The life and mind of Takashi Morinosuka

I've been in the entertainment business for a while, and I'll tell you that not many people make it through with the "If you don't like, then fuck you" attitude. Sure, you can keep your integrity and have everything your way with that outlook, but why would anyone want to spend countless hours, money, and put their career on the line for someone who is just going to say "fuck you!" like an angry thirteen year old when they are just trying to help further both of your careers? I know lot's of people are going for that "badass" attitude, but trust me.. that "badass" attitude is most likely put-on in most cases. With that being said, you want to hold on to what you believe is right, but it all comes down to compromise. I always used to say to myself "Why do I think i know everything? If I did, I would be king of the world already." For people to work with you, you have to work with them. I'm sure ICP even made a few deals that they had to come to a compromise with. Even Iggy pop had to jump on Clive Davis's desk and sing "My Valentine" or something stupid like that.

People that get denied and really the mainstream outlook on the entertainment business is "Oh, they only got somewhere because of money. We need to just get in front of the right people and they will do everything. Oh, the artist is just singing someone else's writing." I couldn't believe it myself, but that is all bullshit. Even American Idol contestants and winners that have to do ZERO work and have the exposure of millions of viewers and support flop. Only a few American idol people have had any real success. When it comes down to it, you could be labeled with top priority, have the best booking agent with their prime attention, a well equipped manager at your command, publicists, a well established radio/placement career intact, a successful career and reputation, and a world of screaming fans, and people will STILL deny you if you are trying to put out something that they don't like/or if you are just plain. If you are going to do music seriously, then you can't treat it like its still just for fun. It's a serious cutthroat/dog-eat-dog world out there where everyone is your best friend until you put out that one song that isn't digested well by the extremely fickle audience of planet Earth. You have to be willing to get over yourself, make comprises, and realize that the "fuck you if you don't like it" was 70's punk and 90's grunge.. not 2012. In the end it is ALL up to the artist to make something great or all of the business people won't touch you, even if they ARE signed and bound to you. They need to see its worth their time and even if you prove it once, you'll have to prove it again in the next go around.

Take everyones criticism with a well balance of "I believe in myself" and "I see what you are saying" and go back to the drawing board. It's tedious, but thats why they call it work. You aren't making music to please yourself, you are making music to please the label reps and the audience in the beginning. YOU might think its great, but you thinking its great and I small following wont put your kid through college. And if you can't take criticism.. you are in the WRONG business dude. I've had friends pulled in the head of the label's office to be told they are getting dropped because they are "ugly".

Good luck and I hope you don't tell me to go fuck myself too, because i understand what you're going through. I hope everything works out!

The music business is much like sports. You better be doing what you do because you really love it, because only a miniscule percentage make any money at it.