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From fear to fair trade music | Brendan Poynton | TEDxLeamingtonSpa


music plays an integral part of shaping

music plays an integral part of shaping the world we live in

the world we live in

the world we live in if fashion societies and defines

if fashion societies and defines

if fashion societies and defines generations but where is the support for

generations but where is the support for

generations but where is the support for the artists who create this legacy these

the artists who create this legacy these

the artists who create this legacy these influences of society it seems there

influences of society it seems there

influences of society it seems there isn’t any it all comes down to the

isn’t any it all comes down to the

isn’t any it all comes down to the concept of value can you think for a

concept of value can you think for a

concept of value can you think for a moment how much do you value music this

moment how much do you value music this

moment how much do you value music this amazing creation that defines key

amazing creation that defines key

amazing creation that defines key moments in our lives to the music

moments in our lives to the music

moments in our lives to the music industry the value of an artist lies and

industry the value of an artist lies and

industry the value of an artist lies and their profitability to the creative

their profitability to the creative

their profitability to the creative artist the value of their music is often

artist the value of their music is often

artist the value of their music is often personal emotional or spiritual in the

personal emotional or spiritual in the

personal emotional or spiritual in the words of an artist I met this year it’s

words of an artist I met this year it’s

words of an artist I met this year it’s a plastic industry it’s all based around

a plastic industry it’s all based around

a plastic industry it’s all based around a simple but infallible premise where

a simple but infallible premise where

a simple but infallible premise where there is music there is money let’s go

there is music there is money let’s go

there is music there is money let’s go back in time as a child I had a stutter

back in time as a child I had a stutter

back in time as a child I had a stutter so much so that when it came to

so much so that when it came to

so much so that when it came to answering the school register in the

answering the school register in the

answering the school register in the morning I struggled to say yes to the

morning I struggled to say yes to the

morning I struggled to say yes to the point my teacher said look Brendon just

point my teacher said look Brendon just

point my teacher said look Brendon just put your hand up okay as a teenager I

put your hand up okay as a teenager I

put your hand up okay as a teenager I learned that when I sang the stutter am

learned that when I sang the stutter am

learned that when I sang the stutter am the fear disappeared so I learnt a few

the fear disappeared so I learnt a few

the fear disappeared so I learnt a few chords on the guitar and started to

chords on the guitar and started to

chords on the guitar and started to write songs to express myself for me

write songs to express myself for me

write songs to express myself for me expressing myself through music was and

expressing myself through music was and

expressing myself through music was and still is deep-seated in Who I am it was

still is deep-seated in Who I am it was

still is deep-seated in Who I am it was never just a manufactured or threw away

never just a manufactured or threw away

never just a manufactured or threw away thing it’s my soul on display so I put

thing it’s my soul on display so I put

thing it’s my soul on display so I put all my time and energy into songwriting

all my time and energy into songwriting

all my time and energy into songwriting music and bands that’s what defined me

one night during a gig I noticed an

one night during a gig I noticed an acquaintance of mine he’d set up a

acquaintance of mine he’d set up a

acquaintance of mine he’d set up a tripod I miss filming the set my band

tripod I miss filming the set my band

tripod I miss filming the set my band and I were performing I never got to see

and I were performing I never got to see

and I were performing I never got to see the recording of that gig and I didn’t

the recording of that gig and I didn’t

the recording of that gig and I didn’t think anything of it at the time

think anything of it at the time

think anything of it at the time until one bonfire night during a

until one bonfire night during a

until one bonfire night during a firework display a song burst now

firework display a song burst now

firework display a song burst now through the large speakers and I felt

through the large speakers and I felt

through the large speakers and I felt that’s my sound a part of my soul but it

that’s my sound a part of my soul but it

that’s my sound a part of my soul but it wasn’t me singing it was the well-known

wasn’t me singing it was the well-known

wasn’t me singing it was the well-known singer my acquaintance played with I

singer my acquaintance played with I

singer my acquaintance played with I felt like someone punched me in the face

felt like someone punched me in the face

felt like someone punched me in the face I have no idea what to do or what to say

I have no idea what to do or what to say

I have no idea what to do or what to say I was completely naive and this ate away

