Anne Dorko is an independent musical artist and singer-songwriter from California, currently in Germany. Their goal is to combat anxiety with chaotic good, by releasing vulnerable pop music and growing an open community centered around self- discovery, growth, and actualization.
Brand: https://dorko.tv
Personal: https://www.annedorko.comSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7bzxMlzDP6NYr5ZxHBvMjI?si=PmoKcl-6RPejgCmXNm52aw
Socials:
https://twitch.tv/annedorko
https://twitter.com/annedorko
https://facebook.com/dorkotv
1.) What elements and/or characteristics made you say to yourself that you wanted to do music for a living? Who are your influences/heroes/role models?
I’ve always loved making music and creating new things from my ideas. What really made me decide to go for music as a career was my desire to change the world and make a positive difference: Music is such a powerful medium for that. With the encouragement of my friends and family already familiar with my music, I decided it was time to finally pursue it in earnest. Amanda Palmer and P!NK are probably my biggest role models, as they both create really vulnerable work that is also quite popular.
2.) If you could compare yourself to an already established artist, who would that be and why? If you don’t like to compare yourself, then music-wise, what separates you from other musicians?
Artistically, I would definitely hope Amanda Palmer and P!NK, because of the personal rawness that goes into the lyrics and music. Sound-wise, I’m still discovering where I fall. Currently, I think that chill indie-pop is the best way to describe my genre.
3.) Everyone in life goes through adversity of some sort. Is there anything in your life that has any influence on the kind of songs you write? What is the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure on your path to becoming a musician?
I write music about my personal journey of self-discovery and growth. As a queer person who grew up in a conservative community, I had to go through a lot of phases of self-hatred, confusion, and heartbreak before I had the opportunity to learn who I was – at the most basic of levels. My songs reflect the emotional and physical journeys I’ve taken: from love and loss, to literally exploring the globe and becoming a nomad of sorts.
4.) How do you prepare yourself to write certain songs? What is your song-writing and recording process?
Most of my songs came to me almost as if they were ready to exist and just needed a vessel to come out. Sometimes I take more creative approaches or collaborate with others and simply brainstorm ideas until they come. But usually, I write when the feeling is right and it flows. I shared a lot about my process on YouTube, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6KuCC4TJ_g
5.) Unfortunately the music industry is full of talented individuals who just don’t get any recognition for their talent and/or hard work. What do you plan to do to make sure you stand out and get noticed?
I’m very much focused on my community. We join together around the commonality of the music I make, of course, but really our mission together is to combat anxiety with chaotic good. Life is chaotic and it seems like most of us are dealing with anxiety these days, so my music and our goals together are to find ways to make that work to our advantage.
I also live-stream my music production on Twitch, at Twitch.tv/AnneDorko, which enables everyone to join in on my creative process if that’s the kind of thing they enjoy.
As my music and community continue to grow organically, I will be able to build strong relationships with brands and folks in the music industry to take things to the next level.
6.) Would you rather be on a major label or would you rather stay independent? Why or why not? In regards to the music industry itself, do you think that the traditional music industry model as we know it is dead?
I’d prefer to stay independent. I create my music because it’s an integral part of my message to the world at large, and needing to satisfy commercial needs would put the wrong thing in focus. I think the traditional music industry model is attempting to shift to the new age of streaming and monetization options, though it’s still working wonders for those already at the top. However, the traditional ways probably won’t hold up forever if they aren’t able to adapt.
7.) How do you think the internet and social media affected the music industry and how musicians are able to market themselves? Social media is obviously an extremely important element in today’s world, especially when it comes to business, branding, marketing, etc. With that being said, do you think an artist will be able to survive in today’s music industry if they’re not social media savvy?
The internet and social media opened up the playing field to just about anybody. I think with the right teams and community in place, being good at social media isn’t a direct skill any given artist needs to have. However, it certainly can be a boost and is a great way to connect with those who are vibing with your music and message.
8.) Artists who try to make music for the general public and make more money are usually seen as “sell-outs.” Do you see it that way and if so, what do you plan to do to make sure your music stays true to your brand and make a good living at the same time without having to “sell out”?
I think the term sell-out is awful and used much too broadly, likely by the types who are jealous of others’ success instead of being able to feel genuine joy for others. Getting big and earning big bucks is nothing to scoff at. If an artist actively betrays their message for money, that’s a different thing altogether. However, I’ve mostly seen people use the term sell-out for anyone who makes it big at all or accepts any amount of money for their work, and that’s simply a poor way to support an artist you supposedly care about. If someone makes more general public-friendly music as a way to grow and support themselves, why is that a bad thing?
9.) What are the positives and negatives of the music industry? What is it about the music industry that makes some artists push forward? What do you think makes some artists quit?
Since I’m new to the music industry, I have to say a big negative is that it is hard to break through the noise unless you have a big budget. The positive is, thanks to the internet and social platforms available, if you are driven and a little innovative, you can grow your community and fanbase in a really organic and tangible way. My community has changed my life since I started focusing on sharing my music live on my Twitch channel at Twitch.tv/AnneDorko, which is where I produced my debut album.
10.) With so many people online who are expressing their opinions on any and everything under the sun, how do you know when to take something as constructive criticism or when to see it as trolling?
Being centered with yourself and creating a support group of folks whose opinion you respect is the best way forward. Being vulnerable to the world is hard. Criticizing people is easy. Folks may even genuinely think they are being helpful. However, if you try to please everybody, you will please nobody in the end. Know your motivations and reasons for doing things, and keep them front and center. I have daily phone reminders, sticky notes, and desktop wallpapers with phrases to remind me of what really matters.
11.) Most, if not, all musicians have those who have influenced their work in one way or another, but how important do you think having a mentor is?
Mentors are crucial. They may not even be musical mentors. But everybody gets further when someone is there to guide them and keep them on target.
12.) In your opinion, what do you think the future of the music industry looks like? What trends do you see staying or going? What trends do you see possibly emerging and why?
The future of the music industry is fascinating, and I’m not sure where it’s headed. Self-publication is becoming more accessible and possible. However, that means there is a lot of noise out there. Instead of trying to be the next major celebrity, artists should focus on the niche group they can really connect with and build a smaller but stronger relationship with.
13.) Since we’re in a world of instant gratification nowadays, what would you say to the musicians out there who want instant recognition but don’t necessarily want to put in the hard work? How much of an investment is needed in order to truly see some sort of success?
Everybody looks at content creation and thinks it’s easy. They don’t realize how difficult it is until they step into the ring and give it a fair shot. Artists should avoid comparing their path to others: Everyone is starting from a different point and has a different journey to take. The important thing is to ensure they have a strong concept of what “success” means for them and having an actionable plan to achieve it. By breaking larger goals into smaller, more realistic ones ones, they can climb their own unique ladder of success.
14.) What advice would you share with other artists who are trying to create something unique?
You can explore sound or content as a way of being unique. For me, the best way to be unique is to truly understand myself and the message I want to share. I have some musical training from my childhood, but instead of focusing on following certain musical rules to structure or write my songs, I focus on what feels and sounds right to me and work from there.
15.) Professionally, where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
Ideally: my music, creative work, and nonprofit Without Boxes (not yet registered but in the works) would be my primary sources of income. I’d love to tour the world at least once per year to meet my community members in person, do creative collaborations, and perhaps even perform.