You’ve probably heard Kevin Griffin’s work, both by means of his work as frontman for the ’90s alt rockers Better Than Ezra, or by means of different artists corresponding to Sugarland, Train, and Taylor Swift. Griffin’s résumé continues to overflow with excessive factors, however at his profession’s lowest second, if he had not accepted the necessity for change, the music might have stopped completely.
More than three many years because the New Orleans-based band’s seminal album, “Deluxe,” with Kevin Griffin’s simply identifiable voice belting out notable choices corresponding to “Good,” “Rosealia,” and the band’s greatest hit, the 1996 basic “Desperately Wanting,” the 54-year-old has unfold his leisure experience even wider than his vocal vary. Griffin has developed into turning into a prolific songwriter, writing hit tunes together with Sugarland’s greatest hit, “Stuck Like Glue,” and Train’s “I Got You.” He has additionally co-founded an annual music pageant in Tennessee, the Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival, which is heading towards its ninth season in September. In addition, the band’s hits have been re-recorded by numerous artists together with the 2010 rendition of “Breathless” by famous person Taylor Swift.
He has additionally turn out to be a extremely in-demand public speaker, sharing his tales of battle and success with Fortune 500 corporations corresponding to Live Nation, Disney, and Nike. His message is one in every of evolution as a path in the direction of profession longevity, a theme he says is price sharing with related artists who’ve struggled to maneuver on from a momentary style of glory. The solely drawback is finding them.”I don’t see them anymore as a result of they’re not doing music anymore,” Griffin says. “Most of them have quit. But I would say it’s not too late to take advantage of the legacy you have. You just have to get out there now. Look at my career as an example if you’re a musician or someone my age.”
Kevin Griffin isn’t boasting about his present success; as a substitute, he’s lucky that his profession trajectory wasn’t heading towards turning into simply one other “Whatever happened to” rock’n’roll story, particularly after the band was dropped by Elektra Records in 2001.
So, as a way to progress professionally, it meant that Griffin’s way of life needed to be modified drastically. “He gave up alcohol, began utilizing the Peloton, and surrounded himself with the individuals essential to take his music profession in a brand new course.
“My entire career has been a journey to evolve, and that all happened after we were dropped,” Griffin says. “I was thinking about leaving music as a career. But I realized, no, this is what I love to do, but I have to do something different now. So I began studying producers and songwriters.”
Griffin’s skilled path has led him to turning into an writer. An English main at LSU up to now, Kevin Griffin simply launched “The Greatest Song: Spark Creativity, Ignite Your Career, and Transform Your Life,” a loosely primarily based self-help fiction that revolves round a Nashville-based singer—much like him—struggling to jot down the right tune till he’s taught “the method.” Griffin says his type was impressed by the works of Bob Dylan and Ben Gibbard from Death Cab for Cutie. The transition from songwriter to e book writer was an extended model of the routine he had been performing because the ’90s.
“A book is a lot more work—it’s an extended song that I just had to get up and do every day,” Griffin says of the method. “It was about getting my ass up and becoming very regimented—the goal was to write at least 500 words a day. Most of the time I did it, but there would be mornings I wouldn’t touch it. But being a songwriter prepared me for what the book would be about—it’s just a longer song.”
Better than Ezra is now again on tour, embarking on a U.S. tour with Train that ought to have Kevin Griffin and firm performing all through the summer season months. He is actually up for it. Having been sober for greater than a decade, his routine, whether or not on the highway or in his Franklin, TN, kitchen features a every day smoothie consisting of greens, apples, avocado, banana and a scoop of Bulletproof chocolate collagen protein.
Before hitting the weights and getting in some cardio work, the constant way of life sample has paid off in all areas of his life. “When I’m living a certain way, taking care of myself physically and mentally, I attract other people in my life who are also that way,” Kevin Griffin explains. “When I was living another way—staying up partying or whatever—I would attract those types of people in my life. So, changing that part of my life has brought me new opportunities.”
In addition to having a Winning Strategy that consists of shedding the ego and staying match, it’s also essential to proceed to be taught and evolve. One instance Kevin Griffin offers is his shut good friend, NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning, who wrote the testimonial banner for Griffin’s e book. He says the previous Super Bowl-winning quarterback’s transition from the sector to a bunch of different alternatives is the blueprint for anybody wanting to achieve the following chapter of their life.