I was completely naive and this ate away

I was completely naive and this ate away at me for over the next 10 years

eventually music burned me out I fell

eventually music burned me out I fell into bitterness and negativity about

into bitterness and negativity about

into bitterness and negativity about something that was originally therapy

something that was originally therapy

something that was originally therapy for me in the end I gave up music but

for me in the end I gave up music but

for me in the end I gave up music but over time I learned more and started to

over time I learned more and started to

over time I learned more and started to research and I felt that my songs have

research and I felt that my songs have

research and I felt that my songs have been taken and used as reference points

been taken and used as reference points

been taken and used as reference points to make more than one well-known hit

to make more than one well-known hit

to make more than one well-known hit song so I took it to a top musicologist

song so I took it to a top musicologist

song so I took it to a top musicologist that’s someone who analyzes music and

that’s someone who analyzes music and

that’s someone who analyzes music and his analysis supported my suspicions and

his analysis supported my suspicions and

his analysis supported my suspicions and what this did it gave me the confidence

what this did it gave me the confidence

what this did it gave me the confidence to turn poison into medicine

to turn poison into medicine

to turn poison into medicine now I’m not special there are many

now I’m not special there are many

now I’m not special there are many musicians who have similar stories to

musicians who have similar stories to

musicians who have similar stories to tell in hindsight I just feel stupid

tell in hindsight I just feel stupid

tell in hindsight I just feel stupid because I never really understood the

because I never really understood the

because I never really understood the value of music creating art music

value of music creating art music

value of music creating art music anything that is real and true it’s

anything that is real and true it’s

anything that is real and true it’s putting a part of your soul on display

putting a part of your soul on display

putting a part of your soul on display and I believe that this is where the

and I believe that this is where the

and I believe that this is where the value lies it’s worth more than money

value lies it’s worth more than money

value lies it’s worth more than money but that doesn’t mean to say it isn’t

but that doesn’t mean to say it isn’t

but that doesn’t mean to say it isn’t worth money

so how did I get back to being positive

so how did I get back to being positive about music I followed my instinct I

about music I followed my instinct I

about music I followed my instinct I went to Zambia it was here I reconnected

went to Zambia it was here I reconnected

went to Zambia it was here I reconnected with a simple joy of playing music I ran

with a simple joy of playing music I ran

with a simple joy of playing music I ran music workshops I donated my guitar to

music workshops I donated my guitar to

music workshops I donated my guitar to the school and I launched a project to

the school and I launched a project to

the school and I launched a project to build a music center back home over the

build a music center back home over the

build a music center back home over the next two years I raised the money by

next two years I raised the money by

next two years I raised the money by hosting live music events and I met many

hosting live music events and I met many

hosting live music events and I met many grassroots artists amazing people who

grassroots artists amazing people who

grassroots artists amazing people who wanted more control opportunity to be

wanted more control opportunity to be

wanted more control opportunity to be valued for their work a common theme

valued for their work a common theme

valued for their work a common theme musicians here is we can’t pay you but

musicians here is we can’t pay you but

musicians here is we can’t pay you but your guests exposure with the explosion

your guests exposure with the explosion

your guests exposure with the explosion of the internet there came a huge

of the internet there came a huge

of the internet there came a huge opportunity for artists to develop their

opportunity for artists to develop their

opportunity for artists to develop their careers independently of the traditional

