We recently connected with Teiji Mack and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Teiji, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?
Honestly, I dont even really know how I started. I guess its from playing around on the organ in my grandma’s house as kid. Just seeing what sounds go together and how they make me feel. Eventually I started taking music classes in middle band and played an instrument. I taught myself another instrument in highschool, lol. Nowadays i just sit and listen to music. Thats an art form I feel, just paying attention. Sometimes I’ll listen to a song just for the drums and imitate that pattern in my head, or that melody. Almost like shadow boxing in a sense. I feel like I could have benefited the most when I was younger by practicing more. Sometimes I would feel like I was too good at something naturally and didnt need to apply myself. Being talented and also having the drive to apply myself beyond what was expected of me, would have placed on me quicker path and made me learn quicker. However, I enjoy the path I’m currently on, its slow, yet my foundation is incredibly solid.
I think that the skill of perseverance is probably the most essential one that an artist can have. You have to have the will power to not be good at something and keep going, keep creating, until you are lol. Its like a video game, yeah your talent and aptitude might make you better at it than the average Bugcatcher Joey, however it doesnt change the fact that your skill starts off at a low level. A level 1 or 2 isnt much compared to someone putting in the work for years and gaining those experience points to get to level 20.
The only obstacle that stands in the way of you learning more, is yourself. Sure there may be others around you that dont affirm who you are, and that hurts. It may be a bit harder to access resources if your financial situation isn’t the best. In this internet age though, everything is right before our eyes and able to be shown on the screens that can fit in our hands. You’re capable of figuring it out, just a little more effort and consistency.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I’ve always been a bit musically inclined, but what made me really start making music was, ironically, this one time at band camp. We were freestyle rapping, and I was so bad at it, people made jokes., and I took that personally. I started spending lunch during the school year in my English teachers’ class, writing and recording music. It eventually became an outlet for my emotions and figuring my life out. Sort of like a therapy truthfully. I’m learning to paint pictures and tell stories in ways that can create different worlds just from the sounds. Not only from writing songs, but also from composing the instruments and producing my own landscapes in conjunction. At times even designing the visual art that follows. I like to really try to offer an experience that wont be forgotten when heard and felt. I know that as humans, sometimes we have a hard time expressing ourselves and identifying how we feel. I like to write music with that in mind. Hopefully, someone that may be going through the happiness, sadness, pain, melancholy, whatever that I was feeling at the time, can feel a release. Maybe they can relate and be able to feel like life isnt as bleak as it may feel sometimes.
I dont really sit down and take the time to look back on all the things I’ve done or even achieved in the small time span that I’ve been making music, and I think that I may do myself a disservice at times. Being able to adapt, survive, thrive, and maintain my sense of self through everything, is probably what I’m most proud of out of my entire career. I never want to be lose my original purpose for my art, in every form that it takes. I’m truly in love with the art of creation and want to always get better with every next step.
Whether I reach 15 people, or 15,000 people, thankyou for coming along for the journey. There will be discomfort at times, and some may not see the entire sage through, simply because that is life. But always know that every next step will be better than the last.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
Honestly, I just want to create and constantly get better. One of my side quests is to create an entirely new genre of music. I feel like its achievable in this lifetime, so why not? How far can I really take my craft, without losing my uniqueness, I would like to see it.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
I think that the best think society can do is simply be honest. That honesty applies to everything, whether they like something, or dislike something. If you feel like you want to show love to an artist, then retweet, and repost their content. Like it, DM them and give them words of encouragement. If you dislike it, either dont interact, or give them constructive criticism. I don’t agree with the culture of yes men, or unconditional haters. Find that nice balance and simply be honest in your dealings with creatives. Don’t wait for them to start to see success in order to feel compelled to claim ownership. You see the gems and the diamonds before your eyes. Invest and watch you get that returned.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.TEIJIMACK.com
- Instagram: @nubiandonuts
- Twitter: @TeijiMack
- Youtube: Youtube.com/TeijiMack
Image Credits
Edith Dunlap