Big Thiefs Adrianne Lenker Encourages Students to Find Their Own Currency of Success The prolific, Grammy-nominated musician talked about the mystery of songwriting and why she values the organic way shes built an audience.
By
Bryan Parys
January 21, 2021
Singer, songwriter, and guitarist Adrianne Lenker B.M. 12
Image by Genesis B ez
Indie folk-rock act Big Thief, fronted by Adrianne Lenker B.M. 12, is that rare group that gives fans a sense of being in on one of musics best-kept secrets, despite the band's Grammy nominations and near-universal acclaim among music critics. If you don't listen to Big Thief, there's a good chance that one of your favorite artists does.
In 2019, Big Thief released two full-length albums, and in the year since, most members of the band have released albums on their own, including Lenker's most recent dual-release, songs and instrumentals, both of which ended up on a slew of best-of-2020 lists, including those compiled by The New Yorker and NPR.
Giving off a mystic-nomad vibe, Lenker has come to occupy a Bob Dylan-esque space for her devotees, who pore over her poetic, naturalistic lyrics and flock to her interviews in order to get a deeper look at her artistic process. In a virtual Visiting Artist Series event toward the end of the fall semester, moderated by Bonnie Hayes, chair of the Songwriting Department, students got just that kind of window, as Lenker shared her thoughts on songwriting and organically building a fan base.
If your currency is something other than money, then you've already won. If you love what you're doing, no one can take that away from you.
-Adrianne Lenker B.M. 12
Hayes kicked off the discussion by asking Lenker about her songwriting flow and how she's able to so successfully return to a place of pure creativity so often. Lenker said that she tends to begin by ruminating on the question How do I express what's inside of me that's going to translate to other people? The point of asking the question, for her, is not to find a single answer. It's still a mystery to me . It's totally intangible and nonformulaic and it's always changing, she said. She went on, pointing out that the most liberating thing has been to not try and write something good. It's like being a nurturer to yourself. It's making the switch from being hard on yourself and criticizing yourself to actually just inviting yourself to explore and express and play.
Related
Listen to Big Thief guitarist Buck Meek B.M. 10 discuss studying guitar at Berklee, his approach to recording, and meeting Joni Mitchell.Interviews conducted via streaming video often run the risk of feeling impersonal, but a key feature of the session with Lenker was the many personal stories attendees shared about how Lenker had left an impression on their lives. Damien Bracken, dean of Admissions, recounted the time in 2008 where Lenker dropped by his office, guitar in hand, while she was on campus for one of Berklees summer programs, and instead of asking for advice on applying to Berklee, simply said, Do you mind if I play a song for you? Bracken said, I knew then that I was in the presence of someone very, very special.
Similar stories came from Abby Aronson, professor in the Guitar Department, who recounted fond memories of working with Lenker while she was a student, and from current student Hunter Rapp, who said that a short conversation with Lenker after a Big Thief show in 2016 made a big impact on her, and was one of the main reasons she ended up at Berklee.
Over the course of the conversation, it became clear that these kinds of fleeting but meaningful encounters are at the very heart of Lenker's and Big Thief's approaches to building an audience. Describing the band's early years booking their own small tours and traveling in an old van, Lenker said, We wanted to do it where we met people in person and we could feel that the audience we were building was being built from having experienced time together in real life, in a room.
While that approach meant that she had to wait tables for years while she paid her dues, it was worth it, because at the end of the day her passion for music drove everything she did. As she said, If your currency is something other than money, then you've already won. If you love what you're doing, no one can take that away from you.
Related Categories
News
Most recent headlines
04/08/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, is excited to announce Santiago Solanas as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO)....
03/06/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, a...
28/04/2024
Mediahaus delivers the first SRT live-streaming sports production over 5G with U...
23/04/2024
Psychology can play an important role in helping us understand what audiences respond to (Dr Jon Roozenbeek, Cambridge Social Decision-Making Lab)
For newsroom...
23/04/2024
IN ADDITION TO FICTION AND DOCUMENTARY FEATURES, THE SELECTION INCLUDES:
PRO...
23/04/2024
Today, we announced our first quarter 2024 earnings. In a solid start to the year, Spotify reported
Monthly Active Users grew 19% Y/Y to 615 million.
Subscri...
23/04/2024
Idag publicerar Spotify sina finansiella resultat f r f rsta kvartalet 2024. ret har inletts stabilt:
M natliga aktiva anv ndare kade med 19 % j mf rt med f...
23/04/2024
In the last decade, as K-Pop cemented its status as a global phenomenon, Spotify has helped fans around the world keep their fingers on the pulse at every step ...
23/04/2024
Social entrepreneur Hedayat Osyan wins Les Murray Award for Refugee Recognition
23 April, 2024
Media releases
The prestigious award is now in its third yea...
23/04/2024
LONDON IBC is now accepting nominations for its IBC2024 Innovation Awards, which honor achievements in technological innovation and social impact media & entert...
23/04/2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. In response to the introduction of the Broadcast VOICES Act that seeks to encourage more diversity in the ownership of TV and radio stations, t...
23/04/2024
MIAMI, Fla. As part of a push to expand its FAST channel and streaming operations, Hemisphere Media Group has launched its free ad supported television (FAST) c...
23/04/2024
LOS ANGELES DirecTV is adding seven new channels to its rapidly expanding streaming lineup through new licensing agreements with Cineverse Corp. and Scripps Net...
23/04/2024
Entitled Our Creative Future, the manifesto calls for radical new action' t...
