having my legacy solidified on chain. Provenance. I'm realistic enough know, not everyone will approach releasing Art from purist point of view and It would be beyond amazing if All artists were guaranteed financial freedom from their hard work.
Over the years, I've seen many (more talented than myself) bright lights go dim and disappear because of expectations. The hardest thing to swallow about this scenario is that is robs the future of that artists music reaching the right people and deeply effecting their lives.
I've done my best to lead by example and take a less than popular or lucrative path and just mint music on chain, and let the resonance find its way to it. Repeating all the politicking, Promo and things I've been doing consistently for decades is not something I thought would follow into this new ecosystem. Pivoting into this ecosystem in general came at cost. Alot of respected music peers and fanbase look at web3 as a Scam, fad, or cash grab. Thankfully the beauty of music on chain, is .... everything is on chain. So anyone willing to take the time can see 90% of what I've earned on Catalog/Sound/Zora/Etc.. Never made it to fiat and instead, went directly back into the ecosystem supporting and collecting other artists who's music I resonated with. A Practice I've already being doing for years on Bandcamp.
Everyone has their own path, goals and expectations.
In a ecosystem built on music on chain, my hopes is the music and love for creating, documenting and collecting remains the top focus. Because we are all, together, collectively shaping Culture <3
Sincerely.
Dutch.
Utility:
Anyone who collects this, reach out to me on lens and I'll provide you with free download link to song, plus all the outtakes (Evolving Portals) I released on Bandcamp.
dutchmassive.bandcamp.com/album/evolving-portals-culture-care
My Submission + All the Resampled Live Audio Outtakes (Evolving Portals) that I ended up scrapping leading up to the very last day of the deadline, when I decided to approach one last time with new Fall energy and Submitted "A Keynote on Culture Care" 30 minutes before the deadline for "Beat Culture: Sound System Vol. 1" A Digital Compilation curated by Nefarious! (Original Samples Provided by: Chris Keys)
beatculture.bandcamp.com/album/sound-system-vol-1