careers independently of the traditional

careers independently of the traditional music industry unfortunately artists

music industry unfortunately artists

music industry unfortunately artists have been cursed instead into giving out

have been cursed instead into giving out

have been cursed instead into giving out their music for free in this way music

their music for free in this way music

their music for free in this way music as a whole can become devalued and we

as a whole can become devalued and we

as a whole can become devalued and we risk creating a generation of jaded

risk creating a generation of jaded

risk creating a generation of jaded disillusioned artists yes the noble

disillusioned artists yes the noble

disillusioned artists yes the noble artist creates and conceives wonderful

artist creates and conceives wonderful

artist creates and conceives wonderful things without a thought for fame or

things without a thought for fame or

things without a thought for fame or fortune but then what do we do with it

fortune but then what do we do with it

fortune but then what do we do with it we take it and we say thanks you didn’t

we take it and we say thanks you didn’t

we take it and we say thanks you didn’t do this for the money anyway right again

do this for the money anyway right again

do this for the money anyway right again creating art music that’s the value and

creating art music that’s the value and

creating art music that’s the value and this is where the value lies it’s worth

this is where the value lies it’s worth

this is where the value lies it’s worth more than money and that doesn’t mean to

more than money and that doesn’t mean to

more than money and that doesn’t mean to say it isn’t worth money

music makes you remember and go back to

music makes you remember and go back to that club which got the tunes just right

it makes you buy a pre it makes you pay

it makes you buy a pre it makes you pay premium for a ticket or a seater you

premium for a ticket or a seater you

premium for a ticket or a seater you know a front-row seat at a show like

know a front-row seat at a show like

know a front-row seat at a show like this a great song is gold dust the riffs

this a great song is gold dust the riffs

this a great song is gold dust the riffs the melodies the words and the burst of

the melodies the words and the burst of

the melodies the words and the burst of inspiration have the unique power to

inspiration have the unique power to

inspiration have the unique power to capture our seminal moments of joy and

capture our seminal moments of joy and

capture our seminal moments of joy and tragedy family and friendship adventure

tragedy family and friendship adventure

tragedy family and friendship adventure comfort loss and healing that unique

comfort loss and healing that unique

comfort loss and healing that unique mathematical sequence at the same 12

mathematical sequence at the same 12

mathematical sequence at the same 12 musical notes once I gave up music

musical notes once I gave up music

musical notes once I gave up music because I became afraid afraid of

because I became afraid afraid of

because I became afraid afraid of putting myself out there afraid of being

putting myself out there afraid of being

putting myself out there afraid of being ripped off but a few years ago I started

ripped off but a few years ago I started

ripped off but a few years ago I started a new journey and I thought here’s an

a new journey and I thought here’s an

a new journey and I thought here’s an idea

idea

idea let’s create a world where artists do

let’s create a world where artists do

let’s create a world where artists do not have to sacrifice artistic integrity

not have to sacrifice artistic integrity

not have to sacrifice artistic integrity for commercial success the fundamental

for commercial success the fundamental

for commercial success the fundamental principles to never lose the will to

principles to never lose the will to

principles to never lose the will to express your real voice never succumb to

express your real voice never succumb to

express your real voice never succumb to fear or failure an understanding that

fear or failure an understanding that

fear or failure an understanding that music is not just a commodity to be

music is not just a commodity to be

music is not just a commodity to be shaped bought and sold but essential

shaped bought and sold but essential

shaped bought and sold but essential therapy for the soul or spirit to share

therapy for the soul or spirit to share

therapy for the soul or spirit to share an ethical vision for the creation and

an ethical vision for the creation and

an ethical vision for the creation and consumption of fair trade music it is by

consumption of fair trade music it is by

consumption of fair trade music it is by changing the core principles of the

changing the core principles of the

changing the core principles of the music industry rather than enforcing

music industry rather than enforcing

music industry rather than enforcing rules that we can turn things around

rules that we can turn things around

rules that we can turn things around removing the poison becoming nothing and

removing the poison becoming nothing and

removing the poison becoming nothing and rebuilding from a place which is about

rebuilding from a place which is about

rebuilding from a place which is about pure music and supporting those who

pure music and supporting those who

pure music and supporting those who created do you value music with that in

created do you value music with that in

created do you value music with that in mind I’d like to leave you with one of

mind I’d like to leave you with one of

mind I’d like to leave you with one of my own songs

my own songs

my own songs so take these words to your heart they

so take these words to your heart they

so take these words to your heart they can spark the things we start this is my

can spark the things we start this is my

can spark the things we start this is my prop it’s called a de Kaap oh it makes

prop it’s called a de Kaap oh it makes

prop it’s called a de Kaap oh it makes me sound good without it I this song too

me sound good without it I this song too

me sound good without it I this song too – hello this song is called eyes of

– hello this song is called eyes of

– hello this song is called eyes of change

all the time it takes is it left too

all the time it takes is it left too late

marching upon the middle on the edge of

marching upon the middle on the edge of elbows we can take the reins in the

elbows we can take the reins in the

elbows we can take the reins in the light of the eyes of change some things

the power that lies in me Raisa can I

the power that lies in me Raisa can I please give besides the same in you

whereas above with me in the light of

whereas above with me in the light of the eyes of change

the eyes of change

the eyes of change [Music]

[Music]

[Music] pocket so much has gone but we know how

pocket so much has gone but we know how

pocket so much has gone but we know how to stop it

to stop it

to stop it [Music]

[Music]

[Music] out of my pocket I’ve wandered the earth

out of my pocket I’ve wandered the earth

out of my pocket I’ve wandered the earth with my feet for me

with my feet for me

with my feet for me [Music]

[Music]

[Music] as a change

as a change

as a change [Music]

[Music]

[Music] change something still remain

change something still remain

change something still remain [Music]

flexible and fearless limitless and

flexible and fearless limitless and lyrical

lyrical

lyrical you

I’ve left my pocket so much

I’ve left my pocket so much [Music]

[Music]

[Music] I wander the earth with my feet for me

light up the eyes

light up the eyes a change

a change

a change in the light

in the light

in the light as a change

as a change

as a change where some things still remain

when something goes I still remain

when something goes I still remain [Music]

”

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