🎶 Chasing the Mainstream: The Cost of Belonging

Real Life & Workplace Wisdom | Simply Flava

I’ve always loved indie music — the freedom of it, the raw creativity, the way artists can tell their truth without waiting for permission. Independent music feels alive. You can feel the artist’s fingerprint in every note.

But being indie comes with its own set of challenges.

The hardest part isn’t just making the music — it’s getting it heard.

These days, being seen and heard means fighting against algorithms, hashtags, and platforms that care more about clicks than craft. It’s trying to break through an ocean of noise and somehow still sound like yourself.

The Strain of Listening

Sometimes I’ll hear a song and love the vibe, but I can’t understand the words.

The mix is muddy, the message gets lost, and I end up humming along to sounds I don’t even recognize. That’s part of the indie struggle — passion over polish.

But when I can’t catch the words, I lose the purpose. I want to feel the story, not strain to hear it.

Back in the day, music hit different.

We’d buy the 45s, 33s, cassettes, and CDs — hold them in our hands like treasure.

We bragged about our collections, our mixtapes, our Saturday afternoons spent flipping through vinyl bins.

You could call into a radio station and request a song — even dedicate it to someone. Music felt personal.

It wasn’t just content; it was connection.

The Trap of the Mainstream

Now, when artists chase the mainstream, the rules change.

You might get fame, but you lose ownership.

Once the label invests, they own you. Every photo, every lyric, every decision runs through their machine.

The money they put into you — you owe it back.

Then you slice off percentages for everyone in your contract: the manager, the producers, the label, the PR rep. By the time it’s all divided, the artist who started it all is left holding the smallest piece.

It’s easy to get lost in that world — polished, promoted, packaged. But what happens when your voice stops sounding like you?

The Real Question

So what’s better — freedom with struggle, or fame with strings attached?

For me, it’s simple: I’ll take authenticity every time.

Because even if fewer people hear your music, at least the ones who do are hearing your truth.

Maybe that’s the balance — creating art that’s real enough to move people and clear enough to be understood.

Music should speak, not confuse. It should pull you in, not make you strain.

Closer Thought

“Mainstream doesn’t mean meaningful.

I’d rather own my art, my message, and my peace —

than chase a spotlight that forgets my name.” 🎶

Simply Flava | Real Life & Workplace Wisdom