Advice for new Posi Artists

During a recent interview I asked Dan Johnson and Roger Tomhave if they had any tips for new Posi Music arts who are just getting started.

Roger: Well, I'd say the first thing to do is to get the compilation CD from the Posi Music Awards, and the compilation song books that are put together every year by the Association of Unity Churches. Those are good places to listen to the quality and see what is going on out in the world, what folks are talking about, what they are writing about and just get a taste for all of the music that is in this particular genre at a very high level - coming out of the Posi Music Awards.

So just listen to what everybody else is doing...

Roger: That's a good place, to see what's out there. But then you want to find your own voice, of course!

Well, Dan, what would you add?

Dan: You still looking for dirt?

Roger: Got some dirt, Dan?

Dan: Well, you were asking about ego and stuff... I don't know if I have an answer for that, but... Roger and I haven't talked about this, but every once in a while when I'm writing at home alone, I'm thinking, “Oh, I've got to show this to Roger.” Because either I'm proud of it or whatever, but also, I think there's an element of competition, where I really want to impress him. More than the general public, more than my wife, you know. It's kind of this back and forth working relationship. It reminds me of some things I've read about Lennon and McCartney when they were younger; just really driven to do better, to... it's like a leap frog thing where one guy would write a lyric and the other guy would say, “Oh, well, how about this.” So I think there's an element of competition in there, for me.

Roger: I think there's a very positive competition because it raises the bar for both of us. I want to impress Dan.