12 Songs From Home – Why the hell not

Other than showcasing some of his most astoundingly beautiful compositions, Ludovico Einaudi’s 12 Songs From Home is a possible view of the future. A look into what may become.

One evening in April 2020 Ludovico waited for his family to go to bed, then sat down at his piano and played 12 of his most beautiful songs, and recorded them on his iPhone (the beautiful emphasis is mine). Yes, his iPhone. For those who have not seen it in action, recording a piano is quite an affair. Loads of mics carefully positioned to pick up everything that you want to hear and nothing that you don’t. The result, 12 Songs From Home, has been released across all music platforms. Pretty much as is with a little mastering as is required by Apple Music and others. Its not really possible to “fix” an iPhone audio recording or bring it to the level of an eight-mic setup.

The point, done is better than perfect. (Thanks for the recent reminder @MikeStopforth.)

This artist wanted to. He did it and it’s out there. His performance feels intimate. It’s a look into a rehearsal session. No, more personal than that. He's playing just for me, from his piano, in his home. I can hear him moving. The creak of his chair. The groan of his feet on the pedals. Ambient sounds add to the stunningly beautiful melodies he has created over a lifetime working at his craft.

Our companies, organisations and workspaces will become much like this. We have been shown in many ways that what we thought was critical in January 2020 is not so critical in May 2020.

What was less than important and potentially didn't even make it into an OKR is the deciding factor of whether a business will sink or swim now.

This is a tough lesson for me. I prefer to spend time on getting something as right as I possibly can. I am wrong in this way of doing and thinking. My efforts take too long and the payoff for the additional time spent and possible return is just not there. My attempt to “get it just right” is in vain. Many, like Mr. Einaudi, are striding away from me (us) by just getting the hell on with it.

Yes, you still need to do the job well and so on and so on. The point is that for me, and possibly many of you, we are being shown what is important and what is patently not.

The other aspect that is critical for me is that while I think I am striving to get something just right, I am fooling myself. It’s not a journey to perfection. Often what I am doing never sees the light of day because, it’s not perfect. Sometimes “doing it just right” is an excuse for not getting it done. Not doing it. More often than not I am trying not to show what I can do/ have done - to the world, lest I be judged, in case I am found wanting, less than perfect and available to be criticised in the process. Hiding my gold, keeping my true value to myself.

I invite you to listen to 12 Songs From Home. His skill is incredible. His songs are breathtakingly, achingly gorgeous and their contribution to my life is not in any way lessened by the fact that they were recorded using an iPhone.

What do you need to "record with an iPhone"? What, in your life, would be better offered to the world as done, now, instead of waiting for perfect.

To the people who are helping me see this, at this time, thank you. RichardMulholland @ingrid-lotze-3933101 @anton-herbst-1a614046 @MikeSharman @york-zucchi @JarrodAston @kieran-lotze-13289b77