live laugh lemon goes live (laugh lemon)

Kia ora, and welcome to live laugh lemon! This project has been brewing in the back of my mind for a while now, and I am so excited (and a bit terrified) to bring it to life. I have just graduated from music school and supposedly I have emerged a qualified musician. I am now working an office job. Lately, I have been reflecting on my status as a “musician”. Since I don’t make my income from music, can I even call myself a “real musician”? Have I failed by choosing not to pursue further education? Have I betrayed my identity as a musician? If you have left uni (especially music school) you know the vibes. Covid hasn’t helped. The added uncertainty of the live music scene has made it harder for musicians to commit to music full time, and simultaneously increased pressure on artists to spend the time in isolation practicing their art. Being an artist is always hard, but Covid has really brought a lot of these struggles to the surface.

I had a particularly tough time in my final year of uni (2021), especially with the systemic issues of discrimination and exclusion in the classical music world. People liked to remind me that discrimination prevails in every field, which is true, but choosing to say “it’s everywhere, you can’t avoid it” feels like a cop out to me. I refuse to accept that I can’t avoid it, and I really believe we need to be discussing how discrimination is present in music scenes specifically. Music can be such an emotional and vulnerable practice, which makes that safe space being violated particularly upsetting. I have been spending the past few months since my final recital trying to find the joy again, seeking the experiences with music that brings me that feeling of giddy excitement, like when you have an especially good rehearsal or watch an amazing gig.

live laugh lemon is a safe space to discuss these issues, but just as importantly, a space to celebrate all the creativity, joy, beauty, and love in music communities. I would love to see live laugh lemon grow as a community space for anyone who engages in music, and I hope you will feel included here. I am so looking forward to getting to interview friends, new and old, and see what amazing things people are creating. Please, don’t hesitate to be in touch with any ideas you might have for this space.

Finally, a big thank you to the friends, family, and fellow creatives who have encouraged me to do this. The idea for live laugh lemon has grown from countless convos with my friends and loved ones about our experiences in the music scene, and this blog is really just a continuation and documentation of these relationships. Special mention to Leah Thomas for coming up with the name “live laugh lemon” and being a general inspiration in the creative community.