If you asked me to play "Rocket Man" by Elton John I could do it and probably do a good job. However, if you sat the song's sheet music in front of me, I would not be able to tell you what song it is.If we listened to a song on the radio, I would probably be able to mimic it on the piano rather quickly, but I would not be able to write the song on the staffs.
I can't read music, something you would think could ruin the career of a hopeful musician.
I am Spencer Bates, a Northwestern senior, a dreamer, a musician; going down a road less traveled. I love music, and one day, with a little luck; my developing talent will make my dreams come true. I believe that each person has a story. My debut album, "Everybody has a Song," is based on that message. The album was released in February 2001 and the sales have exceeded my early expectations.
PLAYING AS A CHILD
I spent my childhood without musical education. I have spent the last three years of my life dedicated to the piano, and now I hope to make it to the top.
It's funny. Years ago this was just a dream. When I was a kid, I loved the power ballads. I would play air piano to Guns n' Roses and Elton John. I got into classic rock in high school and found my life related to the stars I imitated.
My first ballad was a terrible little song by an 11-year-old. It was a god-awful song about heaven and hell, but it was original and I did not have any knowledge of the piano. The song allows me to say I have been writing since the sixth grade.
If you can't read or write music, it makes it easier to be more playful because you don't have to spend time writing notes. It isn't hard for me to remember chord progression, but sometimes I am forced to use a tape recorder. I had no knowledge five years ago. I was amazed when people would play Heart and Soul.
GETTING MY ACT TOGETHER
I used to write while walking down the street, humming to myself and drawing attention.. People wondered who was the crazy guy humming to himself. It was an embarrassing hobby the summer after high school.
Then, when I came to Northwestern to study film, I lived in CRC. I was able to get more serious about music. I started playing on the piano almost every day. The piano in CRC was worn and beaten, but to me, it was a piano. Wow, I thought, I could go downstairs at anytime and play on this wonderful dorm piano. I would play around and press different keys and through trial and error, found out the different chords. As I got better at piano, I started to get a little snobby. As I learned what a piano is supposed to sound like, I would pick up on anything that was out of tune. Today, I write music in front of my new keyboards.
Early on, I worked on the duets. The songs I wrote were mainly love ballads about women I was chasing. They were enough to get me thinking. The first song I had written from the album was "All Along". It was this song that helped get my thinking, and my friend Amanda who boosted my confidence and made me believe that I had some talent. Amanda is talented and recognized, through the early unbalanced rhythm and choppy chords, that I could entertain people. As a person who lived in the ever unsocial world of CRC, a place where knowing many people is not an option, I owe my heart to my friends.
ACCEPTANCE AND INDIFFERENCE
I grew up in a very masculine environment at Georgetown Prep in Washington D.C. I was a theatre guy and I associated with people who were gay through our program. There was a lot of homophobia there, and it was difficult to watch people demoralize others because of their sexuality. It was difficult to be a male with a sensitive side no matter what sexuality one maintained. Over the past few years at Northwestern, I have been able to show this side more freely, although certain forms of hate still exist.
Here I am on a Monday afternoon, hours before my concert, handing out demo CDs with my picture on the front. If people hate my work, they know what I look like. They can openly criticize me in the future. I know of one person who is walking around spitting on my posters on the sidewalk. I said before that some people have copies of my early work and I fear that they may try to hurt my image with them in the future.
How do I react to people like this? You can't please everyone. No one ever will. I don't let it bother me anymore. I realize that I am no where right now.
If you want to make it anywhere in this world, you have to learn to get your balls chopped off. You have to learn to be humble. During the lunch hour a worker in Norris kicked me out and told me that I cannot solicit my free albums to students. As I prepared to leave, he told me that he enjoyed my music. Outside, people pass either taking the CD or saying "No, thanks". Good God people, it's a free CD.
Me: Hi, would you like a free CD?
Girl: No, thanks.
Me: It's free.
Girl: Well, is it good?
Me: It's very good.
What am I going to say? I want people to give me a chance.
BEING MYSELF AND LEARNING FROM THE BEST
I have my own style. I remember reading a review of a writer that I copied at times. The review said that the writer had manufactured lyrics over a nice melody. Damn, I thought, I better not do that.
I felt that I could write a strong melody, and my lyrics were not random. The lyrics were about my life and my feelings at that time. I am much more secure about my writing and my music today.
Axl Rose is powerful, Stevie Wonder is funky, Billy Joel is the piano man, and Elton John is a mentor. Elton John has taught me much more than just music. My style is most similar to his style. He uses an ironic twist in his songs. I see a sad undertone in a story about an underdog.
John's life has taught me how to live in certain situations. He has had a tough life. Discrimination, depression, a melodramatic thought pattern, and he have been labeled as a bit of a dork. He and I are not in a band, and we have to do a lot of legwork. There is no one to lean on when you are alone. I have no support group, and when someone rejects you or doesn't want to pick up your free demo CD, you learn to have a sense of humor.
THE ALBUM AND THE FUTURE
Most of the songs that I put together in CRC were about the different people I met while living there during the 2000-2001 school year. They are songs about my friends, girls I fell for, people I encountered during my NU experience. My street team and I have spent the past few months working hard. I placed several songs on MP3.com and I have received mixed feedback. However, I am planning on going to California to visit several fans.
It's been an interesting few years. I have learned a lot about myself, and I have allowed myself to let go of a lot of anger. This is a full-time free-time endeavor, and unless I put my best effort into my goals, I will never reach the moon.
