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One of the most consistently fulfilling activities in my life. If it wasn't for their encouragement to be less embarrassed about it when I was younger, I would have been too shy to enjoy this simple pleasure and eventually get to play shows (something I could never have fathomed doing at first). It deepens your relationships, makes you a more confident player and person, and it's just a cathartic experience. To anyone out there that literally shakes too much to play in front of other people, I was there once. Try to find your people - there's always someone out there that will help break out of your shell!
Mar 15, 2024
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I think everyone should do it, regardless of technical proficiency. It's like a little polycule. And like any relationship, it has its ups and downs and lifespan. But there's just nothing like playing with people you love, then sharing how you play together with the rest of the world. Do it! Form a band! Play around! Make noise! Make cool merch and throw yourself a show! Break up! Get back together! Spice of life.
Jan 25, 2024
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I mean that literally but also figuratively. My main instrument is guitar, and I've written a bit of singer/songwriter material, but I couldn't fathom playing any of it in front of people. Live performances terrified me, but in college a friend asked me to play bass in his band, and I went for it. It turns out this was the best introduction to playing on a stage. I got to just hang out with the drummer, focus on rhythm, and just assume nobody was paying attention to me because all of the showmanship was happening up front. From there, I played bass in other bands and got more comfortable with performing and started chipping in on harmonies. Eventually I'd step up to sing a cover or two on guitar (which seemed less intimidating because it wasn't original material). Last year was what I'd consider the first real solo set I played. It was a long road to get there, but I'm proud of it. If it's something you really want to do, there's a way to get there.
So if playing literal bass is a possibility for you, try starting there! I don't know what that looks like for other mediums, but basically: hang back, get into the groove, and someday you'll step in front of the mic. Maybe for podcasting, that means being a guest on other podcasts, maybe for poetry it's immersing yourself in that world and helping emcee an event to get used to being at the front of the stage. I think it's mainly a matter of slowly training your brain to not go into fight or flight mode.
Other things to consider:
Start small - Try in front of a couple friends first and work up from there
Find your people - It's way easier to do the thing when you don't feel judged or rushed
Practice the hell out of whatever it is you're doing - So even if your mind starts to panic in the moment, your muscle memory can carry through it without getting tripped up too much
The universe is chaos - Nobody will remember the mistakes that feel huge in the moment, but they're totally insignificant and can even be charming/funny
Apr 27, 2024
I went on a seven year hiatus from making music. Life happened, I didn’t have time, and overall I wasn’t having fun when I tried to play. A few months ago I played for a bit with a friend and fell back in love with making noise. This weekend I got my old gear out of storage, and it brought back so many memories. It felt like I was playing with the ghost of who I was all those years ago. I’ve been radically transformed by time but parts of who I was exist still. I don’t play like I did back then, I’m a lot softer and this time around I am only playing for my joy. I like aging, I like becoming a softer human, and making music helps me celebrate that.
All of this to say, get your gear out of storage and play if it’s been awhile. visit who you were so you can celebrate who you have become.
Apr 15, 2024
Top Recs from @theclack
The perfect lil snack for when you don’t want a big snack
Apr 3, 2024
Here it is, folks! Volume I of what could very well be a continuous project. Thank you so much to everyone that submitted - I smiled the entire time I was putting this together. It's best listened to with headphones ☺️
Liner Notes:
This collection of field recordings is a collaborative effort with users of PI.FYI, each of which recorded their own pieces. It features audio from all over the world and exhibits eclectic moments from London Underground commutes to cuckoo bird calls in Dhaka to the sounds of a century-old American diner.
Online communities like PI.FYI often represent a diverse set of people, places, and experiences, but together, the submissions form a living collage that highlights the commonalities of modern life - a unifying message for such a tumultuous time. The first track features all of the sounds played at once in an attempt to create an audio snapshot of an online community but in their offline lives.
The individual recordings are unedited except for minor gain and compression adjustments for consistency across the collection.
Mar 29, 2025
