RECIPE FOR SUCCESS (ACQUIRED TASTE)

I decided to take down an earlier post; WHY LESS/UNTALENTED ARTISTES SUCCEED MORE THAN THE TALENTED ONES (1); and rewrite it as the second post in my RECIPE FOR SUCCESS series.

Ever heard of acquired taste in food? well let me brief you.

One time Bez (The musician) had a gig at Alliance Francaise in Ikoyi (I think) and I
tagged along with his band members (I was still a studio rat at Cobhams' studio at the time). We were served some things I had never seen in my life. I saw the French people and some Nigerians eating it with relish so I dived into it. That was the most disgusting and pungent thing I had ever tasted in my life! I had to quickly wash it down with a bottle of coke. That was my first encounter with food you have to acquire taste for. I later found out it was some kind of French cheese.

Now what fascinated me was the way some Nigerians ate it with relish, I mean I could understand the French eating it the way they did, but the Nigerians? I just couldn't fathom it.

"When you acquire a taste for something, it means you've learned to ignore the food's perceived negative qualities in order to enjoy its benefits. Maybe you've learned to ignore the texture. Or perhaps you're blocking out its smell. You may even be able to stand a not-so-tasty taste, if it gets you something you need or want. For example, coffee tastes bitter, but for many people, the caffeine fix it provides outweighs its bitter flavour." - howstuffworks.com


Now I understand, they've acquired a taste for it.

Why are you in the music industry? What is that thing that's so beneficial to your soul that you find in music? 
Do you have an uncommon sound/voice and maybe find it difficult fitting into the mainstream? Do people, maybe, laugh at you when you sing and say stuff like you "sound like a dying frog"? 

You must first acquire a taste for your own sound before people can buy into it. In other words, you must first believe in your sound. The Nigerians who ate the cheese with relish wouldn't do so if they hadn't ever seen a French eating the same cheese with relish. It's all about perception. I see it as disgusting and pungent, they see it as tasty and nutritious.

Neyo never liked his voice. Stevie wonder never did. Cobhams, Bez , to mention a few. Most of the people who told Asa she didn't have a beautiful voice are now some of her biggest fans. They have acquired a taste for her voice and that's because she believed in herself regardless of how people perceived her voice at the time.  A lot of people don't like James Blunt's voice; to be honest I personally acquired a taste for his voice because I could feel from the way he sang that he loved his voice.

This is for you:

Make us like your sound/voice. We may not accept it initially but if you believe in yourself and remain consistent, we'll acquire a taste for your sound/voice. :)

Today's recipe for success: SELF-BELIEF

Photo credit: Google.com



Best wishes!
Jesam.