23/04/2024
The company has secured investment from private equity firm PAI Partners, which also holds a stake in outside broadcasting company EMG
By Jenny Priestley
Pub...
23/04/2024
Cameron also said he recognised Marlow as a potential UK and European base for his new company, LIGHTSTORM 3D
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: April 23, 2024 ...
23/04/2024
The five categories cover Content Creation, Content Distribution, Content Everywhere, Social Impact and Environment & Sustainability
By Matthew Corrigan
Publ...
23/04/2024
He played a central role in securing key broadcast rights, including the FIFA World Cup 2018 and 2022
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: April 23, 2024
He pla...
23/04/2024
IBC is preparing to honour the highest achievements in technological innovation and social impact with the launch of its prestigious IBC2024 Innovation Awards, ...
23/04/2024
BREA, Calif. Bolin Technology is integrating Network Device Interface (NDI) across its product line, bringing support for the latest NDI technologies to its PTZ...
23/04/2024
WYOMISSING, Pa. PENN Entertainment has announced that longtime Disney and ESPN executive Aaron LaBerge has been named chief technology officer effective July 1,...
23/04/2024
In response to an FCC ruling in March proposing a $1.2 million fine against Nexstar and a ruling that Mission Broadcasting sell WPIX, Nexstar has filled a respo...
23/04/2024
Sony has announced new details about how the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) is using Sony's Ci Media Cloud platform to streamline its workflows and spe...
23/04/2024
Esports' rapid rise to popularity can be attributed to many factors, from technological advancements that have enhanced the quality of modern gaming experie...
23/04/2024
OpenDrives, Inc., the global provider of software-defined media workflow solutions and data management capabilities, has been selected as a winner in the 2024 N...
23/04/2024
BCNEXXT is pleased to announce that Vpe has won the 2024 NAB Show Product of the Year Award in the Asset Management, Automation and Playout category. The offici...
23/04/2024
Gravity Media, a world leading global provider of complex live creative production and media services, today outlined the broadcast technology and television pr...
23/04/2024
Scality, a global leader in cyber-resilient storage for the AI era, today announced the appointment of Peter Brennan as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Scality...
23/04/2024
Blackmagic Design today announced ATEM 1 M/E Constellation 4K and ATEM 2 M/E Constellation 4K switchers, two new Ultra HD models of the ATEM Constellation famil...
23/04/2024
Blackmagic Design today announced Blackmagic Videohub 120x120 12G, the newest model in the Videohub 12G router family. The massive Blackmagic Videohub 120x120 1...
23/04/2024
Blackmagic Design today announced new lower prices for Blackmagic Video Assist 3G and 12G models. Customers can save US$200 on all models. These lower prices ma...
23/04/2024
Adder Technology continues to shine brightly, with its groundbreaking product, the ADDERLink INFINITY 3000 (ALIF3000), once again taking center stage. Hot on t...
23/04/2024
Pliant Technologies' CRP-C12 Compact Radio Pack is an Audio Production, Processing and Networking category winner in the 2024 NAB Show Product of the Year A...
23/04/2024
SipRadius, the specialists in live media transport and transcoding, will showcase their world-leading implementation of AV1 and JPEG-XS over transport streams a...
23/04/2024
Composer Rafael Krux has added a Prism Sound Dream ADA-128 modular conversion system to his production studio where he creates music for commercials, trailers, ...
23/04/2024
PMC proudly provides the ultimate large-scale Dolby Atmos audio system for the legendary musician Steven Wilson at the High End, Munich. He will share his exten...
23/04/2024
Particles emitting from a 3D rotating shape's edge
Graham Quince April 22, 2024
0 Comments
In Fixin' FX, people send me their problematic proj...
23/04/2024
Hollyland Technology Announces a New Line of Video Transmitters: Introducing the...
23/04/2024
Charlotte Deleste, anchor at WISC Madison, Wisconsin, is leaving the station. Her final day on the air is April 24. Deleste has spent 18 years there....
23/04/2024
Top WNBA draft choice Caitlin Clark will appear on local broadcast for 17 games next season in a deal between Tegna and the Indiana Fever....
23/04/2024
The merger will provide vertical integration potential and enhanced product offerings to capture regional and international opportunities for revenue growth and...
23/04/2024
Abu Dhabi, 23 April, 2024 : Partnership delivers greater cybersecurity to Thura...
23/04/2024
Soccer's Appeal to Younger Audiences: Inside the Gamification of European Fo...
23/04/2024
With NBA and NHL Playoffs in Full Swing, Never a Dull Moment for TNT Sports Prod...
23/04/2024
NAB 2024: AT&T Business's Scott Beckett Details Transmission Firepower With ...
23/04/2024
NAB 2024: Manufacturers focus on cinematic look for live productions By George Bevir
Tuesday, April 23, 2024 - 10:40
Print This Story
With live sports pro...
23/04/2024
Save the Date: SVG Sports Content Management Forum Returns to NYC on July 24 By SVG Staff
Tuesday, April 23, 2024 - 4:05 pm
Print This Story | Subscribe
...
23/04/2024
Published On: April 23rd, 2024
data-orig-src=https://www.sgo.es/wp-content/upl...
23/04/2024
Rohde & Schwarz introduces new R&S SMB100B microwave signal generator for analog...
Big Thiefs Adrianne Lenker Encourages Students to Find Their Own Currency of Success The prolific, Grammy-nominated musician talked about the mystery of songwriting and why she values the organic way shes built an audience.