“We have both taught each other the same thing: it’s about hard work and evolving. Look at how Peyton has gone from being a football player to a spokesperson to a TV host. I have gone from being in a rock band in the 90s to starting a music festival, publishing people, and being an author. It’s about realizing that you have the skill set already within you; you just have to use it.”
Kevin Griffin’s Winning Strategy
1. Kevin Griffin Dropped His Ego on the Door
A whole lot of my e book has this fixed chorus: In order to achieve success and get higher and extra inventive, you’ve obtained to examine your ego on the door. It’s the foundation of all of the unhealthy s*** that holds us again.
There’s a line within the e book that I used to be advised years in the past, and it’s nice: My ego shouldn’t be my amigo. Ego is the factor that claims, I’m adequate, I’m higher than them—no matter they’re doing sucks. But, while you examine your ego, that’s while you say, “Wait a second: That’s an awesome song, an awesome idea. How can I learn from that to help continue my career.”
For me, this wasn’t an in a single day course of—I fought it. It was the early 2000s Again, I had gotten to a sure level the place it was it was simply me, and I noticed if I needed to go any additional I needed to get some humility. I fought collaborating with different individuals. I positively wasn’t an individual who stated, “I need to do this!” and simply swap. Eventually, my first collaboration was with Meat Loaf. It was at a studio, he heard a tune as he was strolling, and his supervisor got here and requested if I needed to jot down a tune. We collaborated [2003’ “Testify”], however I needed to first battle to let go of my ego in enterprise and in life.
That’s sort of why I wrote the e book. It’s like, Hey, right here’s this e book on these completely different instruments you should use to remain profitable in enterprise and in life—I feel the whole lot’s related. Now I’m at some extent in my life at age 54 wherein I wish to mentor youthful artists. I like sharing my life story about issues that labored for me—and what hasn’t labored for me. And then once I went by means of the method of doing this, realized I actually wasn’t reinventing the wheel: The issues I’m speaking about are truths, whether or not you’re learning businesspeople, profitable songwriters, philosophies, you’re going to listen to the identical mantra over and over: Leave your ego on the door.
2. Collaborate in Order to Facilitate Success
Collaborate and work with different individuals as a result of they’re gonna convey concepts and recent vitality into that session. Work with any person you dig– that’ll allow you to get out your concepts.
When I’m attempting to jot down a tune that isn’t occurring, and I can’t write a melody to save lots of my life. I now have the presence of thoughts to say, take a break, go hearken to some music. Remember what you’re keen on about music—so I’m at all times listening to new music as properly.
If I’m hitting my head towards a wall, I’ll strategy the tune a unique method. Normally, I’ll write a tune on guitar, however typically it’s simply not occurring. So I’ll begin with a lyric. If that’s not working I’ll do a beat or I’ll hearken to a tune I like and be like, “Well, what are the chords to that song?” then I’ll reverse engineer the thought. So I actually have an arsenal of issues to assist me end the tune.
But remember: That thought you’re searching for is at all times within the room. So what are the methods you can provide your self a greater likelihood at having the ability to seize it? For me, it’s like operating round a room with a butterfly web—that tune or life altering thought is there. You simply should get it.
I used to be within the songwriting session in 2012. I used to be working with Shy Carter, a songwriter who labored on plenty of Nelly songs. I began enjoying guitar. At the time, Train’s “Hey Soul Sister” Jason Mraz’ “I’m Yours” had been actually huge. I used to be like, properly, let’s do one thing like that. And I began enjoying a guitar half—it had sort of a breezy, summer season really feel. Three hours later, we had nothing.
We took a break, and Shy stated, let’s put some Auto Tune on this. That was the factor that modified our perspective and from we approached the tune from a unique method. By utilizing this expertise, inside half-hour, we had successful document.
I used to be like, “This is a f***ing hit song.” I despatched it over to Jennifer Nettles from Sugarland. About 5 days later, they reduce it. It’s their greatest tune—“Stuck Like Glue.” And that was a tune I used to be able to give up on that day. But we simply saved at it, and we saved attempting completely different approaches to ending the tune.
I typed up this little phrase that claims “The song is always there.” It’s the concept that in that room, the tune is at all times there. You simply should you persist at it and use completely different instruments to get that inspiration.
