We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Anthony Newes a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Anthony , thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?
I would definitely point to my mom when it comes to my positive outlook on life. She’s eternally optimistic every step of the way. My dad is really good at rolling with the punches too. I just wasn’t raised to dwell on things that are out of our control.
Beyond my upbringing, I’m a big believer in placing gratitude in the center of it everything.
Every day, all day.
It’s something you have to practice, like an exercise routine, so that it becomes part of you.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am a musician and an adult educator. I live and work in Minneapolis. I write, record and perform songs for myself, as well as others. I’ve also been teaching through Minneapolis Public Schools for well over a decade.
Currently, I am finishing up another solo record that’s been in the works for a couple of years. Over time, I have transitioned from writing music on a guitar or piano, to creating more sample-based songs. I have learned that I get bored when patterns emerge, so it’s fun to change things up. Creating electronic music using samplers, synthesizers and drum machines has been so good for my brain because I don’t really know what I’m doing. But I know how to write and put things together. I’ve also learned to trust my ears and my talents, which seems to be a never ending journey.
Beyond my solo music, my band, Bones & Beeker (myself and DJ BK-One) has started writing new music. We put out a record a long time ago, but family and careers took priority, so we’ve never had a chance to release more music. We’re probably sitting on close to 30 songs, so I hope they see the light of day before too long.
About 5 years ago, I also started playing bass for my old friend, Andrew Kneeland. He’s a singer/songwriter that only started releasing music a few years ago. He’s a quieter, introspective artist and I was shocked with how strong his songwriting was when I first heard him. He’s an undeniable talent and I hope that people continue to check him out.
I’ve been hanging with my close friend and long-time collaborator, Chris Beirden, a lot lately and we agreed recently that the best part of making music is time spent with friends. It’s all about the hang. I don’t care if you’re the greatest musician the world has ever seen. If you’re not fun to be around and we don’t laugh, I’m out.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
You can’t really teach someone to have a passion. You either have it or don’t, though a lot of people don’t realize what their passions are. With that said, if you like something, do it. Keep doing it and do it some more. Find out how to get better at it. Surround yourself with people who are doing similar things. Learn from each other. Share your ideas. Build it together. Take a break. Get back to it. Take a breath. Get back to it. It all adds up and if you’re doing the work and a door opens, you’ll be ready to walk through.
Also, don’t be afraid to ask people for help. It’s always a yes or a no, but it’s always a no if you don’t ask.
With that said, how can I support you?
What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?
Personally, I enjoy the challenge of learning and using a lot of different tools when it comes to making music. There’s something very liberating about being able to craft and record an entire song, and all the parts on your own. I can just stand up, go to my studio and make music whenever I want, and that provides me with a never-ending journey, which I like.
On the other hand, when I see someone like Jeremy Ylvisaker play his guitar like it’s an extension of himself, I can’t help but be a bit envious. Ryan Young of Trampled by Turtles is like that too with his violin. It is mind blowing and inspiring.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://anthonynewes.bandcamp.com/album/in-the-dark-of-the-sea
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a.newes/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anthony.newes/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX8oOXCqQOd2uyEV4-29r3Q/featured
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2eUgwyMobMitdjib3FxQVF https://soundcloud.com/bones-beeker https://open.spotify.com/artist/1NlfNuVbIeGVsfLvOY1z1j https://music.apple.com/us/artist/anthony-newes/216090130
Image Credits
Photos by Charlie Quade
