We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Larry Lacerte a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Larry, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?
As an independent musician, I’ve had to learn a lot about business in addition music. With music, I had some formal lessons as a kid. That’s when I first picked up a guitar. It was a really casual hobby for awhile. I’m happy now to have some of that foundational training, but at the time all I wanted to do was learn my favorite songs. Eventually, I started exploring songwriting and composing instrumentals. I got really into it and started reading, listening to podcasts and watching videos about all things music. I also spent a lot of time just fiddling around with a guitar trying to make it sound halfway decent.
Although I went to school for business entrepreneurship, I’d say most things relevant to the music business I’ve learned along the way. There are lots of great resources to help navigate being an independent musician. When I first became interested in pursuing music more full time, I learned a ton from the DIY Musician Podcast by CD Baby. That led to some other podcasts, blogs, books and a lot of rabbit holes. I’ve certainly had some mentors and guides of sorts too. Everyone is a teacher. I’ve learned a lot about being a gigging musician from bandmates and other musicians in my community that have been at it awhile. I’ve picked up a bit about recording, sound engineering and production just from being an observer in the studio. I think what really keeps me going in music is the further in I get, the more I realize I have to learn.
I think knowing what I know now, I’d be less concerned with learning to do things ‘right’ or by the books. It’s been a process to learn what works for me. It’s essential to always be learning, to have fun with it, and to experiment. It’s important for creatives to be on top of the business side of things too. Sometimes that means bringing other people into the mix to help out. I think a big obstacle was thinking I had to do everything on my own. Do it yourself doesn’t necessarily mean do everything by yourself. Finding ways to be resourceful and creative around marketing and promotion when starting out on a limited budget has also been challenging, but even little steps forward feel really rewarding.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
I’m pursuing being a musician in many forms. I write and release lyrical Rocky Mountain Americana songs as Larry Lacerte. I compose and release instrumental guitar pieces under the artist name LaCerte. I am also exploring music production and ambient instrumentals. That’s been a game changer. It’s very satisfying to wake up and work on a track from the comfort of my home. It’s been fun to see my vision of a music career expand and grow as I’ve stepped more fully into embracing different paths. At the moment, I’m focusing on releasing an instrumental guitar piece dedicated to each Colorado Fourteener. I’m also collaborating with Mia Tarduno on a weekly live music and yoga experience, Embodied Vibrations, at Thrive Yoga in Frisco, CO. Mia teaches yoga while I play music using an array of instruments. I’ve enjoyed getting back to gigging and it’s fun to push myself in some different directions musically.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
I feel like my whole road in music has been an unlearning at its core. I peel back a layer and see another one to expose. I was very regimented about practicing and songwriting for a long time. It’s been transformational to get away from the idea that there is some sort of formula to follow for everything. I’ve started to let things flow more naturally. I still get to it and show up for my craft, but I’m less precious about it. I write a song and move on to start the next one. It’s always a work in progress. I feel like this helps me detach from the outcome and focus on the music.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is the freedom. I’m excited to wake up knowing I get to spend my time making music. I love being able to set my own schedule and travel while still working on my art. I love being able to create from anywhere. It’s a great time to be an independent musician and artist.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lacertemusic.com/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCux0X4RK9eIoLnj1MoJ9Cag
- Other: Americana: https://linktr.ee/larrylacerte Instrumental Guitar: https://linktr.ee/lacerte
Image Credits
Mia Tarduno
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