How I’m Using Music and Travel To Build An Ethical Brand
If you ask me, music and travel are two of the great vanguards in life.
So I’ve cleared my schedule, and I’m setting out to create an ethical brand built on top of these pillars. Naturally, I’m tossing art and filmmaking into the mix as well…
To be honest, I’ve been cooking up this grand plan for quite a while, but kept things sidelined because my ideas weren’t quite “ready” for prime time.
But now I’m suppressing my imposter syndrome, and I’m diving in head first — and totally stoked about what’s next and what this will all turn into.
So welcome to my brand – I hope you enjoy.
Travel, Language & Culture: My Core Themes
Travel is my muse.
After all, it’s a natural segue from my studies and interests in anthropology.
But for me, travel’s become more than just crossing borders and waiting outside terminal gates. It’s language, it’s people and culture, it’s discomfort…it’s art.
Travel has become the magnet that holds together my otherwise drifting pursuits.
Great art, music and films have core themes. They’re purpose-driven, telling some story and working towards some end goal.
That’s not to say there’s no merit in creating art or music all “willy-nilly” — au contraire my friend! I say, get after that idea, it’s a pursuit that needs no reason.
But for me, I craved a deeper meaning, or direction.
As luck would have it, travel became my sherpa. It provided me with a purpose and a home for all my artistic whims. It became my theme and thesis wrapped up in creativity.
Woo!
So let me tell you how I’m mixing music with travel.
Music: How I’m Blending Music and Travel
One of the most meaningful parts of travel is the music. Road trip playlists, destination concerts, getting lost to tunes on trains, yada yada yada.
The intersection has always been there.
For me though, the union really came in the form of filmmaking, my newfound passion discovered while living in Japan.
Welcome to my first “aha!” moment.
Ask any filmmaker, and they’ll tell you that one of the key pieces to a great project is the music and sound design. Naturally, I was beaming with ideas and melodies.
I mean, this was it. I had found my “thing”. I finally found a home for my music — a place to place my complacent ideas.
I decided to blend music and traveling through filmmaking. But I wasn’t done yet.
My next epiphany came somewhat unexpectedly, but I’m totally psyched about it (as it’s proven itself to be instrumental in making my brand ethical and more purpose-driven).
Art: How I’m Using Art With Music, Film and Travel
OK, I’ve found a home for my music. I’ve developed a passion for filmmaking. I’ve put a purpose to my travels and cultural enthusiasm.
But I still feel like I left art behind. Should I just keep this “thing” I do as an isolated hobby? Or should I turn my art into some sort of side gig?
I struggled with the idea of juggling 2 or 3 different “jobs” or “brands”.
Oof, I think too much about this.
But this is when I realized that my artwork can be the thing that attaches a tangible, physical value to my brand.
Yes! I can package all these ideas together through art, which will represent each film and music; art and travel united, huzzah!
I decided then and there I was going to paint my experiences and apply my artistic interests in a unique way.
And this is when I further realized that the technological trends swirling around me were knocking on my door, adding another “perfect timing!”, serendipitous moment to my plans.
I can turn that art (and the film and music project it represents) into an NFT…I know, so on-trend of me.
But this is really when those brand light bulbs started flickering on with ideas about adding value.
I needed to make this an ethical brand.
My art was going to play a starring role in that plan, acting as a bridge between the visual-audio experience and a tangible-physical product.
Putting It All Together: Creating An Ethical Brand
I’d been focused on the idea of brand philanthropy and adding value through music for quite a while. But I struggled with finding a solution.
How could all my meandering artistic adventures and my love of travel actually translate to real, awesome value for people and for society?
That’s when it hit me: I can turn each of my projects into an NFT, attach an original artwork to them and structure the “rules” so that the majority of the proceeds (attached to each film project) are distributed between charitable donations and the NFT owner.
(insert mental image of me exuberantly dancing)
I loved this idea of leveraging technology and my artistic pursuits to support social awareness and change while also benefiting my audience.
After all, my core mission (in life and in brand) is: to give more than I take.
So here’s a full(ish) breakdown of how I’m planning on using NFTs, art, music, filmmaking and travel to create an ethical brand (*subject to evolve):
Step 1: I travel and create inspiring travel films with original music
Step 2: I create original artwork for each travel film project and attach it to an NFT
Step 3: The buyer of each NFT gets the original artwork + 35% of all ongoing proceeds from that particular film project (merchandise, video ad revenue, etc.)
Step 4: Another 35% of the NFT’s proceeds is then donated (ideally to an organization of the NFT owner’s choice)
Step 5: Finally, I pay myself, keeping the remaining 30% of proceeds (aligning with that give-more-than-you-take mission of mine)
Admittedly, everything is still in the earliest of stages. But this NFT concept is a worthy first step. I’m not sure what my next moves will be — to continue with my ethical brand vision — but I’m sure it’ll involve some level of giving back and donation-based sales.
In the end, I just hope I can provide you with some inspiration to try something new, create something cool or simply shake things up a bit.
So thanks for stopping by today! If you’re keen to learn more about where I’m at, and what I’m working on, check out my homepage or follow me on the socials!
Cheers!
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