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Well-researched, well written, well said. This reminds me of a similar thing that happened after Frank Ocean's "Blonde" was released (and after he gave Universal a big ole middle finger first by handing them a mix-tape as his contractual obligation to giving them an album) ... since then, we haven't heard much from Frank Ocean, and that's okay. I'm also thinking of Alexi Murdoch, whose "Time Without Consequence" very few people know despite him being one of the most licensed artists of the 2000s. I really respect artists who don't pander to anyone, especially themselves. It's a hard thing to do. I was a member of an indie-pop band for 7 years in Paris (Slim and The Beast) and the pressures of the market + wanting to "be heard" were far greater than I could've expected. Thanks for the reminder to be a bit softer on ourselves.

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Anyone reading this should check out Samuél's conversation with Elle Griffin that touches on a similar topic: https://ifnotparis.substack.com/p/on-cultivating-genius-part-i

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PS you can delete this comment b/c I have no interesting in being a stickler editor, but you refer to Lacan as "Lacon" a few times (including Laconian), and if that's a commentary on the nature of language itself, bravo. Otherwise, voila les infos quoi, as the French say.

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Will fix. Thank-you!

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This reminds me of one of the most common exaggerations in book reviews, publicity, and blurbs from other authors: "This is the book we need now." I always grimace when I see that one.

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I hear you, Sherman.

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