Kenny Wright shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Kenny, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: Who are you learning from right now?
I’m really interested in what other creative people have to say. I like listening to their stories, and I usually come away with some level of inspiration after reading or hearing an interview with them. Recently, I’ve really started to consume a lot of podcasts, especially Marc Maron’s eclectic WTF podcast. He has such a wide variety of guests (actors, writers, directors, musicians etc.), and I always feel like I’ve learned something that I can take and apply to my own career after I’ve finished listening to one of his interviews.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’ve been a Nashville based musician my entire adult life, I’ve played, recorded and toured extensively with several bands and artists, and for the last 13 years I’ve been in a group called The Great Affairs. We have several albums out, and play shows on a regular basis. Just a rock and roll band playing original music.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who taught you the most about work?
I can’t boil it down to any one person, because I’ve learned a lot from many incredibly talented people I’ve worked with over the years. That being said, I feel like I got my work ethic from my Parents. My father was a very hard worker, no matter what it was he was doing. He worked just as hard at landscaping our home as he did at building a shopping mall or brokering a real-estate deal. My mother was a stay at home mom while I was growing up, and she approached that with the same drive and attention to detail that you’d approach a career in the workplace. When my father passed away unexpectedly, she went straight into a full time job, which she worked at for 35 years. If I was going to end up a layabout, it certainly wouldn’t have been because I didn’t have proper role models. I think it must be genetic, as both of my kids are very hard workers, and have found great success in their chosen careers.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There were several times in my career that I almost gave up. I’ve had quite a few “this close” moments in my life that ended up just not working out, and each time that pill is a little more bitter and harder to swallow. As I got older, I stopped looking at my career through that all-or-nothing lens. I realized that if I was constantly focusing on the fact that I wasn’t where I thought I should be at that point in my career, I wasn’t able to enjoy or capitalize on the place that I actually was. Once I put the meaning of perceived success into perspective, I found I was much happier and creatively satisfied. Some day I’ll have to retire, but it won’t be because I didn’t get whatever brass ring I imagined was necessary to validate my existence in the music business.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Whose ideas do you rely on most that aren’t your own?
As I mentioned earlier, I draw inspiration from all kinds of creative people, not just individuals in the music trade. Sometimes I’ll hear an interview with someone like an actor, and listening to their process or how they approach their craft is something I always take away new ideas from. Sometimes I’ll read about or see a documentary detailing how a certain album or film was made, and it gives me new perspective. While I’m not suggesting I steal from something like that, I do feel it can be very enlightening and informative to learn from examples set forth by someone you respect or admire.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
Making records. At this point, there’s just nothing monetarily to be gained from it. I love creating, recording and seeing records through from start to finish. But it’s become a break-even proposition at best. People don’t consume physical product like they once did, and you make literally nothing on streaming, so other than leaving behind a document of your work, making records for artists at my level is mostly just a way to satisfy yourself creatively.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thegreataffairs.com
- Instagram: kenny.wright.tga
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kenny.wright.397/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFDiEa8EcyY&list=RDPFDiEa8EcyY&start_radio=1
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/09RXB0Q5j3j8rJc2IJgJNO
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/the-great-affairs/339444080
