Structured Collaboration
If you ever watched that movie documentary about Metallica, “Some Kind of Monster“, you might remember the part where they’re all in the studio. Their idea for writing the songs is to just get in a room together and jam. Then, afterwards, they’re all sitting in the control room with their yellow legal pads writing awful lyrics. And every time someone throws out an idea, there’s this kind of tepid acknowledgement of it and then, to avoid hurt feelings and sensitivities, maybe they adopt one or two of these bad ideas.
The scene is a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at a band that seems to have clearly lost their way.
As I think about making art and I think about what makes great art, I think back at the process of recording this record, and I think about the time we spend in rehearsals prior to shows. And I also think about the ways that I try to interact with other people that I create art with, whether it’s Chad designing posters or Nancy doing a remix or, really, any kind of activity that involves creating something. And maybe it’s not even about art, but about groups of people and what groups of people can make and how they should make them.
But for these purposes I’ll stick to art.
I firmly believe that great art, in groups, is created through structured collaboration. And I mean that in reference to unstructured collaboration. Which is another way of saying that I believe in groups only to the extent that groups are compositions of individuals that are given direction and guidance and then allowed to use those constraints to leverage their own personal talents to create something beautiful.
So, with the band, I write the songs. But really, I just erect a frame. I’m thinking of that scene in Witness where the Amish build that house. I believe they call it a house-raising party or something. The point is, I bring the vibe and I bring the sentiment and the theme and I bring a chord progression and some, but certainly not all, melodic ideas.
Then, in the case of the record, Paul, the producer, took all of that and he thought about what the songs needed and shaped them. He also thought about how the sounds went together and what arrangements were necessary. So the vision kinda started with me but then he took it and he led.
And then, we gave those basic ideas to the band and they came up with their own ideas about how what they could do would enhance the songs. And Matt came up with beautiful melodies on the piano. And Rob wandered around on his bass and found rhythm and melody. And Bill created the textures on Hold My Heartache and all the other tunes. And on and on.
And these things all came together and beautiful music was made. And there was structure, of course. And there was guidance. But there wasn’t too much. It wasn’t domination. It was enough breathing room to let each artist bring something of themselves to the piece. And in that sense it’s collaboration. But, again, not in the way that you might think.
Not getting 5 people in a room and saying, “Ok guys, let’s jam. We’ll come up with a song that way.” Because without structure, the collaboration becomes muddled. And nobody is sure who has the final say. And you end up building something by committee reflecting the lowest common denominator of interest. Or you can incorporate everyone’s wacky idea, but you have no theme and no foundation, and the pieces don’t fit. And you’re scared to tell someone that their idea sucks and they should stop doing that.
And you have this sinking hollow feeling in your chest as you stand around and realize that it’s simply not working.
Compare that to the feeling you have when everyone has a good blueprint, but people still feel like they have the ability to insert something of themselves into the process. That feeling is altogether different. That feeling is one of realization. When no single person is responsible for everything. When there is a guiding hand but still gentle and when you can step out of the way and let artists do their thing and absorb it and encourage it and not micro-manage.
So you need to have a boss. And then that boss needs to delegate and let people do their thing in the way that they do it. And I guess that’s why this lesson applies
That is how great art is created in groups and it’s at the heart of most of what I do.
Something to think about. You’ll never create something great by scheduling a rehearsal, or a meeting, and then just throwing everyone’s ideas on a wall and hoping that their combination will yield something beautiful. Give guidance. Lay the groundwork. And then give people the freedom to share of themselves and interpret within that context.
