GUITAR
A MUSICIAN ’ S YEAR IN REVIEW | James Duke
I was talking to my friend ( and amazing musician ), Lance Gatch , the other day about what this year has meant to us . We were reflecting on how 2020 was as much about the small victories as it was the big victories . This year was about rolling with the punches and not giving up . This year was about faith and hard work . 2020 has been about believing in yourself .
As a musician , the beginning of a year can often be slow , work wise , and is met with a lot of uncertainty for a lot of us . You are waiting for tours to start , or recording work to pick up after the holidays . In March of this year , just as work was starting to ramp up , everyone was sent home . We were hopeful that after a couple of weeks passed , life and work would get back to normal . Those weeks turned into months and here we are still , for the most part , waiting for life and work to get back to normal .
One thing that has impressed me has been the sheer will and determination of the music community . We had to improvise and reevaluate and whatever it was going to look like , we had to get back to work .
I ’ ve loved seeing how everyone has looked out for each other . Competition took a back seat and made way for support and encouragement . This was a lonely year , but I saw people form stronger and deeper friendships in the wake of uncertainty .
I also saw more creativity flowing this year than I have in a long time . One of the good things that came out of the craziness of 2020 was the steady stream of new music and creative ways of interacting with fans . Thanks to drivein movie theaters , concerts finally started happening again . I went to see a Colony House drive-in concert recently and had so much fun sitting in my car and honking after every song and seeing people so happy to be out watching live music again . Also , let ’ s just sit back and think about the fact that the owners of those drive-in theaters are seeing bigger crowds than they have in decades . That is worth celebrating .
In a year with such uncertainty and struggle , it ’ s easy to overlook the good that happened . It ’ s easy to let discouragement take over our reality . One thing I try to remember is that , even through the hardship and struggle of this year , I did make it through . My family , like many of yours , was met with the same unforeseen circumstances as the rest of the world , but we can sit at the table together knowing we made it through this year . That shows me we can make it through whatever may come next year as well . The same is true for you and your family .
Take a minute and be proud of yourself . This year was no walk in the park , and you proved how strong and resilient you can be . Don ’ t let yourself look back on this year and see anything else but victory . Write down the great things that happened and toast to yourself . Go outside and yell something cool and motivational like Rocky Balboa would do .
I ’ m heading into the holidays and the new year with so much thankfulness and gratitude that I am part of an amazing , worldwide community of musicians that have each other ’ s backs and refuse to be defeated . Go play guitar .
James Duke James is a musician , songwriter , and producer from Jacksonville Beach , Florida . Most known for playing guitar alongside artists like John Mark McMillan , Matt Redman , Johnnyswim , and Steven Curtis Chapman , James also records his own music under the name All The Bright Lights . He currently lives in Nashville , Tennessee with his wife and 3 kids ..