One Word: Hustle
Hustle. What’s the deal with it? Is it something to be proud of, a necessary evil, or a wild mix? This week, I've been mulling over what it means to hustle—in music, tech, and life in general. So, let’s crack this nut open.
I've always been about the hustle. My first record deal? It didn’t come from playing in fancy clubs; it came from busking on the streets of Belgium. Later, I rocked the Roskilde Festival, dragging a kids’ wagon with a battery-powered speaker. Before I knew it, a hundred people were dancing behind us. Now, I’m back at it, hustling to launch Sleeve, blending my love for music with tech. Because let’s face it, tech isn’t just a part of music today—it’s shaping it. So why not let our music shape the tech?
And when it comes to hustling in tech, teaming up with a hacker and a hipster might be the dream team you need…
Philip Glass Hustled Well Into His 40s
One of the most compelling reads I stumbled upon this week was Ted Gioia’s piece, “The Blue Collar Jobs of Philip Glass.” Glass, a giant among contemporary composers, hustled well into his 40s. Whether installing dishwashers or driving a cab, he turned every grind into music. Gioia suggests you can hear that hustle in his compositions.
But let’s not get too dreamy about it—hustling often means giving up comfort and security to keep your creative fire burning. As Gioia points out, when you’re hustling, it’s usually because you don’t have a trust fund or wealthy relatives to bail you out. You’re scraping by, and it’s not always pretty.
Today’s Hustle
Ari Herstand’s latest podcast put another modern-day hustler on my radar: Jaylon Ashaun. Jaylon, an R&B artist, built his career by chasing every opportunity—whether opening for other artists or dropping tracks with anyone who was game. His grind paid off when his song "Strawberries and Wine" racked up over 25 million streams. But here’s the twist: streams don’t always turn into fans. In the podcast, Ari and Jaylon break down how to turn viral moments into a sustainable music career.
Jaylon says, "People always asked what to do to support me, and I never really had anything to offer them." He now tries to find ways to connect directly with his audience, creating something tangible like sending out CDs and handwritten letters. It’s a reminder that the hustle doesn’t stop when you score a hit—it’s just the beginning.
Check out their chat:
Hustle—The End
Hustling is not about compromising your dreams; it’s about doing whatever it takes to keep them alive. This doesn’t mean music should be free or musicians should accept a lifetime of hustle with no breaks. There’s a price to pay if you don’t have the time to fully dive into your art. So, embrace the hustle, but don’t let it eat you alive. Innovate, hustle smart, and keep your eyes on the big picture. Every hustle should bring you closer to your bigger goals. So, is hustle a good or bad thing? What do you think? My take? It’s both. If you have to hustle, do it right—make it fun, make it inspiring, and most importantly, make it count.
Stay tuned,
Anna
