“Sadly, landlords don’t take clout”: Beyoncé guitarist reflects on “empty accolades” after Cowboy Carter’s Grammy win
Winning a Grammy award might sound like the ultimate achievement for any musician, but it doesn’t guarantee financial stability as “clout” itself doesn’t pay the bills, according to guitarist Justus West.
Having played on Beyoncé’s new Grammy-winning country album, COWBOY CARTER, West is no stranger to the “accolades” that come with success in the music industry. Though he argues that these accolades alone are not enough for a musician to survive.
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“It’s funny because the ‘industry’ strings you along with these empty accolades,” West writes on Threads.
“Grammy wins can change your life over the course of time. Don’t get me wrong, they are a form of currency. Sadly landlords don’t take ‘clout’”.
West’s words highlight a crucial point: While winning a Grammy can undoubtedly open doors and raise an artist’s profile, it doesn’t provide the tangible, day-to-day financial stability that many musicians need to maintain their career.
The 26-year-old, who releases solo music in addition to his work as a session guitarist, adds that “labels paying you on time can keep your life from falling apart though.”
As the guitarist behind the track 16 CARRIAGES on COWBOY CARTER, West previously spoke about keeping the album’s making – a process that took over 5 years – a secret, saying “I need my checks to clear”.
He explains that for a collaborator on such a huge release to give away any details would be “career suicide”, stating: “For those of us who worked on the album… it’s career suicide to get online and spill the beans.”
“Not only would you be disbarred from the Beyoncé camp, no other artist would trust you could keep confidence. You’d essentially be out of the circle of trust for big/major projects that require a level of silence.”
The post “Sadly, landlords don’t take clout”: Beyoncé guitarist reflects on “empty accolades” after Cowboy Carter’s Grammy win appeared first on Guitar.com | All Things Guitar.
Source: www.guitar-bass.net
