The 5 People Who Will Define Your Music Journey
In the journey of music creation, we often talk about techniques, gear, and industry insights. But today, I want to explore something equally crucial yet frequently overlooked: the impact of role models on our creative development and personal growth.
The Absence of Examples
Growing up in a family predominantly filled with women, I struggled to find male role models who could guide me through certain aspects of life. This void led me to sometimes focus on the wrong examples – neighborhood figures who emphasized superficial status symbols or established confidence through dominance rather than personal growth.
Without positive examples demonstrating the importance of holistic wellness (sleep, nutrition, reading), I found myself making avoidable mistakes. Though track and field eventually taught me to appreciate physical fitness, other crucial elements of well-being remained underdeveloped.
Unexpected Mentors
A significant turning point came when I encountered two uncles in my wife's family who embodied qualities I hadn't witnessed up close before:
Community leadership – bringing people together and establishing meaningful traditions
Storytelling – connecting with others through sharing experiences and lessons
Authentic appreciation – expressing gratitude in real-time with specific examples
Service mindset – creating memorable experiences for loved ones
Family commitment – demonstrating consistent presence and protection
These examples profoundly shaped how I designed my life moving forward, particularly as I navigated marriage without having witnessed successful partnerships in my own upbringing.
Evolving Views of Masculinity
My early understanding of masculinity was poorly focused on displays of strength, status, and a rejection of vulnerability. This perspective was heavily influenced by entertainment figures and neighborhood men who often projected carefully constructed images rather than authentic selves.
Today, my view has transformed to embrace:
Vulnerability as strength – perhaps the most significant shift
Household equality – rejecting rigid gender roles
Emotional intelligence – processing feelings healthily
Community over competition – success through connection
Building Your Tribe of Mentors
As music creators, we need intentional examples for our artistic, business, and personal development. Here's my action plan:
Create a "Tribe of Mentors" database – document influential figures in your life
Identify specific traits – what exactly do you admire about each person?
Research new examples – actively seek role models in areas where you lack guidance
Connect consistently – nurture relationships with mentors through regular check-ins
Express gratitude – communicate your appreciation for their impact
Moving Forward
Who we surround ourselves with dramatically shapes our outcomes, whether we acknowledge it or not. This applies equally to our music careers, creative processes, and personal lives.
🎯 Challenge for the Week
I'm challenging myself to be more intentional about the examples I absorb in music, creativity, and business. I encourage you to do the same – identify your core mentors, study their approaches, and create your own personal "mastermind" group of influences.
Remember: your future self will reflect the five people you spend the most time with today. Choose wisely.
🧠 Quick Inspiration
"We don't rise to the level of our expectations; we fall to the level of our training." – Archilochus
❤️ Favorite Things This Week
This week, I've been playing with Google's AI platform, Notebook LM. I'm currently using it to build my own learning guide for music. I've been consolidating my notes from various music books to create a comprehensive study guide. The platform is amazing - you can organize up to 50 sources, get summaries on the information, chat with AI about the information, create mind maps, etc. This platform is going to be a game changer for learning. I'll share more of my discoveries as I explore it more.
What role models have shaped your creative journey? Feel free to share your thoughts by sending me an email mel@melvindarrell.com.