3. Kevin Griffin Knew When to Say When
I don’t drink anymore. I by no means was a heavy drinker, however now I don’t drink in any respect. Now it’s nearly treating my physique higher.
I’ve at all times stayed in form. But now, I’m an on a regular basis man. At 54 I’m not having the illnesses plenty of my friends are having. So I feel sort of my mantra has sort of at all times been consistency, not period.
I’m 6’4’’ and my metabolism has at all times been if I’m not figuring out, I’m losing a few pounds. When I drank I might shed some pounds—most individuals I feel acquire weight. So I’ve to eat and work out lots, in any other case I sort of waste away.
When I used to be youthful I used to be extra resilient, however as I obtained older the alcohol stopped working. I used to be in my early 40s, and I’d be hung over and having to do a present that night time. Finally I obtained to the purpose wherein this was not attractive or cool. This has turn out to be lame. So I simply stopped.
Now, what I like most is that day-after-day I’m at one hundred pc. I by no means have days wherein I’m hung over. I by no means have days the place I could also be there bodily, however someplace else mentally or spiritually. Then I feel, take a look at all the days I get again. So in terms of alcohol and partying, I’ve checked these packing containers. I’ve realized there have been too many cautionary tales in music, and no person is immune. And I used to be no exception.
4. Kevin Griffin Stays Fit to Be a Rockstar
I feel consistency is the primary factor. I work out on a regular basis. My exercises aren’t all that lengthy, however I do them day-after-day. This could also be proper or unsuitable, nevertheless it’s what works for me.
My routine is that I’ll run two miles or go for half-hour on the Peloton— I’ll do Peloton for my legs or I’ll do the arms intervals with Tunde [Oyeneyin]—she’s a beast.. Then I’ll go to my fitness center, the place I’ll do a pair rounds of incline bench presses, some Arnold presses, pullups, and a few battle ropes.
Pullups for me has been the important thing as a result of I feel most tall guys most individuals normally are actually, actually weak backs. Most adults can’t do pullups for that matter. I’ve at all times finished pullups and I work on them. I’ll do three or 4 rounds of that circuit. And that’s it.
Then I simply hydrate. I’ll additionally make a fantastic smoothie day-after-day, and that’s my consistency.
What I discovered is that once I wasn’t in step with train, it was as a result of I dreaded it. There was a time once I was doing Iron Tribe or CrossFit, I’d be like, it’s gonna kick my ass, after which I might cease doing it. But if I do know it’s not that a lot, however as a result of I’m doing it day-after-day, all of it simply adverts up
The final approach to keep in form for musicians is relaxation, hydrate constantly, and do one thing day-after-day. I realized from penning this e book day-after-day, that in the event you simply do al ittle bit day-after-day, every week later, a month later, six months, a 12 months, all of a sudden you’ve finished a s*** ton of labor, you already know? So whether or not it’s your physique or a e book you’re writing, I’m all about just a bit bit day-after-day.
5. Keep Learning and Will Never Give Up
Educate your self concerning the music enterprise. There are so many books, like Donald Passman’s “It’s the business of music.” Listen to podcasts, and know the enterprise of your online business. Know it.
So many musicians go into the enterprise, and so they marvel why they’re not having success. It’s as a result of they don’t know what’s occurring of their enterprise. They don’t know who to get the tune to.
Do, nonetheless, write on a regular basis and do document your self.
These days, your laptop computer pc is a million-dollar recording studio. Using Pro Tools or Pro Logic or Ableton, you’ll be able to have a tune that sounds each bit pretty much as good as Billy Eilish and Finneas. Don’t wait for somebody to do it for you. And don’t simply sit round.
Do, exit and don’t give up. Just don’t give up.
At the top of the day, the individuals who have success within the music trade are the individuals who didn’t give up. They’re not at all times probably the most gifted. They’re not at all times the neatest. They’re those who had a bit little bit of each, and the didn’t give up. They realized concerning the enterprise, they hustled day-after-day and so they stayed savvy. And they had been in a position to know music and in addition the enterprise. They realized these usually are not mutually unique. If you need one, the opposite comes with it. it’s the music enterprise.
Winning Strategy: Gunnar Peterson’s Path To Success Remains A Daily Grind