I'm stoked that Jack Dorsey spoke, at the tail end of his recent appearance on the newly-launched The Money Matters Podcast, of his appreciation for music. As a musician exploring Nostr (since June 2023) it's evident that I'm early. There aren't many content creators here (yet). There is, however, no shortage of incessant and, dare I say, incestuous discussion around Bitcoin and Nostr--this article being no exception, of course. But as the motto goes around here: gradually, then suddenly.
As he elaborates on his thoughts about music, Jack draws parallels between punk music and FOSS developers, which is apropos. He points out that they:
- question everything
- have no hesitation about being terrible at what they do
Put another way, escape your assumptions and embrace the fact that a kind of frequent failure is paramount to eventual success. You can't be afraid to look foolish (at times) in your pursuits. Experiment. Take risks. And there is no shortage of people doing just that as they develop, and build on, this gem of a protocol.
I envy their fervor. The Bitcoin/Nostr combo lends itself as a space that whets the appetite for creativity for those of a certain ilk. I'm not a developer, but I am drawn to it, its participants, and its principles. I, too, want to see it succeed. I, too, want to evolve. I want to tap into that creative energy. And although I don't make punk music, I do identify with the underlying motif. And Nostr, for reasons that I can't quite put my finger on, encourages a kind of misfit, rebellious, and foolish expression. In a way, it's punk to be a nostrich.
Jack also points out that he learns a lot from listening to various artistic voices. Conversely, I learn a lot from those that produce the underlying technology with which art can be made and distributed. It's all the more encouraging when all parties' interests and values align (as with anti-censorship, freedom of speech, self-sovereignty, privacy, value-for-value, etc.)
On a personal note here, my career (and life) has had a lot of ups and downs (naturally). I learned to HODL long before Bitcoin was a thing. I think we all do. In that vein, perseverance counts for a lot--you can't achieve anything if you're not in the game--but I believe it's equally important to evolve, not just trudge ahead. Nostr is poised to be an important part of what's to come. And as something of a futurist I do have a genuine interest in growing some roots here.
So, for all the aforementioned reasons and observations, I will humbly, fwiw, continue to participate and contribute what I can: namely, my voice and my art. If nothing else, hopefully it inspires someone else to do the same. And I want to point out that, Nostr as a whole has, so far, been nothing but welcoming and supportive, for which I am grateful.